29 Ways to Turn Your Wedding Into a Secret Garden

By Chloe Gorman
Niki Rhodes Photography
Get whimsical and romantic garden inspiration for your ceremony and reception, no matter when or where you're getting married.
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Niki Rhodes Photography

There's just something so timeless and pretty about garden weddings. The setting, the details, and the overall vibe are all incredibly whimsical and romantic, especially during the warm-weather months. To help you plan your own botanical-themed event (or inspire you to do so!), we've put together a list of our favorite garden wedding details. With these ideas in you back pocket, you can achieve the flower-filled soirée of your dreams, no matter when or where you're tying the knot (although a garden venue certainly helps!).

From fresh floral arrangements and bloom-filled tablescapes to ethereal outdoor lounge seating and dreamy displays, these essentials are sure to impress your guests. Whether you have your perfect garden venue already picked out, or are still searching for right one, know that the following ideas can easily be included wherever your big day takes place. One element that's an absolute must-have? Plenty of fresh blooms. Although they're usually seen on reception tables and in your bridal bouquet, we encourage you to think outside of the box for your garden-themed event. Kaleb Norman James turned this dessert table into a mini garden using a myriad of colorful flowers and greenery—it instantly upgraded this two-tier, all-white cake from The Sweetside.

Ahead, you'll find even more garden-inspired details that will help you throw the perfect nature-filled day. We've rounded up everything from larger details like venues and floral installations to smaller elements like favors and centerpieces—the following photos have it all. By the time you're finished, you'll be bursting with new ideas for your very own garden party.

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Garden Venue

Josh Gruetzmacher

Of course, the most appropriate place to have your garden wedding is in one. Since your location will be scenic even without décor, you won't have to overwhelm the space with extra floral arrangements. Shannon Leahy Events used only two planters full of flowers from Laetitia C. Fleurs d'Atelier to make this couple's ceremony at Petit Hopital feel even more ethereal.

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Pressed Flowers

Apryl Ann Photography
Ways Pressed Flowers Can Elevate Your Wedding

Since flowers are a must-have for any garden-themed celebration, make sure you use them in every element of your event—right down to your seating chart. Rebecca Marín Shepherd of The Wildflowers was responsible for this display. She placed pressed wildflowers between a tablecloth and a sheet of plexiglass and topped it off with the reception's table assignments.

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Indoor Arrangements

Ana Lui Photography
Fresh Ideas for Bringing the Outdoors in at Your Wedding

Don't be deterred if you're throwing an indoor event—you can still make it look like a garden party. The trick? Bring in as many floral elements as you can. That's why Layers of Lovely crafted this arch with roses, hydrangea, greenery, and other blooms. To complete the look, Amorology placed matching centerpieces down the length of the table.

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Personal Vases

Leila Brewster Photography

Searching for a way to make your escort cards feel more on-theme? Forgo the traditional version by opting for something like these floral-filled glass vases by Couture Events and Blush Botanicals. The pros at Back Up Backdrops added a witty phrase, which also nodded to this couple's garden vibe.

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Overgrown

D'Arcy Benincosa Photography

Turning your ceremony site into your own garden is easy with a healthy dose of flowers. Sarah Winward filled the spaces between these wooden chairs with wildflowers and greenery. The overgrown arrangements made the look feel more natural.

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Living Wall

Abigail Malone
A Wedding Trend We're Loving: Living Walls

Another great way to turn your indoor space into a garden venue is with a living wall. This one by Slauer Events and Gold and Bloom involved a web of vines, greenery, and florals.

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Rose Tart

Matoli Keely Photography

Who says you need fresh flowers to evoke a garden feel on your reception tables? Rather than placing actual roses on each place setting, this bride and groom created apple tarts in the shape of the bud. The desserts were a clever (and delicious) reference to their theme.

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Floral Dresses

Anagram Photo
Reasons to Love the Mismatched Bridesmaids' Dress Look

There are so many options for your bridesmaids' dresses, but we'd suggest mismatched floral options, like the colorful mix seen here, for your garden nuptials. Not only will each 'maid get to pick her own dress, but the mix-and-match style also plays into the laid-back feel of a botanical wedding.

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Flower-Adorned Cake

Eva Lin Photography

For a truly garden-inspired big-day confection, ask your baker to use both artificial and fresh flowers. Bella Christie and Lil' Z's Sweet Boutique piped florals onto the bottom tier of this dessert and topped the look off with a garland from Hens and Chicks.

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Floral Cape

Lucy Munoz Photography
A Fashion Trend We're Loving: Brides Wearing Capes

Your bridal look can (and should) be full of florals for your garden-themed big day. That's why this bride donned a Claire Pettibone number complete with a trailing floral cape.

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Seed Packets

Pat Furey Photography

The garden vibe shouldn't stop once your wedding is over, so consider sending guests home with their very own seed packets. These pouches were filled with wildflower seeds and encouraged attendees to "let love grow."

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Rose Cupcakes

Studio Opia
The Most Adorable Wedding Cupcakes

Even your smallest desserts can get a botanical upgrade. Daphne Ho Cake Design turned these cupcakes into mini gardens thanks to three life-like icing roses.

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Floral Baskets

Gianluca Adovasio

Transform your garden event into a flower market by making like Exclusive Italy Weddings and lining your aisle with baskets full of florals (these were curated by Tuscany Flowers).

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Pressed Flower Invitations

Olivia Richards

Invitations featuring pressed flowers (there were calligraphed by Shimmer and Stain) will inform guests of your theme before your big day even arrives. Note how the pros also used floral-filled stamps to drive the garden vibe home.

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Floral Shoes

Lisa Ziesing for Abby Jiu Photography
Wedding Shoes That Won't Sink Into the Grass at an Outdoor Wedding

Chances are, your garden wedding is taking place outside. If you're planning on walking on dirt or grass, it's best to choose shoes that won't sink into the ground. Not only were this bride's Prada wedges sturdy for her walk down the aisle, but they were also covered in flowers, which nodded to her botanical location.

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Vegetable Place Cards

Lisa Blume Photography

It's no secret that gardens are full of ready-to-pick fruits and vegetables. So, why not use them as paper place card alternatives? Meant To Be Calligraphy wrote each guest's name on various pieces of produce for this farm-to-table event.

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Cloches

Ashley Sawtelle
16 Creative Ways to Use Cloches Throughout Your Wedding

There's something so whimsical about garden weddings. That's why adding ethereal and romantic elements to your décor is a no-brainer. One such detail? Cloches. A Vintage Affair, Park Floral Design, and Tayrn Eklund Ink worked together to create this seating chart using florals and bell jars. The result? A station that felt like something straight out of Beauty and the Beast.

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Floral-Filled Table

Vicki Grafton
Wedding Cakes with Fresh Flowers

Although your confection will likely already be covered in flowers, that shouldn't stop you from making sure its display is just as floral-filled. Floral & Bloom use a plethora of blooms—including roses, dahlias, and greenery—for this dessert table. The buds referenced the light purple florals on this cake by Buttercream Bakeshop.

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Potted Place Cards

Sposto Photography
Paper Place Card Alternatives That Your Guests Won't Expect

We're partial to wedding details that both serve a dual purpose and are on-theme. Not only did these mini potted plants (which were provided by The Dainty Lion and Posey Pop) act as place cards thanks to calligraphy from K. G. Calligraphy, but they also made for great garden-inspired favors.

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Floral Garland

Ashley Ludaescher Photography

While most garden events feel laid-back and casual, you can absolutely make yours feel refined and elegant. To elevate this botanical celebration, Lovelyfest tapped Idlewild Floral for a hanging floral garland. For the ultimate glamorous touch, the pros used a chandelier from Signature Party Rentals to light this outdoor reception.

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Orange Tree

Rachel Solomon Photography
Ways to Use Citrus in Every Element of Your Wedding

Potted plants are just one must-have at your garden ceremony. LVL Weddings & Events and Heavenly Blooms took it one step further by situating an orange tree sapling at the end of this aisle. For that "just-picked" vibe, a bushel of oranges was added to the bottom of the display.

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Gauzy Chairs

Erich McVey

To make your garden setting feel even more ethereal, we recommend dressing up your ceremony chairs using a gauzy material like tulle. Ginny Au and Catalyst Creative Society covered these seats with transluscent white fabric that created a dreamy vibe at this intimate ceremony. Nature Composed included potted floral arrangements that added to the natural look.

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Garden-Inspired Favors

Lisa Blume Photography

When it comes to classic wedding flowers, there's nothing quite as romantic as a rose. So, send guests home with a symbol of your love (and garden theme) by gifting them with seed packets. These options featured a bloom on the front along with the word "matrimony."

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Painted Cake

Victoria Elizabeth Photography
See More Hand-Painted Wedding Cakes

If you're throwing a contemporary garden event, you may want to choose a modern wedding trend, like bas relief décor, when creating your floral confection. Jonathan Caleb Cake dressed up this hexagonal dessert with the technique and brought each mini bud to life using vibrant edible paint.

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Farmer's Market

Fonyat Photographer
20 Wedding Food Walls That Will (Literally) Elevate Your Big-Day Cuisine

Searching for an unexpected way to show off your garden theme? A fresh food wall is the perfect solution. Not only will attendees appreciate all of the bountiful fruits, vegetables, and flowers, but they'll also love taking them home as favors. Amorology was responsible for this display that was full of fresh produce and florals.

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Produce-Filled Centerpiece

Gideon Photo

Fresh fruits and vegetables aren't just for your wedding meal—they can also function as colorful additions to your garden-inspired centerpieces. Bloomers Flowers & Décor filled this unique arrangement with carrots, turnips, apples, and other produce for a vibrant look.

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Boho-Inspired

Lauren Gabrielle Photography
Boho-Chic Wedding Ideas for Free-Spirited Brides and Grooms

If you can't decide between a bohemian- or garden-themed big day, merge the two styles together. A Charming Fetê used hanging floral installations from Molly Taylor + Co. to evoke a botanical feel; blue poufs and rugs from Borrow Rentals brought a boho vibe to the entire setup.

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Floral Linens

Theo Milo Photography

We don't blame you if you want on-theme, floral-patterned linens on your reception tables. We suggest opting for a floral runner. Note how this illustrated Bess & Baxter iteration made a statement against a deep blue tablecloth by Nüage Designs.

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