Music festivals are a global phenomenon celebrated around the world. They are more than concerts, they are huge melting pots of creative expression; of freedom and belonging. There are hundreds of thousands of tickets sold in the UK every year, and every year they are growing in popularity – it is no wonder tickets are getting more and more competitive.
Whether people weren’t able to bag themselves a ticket on the notoriously merciless Glastonbury website or if they were simply inspired by their experience the year prior, one thing we are seeing in recent history is more and more people taking party or wedding inspiration from the festival trend. There are lots of great ways to bring the magic to your own party. Here is a look at some of the ways the creativity of music festivals can inspire your own celebration or wedding.
Unless you plan to invite thousands of close friends to your garden, the first thing to think about when planning your own festival is how to make the party feel intimate without losing the sense of scale that a festival gives you.
- SPACE As a starting point, think about your space – can it be broken up into different areas? The best thing to do is to decide on the overall look; but, whether you are looking for “boho chic” or a “Boomtown rave”, the heart of any festival is the structures and marquees. You can dress the outdoor space in all kinds of beautiful festival props, but a proper marquee or tent is what really brings it all together. You can easily source all sorts of classic, vintage or even circus tents from various independent suppliers across the UK. Think about having a ‘chillout-zone’ – more than a firepit with hay bales – a sheltered space where people can escape always goes down a treat for those wanting to break away. All you need is some low lighting and some floor cushions and you are pretty much there. Then why not add, for example, a record player with a selection of vinyls? Otherwise, it’s a great spot to leave a scrapbook for your guests to sign as a memento for you.
- PROGRAMME One important thing ahead of any music festival party is working out what/who/when/where to see things; acts, performances, different discovery areas, so most festivals have a book or brochure to flick through. You can use this idea to play around with your invitations. You can ask a creative friend to draw a map or illustration as a practical (and stylish) way to let your guests know where to go and what is happening when. Otherwise, you can always ditch the paper invites altogether and go for festival wristbands. These are easily sourced online, they make for a great keepsake and sets the festival tone before guests even arrive.
- EXPRESSION Festivals are the ultimate safe space for self-expression; beyond the music, they are a showcase for fashion, innovative art installations and performances. People use these events to experiment with bold, imaginative outfits and make-up they might not wear in their everyday lives. That being said, for any festival wedding people are always going to worry about what to wear and wonder if anyone else is going to go “all out” or if they should play it safe. So, that’s your chance make suggestions for a dress code – design a festival moodboard with your favorite, extravagant ideas. For any party, it’s a fun way to encourage guests to get creative and hint that this is going to be a safe space to go full-festival.
Festival party styling
In the same vein, there are so many ways you can dress the party to create a festival atmosphere. With a short peruse online, you can find endless examples of how to dress your space. You don’t need to splash out on extravagant art installations or a helter skelter, you can quite easily source your festival decor in more creative ways. Head to Etsy or other independent suppliers for small things that make a huge difference to the overall look and feel. Grab some string and attach ribbons and tassels, buy a couple disco balls and shine lights on them. A personal favorite trick is to hang a disco ball as high as you can, shine a perpendicular laser at it and you have got yourself an awesome lighting effect that creates added intrigue into the outdoor space.
Talent
When it comes to performances and music, this is the most key aspect to any festival party so you want to make sure that you have plenty of options. However, again, you don’t even have to overcomplicate it. Without the numbers you’d get at Glastonbury, be conscious of how to fill up the space with the amount of guests you have. You don’t want to spread the party thin. Neither you nor your DJ wants to see 5 people dancing at the stage.
If your budget allows you to book a couple of key performances, it is really important to make sure that you have variety so that you have something for everyone. Discovering new music is one of the best things about music festivals so don’t be shy to take risks. You can ask friends and family if they want to do a DJ set or if they want to sing or perform a song or two. If you have a “headlining” DJ or band for guests to look forward to with some performances before and after, you are pretty much all the way there…
Festival feasting
Planning your festival menu takes some thought. While a formal sit-down dinner is an option, you might want to mix it up to create a more flexible and fun experience that works around your entertainment schedule. Though food trucks are a festival staple, there are countless other ways to make the dining unique. Try creative food stations during drinks, or forego a seated dinner altogether for a relaxed setup with scattered tables. This gives guests the freedom to eat whenever they want and mingle easily. You can also add playful touches like ice lollies, late-night snacks, roaming drinks service, or personalized cups that double as keepsakes. Be sure to collaborate with your caterer to make sure your ideas align.
Ned
The beauty of a festival party is that you can be as creative as you like, drawing inspiration from the element of surprise, like hidden bars or unexpected areas for guests to explore. It’s your chance to reinvent wedding traditions and craft something uniquely yours.
