Boho weddings have become increasingly popular over the past few years, offering couples a relaxed, charming, and effortlessly chic way to celebrate their marriage.

If you're drawn to bohemian style and want to incorporate it into your big day, this guide will give you plenty of ideas for pulling off an unforgettable boho wedding.

What is a Boho Wedding?

A boho wedding embraces bohemian influences through natural elements, vintage accents, and free-spirited style. Boho weddings are all about creating a relaxed, romantic vibe that encourages guests to kick back and have fun.

Couples planning a boho wedding tend to favor flowy dresses, natural hair and makeup, abundant florals, earthy colors, handmade decor, and a loose schedule without excessive formality. There's an emphasis on personal touches over tradition. The overall aesthetic is dreamy, whimsical, and effortlessly beautiful.

Why Choose a Boho Wedding?

There are many reasons why making a wedding boho appeals to couples. Here are some of the biggest benefits:

-It allows you to fully express your personal style. Boho weddings celebrate individuality.

-The casual vibe creates a laid-back, stress-free celebration. There's less pressure, so you and your guests can relax.

-A bohemian wedding brings nature's beauty to your wedding. Natural elements like foliage, flowers, natural wood, and stone create a magical backdrop.

-Vintage and handmade details add quirky, romantic charm. These personal touches make your wedding unique.

-The look photographs beautifully. Billowy dresses, flower crowns, and dreamy details lend themselves to gorgeous wedding photos.

-It's budget-friendly. The casual approach allows you to cut costs without sacrificing style.

If you want to infuse that free-spirited boho style into your wedding, here are some fun ideas to consider.

Boho Wedding Invitations

Your invitations offer the first glimpse into your wedding style. Opt for boho flair with:

-Floral designs: Select fresh flower watercolor designs or real pressed flowers under glass on your invitations.

-Nature motifs: Leafy greenery, trees, butterflies, feathers, and other natural elements make artistic invites.

-Rustic materials: Consider wood paper, seed paper, or kraft paper printed with beautiful calligraphy.

-Macrame and lace: Incorporate fabric textures and details through woven accents, lace layers, or fabric wraps.

-Painted designs: Find a local artist on Etsy to hand paint your invites with custom boho designs.

-Whimsical shapes: Die-cut your paper into fun unconventional shapes like moons, stars, or leaves.

-Unique fonts: Use swooping, flowy, handwritten fonts and lettering. Mix and match styles.

-Muted color palettes: Keep your color scheme soft and neutral with cream, taupe, or blush paper. Metallic ink adds sheen.

-Quirky map inserts: Have a map leading to your wedding venue printed on the inside.

Boho wedding decorations

Your decor sets the aesthetic tone for your whole wedding. For a laid-back, bohemian feel, look for:

-Greenery: Incorporate lots of leafy foliage like ferns and eucalyptus. Suspend greenery from the ceiling, line aisles and alter with garlands, and place stems in vases and hanging arrangements.

-Abundant florals: Choose loose, natural-looking flower arrangements in muted tones like ivory, blush, mauve, and sage. Garden roses, peonies, and dahlias work beautifully.

-Macrame: Incorporate the boho woven style through wall hangings, plant hangers, bowls, and more.

-Dreamcatchers: Hang these above your head table or ceremony altar for a whimsical, spiritual touch.

-Candles: Place candles in glass jars, lanterns, and vintage containers to create a glowing, romantic vibe that complements your boho wedding theme.

-Rustic wood: Use wood slices, crates, and logs to add organic texture.

-Eclectic furniture: Skip the traditional banquet chairs and tables. Choose mismatched seating, lounge furniture, and low tables for a relaxed vibe.

-Filmy fabrics: Light and billowy fabrics like chiffon, silk, and voile add dreamy texture when draped over seating, tables, tents, or hung from trees.

The Boho Bride: Wedding Dresses

Your dress sets the tone for your whole bridal style. Seek out:

-Flowy silhouettes: Look for long, floaty skirts and dresses with movement. Asymmetrical and high-low hems add drama.

-Whimsical details: Seek out ruffles, lace, macrame straps, or crocheted accents.

-Earthy fabrics: Silk, cotton, or linen in ivory or nude shades add a boho touch.

-Floral motifs: Subtle floral embroidery, beading, or lace elevates the dress.

-Off-the-shoulder or strapless necklines: Bared shoulders emit a carefree, bohemian vibe.

-Simple veils: Opt for elbow-length, fluttering veils that complement the dress without overpowering it.

Reception Tables

Your reception tablescape is hugely impactful. Create a relaxed feel at your boho wedding with:

-Eclectic linens: Mix different fabrics like cotton, lace, or silk in neutral tones instead of using formal tablecloths. Place runners down the center.

-Full floral centerpieces: Choose loose arrangements in mismatched vases and vessels. Let flowers drape over the edges for a garden feel.

-Candles: Cluster pillar candles, taper candles, or tealights for a dreamy glow.

-Wood and stone elements: Incorporate slices of wood, geo stones, or potted succulents for organic texture. Place cards on stones, wood slices, or in mini terrariums.

-Mismatched dinnerware: Allow each place setting to be unique by mixing vintage china, painted plates, and patterned napkins.

Special Touches for Your Boho Wedding

Looking for details that will enhance the bohemian wedding theme you're going for? Get inspired with:

-Flower crowns: Provide or encourage flower crowns for guests and the wedding party. A bride in a flower crown is stunning.

-Boho wedding shoes: Opt for embroidered flats, sandals, or soft lace-up boots. Add sparkle with beaded details.

-Free-flowing bouquets and ceremony florals: For a true bohemian wedding feel, the looser and more abundant, the better.

-Macrame ceremony backdrop: Hang macrame and florals on the arch, altar, chuppah, or backdrop display.

-Rose petals on the ceremony aisle: Scatter loose petals down the aisle for an ultra-romantic touch.

-Readings from poems, lyrics, or literature: Choose whimsical, nature-inspired passages.

-Relaxed seating: Scatter throw pillows, poufs, and cozy lounge seating around fire pits, tables, and relaxing spaces.

-Festival lighting: Incorporate string lights, cafe bulbs, and paper lanterns for a magical ambiance.

Boho Wedding Food and Drinks

Adapt your menu to match the bohemian wedding theme vibe:

-Family-style service: Skip the plated dinners for a communal feel.

-Al fresco dining: Host your reception outdoors if possible. Have picnic blankets available.

-Local and seasonal cuisine: Work with your caterer to include fresh, local ingredients.

-Food stations: Swap the typical buffet for interactive global food, slider, or taco stations.

-Signature cocktails: Create a custom drink in keeping with your bohemian wedding theme. Add fun garnishes.

-Wine, beer, mimosas: Offer day-drinking appropriate beverages. Provide passed versions during cocktail hour.

-Late-night snacks: Have bite-sized snacks like fries, pizza, or sliders available for late-night cravings.

Boho Wedding Color Palette

Pull together a color scheme that reflects your bohemian style. Possibilities include:

-Earth tones: Sand, terra cotta, sage green, stone

-Pastels: Lavender, blush, butter yellow, soft pinks, seafoam

-Metallics: Rose gold, brass, copper

-Whites: Ivory, cream, eggshell

Flowers and Plants for Your Boho Wedding Theme

Florals play a major role in boho wedding decor. Ideal picks include:

-Garden roses: These dainty blooms epitomize bohemian wedding style. Choose them in soft shades.

-Peonies: The ultimate boho wedding flower. Use them generously in arrangements.

-Dahlias: All varieties work beautifully.

-Ranunculus: Gorgeous when clustered or floating in arrangements.

-Anemones: These delicate blooms come in purple, white, and blush shades.

-Hydrangeas: Big, billowy hydrangea blossoms exude boho wedding vibes.

-Poppies: The vibrant colors of poppies pair beautifully with soft pastels.

-Wildflowers: Using loose wildflowers or even wheat and herbs embodies the bohemian aesthetic.

-Eucalyptus: This leafy green foliage meshes perfectly with florals.

-Ferns: All varieties of ferns lend an earthy, whimsical texture.

-Moss: Use reindeer moss or sheet moss as part of your floral decor.

-Succulents: Mix in succulents like echeveria or cacti for added texture.

-Fruit: Slice lemons, oranges, or grapes and add them to arrangements.

-Herbs: Rosemary, lavender, and sage sprigs enhance boho bouquets.

Boho Wedding Music

Set the perfect free-spirited mood for your boho wedding with:

-Indie acoustic playlists: Feature bands like The Lumineers, Mumford and Sons, or Ray LaMontagne during the ceremony and cocktails.

-Upbeat folk rock: Play bands like Of Monsters and Men, Fleet Foxes, and First Aid Kit later in the reception when you want to get people dancing.

-Eclectic mix: Ask your DJ to blend favorite indie folk/rock songs with vintage jazz standards, reggae beats, or rhythmic world music sprinkled throughout the night.

-Live music: Consider hiring solo acoustic musicians, a folk band, or even a fiddle player to welcome guests to your boho wedding.

-Relaxed vibe - Avoid overly produced songs. Keep music organic.

-Personally meaningful songs: Incorporate songs with significance to you, and share the stories behind them.

Capturing Your Boho Wedding Memories

A boho wedding's dreamy, whimsical details make for incredible wedding photos and videos. When planning, keep these tips in mind:

-Schedule a "first look:" Take photos with your partner privately before the ceremony so you can get couple portraits out of the way. This leaves more time for relaxed, natural photos during the reception.

-Do a creative shoot: Head to a field, forest, beach, or other scenic spot for gorgeous nature shots. Wear your dress and suit or more casual boho-inspired outfits.

-Get ready shots: A professional can photograph your dress details, bouquet, rings, invitations, and other pretty particulars.

-Lifestyle shooting: This photojournalistic style captures authentic moments as they happen throughout the day without overly posing. It results in joyful, real memories.

-Drone photography: Use overhead drone shots to exhibit venue details and give a unique aerial perspective. Just avoid disturbing guests.

-Prioritize golden hour: Take as many photos as possible during the magical lighting of sunset. The rays make everything glow.

-Candids during dancing: Let your photographer mingle inconspicuously to get fun reaction shots.

-Videography: Include both highlight and full-length professional wedding videos so you can relive every moment.

-Photo booth - Set up a fun backdrop and props with a boho aesthetic so guests can snap shots in a photo booth corner.

Boho Wedding Favors

Share your boho wedding vibe with guests via:

-Mini succulents: Pot these in small terra cotta pots tied with twine.

-Flower seed packets: Let guests take home seeds to plant. Include care instructions.

-Himalayan salt candles: These pretty pink candles make great gifts.

-Dreamcatchers: Mini versions work perfectly as favors.

-Donate to charity: Provide cards sharing the couple's donation in place of favors.

A Boho Grand Exit

Even your send-off can tie in with your boho wedding. Consider the following ideas:

-Floral send-off: Guests shower the new couple with fresh petals as they exit. Or they wave single stems.

-Ribbons or flags: For a festive farewell, have guests wave these items.

-Getaway car: Rent a vintage car or create a "just married" sign for the back of your getaway vehicle.

The Bell Tower on 34th, a wedding venue in Houston, TX, has helped thousands of recently engaged couples make their wedding vision a reality.

Our venue, with full event-planning services, offers customizable packages for large or small events.