Are you planning an exotic wedding? Are you looking for tips to prepare stunning tropical decorations for your wedding ceremony?
You’re in the right place.
As a florist specializing in event decoration, I’ve spent several years creating unique wedding setups. The tropical chic decoration style really stands out among the current wedding trends.
Today, I’m excited to share my crafting skills with you to help you create a wedding decoration worthy of a tropical jungle.
The exotic theme is a fantastic way to surprise your guests and create unforgettable memories with them. To embrace this theme, I recommend focusing on tropical foliage, which will help you recreate a lush jungle at your venue. This also allows for weddings with vibrant decorations: consider using stunning exotic flowers like orchids or anthuriums. Additionally, try to include natural accessories and furniture, preferably made of rattan, to replicate the ambiance of the Pacific Islands. To create an exceptional decor, it’s essential that all the elements complement each other. The newlyweds, the bridal party, and even the guests can also adopt the exotic trend in their outfits and accessories… a guaranteed change of scenery!
Do you want to uncover all the secrets behind planning this type of wedding? Then read this article to discover:
- How to Create an Exotic Decoration for Your Ceremony
- Varieties of Flowers and Foliage that Match This Trend
- A Selection of Floral Arrangements to Create an Exotic Atmosphere for Your Wedding
- Accessory Ideas to Match Your Outfit with This Theme
What is the chic tropical wedding trend?
Timeless and unique, this type of wedding ceremony is perfect for you if you want to escape the ordinary and give your loved ones an unforgettable journey to exotic islands for a day! ✈️
In the following lines, I will provide you with more details about this trend so that you can start planning for your big day!
A Ceremony That Feels Like You’re in the Tropics 🏖️
Whether your wedding takes place in the summer or winter, the key to an exotic celebration is to bring warmth and excitement to your guests.
To achieve this, you can focus on the following elements:
➡️ The Light 💡
Multiply Multicolored Light Sources using bulbs or light filters. Feel free to mix several bright colors! The overall effect should feel very warm and inviting.
➡️ The Shades 🌈
Opt for warm colors: red, orange, yellow… along with green, which evokes the lush greenery of the jungle. You can play with the transparency of colors to create beautiful light effects.
Additionally, small golden accents will pair beautifully with green, adding sophistication to the overall look. However, avoid silver as it’s a cool color that could dull the ensemble.
➡️ The Patterns 🌿
Utilize and enjoy exotic plant patterns! Monstera leaves, anthuriums, orchids, plumeria flowers… You have plenty of options for your decor.
You can also incorporate animal patterns like zebra stripes or leopard print. However, I advise you to stick to just one pattern and use it sparingly in your decor to avoid making it look too kitschy…
➡️ The Materials 🧶
For the furniture, you can choose rattan. For decorations, bamboo is a great choice. It’s important to stick with natural materials as much as possible to maintain an elegant overall look.
➡️ Outfits 👗
For this type of wedding, ask your guests to wear colorful outfits that are both chic and casual. They can embrace unique patterns and metallic gold accessories, as long as the final look remains elegant.
It’s quite easy to find an appropriate outfit for this type of wedding, as you just need to focus on the flow of the clothing and the colors.
When it comes to your wedding attire, you can stick with a classic dress and accessorize it with patterns and exotic greenery. Alternatively, if you prefer, you can choose a traditional Tahitian or Polynesian outfit, especially if you are a woman.
For the groom, opt for a light-colored suit. You can also consider adding a boutonniere with exotic flowers and/or a colorful tie to tie in with your theme.
A Lush Exotic Jungle Effect 🌴
To impress your guests and take them on a journey, I recommend maximizing the greenery at your venue. Ideally, when your guests enter the room, they should feel like they are outside, in a jungle.
To achieve this, you can place exotic plants in the corners of the room and on any free walls. If your budget allows, you might even consider creating a ceiling of tropical foliage, which will give the illusion of a jungle canopy.
You can also ask your floral decorator to create exotic plant walls on panels that will then be mounted on the wall. The result of such a decoration will be stunning!
An Exotic Meal 🍴🍹
When it comes to the meal, you can offer your guests either a fully exotic menu or a classic meal with some exotic ingredients added in. Focus on tangy flavors and play with sweet and savory combinations!
To set the mood for your guests, welcome them around a cocktail bar! Offer them cocktail recipes they can mix themselves and enjoy together.
You can freely serve tropical fruit juices and exotic fruits in a salad, perfect for enjoying casually throughout the evening.
Feel free to garnish your dishes with exotic plants to enhance the natural and spontaneous look of your decor.
What should you plan for decorating your exotic wedding?
Now that you understand what this trend is all about, I’m offering you a list of decorative elements that you can choose from to create a unique tropical ambiance that you will enjoy and that reflects your personal style.
Focus on Foliage to Create a Jungle Effect
Creating a lush jungle atmosphere requires significant decorating effort. However, to make your wedding decor easier and help reduce the budget, I have a tip for you.
You can either prepare it yourself or ask your florist to fill the spaces you want to decorate with what is known as “background greenery“. This consists of easy-to-gather plants from the forest or our gardens, which will serve as a backdrop for your decoration. The goal is to create the impression of lush vegetation.
These plants can be secured with wire, attached to hooks, or placed in containers. They should be substantial and cover all the walls that need decorating.
Next, to create your living walls, all you need to do is arrange exotic flowers and greenery on this canvas of greenery in a natural and balanced way.
This optical illusion technique will allow you to create stunning décor in a simple and budget-friendly way.
In the following lines, you will find a list of plants that you can choose to create this decoration yourself or have a professional do it for you.
Easy-to-Find Foliage for the Background 🌿
- Bamboo
- Fern
- Deciduous trees of temperate forests: Oak, Alder, etc.
- Banana leaves
Exotic Foliage Spread Throughout to Create the Illusion of a Jungle 🌴
- Philodendron
- Anthurium
- Cordyline
- Dracaena
- Monstera
- Chamaerops
- Aspidistra
- Chicco
- Cycas
Bamboo / Swiss Cheese Plant / Cycas
Exotic Flowers and Fruits
Explore a variety of flowers and fruits that will add the perfect finishing touch to your exotic decor. Choose colorful options and gather a good amount for the maximum impact!
Flowers🌷
- Anthurium
- Lady’s Slipper
- Gloriosa
- Kangaroo Paw
- Frangipani Flowers
- Heliconia
- Orchids: Cymbidium, Dendrobium, Vanda, Phalaenopsis, Spider Orchid…
- Nutans
- Protea
- Bird of Paradise
- Alpinia
- Porcelain Flower
- Curcuma
Anthurium / Orchid / Bird of Paradise
Fruits 🍍
- Coconut
- Pineapple & ornamental mini pineapples
- Mango
- Passion Fruit
- Pomegranate
- Dragon Fruit
- Papaya
- Lychee
- Guava
- Cherimoya
- Starfruit
- Banana
- Kiwi
Coconut / Mango / Dragon Fruit (Mangosteen)
Accessories and Furniture in the Theme
To complement your greenery decor, consider adding items that evoke a sense of exoticism. For example, you could include some unique tableware 🍹, such as coconut cups, pitchers shaped like tropical fruits, and more.
Your guest favors 🎁 are also a great way to highlight the theme: instead of traditional sugar almonds, you could give them small jars of exotic fruit jams, for example. You could also offer tangy candies in woven plant-based boxes.
Finally, for the furniture ⛱️, you can set up areas with lounge chairs and beach chairs to give your guests a vacation vibe!
What floral arrangements should be planned for this type of wedding?
To wrap up this article, I’ve put together a list of floral arrangements that you might want to consider to enhance your wedding day.
Feel free to draw inspiration from the lists of plants I’ve shared earlier to personalize your orders and create a tropical decor that you love and that reflects your style!
A Chic Tropical Bridal Bouquet 💐
Orchids, Calla Lilies, Vandas… There are plenty of beautiful flowers you can choose for your exotic bridal bouquet! Lavish and luxurious, they add a touch of elegance to your look without needing to be in large quantities. With this trend, bridal bouquets are often more graphic and minimalist rather than overwhelming.
If you have the budget for it, you can ask your florist to create a unique modern bouquet for you, either with a structural base or to be carried with a handle. Your guests are guaranteed to be impressed!
Enhancing the presentation of tables 🍽️
For your tables, you can create colorful centerpieces with bold flowers, such as Anthurium.
If you want to embrace a “jungle” theme, I recommend choosing table runners made of exotic foliage (perhaps pairing it with a more classic background foliage to add some depth).
You can create elegant table settings by placing a Monstera leaf underneath each plate or by planning napkin decorations using long, slender leaves, such as those from the Dracaena plant.
Creating a Tropical Arch 🌺
The key to creating a fabulous tropical setting that will impress your guests is to plan for a floral arch, adorned with lush foliage and tropical flowers that complement the rest of the decor.
This lavish decor will be perfect for taking stunning couple’s photos. Guests will also be able to snap some pictures and keep unforgettable memories of this beautiful day.
Decorating spaces with arrangements 💒
Do you want to create thematic reminders in the various reception areas where your guests will be moving around? If so, you might consider arranging for exotic foliage and flower compositions to be placed in strategic locations such as:
- Your place of worship, if applicable. If you plan to decorate the church, for example, be sure to check with the priest in advance about what is allowed. This can vary by location.
- The entrance to your reception venue
- The cloakroom
- Restrooms
- Outdoor parking
- The entrance gate to your venue, to ensure it’s easy to spot from the road
For Your Accessories: Embrace Exoticism 👰
Once you’ve planned your decor, it’s important to spend some time on the accessories that will complement it and enhance your outfit.
For gentlemen and young boys, a boutonnière with a simple exotic flower will be a subtle yet very elegant detail. If it’s the groom, consider choosing a flower that matches his future wife’s hairstyle or bouquet.
For ladies and little girls, an exotic floral crown or a vibrantly colored crown is the perfect accessory to beautifully capture a tropical theme. Natural and chic, this type of hairstyle will enhance your features.
👉 If you choose flower crowns for the bride and the bridesmaids, consider selecting a different one for the queen of the day. It could be more elaborate or feature brighter colors, for example, so that she stands out.
Are you worried about not being able to style your hair with this headpiece? I suggest checking out our article on this topic, which provides simple tips to help you do it effortlessly.
To make your choice, you can visit our flower crown catalog where you’ll find over a hundred options! If you’re interested, we also have designs specifically for children.
Our artificial flower crowns are made with great care and can be worn for various occasions for many years to come.
You now have all the tools you need to plan a fabulous tropical wedding.
Feel free to draw inspiration from the photographs and tips provided in this article to communicate with your vendors and create the perfect decor for your big day!