How to create a festival style wedding

Suss out your style

“Festival” is a fairly broad term that encompasses many different themes. From Glastonbury glam to Cirque du Soleil, there’s so many options to choose from. Therefore, we highly recommend taking some time to visualise what your dream wedding looks like.

Your festival style wedding should ultimately reflect you as a couple, so use this as an opportunity to share common interests and ramp up the fun factor. Your wedding theme will then help inform any decisions around fashion, decor, entertainment and food.

Festival fashion

When it comes to fashion, it’s vitally important to find that sweet spot between formal and festival. You still want to dress to impress; however, you can certainly lean in on those laid-back vibes. The key is to wear something comfortable that is suitable for the outdoors, so we recommend avoiding anything too structured or weighted. Remember that long trains can pick up dirt after a few hours, so it’s a good idea to opt for something a little shorter.

Think boho bridal wedding dresses, flower crowns, loose linen shirts and flat shoes for the ultimate festival style wedding fashion choices. And make sure you encourage your guests to embrace those festival vibes, too!

Dazzling decor

Festival themed weddings provide the perfect blank canvas to go all out with quirky decor choices. DIY decor is a popular choice for more casual affairs, allowing creative couples to bring their Pinterest boards to life. Your decor choices should go hand-in-hand with your specific festival theme. For example, if you’re hosting a live music extravaganza, you could send out tickets instead of traditional invitations, with a “line-up” poster to highlight the wedding schedule.

Some of our favourite festival style wedding ideas for decor include:

• Handmade, personalised signposts i.e. “This way to WedFest”
• Festival style posters for wedding guests to sign rather than traditional guestbooks
• Outdoor festoon style lighting and bunting
• Giant festival flags and garden games
• Balloons and colourful wildflower arrangements 
• Fun costumes and photo booths

Music for the masses

It wouldn’t be a festival without music! Whether you opt for a live tribute band or a DJ to spin the decks, the right entertainment is sure to leave your guests on a high. Why not create a stellar line-up with a live vocalist as you’re walking down the aisle, followed by an acoustic band as guests enter the reception space? Once the party gets underway, you can invite a local DJ to play your favourite floor-fillers and watch as guests flock to the dancefloor. 

Solton Manor is pleased to have built up trusted partnerships with some of Kent’s finest festival style wedding musicians. Rachel Jones is the ideal choice for classical piano music, whilst Alive are renowned for their smashing indie rock covers. Or, if you’re looking for a musical act that will truly appeal to the masses, The Redfords offer a taste of all genres.

Feasting fun

Now, let’s discuss everyone’s favourite wedding planning topic: food! Mimic that true festival feel by serving up a range of tasty culinary delights that are easy to digest. Luckily for you, our catering partners offer a variety of casual feasting and sharing options to suit all tastes and budgets. 

When it comes to cake, why not opt for a fun creation that screams festival chic? We partner with some of Kent’s finest wedding cake makers, including All You Need is Cake and Bluebirds Bakehouse. Whatever your vision, they can help bring it to life in the most mouth-watering way! 

And of course, it wouldn’t be a festival style wedding without vibrant signature cocktails! From spiced margaritas to premium piña coladas, Cocktail in a Bottle offers the tastiest of tipples to help commemorate the occasion.

Location, location, location

When choosing your festival style wedding venue, you’ll want to opt for somewhere in a rural location with wide open outdoor spaces and plenty of romantic charm. Nowhere says “festival” quite like a sprawling country manor house and barn, with acres upon acres of glorious grounds to explore! 

Solton Manor’s enchanting Godric’s Garden provides the perfect setting for an outdoor festival style wedding ceremony, with a stunning oak-framed gazebo and seating for up to 150 of your nearest and dearest. Guests can enjoy sipping on bespoke cocktails and playing garden games on the manicured lawn in front of the Manor House, before heading indoors to party the night away in The Dutch Barn.

Image credits

James Grist Photography

Benjamin Toms Photography

Helen England Photography

Dover Media Group

Creation Bureau