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7 Cool And Casual Wedding Ideas

April 5, 2022 | riley

In case no one has told you—you don’t need to have an over-the-top wedding to create a magical, memorable event. If you and your partner aren’t “the formal kind,” then a cool, casual wedding might be your style.  There’s no template for a true-to-you wedding day, after all. You don’t have to take our word for it, though. Let these casual wedding ideas inspire you to create a laid-back wedding with a cool, unique flair.

Tips + Casual Wedding Ideas

1. Find a Comfortable and Unconventional Venue

Start with your wedding location. If comfortable and relaxed vibes are your goal, think about the places you feel most at home. It might even be your home—or your parent’s backyard, or the lakehouse you’ve spent summer nights for the past 20 years. As a bonus, a memorable location means less decor is needed to create a space that feels like you. 

If your house isn’t quite fit to entertain a group of people, you can rent an Airbnb for an intimate wedding weekend experience that still feels like home. If you’re looking to go a more traditional route, Engine makes reserving hotel room blocks simple, even helping you secure up to 22% off rates you find online.

Questions to Help Determine Your Wedding Location:

  • Where do you enjoy spending time on the weekend? 
  • What’s your favorite restaurant? Is it large enough to accommodate the number of guests you’ll invite?
  • Do you enjoy going to museums or art galleries?
  • If you could move anywhere in the world, where would it be?
  • Do you prefer the outdoors, such as a national park, or somewhere indoors?

Recommended Reading: The Ultimate Guide to Finding Your Wedding Venue

2. Offer Pre-Ceremony Refreshments and Snacks

Welcome cocktails and snacks set the stage for a fun, laid-back time. If you’d prefer to leave the party until after you say “I do,” you can opt for a coffee, lemonade, aqua fresca, or mocktail bar. If you want to support a small local business you love, consider hiring them to organize this for you. 

Blanking on what type of snacks would be best to hold your guests over until the meal?

Here are Some of Our Favorite Wedding Snack Ideas:

  • Charcuterie table – To avoid spreading germs, create individual charcuterie cones 
  • Food truck – Everyone loves a food truck, no matter what kind of food the truck serves. It also makes a great photo-op to entertain guests while they wait
  • Sentimental foods – If you have family or friends who have passed, honor them by creating a table of their favorite foods

3. Utilize Mix and Match Seating

The Danish have created and coined a lifestyle known as “hygge,” which essentially means for something to be cozy and comfortable—to create a welcoming feeling. If that’s exactly the aesthetic that you’re looking for on your special day, consider a mix of chairs, textures, and colors that will provide the perfect element of unexpectedness and coziness. You can do everything from poufs and oversized floor pillows to mismatched vintage chairs, picnic set-ups, and boho lounge areas. 

Shop Our Favorite Floor Pillows:

4. Choose Greenery Over Florals

Lush weddings are popular among couples who enjoy minimalist vibes. Skip floral arrangements and create a fresh, natural feel with greenery. Many couples skip traditional floral arrangements altogether and use a few different textures of greenery or dried flowers for bouquets, centerpieces, and ceremony backdrops. Eucalyptus, olive branches, rosemary garlands, and tropical leaves are perennial favorites, but we recommend working with a florist who can recommend seasonal greens and arrange them in a beautiful way.

Junebug Tip: If you want to save money and still want florals or plants for your big day, use BloomsyBox, a flower subscription company. They have colorful dried flowers, plants, bouquets, and more. You choose what you want and get them hand-delivered to your door. They even offer dozens of pre-made bouquets. Junebug readers get 10% off with the code JUNEBUG

5. Serve Comfort Foods

If there’s a common theme that unites casual couples, it’s food. Specifically, comfort food. We’re talking about the kind of meal you get once a week because it’s your thing. Maybe it’s pizza, tacos and margaritas, ramen, or burgers. Whatever it may be, don’t be afraid to treat your guests to it. Not only does it make your wedding more laid back and personalized to you as a couple, but your guests will also get a kick out of the delicious food. And if the idea of a seated dinner or buffet isn’t your style, bring in a food truck or go potluck-style and ask guests to bring a dish of choice. 

6. Host A Brunch Wedding

Speaking of food, if you’re much more breakfast people and you envision your day including cinnamon rolls, pancakes, and mimosas, why not host a brunch wedding? They’re a great way to save money, and they also give you the chance to tie the knot in the venue of your dreams if it’s booked up on the date that you always wanted. Plus who doesn’t love breakfast food? And saying “I do” earlier means that you can jet off to your honeymoon that same day.

Recommended Reading: Brunch Wedding Ideas for the Early Birds & Breakfast Lovers

7. Play Games During Your Reception

If you’re hosting your wedding outdoors, add some lawn games to keep guests entertained and allow them to mingle if they don’t know one another very well. From corn hole to giant Jenga to ring toss, there’s a wide variety of nostalgic games that you can play. The best part is that there are so many customized options out there that you can keep long after the wedding that will remind you of one of the most important days of your life every time you play.

Your wedding day should be a reflection of who you are as a couple. We hope these casual wedding ideas have inspired you to stay true to yourselves and ditch the formal wedding if it doesn’t feel true to who you are. But, don’t forget, even laid-back couples can benefit from expert planning and coordination. In need of a wedding planner who will help your day run seamlessly? Let our hand-picked professional wedding planners guide you through the process so you can enjoy every minute of your special day. 

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5 Ways to Preserve Your Wedding Bouquet

April 4, 2022 | kailey

Your wedding day will go by in a blink of an eye, but a few special keepsakes and memories will last a lifetime. That’s right, there are dozens of tangible wedding keepsakes—on top of photos—that’ll help preserve those special moments that made your wedding day one to remember. One of the most unique keepsakes is your bouquet.   

At the end of your day when vows have been shared, rings have been exchanged, and you’ve made your grand exit, it’ll be tough saying goodbye to your show-stopping bouquet. But, your wedding day flowers don’t have to end up in the trash! We’ve got the top ways to preserve your bouquet so your florals will last long beyond your wedding day.

Reminders To Preserve Your Wedding Bouquet

Before diving into our inspiration, here are a few tips for preserving your wedding bouquet:

  • Think about how you’d like to preserve your bouquet before the wedding day. This will avoid your flowers wilting and browning before being preserved 
  • During the hiring process, ask your potential florists if bouquet preservation is included in their pricing 
  • Don’t forget to include your bouquet preservation costs in your wedding budget 

1. Hang Dry Your Bouquet

Simple, budget-friendly, and you can do it yourself—these are the reasons to love the hang drying method. The only thing you have to do is hang your flowers upside down for three to four weeks in a cool dry area of your home. It’s as simple as that. You’re guaranteed your dried flowers will last, and the dried florals will make for an eye-catching statement piece in your home. 

Steps To Hang Dry Flowers:

  1. Prep your wedding bouquet by removing unwanted stems, leaves, or buds.
  2. When you’re happy with the look of your bouquet, gather the stems and tie them together tightly with twine. They’ll shrink as they dry so tie them tight enough that when the stems dry your flowers don’t fall to the floor.
  3. Hang your flowers upside down for 3-4 weeks in a dark, dry area of your home like a closet or unused bathroom. 
  4. After your flowers have dried, it’s time to put them on display.

Image by For Keeps Florals

2. Press Your Wedding Flowers

Pressing your bouquet is also pretty straightforward. You’re flattening your flowers individually and recreating your bouquet on a 2D surface—making a beautiful piece of wall art that’ll be the perfect addition to your home. All you need is your bouquet, a stem trimmer, a heavy book, parchment paper, and a picture frame. 

Steps To Press Your Wedding Flowers:

  1. Prep your wedding bouquet by cutting off stems, unwanted leaves or buds, and separate all the flowers from your bouquet bundle.
  2. Lay out parchment paper in a secure location and begin arranging the flowers you want to preserve face-up on the absorbing paper. Arrange the florals how you want to see them in the picture frame.
  3. When you’re happy with the layout, place another piece of parchment paper on top, then set a book or weighted item onto the second layer of parchment paper.
  4. Let your flowers sit for 3-4 weeks. Keep in mind that the longer your flowers sit, the better results you’ll have.
  5. Now that you have your dried, pressed flowers it’s time to put them in your picture frame and display it on your wall.

Pressing your wedding flowers can be a fun DIY project. But if you’re not crafty or don’t want to risk messing up, there are many companies—like For Keeps Florals—that’ll do it for you. 

3. Preserve Your Wedding Bouquet In Resin 

Preserving your wedding bouquet in resin—a runny chemical substance that gradually hardens into a tough plastic—is another popular choice. This process will freeze your bouquet in real time, which means your flowers won’t wilt away within a few days after your wedding. The vibrant colors and details will remain just as beautiful as they were when you walked down the aisle. 

There are dozens of different techniques when it comes to preserving florals in resin. But, here are the perfect steps for beginners.

Steps To Preserve Your Wedding Bouquet In Resin:

  1. Prep your wedding bouquet by cutting off stems, unwanted leaves or buds, and separate all the flowers from your bouquet bundle.
  2. You can then press your flowers or hang dry your flowers following the instructions above. Before you can apply the resin your flowers need to be fully dried.
  3. When your flowers have dried, arrange the flowers into the silicone mold.
  4. Pour resin into the mold around your flowers in layers about an inch thick. Allow each layer to dry for 24 hours before pouring the next layer. When all the flowers have been covered, let the resin dry and sit in the mold for 1 week.

4. Create A Christmas Ornament For Your Tree 

Christmas lovers, DIY fanatics, and minimalists—preserving petals from your bouquet in a Christmas ornament is a small, budget-friendly way to keep a tangible piece of your wedding day. All you need is your bouquet, stem trimmers, and a clear ornament.

Steps To Create A Floral Christmas Ornament:

  1. Prep your wedding florals by cutting off stems and preserving the buds you want to display on your Christmas tree. Try choosing smaller flowers that’ll fill in the top of your ornament.
  2. Start putting the flowers into the ornament, hang them on your tree, and let the flowers dry over time.

5. Turn Your Bouquet Into A Paperweight

Add it to your desk at home, bring it to work, or place it on a shelf for decoration—no matter where you have in mind, a paperweight is a feel-good keepsake that’s both useful and decorative. 

Designing your floral arrangements is one of the most exciting parts of planning a wedding. And because florals are a main décor element, your choice of florists shouldn’t be taken lightly. Lucky for you, you’re just one click away from the top wedding florists from around the world.

Image by Jes Workman. See more of this real wedding here.

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Totally Luscious Tulum Jungle Wedding

April 3, 2022 | riley

Tucked in a jungle, surrounded by nature and the breathtaking Caribbean sea, Wendy and Michael’s Tulum jungle wedding was the perfect combination of tropical flair, boho touches, chic fashion, and fun party vibes. With the help of planner LM Weddings and a talented team of vendors, their day was the carefree and relaxed celebration they’ve always wanted. 

The couple exchanged their handwritten vows in a romantic seaside ceremony under the swaying coconut trees at the luxurious Zorba Villas. The reception that followed at Nu Tulum was filled with gorgeous arrangements of tropical greenery and white orchids, macrame decor, and lots of candles. The celebration continued as the couple and their guests enjoyed a wild night of dancing underneath the stars, and a full moon swim past midnight.

From the stylish wedding attire and lush tropical setting to the tender moments and festive vibe, there was absolutely no shortage of amazing details–all beautifully captured by Junebug member Luxart Wedding Studio. If you’re daydreaming about a tropical jungle beach wedding, scroll down, this is exactly the inspiration you need!

The Couple:

Wendy and Michael

The Wedding:

Nu Tulum, Tulum, Mexico

The Bride Had A Sweet Surprise For Her Grandmother

Wendy included her grandmother in the getting ready process and surprised her with PJs that matched the girls. She was so shocked and the first to put them on. She was glowing the entire day.

How The Couple Ended Up With A Tulum Jungle Wedding

Even though we live in Colorado, we both always knew we wanted a beach wedding. There’s something about the ocean that brings out the child in everyone. Once we had that and Tulum nailed down, we went to visit. We had kind of a bender of a night before meeting our wedding planner, and we ended up at this amazing restaurant that still had its construction gates up but was holding a soft opening. They kindly invited us in and offered us some cocktails on the house, and we texted our planner, letting her know we had a venue that we wanted to check out in the morning. It turns out it was the first place that she had set up. We were sold from there. It was fate.

Involving Family And Loved Ones In The Ceremony

We wanted to make sure everyone there–especially our family members–felt like they were a part of the ceremony. Wendy’s oldest brother, Nick, was the officiant. We wish we could say that he was for hire because we were blown away by his words. Michael’s cousins sang and played as guests took their seats. We chose and surprised each other with the songs we walked down the aisle to. We had a Copal blessing from one of Wendy’s childhood friends while Michael’s college roommate sang “River” by Leon Bridges. Wendy’s Grandmother gave a reading about new versus old love.

Working With Junebug Members Luxart Wedding Studio 

We can’t say enough good things about Luxart Wedding Studio. They were the perfect mix of personality yet subtle, never overstepping an intimate moment to get the shot yet still capturing it. They made us feel so loved and confident the entire day and continue to do so. They also listened to us. We didn’t want to spend a ton of time away from our guests to take photos, so they were extremely efficient yet captured every single shot we wanted– and even shots we didn’t know we wanted.

How They Made Their Wedding Represent Them

We don’t take ourselves very seriously and feel our wedding reflected that perfectly. The most memorable part was how every single part of the wedding day was so authentic to us. From doing rooftop yoga taught by one of Wendy’s longest friends and the relaxed nature of the getting ready process for both of us to the epic dance party where there were no rules and no shirts. We ended the evening with all guests (including parents, aunts, uncles, and their friends) in the ocean for a past-midnight full moon swim—it was a pretty surreal moment. 

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Luxart Wedding Studio
Event Planning – LM Weddings
Ceremony Venue – Zorba Villas
Reception Venue – Nu Tulum
Floral Design & Rentals – Daniela Parra Design
Videography – Josh Martin
Invitation Design – Citrus Press Co
Makeup Artist & Hair Styling – Hannah Ransom
Wedding Dress – Made with Love
Bridal Accessories – Lovely Bride
Bridesmaids’ Apparel – Shona Joy, Show Me Your Mumu, ASOS, BHLDN
Groom’s Apparel – Truemaker
Groomsmen’s Apparel – Suit Supply & The Black Tux
Rings – Retrouvai

 

Congratulations to Wendy and Michael on their totally luscious Tulum jungle wedding. And a special shoutout to Junebug member Luxart Wedding Studio for capturing every single unforgettable moment of their epic wedding weekend. To see more of their work, check out their profile in our directory of wedding photographers from around the world!

Between breathtaking landscapes, amazing climates, and magical vibes, it’s no wonder that couple’s like Wendy and Michael choose to escape to their dream location to celebrate their big day with their loved ones. Whether you choose to say your “I do’s” at the beach, the mountains, or a chic city destination, check out our ultimate guide to planning a destination wedding!

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