Image by Joel and Justyna. See more of this real wedding here.

Outdoor garden-themed weddings are elegant and whimsical. With lush greenery, seasonal blooms, vibrant color palettes, and thoughtfully planned decor, we’ve seen couples transform ordinary spaces into the ultimate secret garden oasis. If you find yourself admiring romantic floral-filled weddings like this on Instagram or Pinterest and wondering how they pulled it off, you’ve come to the right place.

From ceremony decor to subtle reception details and even themed favors, we’ve created a list of our favorite garden wedding ideas you can share with your trusted vendors. With these inspiring ideas, your dream of hosting an enchanted garden affair will become a reality.

Pick a Fitting Theme 

While it’s not necessary, incorporating a theme into your wedding can enhance the overall experience in several ways. It offers aesthetic benefits and provides guidance when it comes time to select your color palette, decor, and more. Having a clear vision of your wedding design allows you to make better decisions throughout the planning process, ensuring that every detail aligns with your desired theme.

In need of some garden wedding theme ideas? Here are a few of our favorites: 

• Quintessential English garden tea party
• Rustic garden romance 
• Enchanted fairytale 
• Butterfly garden wedding
• A luxurious boho garden theme 
• Tropical oasis garden getaway  

Prioritize a Venue with Stunning Existing Outdoor Space 

Choosing the right venue is crucial when planning an outdoor garden wedding. Since the natural surroundings will play a major role in the overall wedding ambiance, it’s essential to select a venue with a stunning existing space. 

When touring potential venues, look for gardens with lush greenery and picturesque backdrops. This not only sets the stage for your celebration but also makes the job easier for you and your vendors. With a beautiful setting, you’ll need less decor to enhance the space, saving time and money. Plus, the backdrop will create some breathtaking photos that will preserve the magic of your big day.

Image by Lara Onac. See more of this styled shoot here.

Consider an Intimate Greenhouse Wedding 

In the early stages of planning your garden celebration, it’s natural to envision a sunny outdoor wedding. However, it’s important to remember that there are numerous ways to create a romantic wedding in a garden setting. One of our favorite options, especially for intimate weddings, is hosting your event in a greenhouse.

A greenhouse is a charming blend of rustic and romantic, providing a unique backdrop for your special day. This option is also ideal for couples in areas with unpredictable weather, ensuring a beautiful garden wedding regardless of the weather conditions.

Add Floral Details to Signage 

While wedding signage serves a practical purpose, it doesn’t have to be boring. With some color, customization, and flowers, your signage can be much more than just functional. From welcome signs to seating charts, each piece of signage can become eye-catching decor that adds to the overall ambiance of your celebration.

Incorporate Vibrant Hues and Pastels into Your Color Palette

The colors you select for your wedding play an important role in setting the tone for your special day. Whether you’re aiming for a bold, vibrant palette or a softer, pastel one, embracing color is key to bringing your outdoor garden to life. 

Going bold is sure to add that extra pop of personality that’ll leave a lasting impression on your guests. Sticking with the subtlety of pastels exudes romance and creates a soft ambiance. Regardless of the color palette you choose, don’t be afraid to embrace color.

Image by Katherine Larson.

Have Your Wedding Party Wear Florals 

Floral fashion has been taking the wedding world by storm, and this is great news for those planning an outdoor garden celebration in spring or summer. Adding floral attire and accessories is a subtle touch guaranteed to enhance your wedding day look. 

For your bridesmaids, have them mix and match floral bridesmaid dresses. As for the groomsmen, accessories will be key. They can play around with floral ties, bowties, pocket squares, socks, and even boutonnieres. These floral accents add personality and will contribute to the overall floral theme of the wedding.

Use Petals to Enhance the Space 

You’re dedicating so much of your time and energy to designing large floral installations. While these staple pieces will be a stunning addition, it’s equally important not to overlook the smaller details when discussing your floral vision with your florist. Consider incorporating extra petals to elevate your wedding space in a subtle yet show-stopping way.

You can scatter petals along the ceremony aisle to add a touch of romance or swap the traditional confetti for floral petals during your grand exit. The creative possibilities for using petals to enhance your garden soiree are endless. 

Ceremony Fan Favors 

Wedding favors are a thoughtful way to thank your guests for being part of your special day. Unfortunately, favors tend to be leftovers and forgotten by many guests. So, choose something practical and useful if you’re set on thanking loved ones with a gift. For an outdoor celebration during the summer months, custom fans make an excellent choice.

They keep your guests cool and comfortable and serve as a keepsake guests can take home after your wedding day. We love practical and stylish favors, and your guests will too. 

Image by Steve Steinhardt. Wedding planning by NK Weddings. Flowers by Botanica Design Studio. Wedding venue at Ritz-Carlton Sarasota.

Include a Floral Ceremony Backdrop 

Your ceremony backdrop sets the stage for one of the most important moments of your wedding day—the exchange of vows. For those planning a garden wedding, you can get creative with a stunning arch adorned with flowers, lush greenery, or a combination of both.

Don’t know where to start? Hire a trusted florist! They will help bring your vision to life. They can guide you in selecting the perfect blooms that complement each other and serve as the focal point for your ceremony.

Make a Statement with Hanging Floral Installations 

While it’s tempting to stick to ideas you’ve seen on Pinterest, it’s important to think outside the box. When it comes to your decor, don’t forget to consider unique and unexpected details like hanging floral chandeliers. Hanging floral installations may not be considered “traditional,” but they can be truly memorable when executed thoughtfully. 

Image by Misha Lee.

Garden Wedding Ideas: Top Your Cake with Flowers 

There’s one thing that can make your wedding cake even sweeter: flowers. Whether you’re envisioning real blooms that match your decor, icing flowers, or a vibrant pressed flower design, adding this touch will surely give your traditional wedding cake some extra pizzazz.

Garden-Inspired Dinnerware and Linens 

As we’ve said before, functional wedding details can be transformed into stunning decor details that enhance the overall day. When it comes to your tablescape specifically, switching traditional white dinnerware for floral-printed plates is an easy way to add an extra floral touch and a pop of color to each place setting.

You can also incorporate floral linens to further enhance the garden feel of your reception tables. These smaller details help create a cohesive reception design that complements the garden theme.

Image by Laklin Brooke Photography. See more of this real wedding here.

Finish Cocktails with Floral Garnishes

When crafting custom cocktails, go all out. From the recipe to the bar menu and even the garnishes, ensure every detail authentically represents your love and wedding theme. For those hosting a garden wedding, consider adding delicate blooms as the perfect finishing touch to your cocktails. 

Now that you’ve gathered all your garden wedding ideas, there’s just one thing you’re missing—a trusted team of wedding vendors to bring it all to life.  A trusted team of wedding professionals can truly make all the difference in bringing your garden wedding vision to life. If you’re looking for top-notch vendors, start by exploring our directory of Junebug-approved wedding vendors from around the world. 

Image by Tiffany Longeway.