This post features affiliate links, so if you make a purchase after clicking a link, we may receive a commission. These paid links help keep our website free for everyone to enjoy.
Anys Anys PhotosbyCiera JEReception5 big alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)
Photos by Ciera

Wedding greenery looks fresh, smells great, and costs a lot less than flowers! From eucalyptus and ivy to elephant ears and succulents, foliage can be just as beautiful as blossoms. Greenery is less likely to trigger allergies, too. We love how herbal and forest themes can support pagan and medieval fantasies, but vines and leaves can also really suit an urban architectural vibe.

Here are eight places greenery can add to your wedding decor and general vibe.

Decor

wedding greenery
Photos by Fotografamos

The most obvious way to bring in wedding greenery is in the wedding decor. Just choosing the right venue can be half the battle. We've seen weddings in gardens, parks, forests, and farms. Check the natural features when you visit venues, and count the plants and trees as part of your decor. Add potted plants, silk vines, or even branches and slices of tree trunks to carry on the look.

Greenery decor lends itself to the DIY, but if you're working with a florist, make sure you share your vision before you make your choice. Some florists love the offbeat outside the box nature of looking beyond the blossoms, and some just don't. Check out the fern wreaths at this Tennessee wedding for an example of creative use of greenery!

Bouquet

The Bouqs on Offbeat Bride 4 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)
Bouquet by Bouqs Co Weddings

A loose, hand-tied bouquet is usually less pricey than a more formal, structured one. Go with a high greenery-to-flower ratio for serious savings. The example here from our pals at Bouqs Co Weddings includes some blossoms, but the filler foliage gets a much more important role. The effect is natural and relaxed, but also gorgeous — just like the bride.

We love the folks at Bouqs Co Weddings because their experts work with couples to choose the right flowers and greenery — each couple gets a dedicated wedding expert who will be there for every part of their floral journey. With years of experience, Bouqs Co Weddings experts act as your personal guide to get picture-perfect wedding flowers… with all the greenery you need! From answering questions concerning our various collections, providing different quotes so that you can stay within your budget, or helping with the logistics of placing orders, Bouqs Co Weddings team is never more than a email call away.

Boutonniere

Get lost in the greenery at this herbal garden wedding (and see how they scored the perfect disability-friendly venue!)
Photos by April Maciborka, Olive Studio

Herbs often include small, special flowers along with intriguing greenery. In a boutonniere or corsage, they make a statement. They'll dry nicely, too, and provide a keepsake. The lavender has a subtle unisex scent of its own.

Favors

Wild beauty and rock star babes at this greenery wedding in Connecticut
Photos by Tiny Human Photography

Send guests home with greenery they can plant. They'll remember your wedding for years! Choose plantable pots for maximum convenience.

Centerpieces

Kilts, scotch, & lush greenery reign at this Denver art gallery wedding
Photos by June Photo & Films

Leaves, seedpods, and the rest of the parts of plants can be as lush and lovely as flowers… but they cost much less. Use the classic formula: thriller, filler, and spiller. That means you start with a few gorgeous blooms, fill in with greenery, and pick some plant materials that will cascade down the front of the arrangement to finish it off.

succulent terrarium 047 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Take a completely different tack with a DIY succulent terrarium. We have the full instructions right here!.

Food

cheese and vegetables alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)
Photo by Amanda Photographic

Greens are always a welcome addition to a meal. When your decor is based on greenery, those pretty leaves reinforce the look. From arugula to kale, there are so many different shapes and colors in greens raw or cooked that this one detail can make guests catch their breath when they see the table.

Cake

A chic Manhattan brunch wedding with two grooms & lots of greenery

Natural flowers on cakes are trendy — and can be less pricy than molded sugar paste flowers. Take it a step further and use fresh greenery. This example takes a traditional multi-tiered fondant-covered cake and dresses it up with elegant foliage sprays.

If you DIY your cake, double check to make sure the leaves and other plant material you use are non-toxic.

Clothes

Don't miss the greenery shawl at this Mid-Century Modern wedding right in the middle of a strawberry field
Photos by Fotografamos

Okay, this is a stretch. But how sweet is this leafy wedding shawl? Checkout a moss cape for another take on this idea.

Kilts, scotch, & lush greenery reign at this Denver art gallery wedding
Photos by June Photo & Films

We can't resist including these charming shoes, either. Once you pick a wedding greenery theme, it can inspire many more leafy elements. And again, if you're looking for wedding experts to help you assemble your flowers, chat with our friends over at Bouqs Co Weddings. They make it easy to make your wedding green AF!

Meet our fave wedding vendors

Comments on 8 ways to rock your wedding greenery

  1. These are great. I love those shoes! I’m also a huge fan of the greenhouse wedding. Haven’t done too many but they are always super special.

Comments are closed.