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Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Charleston / Nikiko Eisgruber
Lots of brides and grooms dream of getting married on a beach, or on a ranch, or in a glamorous city venue. But for couples who love the calming, peaceful feeling of being in nature, there’s nothing better than throwing a forest wedding in the woods.
Thinking about having a micro wedding in a Northern California vineyard among the redwoods?
Planning a massive wedding weekend at an East Coast mansion surrounded by waterfalls and woods?
Here are five ideas for how to throw a memorable forest wedding, plus bridesmaid dress inspiration to help you find your perfect wedding party looks.
1. Keep It Natural
Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Indianapolis / Emily Chappell
One reason we love a woodsy wedding is that nature has its own color palette. Celebrate that beauty by throwing a rustic wedding with beige, brown, or sage bridesmaid dresses.
There are endless ways to make your outdoor wedding celebration feel like it’s part of the natural environment:
- • Provide wooden chairs or tree stump seats for your wedding guests.
- • Carry natural greenery bouquets.
- • Create centerpieces with flowers that are native to the environment.
- • Create centerpieces with flowers that are native to the environment.
- • Choose neutral bridesmaid dresses and groomsmen looks that blend in with the natural landscape.
Outdoor venues in a forest setting are rich with natural beauty, and your wedding will look gorgeous if your wedding blends right in.
Related: Everything You Need to Know for a Glamping Wedding
2. Make It a Magical Fairytale
Photo: Bella Bridesmaids / Paula Player
Make your wedding ceremony in the woods a fairytale moment by saying your “I Do’s” among lush greenery or under a canopy of trees.
Reserve a ceremony space in a redwood grove, amid some giant sequoia trees, or beneath a cluster of weeping willows. Saying your vows beneath (or in front of) a huge tree is the perfect natural backdrop, and you won’t even need to rent or build an arch!
To create a fairytale wedding reception with an enchanted forest vibe, add colorful floral arrangements and draped fabrics. Or, you can make it a bit more moody and dark by decorating the space with deep red roses, vines, and twigs.
Almost nothing feels more magical than late-night dancing beneath the moon, but you can add to the ambiance by hanging or draping string lights from the trees.
Related: 5 Ideas for a Cottagecore Wedding
3. Host a Woodland Wedding on the Water
You don’t need to plan a destination wedding on a tropical beach to have an outdoor ceremony and reception on the water. Plenty of brides and grooms prefer the serenity of saying their vows in a nearby forest with a beautiful river or lake.
There’s something so calming about a ceremony site on the water. Plus, the contrast of blue water against a brown and green landscape sets the perfect stage for incredible wedding photos!
A forest wedding at the edge of a lake also presents you with many color options for bridesmaid dresses. Dress your wedding party in shades of light blue or green to blend in with the landscape. Or opt for dresses in burgundy or pink so that they contrast with the natural surroundings and stand out!
Shop our bridesmaid collections:
Bridesmaid Dresses | Flower Girl Dresses | Junior Bridesmaid Dresses |
4. Say “I Do” in a Winter Wonderland
While an outdoor wedding in the snow isn’t for everyone, there are ways to enjoy the forest feeling in winter. One option is to rent a venue with expansive glass walls that allow you to see the natural surroundings. Another option is to set up tents with heat lamps to keep guests comfortable in the elements.
An outdoor wedding ceremony amidst snow-covered pine trees can be absolutely stunning. Consider bridesmaid dresses in dark green or deep burgundy. Add pine cones and twigs to your bouquets. Opt for chunky heels (or even a pair of cute little booties) so that you don’t have to worry about your heels sinking into the snow.
If your dream is to get married in a woodsy wedding venue in winter, go for it! Just be sure to let your guests know that portions of your wedding may take place outside.
Related: Our Full Guide to Outdoor Weddings
5. Create Whimsy in the Woods
Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Miami / Karla Garcia Costa
We love a little whimsy, and you can make a forest wedding whimsical in lots of different ways.
One option is to find wedding inspiration in the Alice in Wonderland tea party. Think colorful table settings, mismatched chairs, vintage dinnerware, and twinkling lights.
Another option is to embrace some garden wedding vibes with rustic, distressed-wood decor, lounge spaces with a mix of different chairs and benches, farmhouse-inspired accents, and lots of colorful flowers. .
When it’s time to order bridesmaid dresses, consider the colors, fabrics, and silhouettes that work best for the season, the setting, and your personal aesthetic. Whimsy can be vintage or modern or a little bit of both, and which way you take it is entirely up to you!
Related: How to Find (or DIY) a Rustic Wedding Venue
9 Gorgeous Bridesmaid Dresses for a Forest Wedding
Structured and sophisticated or free-flowing and dreamy, these bridesmaid dresses just might be perfect for your wedding day in the woods.
Jenny Yoo Ali Dress
In soft tulle fabric, the Jenny Yoo Ali dress is a dreamy, ethereal option for a whimsical forest wedding. In colors like vintage lilac, morning mist, and whisper blue, this dress is oh-so-romantic with a flowing skirt, V-neckline, and open back.
Dessy 3126FP Dress
Structured in satin twill, the Dessy 3126FP dress features fun cascading details and a romantic allover floral print. This fit and flare design is accented with a square neckline, a square back, and feminine bow-trimmed straps.
Related: 5 Things to Consider When Picking Bridesmaid Dresses
Elliatt Tilly Dress
The Elliatt Tilly dress is the epitome of whimsical woodsy style. In a beautiful pale blue hue to contrast against the natural landscape, this voluminous design boasts an airy look with flowing tiers in luxurious textured satin.
Watters Mason Dress
Bring some glamour into the woods with the Watters Mason dress. Available in rich colors like wine, moss, and evergreen, this charmeuse gown features a sleeveless design with wide straps, a V-neckline, and a fit and flare skirt.
After Six 1552 Dress
Available in an array of autumnal colors to blend or contrast with a woodsy backdrop, the After Six 1552 dress is perfect for a fall or winter wedding. Crafted in lux velvet, this design has a blouson bodice with short flutter sleeves and a beautifully draped skirt.
Learn how to get the most accurate bridesmaid dress measurement in this article.
Amsale Whit Dress
A twisted bodice with a center knot adds rich texture to the Amsale Whit dress in fluid satin. Equal parts whimsical and sophisticated, this design features an off-the-shoulder bodice, short sleeves, and a fit-and-flare skirt.
Alfred Sung D888 Dress
Strapless in satin twill, the Alfred Sung D888 dress has a grand, fairytale-inspired look. Perfect for a formal forest wedding, this design features a full skirt, a basque waist, a pleated accent at the neckline, and side pockets.
Christina Wu Celebrations 22781 Dress
Beaded spaghetti straps add a touch of shimmer to the Christina Wu Celebrations 22781 dress. Crafted in lightweight chiffon, this gown features a pleated V-neck bodice, a flattering A-line skirt, and a soft, flowing cascade.
Related: The Bridesmaid’s Guide to Dress Alterations
Dollhouse Stein Dress
The Dollhouse Stein dress is simply spectacular in an A-line chiffon silhouette with a halter V-neckline and a tie back. If you want your bridesmaids to blend in with the surrounding scenery, opt for colors like fern, sage, or emerald.
Planning to go into the woods for your big day? We love it!
It doesn't matter whether you’re having an intimate outdoor wedding with a few guests or a massive celebration with hundreds of invitees. You can make your forest wedding anything you want it to be.
Whether your wedding is natural and rustic, enchanted, or whimsical, there’s one thing we know for sure:
No matter your wedding theme or personal style, your wedding will be one for the ages!
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