Are you dreaming of a wedding that breaks away from tradition? Do you want your big day to embody your vibrant, carefree spirit? Then you might need a festival-themed wedding. Evoking feelings of the summer, bohemian wonderlands, and energetic music festivals, your festival wedding could be the perfect choice.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through how to plan your festival-themed wedding, from deciding what kind of festival you want to choosing your entertainment, with tips and inspiration to make your dream a reality.
What’s the vibe?
Ok, so you’ve decided you want a fun, festival-themed wedding – but you still need to hone in on the vibe just a little bit. ”Festival” suggests fun, informal, and relaxed, but it’s quite a broad term. Being more specific will make it much easier when it comes to deciding the decorations, entertainment, overall style, and the venue – so, what sort of festival, exactly, do you want for your wedding?
Rustic boho festival wedding
A popular theme for festival weddings is to embrace your hippy side with a rustic, boho theme. Think plenty of wildflowers, shabby-chic woodwork, hay bale seating, and shepherd’s hook lighting – decorations that would fit seamlessly with a barn wedding or an outside forest ceremony.
Music festival wedding
For the music lovers, a music festival wedding could be the top choice. For this theme, you can really personalise it to your tastes, whether you go folk, rock, pop, or something in between – just make sure you book some outstanding live music acts to soundtrack your day. The music festival theme can be easily incorporated into your invitations – think a festival-style line-up announcement poster and tickets for entry, or for that true music festival feel you could go for wristbands for the guests.
Fun fair festival wedding
If you’re picturing your wedding day as something fun and vibrant, a fun fair festival might be what you need. You can go all-in on the entertainment, with carnival games, fairground stalls and plenty of bright colours. You could go that extra mile and hire a fairground ride like a carousel, to really make the day unique. Fun fair weddings are perfect if you have a lot of kids attending, or even just for adults who are young at heart.
Where will your ceremony be held?
Now you have your festival theme, you can start to think of the best venue to have your wedding. When we think of festivals, we tend to think of an open-air location, so this could be a great choice for your ceremony. However, we all know the great British weather can’t always be relied on, so if you don’t fancy a rainy ceremony, you should look for a venue that could maybe accommodate an inside and outside area.
An open field could be perfect for a music-festival-themed wedding, with plenty of space to set up an open-air stage for performers and somewhere for guests to camp when the partying is done. Or perhaps you dream of a cosy woodland ceremony, for the boho rustic vibe. A barn wedding can easily include all kinds of festival-themed weddings, as you’ll have space to decorate as you please to suit your style.
What festival-themed decorations do you need?
The type of festival and venue you choose will all play a part in the decorations you choose for your big day. There are a few items that would really be staples of a festival wedding though, although all can typically still be personalised to your preferences.
A giant tipi is a great addition to any type of festival-themed wedding. Whether you’re going for boho-chic or rock and roll music festival, a tipi will bring the right vibe and you can then add the finishing touches to bring it up to theme.
Flowers are generally a staple of all weddings but, again, you can really personalise them to your tastes. If you’re not a fan of too much colour, you can stick to more botanical arrangements, keeping to clean, green finishes. These can be perfect for more minimalist rustic weddings. Or if maximalism is more your thing, go for big and beautiful floral arrangements, adorning as much as you can with your chosen colour scheme.
Bunting can be great for any type of festival theme. Festoon lights will be perfect for adding a warm, soft glow when the sun goes down, and an outdoor fire pit will not only add more lighting but also provide a space to relax away from the dancefloor.
What entertainment do you want?
Your festival theme can help to guide you for your wedding entertainment but really, the choice is yours.
Music
Live music performers are a classic addition to festival weddings, and you can usually find plenty of choice when it comes to music genres. Research bands and artists in your area to see who can be hired for your wedding – maybe check out some open mic nights at your local pub or even approach some buskers that you enjoy. If that fails, you can always fall back on a PA system and a banging Spotify playlist. You could also ask guests to request a song or two on their RSVP to make sure there’ll be something for everyone on the night.
Games and extras
No festival wedding is complete without some extra entertainment. You’ll want your wedding to be fun and filled with some unique touches, so get thinking about the kind of things you’d like for guests to enjoy.
Giant lawn games are always a winner and can be played by kids and adults alike. This could be giant Jenga, Connect Four, or chess. Not only will this keep the young ones entertained, but it can bring a cosy sense of nostalgia for the older ones.
If the budget allows, you could think bigger. A bouncy castle and fairground rides could really make it a day to remember for you and your guests and add something a little different to a traditional wedding. Sticking with the festival theme, you could also have a glitter bar and temporary tattoo station for guests to really get into the vibe.
What kind of food will be at your wedding?
The beauty of a festival-themed wedding is that your food can be a little more informal. Of course, if you still want a sit-down dinner, you can still ensure your wedding day includes one, and really opt for any cuisine you like. If you want something that sticks to the relaxed festival theme, you could have a BBQ or wedding picnic, that keeps things casual but still encourages everyone to eat at the same time.
But festival weddings can also benefit from food stalls and food vans. You can opt for anything, from stacked burgers to wood-fired pizzas, hog roasts and ice cream vans. These can all be great, either to have on-site all day or just throughout the reception and later into the night.
What will you and your guests wear?
A festival wedding will usually mean you’ll be going for something a little more casual, but you still want to make a statement on your big day. Your wedding outfit should be comfortable and carefree, but also make sure you feel special.
For dresses, festival-themed outfits will usually involve something longer and flowing, perhaps with plenty of lace accents. If you want a long train but also an outdoor wedding, look for a bustle so you can keep the fabric off the floor and keep it from getting too grubby.
If you’ve opted for a rock festival vibe, maybe you want to swerve the boho feel and go for a dress that’s shorter and more punky. Of course, you can always blend the best of both worlds by wearing a longer lace dress and your Dr Martens boots.
For suits, you don’t necessarily have to go for a formal three-piece, unless that’s your preference. For festival weddings, a suit with some colour will be perfect, adding some of your personality into the day. Something vintage and maybe a little out of the ordinary can suit the festival vibe, such as suspenders, a bow tie, or a patterned shirt.
For guests, make sure it’s clear on the invite what will be expected. Your guests should know whether they need something more smart-casual or formal. They should also know if they’ll be spending time outside so they can bring appropriate footwear – wellies might be required!
Are you getting married? At Events Under Canvas, we’ve got you covered with wedding marquee hire and a list of recommended suppliers to help create that festival vibe. We know what it takes to craft a magical space for your special day, from marquees to furnishing and finishing touches. Contact us to find out more.