Woodland Wedding

Everything about this wedding spells wonderland. From the wooded backdrop of the inspirational shoot to the exquisite gown, it’s magical from start to finish. Whimsy, wonderful and reminiscent of woodland nymphs, that is what this wedding is made of!

What to Look for in a Venue for a Woodland Wedding

Woodland weddings are whimsical, enchanting, and highly romantic. The wedding venue should be one to amaze your guests and awe them with the shaded beauty and secluded natural surroundings. They should be able to hear the singing of birds, the rustling of leaves, and the sounds of the wind between the dense canopy of trees as you say 'I Do.'

Ideal woodland wedding venues would be old-fashioned barns with a walled garden, romantic towering trees, and a picturesque pond on the property. You could also choose a private property with 15th-century features or a cut-off private forest reserve and have the wedding ceremony under the trees.

Colour Palettes for a Woodland Wedding

Couples should ideally consider wedding colours that go well with natural hues found in forests. However, mixing and merging wedding colours and opting for a few select ones will set the tone for the entire ceremony and reception. Many couples prefer to select one deep or bright shade and build a colour palette around it. If this sounds like something you would like, it is essential to remember that you should stick to solid shades.

The only pops of colour should be from strong hues like burgundy, rose, lavender, peach, coral, and shades of green. These are natural, elemental colours that will pair gorgeously with all the natural hues around the venue.

Details for a Woodland Wedding

Whimsical woodland weddings should be surrounded by babbling brooks, the sounds of birds, towering green trees, wildflowers, mossy floors, and more. While Mother Nature has probably given you a readymade wedding venue, you should personalise it and make it your own.

Adding unique details from nature-inspired themes like meadows, rivers, a bark-styled wedding cake, rustic escort cards that look like stacked wood, a wildflower wedding bouquet, and more can make the event extremely special. While you consider ways to personalise the theme, you should consider practical aspects like lighting, accommodation for guests, ceremony and reception décor, sustainability of the wedding, water conservation, and usage. Being respectful of your surroundings will add further value to the wedding.

Food for a Woodland Wedding

Wedding food should not be restricted to only elegant dishes. Woodland weddings have the opportunity of being known for rustic and hearty food. The trend currently is to have an open food bar, which allows guests to pick and choose the food based wholly on any dietary restrictions they may have. This idea is excellent for people wishing to avoid constantly making special requests to caterers.

Since a woodland theme is about going back to your roots surrounded by nature, there should be a selection of locally sourced fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats. A cold meat platter sourced from local ethical vendors, salad bars with seasonal fruits, cheese platters, and more will add to the wedding theme and ensure your guests are wowed.

Budget for a Woodland Wedding

The best part about woodland weddings? The wedding budget! Since most of the décor is natural, couples need to spend very little on the ceremony and reception décor. Most of the budget will be allocated to local florists to make the venue even more gorgeous than it already is. Having a wedding theme helps curtail expenses since you would not spend on things that do not fit the wedding theme.

For example, since the wedding theme is woodland and natural, you would possibly avoid new-age décor, stark metal, and too much glitter and gold. You might opt for foldable wooden chairs for the ceremony and reception and prefer to keep the wooden tables unadorned.

Wedding Dresses and Accessories for a Woodland Wedding

Brides do not have to compulsorily choose floral shades for the wedding dress. White wedding dresses that are light, airy, and have a whimsical, magical look can be excellent in lace, tulle, and chiffon. These fabrics are lightweight, will not hamper you as you move about the forest looking like a wood nymph, and will ensure you are the centre of attention at all times.

For wedding accessories, a gorgeous floral crown or headdress in burgundy, green, white blooms and some peach roses will make you look ethereal. For accessories, minimal jewellry in white gold or silver, a floral bracelet, or a mini baby's breath headband will look gorgeous. For the makeup, opt for dusky eyes with dark lip colour to make you look like a fairy!

Groom Style for a Woodland Wedding

Grooms can be extremely relaxed with their wedding attire. The trick is to stay in natural colours that complement the surrounding greenery. Tan pants, a white shirt, a pale lilac tie, and brown shoes with a brown belt would go ideal in maintaining a neutral yet stylish look.

Grooms can style their tuxedos in brown or tan velvet or opt for a highly relaxed feel with a light linen shirt and dress pants in deep brown for a slightly formal look. For the ceremony, grooms can opt for a boutonniere in a dark shade like rose or burgundy, which can be removed during the reception, along with the jacket.

Wedding Invitations for a Woodland Wedding

The wedding invitations set the tone for your theme. Your guests should not be left guessing the theme when they receive the invite. To ensure that your wedding theme is reflected throughout the invite, you should add forest, valley, and rustic elements to the invitation. If you still feel some guests might not understand the theme, you can add a small line of text stating the theme.

The wedding invitation can include colourful yellow sunflowers, red roses, a silhouette of the venue like a barn, resort, or just a few trees in the background with abundant leaves. If you have a specific seasonal flower or fruit in mind, you could add some motifs to ensure your guests understand the wedding theme correctly.

Wedding Photo Shoot Ideas for a Woodland Wedding

Couples' photo shoots should be out in nature as a tribute to your whimsical woodland wedding. If you're planning a pre-wedding or on-the-day wedding shoot, some ideas would be classic couple poses to capture your love. Excellent photoshoot ideas are usually shaded – under a canopy of trees, at the altar, under a floral wedding arch, or at the entrance of the woodlands.

A gorgeous idea would be to have the couple stand in opposite directions holding hands (pretty close) and just gaze at each other with love. This magnificent picture can also be enlarged and framed to be hung in your new house.

Favours and Gifts for a Woodland Wedding

Wedding favours are excellent ways to thank your guests for their blessings on your special day. Each gift to attendees should be purposeful and hold a special meaning that fits your wedding theme. You should reach out to local vendors dealing in natural items that resonate with your theme. For example, a jar of homemade jam in berry, apple, or rhubarb flavors, a special kind of tea made from wildflowers, or soy candles wrapped in burlap.

When packaging the gifts, customise them to reflect the theme, your wedding date, and your names or initials. Doing this will serve as a special reminder of your wedding.

Woodland Nymphs

This wonderfully whimsical woodland inspiration shoot by Seth and Tenielle of Feather and Stone is overflowing with unique bridal style. I love the bold makeup, light as air dresses, floral hairpieces, lace details… and take a look at that last shot – I think this photography dream team just coined the new ‘must have’ pose couples!

Credits: Photography: Feather & Stone // Dresses: The Babushka Ballerina, Jennifer Gifford Designs, Amanda Garrett, Beska // Flowers: Green and Bloom // Hair & Makeup: Tracie Weaver // Stylist: Brittney Moroko // Assistant Stylist: Bree Anketell // Models: Talisa & Blake at Division