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11 Tropical Wedding Ideas to Transform Any Venue Into Paradise

July 16, 2021 | riley
tropical wedding hero

Image by The Hendrys

Taking cues from destinations like Tulum to Hawaii, the beachy effortlessness, vibrant color palettes, and gorgeous natural elements like rattan and macrame have taken over the wedding world. To achieve those island vibes for your big day, we’ve rounded up eight tropical wedding ideas to turn any venue, anywhere in the world, into paradise. Spoiler alert–there’s palm leaves everywhere you look!

Tropical Wedding Ideas to Bring Paradise to Your Big Day

1. Palm Print Getting Ready Robes

To bring in the beachy vibes while you’re getting ready for your big day, give your wedding party tropical robes. Think palm leaves, monsteras, pineapples, and bright colors.

tropical bridesmaid robes

Image by White Diamond. See more of this real wedding here

Shop our favorite tropical robesTropical Leaf Robes ($19.96); Panama Leaf Women Kimono Robe ($23.99); Bridesmaid Tropical Robe ($19.13); Indian Palm Tree Print Kimono Robe ($22.32)

2. Tropical Wedding Stationery

Kick off your special day with tropical wedding stationery. You can find options/templates for specific destinations or more simple ones that have palm leaves or trees. Whichever you decide on, your guests will be ready for a tropical getaway the minute they open them up.

Shop tropical wedding invitations: Tropical Wedding Invitation Suite ($17); Cora Tropical Wedding Invitation ($13.99); Palm Tree Wedding Invitation ($11.90); Beach Editable Wedding Invitation Template ($11.39)

3. Natural Jute Rugs

One of the easiest beachy wedding decorations to include on your day is jute rugs. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, so there’s something for every ceremony space.

outdoor boho tropical wedding ceremony

Image by Terralogical. See more of this real wedding here

4. Rattan Chairs

From peacock chairs to use at your sweetheart table to smaller rattan chairs to use during your ceremony, there are lots of options when it comes to seating. The best part is that if you choose to buy some for your wedding, you can reuse them as home decor once the day is over.

5. Tropical Fruit Accents

Fruits like pineapples, watermelon, strawberries, and orange just scream summer. Incorporate them in your tablescapes for a more subtle tropical element. If you’re having a destination wedding, you may even consider local fruits.

6. Raffia Fans

Beat the heat with raffia fans. They make super easy wedding favors while also allowing your guests to cool down in the middle of a heatwave–perfect for a summer wedding.

rattan fan wedding favors

Image by MemoryBox Photography. See more of this real wedding here

7. Palm Leaves

This list wouldn’t be complete without palm leaves. They make incredible centerpieces, bouquets, and backdrops, although there’s no wrong way to incorporate them.

8. Coconut Favors

Is there anything more beachy than sipping a cocktail–or mocktail–out of a coconut? To take the favor to the next level, create a wedding logo and have it painted or branded into the coconut.

coconut wedding favors

Image by Madeline Shea Photography. See more of this real wedding here

9. Colored Suit

While there’s nothing wrong with wearing black or navy, if you want to tie your wedding attire into your theme, consider wearing a colored suit–specifically emerald green. If you prefer something more neutral, beige linen is a great option.

colored suit wedding portrait

Image by The Hendrys

10. Tropical Wedding Attire

If you want to opt for a black or navy suit but still want to incorporate the tropical aesthetic into your look, pair your suit jacket with a printed button-up underneath. This adds a pop under your suit and gives you the opportunity to take the jacket off at the end of the night to cool off while still fitting in.

Image by Brooke Couch

11. Hanging Greenery

Hanging florals or greenery above your tables is an easy way to add some visual interest to your reception and help bring nature into the night. Whether you do palm leaves similar to the inspiration below or a mix of bright florals and monstera leaves, talk with your florist about creating floral ceilings to help match your tropical theme.

These tropical wedding ideas are just the beginning. To further incorporate beachy elements into your special day, check out these bright and bold color palettes that are perfect for a warm-weather celebration!

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Relaxed Rainy-Day Lakeside Elopement

July 16, 2021 | kailey

Nothing—not even a little weather—could rain on Alex and AJ’s lakeside elopement. After winning an epic wedding giveaway—crafted by Junebug member Shannon Bellisle and a talented team of vendors—this couple was given a stunning elopement ceremony that authentically represented their adventurous hearts. 

This intimate celebration proves simple, small ceremonies don’t have to be boring. Because this couple wanted a simple, laid-back wedding vibe, Forgather Floral Co added neutral floral arrangements to complement the calm Hardy Lake backdrop. 

Photographer Christina Stirpe Photography captured every relaxed and rainy moment that’ll have couples less worried about the weather on their big day. After seeing these romantic, rainy images you might even be hoping for cloudy skies. 

More From Shannon Bellisle On This Lakeside Elopement 

Alex and AJ were winners of an Elopement Giveaway put together by a few local vendors. We wanted to give back after so many couples had their wedding dreams devastated by the pandemic. Our idea was to bring to life a really laid-back, naturally beautiful day. Our outdoor ceremony included a 15-minute hike into the woods on uneven ground to get to the spot we chose that overlooked the stunning Hardy Lake in Muskoka. We knew we wanted an adventurous couple to win and we were so excited by their enthusiastic “up for anything” attitude. For days we were watching the weather network worried we were going to get hit with a storm they had been calling for. The couple decided to move forward anyway and honestly, we all felt like the rain was a magical touch that brought this entire day to life. It illuminated their smiles and showed off their fun and adventurous personalities.

The Couple:

Alex and AJ

The Wedding:

Muskoka, Ontario

Nothing Could Come Between This Love

We’re proud that we moved forward with our wedding during the global pandemic and worked with our talented team of vendors to put together a sweet elopement ceremony that authentically represented us as a couple. 

Little Moments Make For An Unforgettable Wedding

To us, the entire day collectively is so memorable, however the small things that contributed to our special day make it much more special. We spent the night before the wedding at our favorite place—where AJ also proposed! We spent the morning together with our wedding party and were really able to enjoy our day together. Another memorable part of the day was our first dance. We shared our first dance as husband and wife in the pouring rain in the exact spot where we said our vows.  

You Should Be Your Top Wedding Planning Priority 

Our advice is short and sweet. Make your wedding day about you. Who you are as a couple and what is authentic to you. Focusing on the meaning and importance of our marriage, removing the ‘traditional’ aspects, and ensuring we were both incredibly happy with our plans meant so much to us. 

Working With Photographer Christina Stirpe Photography

Working with Christina was the easiest and most fun process! We’ve never had professional photos done until our wedding day, and like many people, we were incredibly nervous. Christina Stirpe Photography is the absolute best at what she does. She’s down to earth and extremely approachable, which makes it extremely easy to work with her. She’s very open and was always willing to work with us to help make our wedding day everything we imagined.  

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Christina Stirpe Photography
Event Planning + Rentals – Shannon Bellisle
Floral Design – Forgather Floral Co
Videography – Patrick G Films
Makeup Artist + Hair Styling – JK Glam

 

Congratulations Alex and AJ on their rainy lakeside elopement. Big thanks to photographer Christina Stirpe Photography and Junebug member Shannon Bellisle for sharing this intentionality-infused celebration. If you’re dreaming of an adventurous Ontario wedding, check out more of Shannon’s work in our directory of top wedding planners around the world. 

This unique, intimate elopement proves there is no cookie-cutter celebration. There are alternative options—like hosting an elopement or micro wedding—when it comes to planning your dream day. If you’re searching for ways to add adventure to your wedding day, check out the prettiest national parks fit for any wedding.

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Whimsical And Colorful Micro Wedding

July 15, 2021 | Junebug Weddings

Creating a uniquely you wedding is half the fun of planning a wedding! To kick off their fun planning adventure, Hilary and Mike brought their keen eyes for art to their colorful micro wedding. Using a color palette of electric blue, gold, and maroon, they added bold and unique decor to their wedding. Everything worked perfectly from the metallic streamers, vinyl-wrapped blocks, disco balls, and flower-infused balloon arch. You could say that color was definitely not in short supply. Junebug member Jeff Gilmer Photography describes it as, “80s prom meets Dr. Suess meets Studio 54” and we have to agree. 

To add to the bold colors of the day, Hilary rocked some amazing wedding day fashion. She paired bold red shoes with her crisp white wide-leg trousers and twirl-worthy top. We can’t forget to mention her second outfit—a head-to-toe gold reception outfit

These photos captured by Junebug member Jeff Gilmer Photography might just inspire you to add more color and playfulness to your wedding day! Keep scrolling to get inspired.

The Couple:

Hilary and Mike

The Wedding:

Live Oak Friends Meeting House, Houston, Texas

Having Their First Dance

Our first dance was our little nod to tradition. Considering that we hadn’t even committed to doing a choreographed dance until about a month before the big day, we can’t believe how much fun it was. We took three lessons with Lisa at Love Dance HTX and learned a classic waltz to “Love” by Nancy Adams which was written for Disney’s 1973 film “Robin Hood”. It’s such a simple and nostalgic song, and we’re lucky to relive that moment whenever we listen to it.

Shop similar red shoes: 

A Ceremony Inspired By Traditions

We knew we wanted our ceremony to be inspired by the Quaker marriage tradition. We deeply connect to its simple, egalitarian nature, as well as the value placed on silent reflection and on participation from family and friends. Also, we wrote our own vows in little notebooks which we now keep behind the frame of our ceremony certificate, signed by everyone who shared that day with us.

Recommended reading: perfect bridal jumpsuits and pantsuits 

Creating Their Perfect Wedding

The most important part about planning was having fun! Neither of us come from a background of religious customs or family traditions. So, we had the privilege of planning our idea of a great time. We settled on love and gratitude on a backdrop of cocktails, comfort food, and groovy music as our inspiration.

DIY-ing Their Colorful Micro Wedding

The most special element that we DIY’d was our invitations. Using an image that our photographer Jeff Gilmer took at our engagement shoot, we worked with our dear friend and art school professor, Patrick Masterson, to make an edition of 100 four-color screen prints. It was an amazing way to connect the memories from our relationship with the future of our marriage. We also designed all of the ephemera for the save-the-date, ceremony program, cocktail napkins, koozies, and matchboxes. Then, we built and painted the cubes for the photo backdrop, seating info display, and table numbers.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Jeff Gilmer Photography
Event Planning – Monica Coimbra, Petite Soiree
Ceremony Venue – Live Oak Meeting House
Reception Venue – Aztec Events
Floral Design – Babe City Blooms
Catering – Little Kitchen HTX
Cake – Wink by Erica
DJ – Andrés Henderson & Asli Omar
Makeup Artist + Hair Styling – Adorne Artistry
Rings – Jay Landa
Rentals – Swift Events
Balloon Arch, Fringed Ceiling Pendants, and Backdrop – Revelry Goods

 

Congratulations to Hilary and Mike on their whimsical and colorful micro wedding. We truly are grateful to Junebug member Jeff Gilmer Photography for capturing and sharing this day with us. Check out his profile in our directory of wedding photographers from around the world

Then, get started planning your own unique wedding. Check out our guide to planning a unique wedding of your own to kick off the process.

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