Congratulations, you and your soulmate have decided to get hitched. Wedding planning is underway. Wedding venue is booked. Now is the time to think about how to make your venue look fabulous!

As keen nature lovers, you’ve decided to make plants a feature in your wedding décor, but you’re wondering how to achieve your green wedding styling dreams best. Here’s the ultimate Green Wedding Styling Guide to make sure you have all areas covered.

Longfords Estate, Rotorua - Tim and Nadine Photography

Your ceremony spot

There are many ways to create an intimate and special ceremony spot for you and your love to tie the knot. You may prefer a natural backdrop, a floral arch, a lush love nest or tropical garden islands. Whatever your sweet heart desires, here are a few ideas of how to green up your ceremony spot.

Welcome sign

This is usually the first décor element / area your guests will see. Set the tone with a customised welcome sign, and start the green journey right here. We love a small garden island nestled in amongst the signage, it looks as if your welcome sign is part of the grounds. Potted plants are also a good option here as they can easily be picked up and moved after the ceremony. Another alternative is to decorate the welcome sign itself with native foliage and florals.

Black Barn Lake Tarawera, Rotorua - David Le Photography

Aisle décor

Making the entrance to the aisle a feature works well with creative plant displays at the back of the row of chairs. You can also add complementing miniature garden islands along the aisle to guide the bridal party down to the ceremony spot. It makes for a magical start to your special day.

Black Barn Lake Tarawera, Rotorua - Jane Keam Photography

Ceremony backdrop

Have a good think about what backdrop you’d like to stand in front of when you say ‘I do’. There are many arch options (rectangular, circular, triangular…) which work well to frame the couple. Wedding arches can be decorated with floral and greenery arrangements. If you’d like to keep the ceremony spot view clear, we’d recommend going for a semi-circle love nest, garden islands, pillar arrangements or potted plants placed on either side of the couple.

Signing table

Just like the welcome sign, we’d recommend styling elements which can be moved easily such as floral or greenery arrangement or small potted plants.

Don’t forget your post ceremony area, where your guests will usually enjoy some time around drinks and nibbles, possibly some live music too. Living plants work well around the bar, outdoor lounge area, on the bar leaners, etc.

Your bridal party

Here’s the fun part where you basically ‘decorate’ your bridal party with florals and greenery.

The usual ‘must haves’ are:

Bridal bouquet
Bridesmaids’ bouquets
Groom’s buttonhole
Groomsmen buttonholes

You may also have bridesmen / bridespeople and groomswomen / groomspeople – and they are free to wear whatever floral decoration they feel most comfortable with. As long as your florals are cohesive with similar colours and style, they can be created in many ways to best suit your wedding day: beautiful NZ native bouquets, buttonholes, floral crowns, hat florals, floral leis, etc.

NZ native bouquets - Tim and Nadine Photography

Your reception area

Where you eat, drink and dance! There are so many options on how to best decorate your reception space. However, there are certain areas you should try and create focal points within the space. These areas are:

• Reception entrance

Just like the entrance of your ceremony spot, the entrance to your reception area sets the tone for the rest of your wedding day. You could go all out here with a grandiose entrance of living plants or a green wall which could also be used as a photobackdrop.

• Seating chart

We love a garden island nestled amongst the seating chart. You could also add native foliage to the signage itself. Either way, make sure it stands out as all your guests will be looking for it.

• Guest table décor

Your guests will be seated at their table for quite some time, so it pays to make them look good. The decorations could include table centrepieces made of plants and foliage, bud vases of seasonal native flowers, candles, etc. Consider what type of tables you will be using (round or long) and how much room to leave on the tables for food and drinks. This will determine what type of table décor will work best for you.

• Head table backdrop / décor

Make your bridal table special. This could be a lush green backdrop, a living green wall, a floral installation hanging from above, a lush tablecentrepiece, a plant display in front of the table... options are endless here. Think about your venue space and table layout to see what type of head table décor would work best.

• Bar

The bar is a great spot to create another focal point in the room. We’re all for garden islands nestled amongst the bar area. Either plants coming from behind (a green backdrop would work well here too!), on the sides of the bar or in front – again depending on your venue space, type and size of bar.

• Photo backdrop / photo booth

Everyone loves a photobooth. Put in a few instant cameras or hire a photo stand, you’re in for some good shots! A living green wall is definitely a favourite for this area. You can attach personalized signage, neons, etc. Semi-circle plant nests also work a treat as they create a natural setting for groups to stand in front.

Omahanui Venue, Tauranga - Mr Munro Photography

• Hanging installation

If your reception is taking place in a marquee or in a venue space which has limited floor space, hanging installations are a great alternative to freestanding plants. They don’t take up any floor space and have a great visual impact from above. These can be designed to suit your overall style with matching foliage and florals to your bouquets and table centrepieces.

• Band / Dj area

Create visual interest behind the DJ with plants, living walls, etc.

• Lounge

Plants around the lounge area are really effective at creating an intimate area for guests to chill out. You’ll also find your family and friends will enjoy taking pics lounging in the couch with a lush backdrop!

Gather and Co, Whakatane - Kushla Photography

Other areas to green up would include: the cake table, the gift table and “wish you were here” table.

There are many ways to use plants and greenery at a wedding. These are all ideas, and together we can determine what would work best for you and your special day. Flick us an email to start your green wedding styling journey.

The NZ Green Wedding Styling Guide

Your ceremony spot

Your bridal party

Your reception area

plants

table centrepieces

florals

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