Evergreen Wedding Decor: Choosing The Best Greenery

Flowers are a staple of wedding decor, but opting for greenery is a versatile and budget-friendly alternative that suits any wedding theme. From eucalyptus and ferns to ivy and succulents, greenery adds texture and shape to your wedding decorations. Whether you're going for a glam, boho, tropical, or modern wedding, greenery is a gorgeous addition. It's also sold in bundles, making it a cost-effective way to make a powerful impact. From hanging installations to table runners and centrepieces, there are endless ways to incorporate greenery into your wedding.

Greenery table runners

To create a greenery table runner, collect an assortment of herbs, greenery, and even succulents and air plants. If you're not a fan of too much foliage, opt for a more sparse selection of succulents and foliage in varying shades. You can also combine the greenery with berries, fruits, and flowers for a bold, lush look. For a tender and sweet look, add some lace or fabric underneath the table runner.

For a winter wedding, opt for paler shades of greenery, while brighter shades of green are more suitable for summer. Pair your table runner with a fabric runner, add candles, and your chic tablescape is complete!

A simple greenery table runner with a grey tablecloth is a cool, neutral option, while a lush eucalyptus table runner with concrete candle holders and tall candles is perfect for a minimalist table setting. For a bold statement, pair a lush greenery table runner with a copper sequin table runner. If you're going for a vintage feel, a grass table runner with white candle holders and candles is a great option.

Greenery centrepieces

There are endless options when it comes to centrepieces. You can create a dramatic look by mixing high and low arrangements overflowing with greens, or keep things simple with a single type of greenery. Small trees, such as lemon trees, make excellent centrepieces, as they are tall enough to allow guests to see over them and smell fantastic. For a winter wedding, consider using pine and pine cones, or opt for eucalyptus and rosemary for a fresh scent. If you're worried about allergies, you can always use faux flowers and greenery.

In addition to the greenery, you can add candles, lanterns, pumpkins, or pine cones to your centrepiece. For a romantic look, combine candles, greenery, and flowers. Pillar candles surrounded by greenery and wedding flowers on stairwells will make a stunning impression. For a rustic feel, use candelabras with lanterns and hanging vines. If you're concerned about open flames, flameless candles, votives, and tea lights can be safely incorporated into your centrepiece.

Greenery invitations

One idea is to paint silver-dollar eucalyptus on white cardstock and select forest green envelopes for a cohesive design. You could also opt for acrylic invitations with a floral or greenery design. This modern approach will give your guests a sneak peek into your wedding's greenery-filled delight.

If you're feeling creative, consider incorporating other natural elements, such as a watercolour illustration of a leaf or a delicate vine pattern, onto your invitations. You could even add a sprig of dried greenery or a small leaf pressed between the pages of the invite as a unique, natural embellishment.

Remember to keep your wedding theme and colour palette in mind when designing your greenery invitations. This will help create a cohesive look and feel for your special day, from the moment your guests open their invitations.

Hanging greenery installations

To create an indoor-outdoor feel, simply hang pretty garlands, delicate vines, or leafy branches from the ceiling of your space. You can do so with clear wire, or you can attach cut branches to existing fixtures, like the rafters in your barn or the crystal chandeliers in your ballroom. Even though you're adding foliage to the room, your space may feel larger as the statement installation draws everyone's attention upwards.

• Suspend green wreaths filled with flowing ferns, tulips, and calla lilies.
• Hang a greenery chandelier with mock candlelight to create a trendy, enchanting atmosphere.
• Suspend tealight candles from a greenery installation to create an enchanted garden vibe.
• Hang greenery above the dance floor to create a focal point that contrasts with a bright white floor and tent.
• Utilize full branches by hanging them upside down from the ceiling to create a natural element in an urban or modern venue.
• Incorporate hanging greenery into your escort card display by pinning mini escort cards to green wreaths that hang from the top of a white tent.
• Attach circular greenery installations to crystal chandeliers to bring drama and incorporate leafy decor into your lighting.
• Hang a greenery installation at the entrance of your venue, which can also double as the ceremony backdrop.
• Contrast hanging greenery with bright florals by choosing grey linens to make the greens, pinks, and purples pop.

Be sure to ask your venue coordinator about what you're allowed to hang your greenery installations from and how much weight they can hold before committing to your decor.

Greenery bouquets

Types of Greenery

There are many types of greenery to choose from for your bouquet, each with its own unique characteristics and benefits. Here are some popular options:

• Eucalyptus: A very popular choice for weddings, eucalyptus comes in several varieties, including seeded eucalyptus, silver dollar eucalyptus, and spiral eucalyptus. It has a light, airy feel and pairs well with vintage-inspired themes and pastel colour palettes.
• Ferns: Ferns offer a more structured appearance, making them a good option if you want a mix of boho and classic styles. Common types include leatherleaf, sword, plumosa, maidenhair, fiddlehead, and button ferns.
• Ivy: Ivy vines create a cascading bouquet shape, perfect for a natural, quaint look. Ivy is a favourite for royal weddings, chosen by the likes of Princess Diana and Princess Eugenie.
• Bay Leaves: These herbal leaves have a rustic, earthy look with a dark olive green colour. They are densely packed, so a handful will create a full arrangement.
• Dusty Miller: With its light green hue and fuzzy texture, dusty miller is ideal for vintage themes and pastel colours.
• Magnolia: Adding a Southern flair to your bouquet, magnolia leaves are commonly used in winter weddings.
• Monstera: These large, statement leaves are perfect for beach venues, tropical themes, and summer weddings.
• Succulents: While not a leaf, succulents are commonly used in greenery bouquets. They come in various sizes, shapes, and colours, from light green to purple, and require minimal maintenance.

Greenery Bouquet Ideas

• Combine greenery with baby's breath and white roses for a rustic, laid-back vibe.
• For a simple, inexpensive option, especially for an outdoor wedding, try a bouquet of lemon leaves, fountain grass, and sea oats.
• Add feathers to a greenery bouquet for a stylish fall or winter arrangement.
• Include flowers in complementary colours like white, blue, and purple for a pop of colour without overpowering the palette.
• For a tropical or beach wedding, combine anthuriums, proteas, and monstera leaves for a modern, trendy look.
• Loose, trailing vines create a natural, organic feel and are ideal for a garden wedding theme. Add blue thistle, anemones, roses, scabiosa, and variegated tulips to complement the greenery.
• Long ribbons are a trendy addition to greenery bouquets, especially with pastel blooms, and they're a great way to incorporate colour if you're not using many flowers.
• For a woodland or forest-themed wedding, combine different varieties of ferns or eucalyptus for a quick, cohesive bouquet.
• Balance tropical elements like banana leaves and anthurium flowers with traditional greenery like ferns for a unique combo.
• Add pops of colour to your greenery bouquet with vibrant flowers like yellow alstroemeria and freesias, or try fuchsia or orange for a bold statement.
• For a fall wedding, incorporate touches of darker colours like red amaranthus with white proteas, blue thistle, and seeded eucalyptus.
• Keep it simple and elegant by sticking to one type of greenery, such as silver dollar eucalyptus, olive branches, Italian ruscus, or ivy.
• Floor-length vines create a stunning focal point for a cascading bouquet, drawing attention all the way down to the bride's dress. Add classic white flowers like roses, orchids, and anthurium to the top for a teardrop shape.

With so many options to choose from, you can create a greenery bouquet that perfectly suits your wedding style and theme.

Frequently asked questions