Couples that love the tranquillity and natural beauty of the outdoors have plenty of innovative opportunities to express such love in the celebration of the romantic affection that they share for one another. In doing so, they may want to embrace it as an official wedding theme, encouraging their guests to dress accordingly and focussing [...]

Couples that love the tranquillity and natural beauty of the outdoors have plenty of innovative opportunities to express such love in the celebration of the romantic affection that they share for one another. In doing so, they may want to embrace it as an official wedding theme, encouraging their guests to dress accordingly and focussing their ceremony, menu and celebrations on the natural wonders around them (and perhaps even the conservation thereof).

Theme Colours and Designs
In line with the natural theme of your wedding, your colours and textures should be ones that are found in the earth, water and elements around you. These may include items like feathers and quills, but such resources should always be sourced in a responsible, safe way; not endangering the life or comfort of the animals involved. Other natural items include recycled paper, grasses, flowers, shells, and so on.

Invitations
Use your invitations to inform and prepare your guests for your theme. Be creative and fun, elegant and grand. This is achieved by the type of paper used, but also by the colours and textures. Seeded paper is a recycled paper that has been imbedded with seeds. Guests can then plant their invitations after your wedding, and watch as they sprout gorgeous blooms. Alternatively, send a packet of seeds with your invite attached, or a recycled item that promotes reuse (such as a plastic invitation card made from old soda bottles).

Attire
The natural theme calls for relaxed, comfortable clothing that can still be chic and stylish. Use textiles that have been sourced in a fair trade environment and that are easier on the earth’s natural production factories. Cotton and linen are great options for a natural wedding. They are also accessible, reasonably priced and very comfortable to wear, particularly if your wedding is outside.

In the case of a natural-themed wedding, you have greater flexibility when it comes to the look and feel of your outfits. Your bridesmaids and groomsmen do not need to match, and can wear comfortable, natural clothing. This means that you are not too hot and can dance the night away in ultimate comfort.

Accessories and flowers can be created by using loose arrangements of wild flowers, feathers and grasses. Tie them together so that it looks like you picked them while strolling through the fields to your wedding venue. Ensure that you source your flowers from a reputable florist and that they are free of pesticides.

Venue and Décor
Ideally, a natural-themed wedding should take place in the most natural setting – outdoors. Scatter tables under an old tree, alongside vineyards or orchards, or in a botanical garden, where your guests will be surrounded by the scents of the earth. Find out if a permit is necessary for the venue or location you have chosen and make provision for garbage disposal, natural insect repellent, a kitchen and ablutions, if these are not already established nearby. In addition, make an alternative plan in case of rain or strong winds, no matter how unusual those weather conditions may be in the month of your wedding.

In terms of décor, yours will be successful if it is kept simple and organic. Use fabrics like Hessian, hemp, cotton and linen in colours that are neutral or that reflect a certain aspect of the environment (such as the blues of the sky and ocean or the fiery red sand of the Outback).

Ensure that your menu, décor and guest favours reflect your commitment to eco-friendly products and efforts, using only recycled, recyclable and / or reusable items. Once you have explained your motivation for doing so to your guests, you can be sure that they will be quite enthusiastic about it, even helping to make your wedding as naturally beautiful and memorable as possible. As a special feature, plant a tree as a couple instead of cutting the cake. This will last for decades to come and will serve as a very special token of your love.

Photo Credit: French Riviera Wedding