HOW TO PLAN A FESTIVAL WEDDING
HOW TO PLAN A FESTIVAL WEDDING. HoW TO ENSURE YOUR FESTIVAL WEDDING IS relaxed, vibrant, and AN unforgettable celebration that feels more like a weekend-long party than a traditional ceremony.
GREAT OUTDOORS? GREAT MUSIC
HOW TO PLAN A FESTIVAL WEDDING
Heading to festivals is a massive part of the summer season for many people, so it’s no surprise that the festival wedding is becoming more and more popular. If you love spending your weekends listening to great music and dancing your heart out, planning a wedding with a similar vibe is a great way to make sure your celebration really expresses your personality. We’ve put together the key festival wedding ideas that are guaranteed to make your event the highlight of the season!
FESTIVAL VIBEs
A Great Venue with Outdoor Space
When planning your festival wedding, the first thing you’ll need is a venue that has a great outdoor area, to give your wedding that al fresco festival feeling. This could be a simple open field, or somewhere that has a wooded area – this definitely creates Secret Garden Party and Latitude vibes! As we can never guarantee the British weather, you’ll also need to consider some indoor space. Some outdoor venues have permanent structures such open barns, or for the ultimate festival feel you could erect teepees or tents. The advantage of these is they create a wonderful blank canvas that you can style and decorate to your own theme.
FESTIVAL WEDDING BANDS & DJS
The absolute key component of a next-level festival wedding is great music. You need live musicians, and you need them to be the kind who can get your guests up and dancing for the whole wedding. Here at Jonny Ross Music we have some phenomenal festival wedding bands who would be the perfect fit for your bill. All of our bands are available to play at venues and fields across the UK, so no matter where your celebration is, you can have your dream line up! We’ll leave the poster design to you tho!
If music is the most important part of your festival wedding planning (and we think it definitely should be!), opt for a line-up of musicians throughout the day. Start with some acoustic music during the post-ceremony drinks and into the dinner hour, then have a couple of bands to headline the main reception.
OUR TOP FESTIVAL WEDDING BANDS
COLOUR BLUE
For acoustic bands, check out Colour Blue, an acoustic duo who combine harmony vocals, acoustic guitar and djembe drum. Their stripped-back sets are perfect for both ceremonies and daytime entertainment. This talented duo also offer a more high energy set of pop, chart, and rock songs that are sure-fire crowd-pleasers, so they’re a band that could headline your entire festival wedding with music to suit each part of the day.
MARC & ABI
For the ultimate headliner, we recommend Marc & Abi Band a 6 to 8-piece band featuring a horns and string section. They perform a mixture of pop, Motown, R&B & dance, and come with a full light show and staging to ensure a true spectacle at your event – this act really is the perfect headliner for your festival wedding! The Marc & Abi Band have performed worldwide and are 100% guaranteed to get the party started.
THE ROLLING KEYS
Another great option is The Rolling Keys, a duo and band who specialise in ceremony music and play party anthems from the 1960s to current chart hits. Fronted by Sarah Watson they offer an unrivalled luxury experience and are one of the UK’s most in demand wedding bands!
THE WILDE ONES
Indie bands are a festival staple, so we’d recommend The Wilde Ones, a group who performs everything from The Killers to The Arctic Monkeys.
Perfect for those high energy sing along moments in the crowd when you can almost feel like you’re at Glasto in the mud.
Can we get legally married at a festival wedding?
Licensed Venues
If you want to get legally married at your festival wedding, you’ll need to find an outdoor venue that has a licensed structure. The alternative, which opens up many more options, is to do the legal bit elsewhere and then have your festival wedding just as an amazing reception. You could also invite a celebrant to perform a ceremony. While this isn’t legally binding, it will add a lovely touch to your festival wedding and allow you to share a meaningful ceremony with your loved ones. Some of our favourite outdoor venues include Camp Katur, This Green Moon and Oaklands.
01.
FOOD AND DRINK
and your artistic style
A highlight of summer festivals is the delicious range of food and drink, so your festival style wedding definitely needs a similar selection. Think food trucks whipping up tacos and burritos, or Asian-style curries, noodle and rice dishes. Falafels are a great choice for both meat eaters and non-meat eaters, or you could opt for a pizza van where guests can get pizzas made to order. A hog roast is always a winner, with vegetarian options alongside such as jackfruit (very similar to pulled pork) or plant-based sausages. And for pudding, ice cream, doughnuts, churros or crepes are all sure to be popular. Some of our fave festival style caterers include Taste Cuisine and Hog and Apple.
02.
FESTIVAL STYLE DECOR
we document the moments
As your venue will be spread over a large area, think big and bold decor touches to make the most of the space. Bunting, flags and ribbons instantly add a pop of colour and fun to both indoor and outdoor spaces. If you’ve got a teepee or tent, large paper lanterns look fantastic hanging from the ceiling, as do flower chandeliers and ribbon swags. When it comes to flowers, wildflowers will suit your festival wedding theme perfectly, or big, bright blooms such as sunflowers, gerberas and dahlias. Hay bales are a simple solution to outdoor seating, or you could create cosy areas with rugs, cushions and low tables. Once the sun goes down, create a wonderfully romantic atmosphere with festoon lights and lanterns. Our fave Festival Wedding Decor Suppliers include Love Lights the Way and Emma Lane Designs.
03.
RELAXED DRESS CODE
heirloom images for generations
A festival wedding will naturally lend itself to a more relaxed dress code. Think Converse over leather shoes, and colourful waistcoats rather than a three-piece suit and tie. And if you’re going to spend the majority of the day outside, picking a wedding dress that doesn’t have a massive train may make things easier! High heels aren’t necessarily the easiest of footwear in a field, so instead opt for beaded or jewelled sandals or flat shoes. You could even get a pair of funky colourful wellies to channel Kate-Moss-at-Glastonbury vibes! And, of course, add a flower crown for the ultimate boho festival look.
FINISHING TOUCHES
GAMES | CAMPING | MUSIC
Round off your festival-style wedding plan with some fun finishing touches. Outdoor games such as jenga, giant skittles and space hoppers are sure to be a hit with the young and young at heart. When the sun goes down, organise campfires so guests can relax and chat in the firelight. And, of course, don’t forget the marshmallows!
If your venue has the space, invite people to camp over and keep the party going over the whole weekend. Your guests don’t have to worry about travelling to their accommodation and you can all enjoy a delicious breakfast the next morning.
Want some amazing live bands or DJs to play at your festival wedding? Here at Jonny Ross Music we have a fantastic lineup of musicians who’ll hit all the right notes for your celebration. Get in touch with us today to see how we can make your festival wedding go with a swing!
NEED A DJ?
WANT SOME IBIZA SAX VIBES?
HANDPICKED DJs GUARANTEED TO FILL YOUR DANCE FLOOR WITH PERFECT BANGERS
From an afternoon Ibiza style DJ and Sax bringing all the chilled out tunes, to night time parties with all your favourite floor fillers, our DJs are handpicked by us, and are the cream of the crop. No dodgy wedding tunes (unless you want em that is!) and our DJs will personalise the music just for you.
Whether you want hard core drum and base, love a bit of Charlie XCX, or you’re fully embracing your early noughties pop era, we’re here to make sure you have the best night ever.
Need Some Festival Wedding Music?
If you’re ready to embrace a full on festival style wedding, get in touch with our team. We have an amazing collection of artists for all tastes who all love the festival vibe.
If you’d like to chat through ideas, get in touch and let’s plan it together.
