Are you planning a wedding in the UK but aren’t confident the weather is going to bestow your day with sunshine and good times?
Well, how about second guessing those fickle weather gods and throwing a tropically-themed summer wedding party that celebrates the sunshine whether it deigns to appear or not…
There’s no doubt that planning any themed wedding requires a particular eye for detail and embracing of creativity, but if you throw yourself into it, you might just host the best soiree around.
With that in mind, here’s how to throw the ultimate tropical summer wedding party.
DESIGN TABLES WITH COLOURFUL CENTREPIECES
Despite the cliches, ‘tropical’ décor doesn’t have to be bursting with every colour in existence. Instead, something more subtle and in keeping with an all-encompassing theme is best, emphasising your wedding’s motif and colour palette, and tying disparate symbolic elements together.
The best centrepieces for guest’s tables are floral ones that channel the tropics, designed and prepared by a trusted flower vendor to ensure a mix of authenticity and aesthetic good taste.
Some fantastic tropical flowers that will truly bring those vacay vibes to your wedding, and which you can grow (and buy) in the UK, include:
- The archetype in this arena is the bird of paradise flower; one hell of a statement piece in a wedding venue as they can reach 5 feet in height.
- The anthurium is another brilliant way to evoke the tropics, with its bright, stately colourscope, and heart shaped appearance so appropriate for a wedding celebration.
- Trilliums have three petals sitting atop three leaves, evoking the appearance of a cup and saucer. If your wedding involves an afternoon tea element, trilliums would make a wonderfully cheeky centrepiece.
- Hardy and resilient, a Ginger Lily won’t wilt in the lead up to your wedding, should you be buying your florals in advance.
- One of the most striking floral centrepieces around, Arum lilies are so quintessentially tropical your guests will think they’ve been flown to the Caribbean.
Read: 5 IDEAL plants to bring a tropical vibe to your home
PREP THE BAR AND THE DRINKS MENU
Since you’re holding a summer tropical wedding party, it’s essential to have a bar setup that’s fit for purpose.
Aside from some of the flora we already mentioned, there are other ways to make cocktail hour feel tropical besides going for a tiki bar theme. Bamboo, palm leaves and gentle aromatic accents of coconut, passion fruit and even, whisper it, suntan lotion can all create hints of the tropics rather than it being too garish.
Wherever your venue is, be it indoors or out, you can add some tropical accents and create a summery vibe with the drinks being served, from mojitos and margaritas to pina coladas. These could be offered right after the wedding ceremony and before the reception begins.
GET A COCONUT-FLAVOURED WEDDING CAKE
If you want a delectable yet tropical-themed wedding cake, why not throw a traditional cake out of the window (don’t worry, it’s just a concept, it won’t make a mess) and instead opt for a more modern confection by choosing a coconut-flavoured cake.
It can be decorated with floral and leafy accents or covered in beautifully arranged pieces of fruit. You can also add some coconut husks to the table where the wedding cake will be for extra theatre.
Hey, or you could just not have a cake at all, and instead serve your guests arguably (nope, there’s no contest actually) the most delicious sweet treat in the world; Mango Sticky Rice from the tropical paradise of Thailand.
CONSIDER HOLDING AN AL FRESCO WEDDING
Weddings in the summer have many advantages, including the warm weather. Though certainly no guarantee in the UK, an outdoor wedding if the weather is clement enough is simply lovely. Nothing beats the experience of dining outside with a bit of sunlight and plenty of fresh air. By turning to some tips on entertaining al fresco during summer, you’ll ensure your party is at least a little protected from the more malign whims of the weather.
However, you and your guests probably won’t be particularly comfortable under the sun for long stretches, so it’s best to hold the wedding ceremony and party outdoors when the sun’s heat isn’t that intense. Or, as is more likely in the UK, the rainstorms aren’t raging. You can account for both of these eventualities by investing in gazebos to provide the necessary cover.
PRINT CEREMONY DETAILS ON A HANDY FAN
While your guests will relish the warmth of your summer wedding, be sure to provide them with printed programs that double up as fans they can use should they start feeling hot. It could be as simple as using a thick piece of paper printed with the wedding details attached or glued to a piece of wooden material in the shape of a hand fan. Talk about killing two birds with one stone! Actually, don’t do that; that would be a little weird at a wedding, don’t you think?
CELEBRATE THE CUISINE OF A TROPICAL COUNTRY
Rather than going for a ‘tropical’ themed meal that goes globetrotting and gets a little lost in the process, why not instead focus minds and appetites with a feast that focuses on the cuisine of just one country?
You have your pick of some of the best cuisines in the world here, but if you’re keen to narrow things down, consider a spread from:
- Mexico: Hire a taco truck and serve guacamole and various fresh, fiery salsas as nibbles to kick off the day.
- Thailand: A selection of delicious Thai curries, salads, relishes and soups makes for the most awesome sharing spread, don’t you think?
- Jamaica: A centrepiece barbeque, knocking out grilled jerk chicken, curried coat and more? Sounds like tropical paradise to us!
- Ethiopia: The food of Ethiopia is designed for sharing. Freshly grilled flatbreads are served at every meal and alongside you’ll find lots of intriguing side dishes, all designed to be scooped up with a piece of injera (cutlery is rarely used here). Heaven.
- Vietnam: For something fresh, light and enticing which won’t have your guests in a food coma and unable to dance to that steel drum band you’ve hired afterwards, it’s got to be Vietnamese food.
USE TROPICAL LEAVES
Banana leaves are perfect for a tropical-themed wedding because they’re durable and can be used in many ways. Any wedding paper product can be substituted with banana leaves. For instance, instead of using conventional ceramic plates, you may place banana leaves on top of wooden plates for guests to eat on. Meanwhile, smaller tropical leaves can become name cards and table numbers.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Go beyond the usual palm trees, rum and, erm, that’s it, and instead go all out on your tropical summer wedding, focusing on the flora, food and frivolity, all done al fresco. Good luck and can we expect our invite in the post?