When planning your wedding, the very first thing that you and your fiancé need to decide on is the general theme and vibe of your big day, and this will then naturally inform most other decisions, from the style of your wedding dress to the table decorations and even the menu.
For those free-spirited, peaceful types who tend to shy away from the virtual takeover of modern technology and prefer enveloping themselves in the peace and tranquility of nature, they could be described as living a bohemian-like lifestyle.
If this sounds like you and your soon-to-be spouse, then continue reading to discover a detailed guide to organizing the ultimate bohemian-style wedding from start to finish.
Focus on Cultivating a Relaxed & Carefree Atmosphere
First and foremost, the chances are that if you’re one of those people who gets stressed and worried at the slightest change or unforeseen hiccup in a schedule, then the last thing you’ll want to experience on your wedding day is a slightly chilled-out reception, so frankly, a bohemian-style wedding may not be for you.
Conversely, if you and your betrothed have always found an affinity for the 1970s hippie lifestyle and aren’t overly bothered about a meticulous and military-style schedule for your big day, then you should cultivate this carefree atmosphere.
Do this by having people mill around freely before the ceremony, providing relaxed and entertaining distractions from the wait and encouraging people to simply do exactly what they want and leave whenever they feel the time is right.
Furthermore, when it comes to sitting down with your partner and engaging in initial wedding discussions, begin with a relaxed and peaceful aura.
Develop an Environmentally Friendly Mindset
At the true heart of the bohemian vibe is the feeling of being connected to the Earth and the natural world around you, and part of this is concentrating on organizing a wedding day that is as eco-friendly as possible.
Obviously, and especially if you have guests who are traveling from another state or even from another country, travel is something you can’t eradicate, but when it comes to wedding decor, outfits, and general decorations, secondhand or even handmade goes a long way.
Reputable and established shipping companies like Shiply are able to safely and securely ship any number of items, big or small, which family members and close friends living in different states have sourced for your wedding, so don’t hesitate to give them a call.
The All-Important Wedding Dress
When anyone pictures a wedding, they can’t help but imagine a beautiful bride in her wedding dress, and even though you’re planning a relaxed affair, all eyes will still be on the bride as she walks down the aisle.
Even though it’s important to ensure that the dress is entirely in keeping with your bohemian theme, you still need to choose the perfect wedding dress which reflects who you are as a person and what’s more, your own unique style.
Some simple tips for choosing a bohemian wedding dress include the following:
- Lace
- Crochet
- Detailed embroidery
- An unadorned and unfussy silhouette
- An effortlessly elegant, finished look
It’s also worth noting that, unless you’re desperate to share the wedding dress shopping experience with your mom and your bridesmaids, there’s definitely something to be said for wedding dress shopping alone, which allows you to concentrate and stick to what you actually want.
Choose an Outdoor Venue
With the inevitable expense associated with even the simplest of wedding days, it’s not sensible to design and execute an entirely outdoor wedding, only for the heavens to open and you all have nowhere to go and nothing to do.
However, no true bohemian wedding is complete without at least a portion of the day being spent among trees, natural elements and walking on the grass, so not only should you consider a summer wedding, but you could also look into farms and other outdoor options that also have an indoor backup.
Another important thing to remember when choosing the bohemian style wedding venue of your dreams is to consider non-traditional nuptials.
Plan the Playlist Carefully
Another crucial element of any wedding celebration, especially in terms of entertainment at the reception, is a fun-filled musical playlist and the beauty of getting married now, as opposed to twenty years ago, is that it’s both simple and free to create your own personalized wedding playlist.
Not only can you use Spotify or another reputable music streaming service to create your wedding playlist, but you could also include the link to the playlist on the invitations, so your friends and family members can connect with the wedding vibe from the outset.
Some excellent choices in popular tunes for a bohemian-inspired wedding celebration include, among a host of others, the following:
- “Punching in a Dream” by The Naked and the Famous
- “Electric Feel” by MGMT
- “Rhythm of Love” by Plain White T’s
- “A Little Honey” by Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats
- “Atlantic City” by The Band
- “Truly Madly Deeply” by Yoke Lore
You could also consider asking all of your guests to suggest three songs they would love to hear at the wedding reception, and you could use this as a basis to either prepare a song list for the DJ or even to give to any live bands you’re thinking about hiring.
Color is Everything
Finally, one unifying element of planning your bohemian-style wedding is to concentrate on incorporating the same colors, tones and hues throughout every single component.
Your invitations will essentially be the way that your loved ones will have a sneak peek at what is to come in the future, and as such, the colors of the flowers that the bridal party will be holding and the same colors on the tables at the reception, should also be included on the invites.
For bohemian weddings, the epitome of color should be browns, creams, and pastel greens, and then you can add accents and splashes of navy or burgundy, too.