How to Plan a Wedding in the Woods

Posted March 22, 2012 by EmmalineBride | ♥ 18 Comments - Leave a Comment!

Do you dream of a wedding in the woods, exchanging vows underneath trees and enjoying a reception off the beaten path? Today’s woodland wedding inspiration post is for you! A wedding in the woods is a romantic venue; nature is beauty in itself and makes a perfect backdrop for exchanging vows. And, your friend Mother Nature will take care of most of the decorating herself, which means all you have to do is add a few unique touches to make the space your own! It requires a bit more in terms of setup for catering and seating, but we think the result is well worth the extra work. Read on to find out how to plan a chic wedding in the woods with hand-picked inspiration including handmade wedding items & Real Wedding examples from real couples like you! Enjoy!

Does it get more beautiful than this?

Wedding in the Woods

A Crazy Beautiful Ceremony Location

Nature is already beautiful, so the ceremony location ought to be easy to spot. Make sure it’s open and large enough for guests to sit comfortably. Then, design your ceremony space where you’ll recite your vows.

A Place for Guests to Relax

To make the space more enjoyable for guests, provide plenty of seating (the more comfortable, the better!) with eclectic chairs, vintage couches, and more. While not entirely practical (I’m imagining myself dragging couches out into the woods), it certainly makes for a memorable event.

The most important element for guests is a comfortable, roomy space to enjoy dinner and take in the breathtaking views.

Nature-Inspired Wedding Rings

One way to tie in your woodland wedding theme after the “I Do” is with a nature inspired wedding ring. Whenever you admire the band, you’ll recall your beautiful day. This band with leaf imprints is our favorite for the groom, handmade by Magic in the Grass…

… with this band which is one of our favorites for the bride, handmade by Kristin Coffin:

(P.S. Don’t forget the matching earrings with a twig design, also by Kristin Coffin:)

Woodland Wedding Invitations

The best way to inspire your creativity from the start is with a woodland wedding invitation suite. This suite was a DIY by Wood and Grain spotted at Oh So Beautiful Paper and it’s one of the prettiest we’ve seen yet! It even includes a ‘field guide’ with local trees, plants, and bugs. This is a great way to get your guests excited for the fun party you have planned.

Cake Topper, Rustic-Inspired

Make sure your cake is topped with a natural find, like this twig topper by Made Merri Shop.

Great Bridal Party Apparel

We love the idea of groomsmen in suspenders…

… and bridesmaids in boots! Too cute.

Woodland Wedding Gifts for the Bridal Party

Tie in nature-inspired gifts for the bridal party, like these cuff links by Wooden Treasures…

… and twig earrings for the girls by Sageleaf Jewelry:

Simple, Elegant Flowers & Bouquets

Flowers of baby’s breath and lavender are most inviting for a woodland wedding. The lovely Lauren Kinsey styled these beautifully:

Nature-Inspired Decor

Tie in your woodland wedding theme with handmade decor, DIY details, and more!

Sweet Rustic-Inspired Favors

And, be sure to send guests home with a little woodland-inspired love with a rustic wedding favor. We love these jam jars, always a charming homespun favorite…

Must-Have Photos

Don’t forget to spend plenty of time snapping photos in the natural elements! These photos are incredible…

We hope you enjoyed our wedding in the woods inspiration! And don’t forget the bug spray! ;)

* * *

Happy Planning!

♥
-E.

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18 Responses to “How to Plan a Wedding in the Woods”

1. Atalie Thronson
   March 22nd, 2012 @ 3:11 pm

   I got married in the woods last september and my biggest advice would be to make sure that if you live in the western united states (or are getting married in the west) to have a venue that you can have the wedding both outside and inside. Just in case it rains.
   Also, make sure to hire a REALLY good photographer whose whole career does not depend on how well they take pictures in the light. All of my pictures were darker but amazing and ethereal because I picked a photographer who was good at taking photos in overcast and with darker light

2. EmmalineBride
   March 22nd, 2012 @ 3:37 pm

   Atalie,

   Thanks for the tips! Those are great points. It’s true about the rain – it’s always great to have a backup plan. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your advice!

   Emma
   Emmaline Bride

3. Laura
   March 22nd, 2012 @ 4:02 pm

   Awesome post! I was just thinking about rustic wedding in the woods themes and this is all perfect!

4. Kelli Ahern
   March 22nd, 2012 @ 4:24 pm

   Nothing better than a woodsy wedding! They are amazing and sooooo story book.

5. Lisa Johnson
   March 22nd, 2012 @ 9:00 pm

   Beautiful Wedding! Lovely ideas.

6. katy
   March 23rd, 2012 @ 9:15 am

   LOVE twin hearts photography! great post :)

7. Rustic Wedding Centerpieces That You Can Make | Rustic Crafts & Chic Decor
   March 25th, 2012 @ 2:03 am

   [...] source [...]

8. Ginny
   March 27th, 2012 @ 11:30 am

   How do you figure out the bathroom situation at these events? I would love to do this, but portolets are just grosse…

9. EmmalineBride
   March 27th, 2012 @ 2:00 pm

   Hi Ginny!

   That is one downfall to the wedding in the woods, but I’ve seen some ‘wedding-friendly’ port-a-potties that are in white and include a sink. You can include a table nearby with some essentials, too, to make guests feel more at home. Not the prettiest idea but it works! :)

   Thanks for stopping by!

   Emma
   Emmaline Bride

10. RJ Photo Galleries
    March 29th, 2012 @ 12:05 am

    These are great ideas, especially the woods wedding. Something look forward to photograph.

11. Why not a woodsy wedding « Save the Date Products & Wedding Planning Resources for Every Bride
    April 3rd, 2012 @ 8:02 am

    [...] DIY invitations via Emmaline Bride, with a step-by-step tutorial available at Wood & Grain. It appears to be pretty [...]

12. Christine of Louisville Wedding Blog
    April 6th, 2012 @ 8:39 am

    A country inspired romantic wedding is an upcoming 2012 wedding trend. I love the details of the photos you’ve shared. It would truly help brides looking for that earthy natural wedding inspiration.

13. Rustic Wood Cake Stands + a DIY | Glitter Weddings
    April 23rd, 2012 @ 10:32 am

    [...] via Babble // Once Wed // Rustic Wedding Shop // Sunday Hatch // Once Wed // Emmaline Bride via Sunday Hatch You might also like:Whitewash AccentsI love love love the look of a white-washed [...]

14. Taylor
    May 1st, 2012 @ 9:46 pm

    so much inspiration in this post!!! I hope I have a wedding to shoot similar to this this summer xoxoxo!!!

15. kalliandchris
    May 8th, 2012 @ 11:15 pm

    [...] http://emmalinebride.com/how-to/plan-a-wedding-in-the-woods/) Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post. Tags lighting, outdoors, [...]

16. Be inspired- Create your own wedding lounge
    May 29th, 2012 @ 6:58 am

    [...] emmalinebride.com via Jenna on [...]

17. Nai
    July 15th, 2012 @ 7:12 pm

    If i may ask this is a lovely place to have a wedding and i would love to have my wedding in a place like this. WHere is this place located it at its beautiful?

18. 7 Most Inspiring Ceremony Backdrops | Ceremonies De Vie
    August 6th, 2012 @ 6:18 pm

    [...] ceremony locations are almost too gorgeous to cover up!  For wedding ceremonies on the beach or in the woods), let Mother Nature do the heavy [...]

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