Woohoo! It's Friday! If you're a new-comer to Love My Dress, welcome! Every other Friday, we feature an amazing set of inspiration boards that have been curate by our creative partners, Vicki and Michelle of Pocketful of Dreams . I love our collaboration with these girls, the ideas they come up with get better and better and each theme is so thoroughly researched and beautifully presented. This week, it's all about the festival style wedding, and what a perfect theme to focus on given this glorious summer we've been having so far. Enjoy!
Here at Pocketful of Dreams we know the venue is the first big decision you are likely to make in your wedding planning and that it will play a huge part in the design and style you choose for your day. So in our new series of mood boards and styling guides that we introduced last month, we're picking a specific venue or venue type and showing you how to create a unique and stylish design to work for that space.
Last time we looked at warehouses and how they can be used to create an eclectic cool look. But today we're venturing into the great outdoors and looking at how tents, teepees and yurts can make a fabulous venue for an outdoorsy festival-feel day.
Image Credits: 1.Virgina Living 2. Kelly Sauer 3. Style Me Pretty 4. Ali Mitton 5. Green Wedding Shoes 6. Style Me Pretty 7. Ruffled 8. 26 Media
We think one of the best parts of British summertime is festival season – a celebration of music, arts, sunshine and the great outdoors. If this sounds like your idea of a perfect Summer and you're looking for an altogether more laid-back, carefree and natural wedding day, then a festival wedding could be the perfect option. For our Festival Wedding design, we've created a concept that is mellow and relaxed with a hint of luxe. This is a rustic look…but with lashings of style. No hay bales or mason jars here, the look is perfect for free-spirited couples who love the outdoors but would prefer to be enjoying it whilst sipping champagne from a gilt-edged coupe whilst dancing under the stars.
To bring the look to life, we've chosen a soft and natural colour palette of cream, rose pink and leaf green mixed with an unexpected hint of burgundy, a shade that oozes sophistication and is a hot colourway for 2014.
Image Credits: 1. Papa Kata 2. James Melia 3. Papa Kata 4. Wedding Yurts 5. Priory Bay Yurts 6. Green Union
The starting point for this inspiration was of course the venue – the actually-not-very-humble tent. But how do you pick between bell tents, teepees and yurts? Well it ultimately comes down to your individual preference over the design of the tent. We're steering clear of the traditional wedding marquee here to something with a little more design aesthetic and a structure that will sit at the centre of your design to really set the tone for the day.
Teepee tents are cone shaped structures and were originally used by Native Americans. You may also hear this style of tent described as kåta tents – they have the same pointed cone design but refer to the tents used by the Sami people of northern Sweden, Norway, Finland and the Kola Peninsula of northern Russia. Yurts on the other hand are circular, domed shaped tent which were used by nomadic peoples of central Asia. Both styles of tents come in a variety of sizes and can be joined together to cater for larger celebrations and create distinct spaces. Whichever design you prefer, both offer a laid-back and airy space with oodles of opportunity for injecting your own stylistic flair and personality.
Here are some of our favourite tent suppliers:
- The South - Wedding Yurts is a Bristol based company specialising in gorgeous yurts all of which have been hand crafted from sweet chestnut wood and covered in cream canvas. All their yurts are based on Turkmenistan yurts which have curved roof tibs to create extra height in the roof, making them a light and spacious venue choice. If you prefer the conical style of the classic tipi, then try Devon based World Inspired Tents.
- The North - PapaKata Tents specialise in Kata style teepees, beautiful tents based on a traditional Scandinavian design used by the reindeer herding Sami people of Lapland. They are therefore designed to withstand the harshest winter whilst their easy-to-raise sides mean they are also a great option when we are blessed with sunshine.
- The Midlands - Peaktipis is based in Derbyshire and offer Stratus tipi tents with wooden poles and a light-tan covered canvas.
Now when it comes to a festival wedding, there are a few things to remember when choosing your venue and tent supplier:
- Think about the space you're hiring: preferably you want a space with flat, level ground and make sure that you have access to the fields or grounds several days before your wedding to allow time for your tent to be fully set up.
- When choosing your venue space remember the practical aspects that are needed to make your day a success, such as access, parking, electricity and water supplies. It's a good idea to do a site visit with your tent supplier in advance of booking so they can identify any potential issues upfront.
- What kind of tent company do you want to use? Some suppliers will offer a dry hire, literally setting up the tent and leaving it empty for you to source flooring, furniture, bars, toilets and all those other essential elements. Whilst offer suppliers will offer complete hire services with a choice of furniture, fire pits, lighting and styling options – make sure you know exactly what you're getting before you sign that contract.
- Many tent suppliers host open day events which give you a great opportunity to get a sense for how they work and get up close and personal to check that you're happy with the layout options they provide and the quality of the structures.
- Make sure you speak to your tent supplier about the flooring as well; will they be providing wooden flooring or carpets? If carpets, what colour will this be and how old is the carpet? You ideally want a supplier who provides interlocking solid wood flooring as a base to cope with all those high heels, plus aesthetically it would work much better for this design. It's also a good idea to speak to your supplier about the path leading up to your tent – some kind of wooden boarding (dressed with a carpet or rug if you prefer) helps to protect your guests if the field you're in becomes wet and muddy. Some companies like The Stunning Tents Company even offer covered walkway options.
- An outdoor based wedding requires a lot more organisation and coordination than a classic wedding venue; both on the day itself and in the days leading up to the event so we would highly recommend using a wedding planner like Pocketful of Dreams who can provide an on-the day coordination service to event manage and style the set up.
- One of the biggest fears we hear from people considering a tent based wedding is the weather. Truly the one thing you cannot control, you can however make plans in advance to deal with rain. Consider things like large umbrellas for you and your guests and why not invest in a fabulous pair of Wellies which you can don for outdoor photographs. Planning these things in advance mean that you will be more relaxed if you do get rain on the day but also ensures you can incorporate these elements into your design for a seamlessly executed wet weather plan.
Image Credits: 1. BHLDN 2. Back In Time 3. 4Firefly Collections 4. Blonde Ambition 5. Vans 6. Emma Soup 7. Vicki Grafton
Our Festival Bride wants a look that encompasses a laid-back boho feel but with a sophisticated twist. We love the Omelia Gown from BHLDN which perfectly personifies this look. Designed by Catherine Deane, this dreamy gown cuts a relaxed silhouette with its off-the-shoulder detail, whilst the lace embellishment at the hem, satin waist band and dotted silk tulle layered over silk gives it a gorgeously romantic edge brimming with understated elegance. Pair the dress with these fabulous Nenita sandals from Blonde Ambition. Their swinging beaded tassels lend a playful '70s flair to these boho-chic sandals set on a sleek wooden platform and chunky cork heel. And they'd be perfect for taking on honeymoon after the big day!
Keep hair loose and simple perhaps with a few plaits to frame your face or an oversized, asymmetric floral crown. We want to blend with the natural background, so opt for a barely there make up base with a simple lashing of eyeliner and mascara to make the eyes pop and then a statement lip in a warm burgundy.
Keep your accessories nature inspired to complement your outdoor setting. This gorgeous rose gold ring we found on Etsy is uniquely designed in a branch pattern and features a rough cut natural purple amethyst to give a look that is stylish and luxe but without being full-on bling. Accessorise with a truly beautiful bouquet featuring textured blooms, variegated leaves, ferns, finished off with loosely tied and flowing ribbons in various pinks, cream and burgundy which will look gorgeous against your perfectly manicured rose pink nails.
Meanwhile our groom is channeling preppy chic with a cute burgundy bow-tie, which he pairs with some cool Vans for the perfect smart casual look. Opt for a mismatched suit with a brown tweed jacket and maybe even a pair of braces to show off on the dance floor as the day progresses.
Image Credits: 1. The Charley Girl 2. Style Me Pretty 3. ABC Carpet & Home 4. Rainforest Supplies 5. A Lovely Thing 6. Amazon 7. Amazon 8. A Lovely Thing 9. 10. Snippet & Ink 11. Fiona Leahy 12. Kali Lu 13. 14. Betsy White 15. Ralph Lauren 16. Kari Herer
- The beauty of working with a venue like this is that many tent and yurt suppliers also offer plenty of support when it comes to styling props and finishing touches. Including naturally beautiful, refectory-style wooden tables and benches dressed with reindeer skins, chill out areas with open fires, cushions and soft seating, moroccan lanterns and twinkly lights, some even offer a range of tealight holders and vase options. The key here is to really make the most of the props on offer, working them into your design concept and then adding other wow-factor details to really personalise the day and make it your own.
- For our design we've started with the paper suite, setting the scene with a hand-illustrated couple surrounded by nature. This is the perfect emblem to carry right through the styling, utilising elements of the illustration on everything from place cards to table numbers and signage.
- Having your ceremony outdoors is an absolute dream and a key focus for many couples when planning a festival wedding. Legal restrictions in the UK mean you need to marry underneath a permanent, licensed structure but if your vision is of a truly outdoor ceremony in a field or meadow, then there are options available with celebrants like One Life Ceremonies who can create personal, bespoke ceremonies for you, held wherever you choose. (Just remember that you'll still need to undertake a legal marriage).
- For the ceremony we'd create a focal point backdrop bringing nature's own props into play with lots of branches, tree stumps and a riot of wildflowers. The piece de resistance, an overdyed rug, which is all the rage when it comes to interiors, and we think would fit perfectly at a wedding! We'd love to see a pink one sitting beneath the feet of the bride and groom (particularly good if there's a lot of standing around on grass in pretty heels!) Cover the bottom with waterproof sheeting so you can re-utilise the rug in your marital home after the wedding.
- Tents and yurts offer you the chance to really make a statement with your decor hanging within the ceiling space. We love creating bespoke ceiling installations for our clients, for this one we'd keep the materials quite natural with twigs and branches clumped together in a large group as the centrepiece, hanging a mixture of fabric and paper lace pendants – the fabric ones being super easy to DIY. Intersperse these with an array of twinkly lights and you have your very own heaven on earth showpiece.
- The tables don't need much decor in a space like this, think laidback luxe and keep it relatively simple. Add a delicate table runner to your refectory style tables in this magnificent Momentum Sheers and Structure fabric by Harlequin - a sheer voile that will allow the natural beauty of the wood shine through then layer on an array of low-level floral arrangements such as hellebores and orchids in soft pinks and burgundy with scabiosa pods and plenty of foraged foliage sat within olive wood vessels. All set off with decadent glassware and cutlery; try Couvert for hiring items or Amara for splurging on items you can keep.
- We also love the idea of introducing an unexpected piece to the place settings, the menus you see above are leather embossed and patinated by master craftsmen – this idea would be an incredible one for adding that hint of luxe to your table. Perhaps consider having leather luggage tags created for each of your guests that will double up as place settings.
- With so much else going on with the surroundings, we'd suggest simply frosted cakes dressed with wildflowers sat atop wooden stumps to continue the rustic vibe.
- Don't forget the little details at cocktail hour; cute signage, a signature cocktail menu and bespoke napkins will allow you to see your design through and inject your personality.
- For our final showpiece we would look to create a number of hanging art installations for the bar area. We would print Kari Herer's magnificent still life prints onto canvas banners (like these) and then suspend them from the ceiling using vintage brown leather belts as straps. And to make this idea even more wonderful, add real flowers to the imagery for a true wow-factor decor piece.
Image Credits: 1. Streatza 2. Hoban & Sons 3. Ginger's Comfort Emporium
And of course the highlight of any festival wedding has to be the food! The relaxed setting and abundance of outdoor space means you can fully indulge your foodie fantasies and bring in a number of suppliers from down and dirty food truck traders to purveyors of artisan, organic treats. Here are our top picks:
The Eats:
- In The North - Streatza is a mobile woodfired pizzeria and street kitchen trading from a 1969 Citroen H Van. They are passionate about making authentic neapolitan pizza with their legendary homemade dough. Michelle swears it is truly the best pizza she has tasted in a long time.
- In The South - The Everybody Love Love Jhal Muri Express offers fresh, fast and authentic Kolkata street food in a variety of fabulously bright and colourful set ups ranging from a 1 metre square trolley to standalone chaat counters and even a full van experience designed to look like "a trip from a temple to bollywood" complete with garlands and flags. We guarantee you won't find a better named street food vendor and you certainly won't find better tasting authentic Indian street food.
The Sips:
- In The North: Hoban & Sons brings charm and eccentricity to your event bar, in the form of their marvellous converted ambulance, Agatha.
- In The South: Beetle Juice is a mobile bar serving sumptuous cocktails from a converted 1970s VW Camper van for a quirky yet chic cocktail experience.
The Treats:
- In The North: Ginger's Comfort Emporium: An ice-cream van for grown-ups and the perfect treat for your Festival Wedding day. Dispensing unusual flavours and combinations such as liquorice root, coriander leaf and camel's milk as well as her bestseller Chorlton Crack (peanut butter and salted caramel). Hailing from Manchester you'll find her at food markets across the country if you want to take the taste test. But trust us, once you do you'll be booking her for your wedding day in no time.
- In The South: London based Ice Kitchen is a new kid on the block, bringing the very best in artisan ice lollies. Inspired by the Latin American Paletas tradition of using whole fresh fruit, Ice Kitchen make all their ice lollies by hand with surprising and unexpected flavour combinations and use only the very best, fresh, natural ingredients. Our favourite? The pink mojito of course…
Our Festival Wedding design is the perfect option for a fun-loving couple who dream of being outside but also like the finer things in life. So if you're more glamping than old-fashioned camping, this look is for you. If you've fallen for the idea of getting wed in a yurt or teepee, then make sure you pop by our Festival Wedding Pinterest board for even more inspiration. Also be sure to explore all the festival style real weddings on Love My Dress.
Do let us know what you think in the comments box below and if you'd like us to design a concept for your venue or there are any colours, concepts or ideas that you'd like to see us incorporate into an upcoming Love My Dress inspiration board we'd love to hear from you!
Michelle & Vicki xx
Creative Event Designers at Pocketful of Dreams
