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10 tips on how to organise your dream folk wedding

David Banks
Authored by David Banks
Posted Wednesday, August 28, 2019 - 7:47am

Are you dreaming of a wedding that’s personal, casual, and fits your laid-back lifestyle? One that isn’t stiff, fancy, or costs an arm and a leg? If so, a folk wedding might be just the ticket for you and your spouse-to-be. 

Also known as a rustic, boho, shabby chic, vintage, or country ceremony, folk weddings have a do-it-yourself vibe that can be tailored to match your distinct personality, hobbies, and passions. If down home and handmade nuptials sound like a perfect fit for you, our advice is: Go for it! Get crafty, creative, and have fun with it, and your guests will appreciate how unique the day is and how well it matches exactly who you are.  

  1. Get out in the great outdoors. The best venuefor a folk wedding is outside in nature. The casual, rustic feel of a barn, winery, beach, park, or just an expansive backyard make these places perfect for your event. (Just be sure to have a back-up plan in case of inclement weather—whether that means taking the party indoors or having a tent on hand should it become necessary.)
  2. Use the beauty of Mother Nature. Wildflowers make for great centerpieces, bouquets, and floral crowns. Sections of tree stumps are stunning as cake holders or charging plates. Trees wrapped in fairy lights and tea lights or paper lanterns  hanging from tree branches create an enchanted ambiance for your wedding. Driftwood works well as a natural table card to help guests find where they are sitting for dinner. Feathers and sunflowers make for charming boutonnieres. Edible flowers frozen into ice cubes and then used in cocktails are both gorgeous and unexpected additions to your libations.
  3. Recycle and/or up-cycle your decorations. Have some empty wine bottles lying around? Draw or paint table numbers on them for a charming way to show your guests where to sit. Glass fishbowls full of floating flowers—peonies are perfect due to their larger size and heartiness—make for a visually appealing and a wonderfully casual centerpiece. A ladder with candles on the rungs placed just so becomes an illuminating outdoor lighting fixture. Drinks served in mason jars and imbibed through colorful paper straws add to the whimsy of your wedding. An antique door with panels covered in chalkboard paint and then hand lettered becomes an attractive way to view the order of events for the day, or the timeline of the couple’s love story.
  4. Create a relaxed vibe.  Long communal tables, mismatched chairs, and a burlap table runner bulk collection will just feel right out in nature. Signaling this is no stuffy, formal affair, dinner here becomes lively and relaxed. For cocktail hour, set up chill seating areas scattered throughout the lawn. Throw rugs and poufs, hay bales set seating circles, and assorted teepees encourage conversation and bonding amongst guests. Throw blankets and fire pits encourage mingling and keep guests warm after dark. Offer s’mores supplies for more good old-fashioned fun!
  5. Let your hair down….literally. A folk wedding is no place for a stuffy up-do. So leave your hair soft and flowing. Add loose braids to a few sections and top it all off with a flower crown. Going barefoot makes you boho from head to toe.
  6. Make the most of the venue. Is there an incredible brick wall, fence, weathered wood barn or a stately old tree where you are holding your reception? Be sure to take wedding photos there so you get to see every unique aspect of your venue. Are there animals that live on property? Include them in your pictures for some added flair and authenticity!
  7. Capture the fun on film. A throw-back photo booth is a great addition to any party. You can rent a traditional one that produces photo strips, or hire a campervan or other vehicle that has been outfitted as one. Or, you can set up an outdoor tent with furniture and props and make one of your own. All you need is a Polaroid instant camera, some film, and your guests can have at it. (And if a photo booth is not your thing, consider creating a Polaroid guest book, where your guests take pictures of themselves and glue them into a special book you’ve created for the day and write a special message to you. 
  8. Kick off your shoes and get people moving. Having a great band, DJ, or playlist that gets everyone up and dancing is key to a fun folk wedding reception. A barn dance with traditional folk music and a caller to get guests moving together is always a hit, especially with the older crowd. Many brides go with folk music for an hour or two, then switch to popular, disco or a personal playlist to get the perfect balance of traditional and modern. Either way, let the music play!
  9. Get your guests involved. Lawn games such a giant Jenga, croquet or cornhole help guests meet and mingle. Having little slips of paper at each place setting and asking attendees for their best piece of advice makes them a bigger part of your big day as well as your life going forward. A tarot card reader keeps people engaged and interested, as well as gives them a fun topic to discuss afterward. Giving each guest smokeless sparklers to light as you leave the venue makes for a beautiful, bright end of the night.  
  10. Gift from the hands and heart. The best wedding favors are those you’ve hand crafted. Consider leaving your guests with a handmade soap or jelly, wine or beer you’ve brewed, or a dream catcher or God’s eye you created. Bundles of sage or other dried herbs tied with twine add a beautiful touch as well.

A folk wedding is all about making the day your very own way, so pick some flowers. Find your happy place. And head outside for the most chill, fun, affordable, and Instagrammable wedding out there. Just folk it!

Image credit:  Online For Love.

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