Visit Martha Stewart Weddings Weddings Wedding Ceremony & Reception Wedding Reception Ideas 30 Casual Wedding Ideas for Your Low-Key Big Day By Sarah Schreiber Sarah Schreiber Sarah Schreiber has been writing, editing, and producing lifestyle and weddings content for over 7 years. In that time, she has interviewed and worked with hundreds of leading experts to become an authority on all things homekeeping, flower arranging, home design, and wedding planning. Editorial Guidelines Updated on September 30, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Russell Heeter If you're planning a casual wedding—say, in your parents' backyard, at a restaurant, or in a barn—you're probably trying to find the balance between sophisticated and fun. Low-key weddings and elegance don't have to be (and usually aren't!) mutually exclusive. In fact, the following food, décor, florals, and dress ideas from real weddings prove that casual celebrations are just as beautiful as their formal counterparts. We even have the photos to prove it. The best part about all of these ideas? They're seriously conducive to a stress-free, lighthearted wedding. Encourage your guests to kick off their shoes and take the dance floor by storm in flip-flops. If you're looking to bring your casual fête to the next level, go for subtle interpretations of today's best trends and use geodes, tassels, and neon signs as a way to bring a little modernity to the simplicity. 01 of 30 Elevated Rugs Annamae Photo Give guests the option to lay back and lounge while you tie the knot. We'd still recommend setting up a few rows of chairs, though, for anyone who might not be comfortable on the ground. 02 of 30 Batch Refreshments Alicia Mink A wedding bar made easy. These big-batch style beverages house lemonade, tea, and fruit-infused water, allowing for guests to serve themselves. Signature cocktails could be served in similar vessels. 03 of 30 Simple Place Cards Michael Radford An easy and effective method of displaying place cards—such as setting them out in rows on a rustic farm table, as seen here—looks beautiful. This display is proof that you don't need to create an intricate design to make a statement. 04 of 30 Minimal Centerpiece Feather & Twine Small arrangements of baby's breath make for effortless centerpieces. 05 of 30 DIY Entryway Joey Kennedy Photography Having a wedding at home? Decorate the entryway with color-coordinated wreaths and fabric. 06 of 30 Escort Cards Meet Party Favors This Modern Romance The team at Amorology, who planned and designed this event, created escort cards attached to plush Turkish towels for some two-in-one fun. 07 of 30 Confetti Toss Charla Storey The bride and her cousin crafted a creative version of confetti: Olive leaves rolled in pages of French books as holders. 08 of 30 Chair Details Joey Kennedy Photography Incorporating tassels is an easy way to elevate any soirée. 09 of 30 Beat the Heat Branco Prata Studios Offer guests a reprieve from the sun at your backyard wedding with parasols. The Best Ways to Keep Guests Cool at Your Warm-Weather Wedding 10 of 30 A Ringing Exit Joey Kennedy Photography Supply guests with hand bells for a celebratory exit. 20 Ways to Feature Bells Throughout Your Wedding 11 of 30 Fun and Games Molly Scott Set up classic party games, like Jenga, croquet, and corn hole, to entertain guests of all ages—even the teenagers. Fun Wedding Games Guests Will Enjoy Playing 12 of 30 Happy Feet KT Merry If it's important to you to have a bustling dance floor, make it happen by helping guests get comfortable. Set up a flip-flop station by the band or DJ, and you're all set. 13 of 30 Cool Sips Julie Shuford If a Champagne tower is the hallmark of a black-tie wedding, then a cocktail chilled with flower-filled ice cubes should be the drink of choice for a backyard affair. Bonus points if you top all your drinks off with edible florals. 14 of 30 Family Recipe Desserts Becca Lea Photography If your mom has a famous dessert recipe—like her best-ever Bundt cake—she's been serving up at family parties for years, ask her to consider whipping something up for the dessert table. 15 of 30 Greens Only Laura Arredondo For a more relaxed take on a bridal bouquet, make like this bride and carry a clutch of eucalyptus, air plants, and assorted leafy greens down the aisle. Want to dress it up a bit? Pop in petite white roses. The Best Foliage to Use in Your Wedding Bouquet for Every Season 16 of 30 Bleachers and Confetti Fer Juaristi We're not sure what's more casual, seating your guests in bleachers or inviting them to throw full rolls of streamers after you say "I do." 17 of 30 One Tier Corbin Gurkin Forget that super-fancy three-tier wedding cake. An array of elegant single layers, decorated with creeping vines, are sophisticated but still appropriate for your laid-back nuptials. 48 Small Wedding Cakes with a Big Presence 18 of 30 Stocked Welcome Bags Lacie Hansen Photography You don't need to fill welcome bags with expensive tchotchkes to make an impression. Try stuffing them with yummy snacks, like dried fruit and kale chips, monogrammed soda bottles, and mini maps instead. The Prettiest Welcome Bags from Real Weddings 19 of 30 Rug Runners Molly Scott Transform your ceremony venue into a cozy living room by lining the aisle with pretty rugs. 20 of 30 Snow Cone Station Bryan Gardner Bring everyone back to their country fair days with a snow cone station, complete with all their favorite syrup flavors. 25 Delicious Ways to Serve Carnival Food at Your Wedding 21 of 30 Effervescent Tablescape Kelsea Holder Leather-wrapped cluster centerpieces look right at home atop a woven runner, which brings bohemian-inspired texture to an effortless tablescape. 22 of 30 Crepe Cake Elizabeth Messina What better way to lighten up your reception than by serving breakfast for dessert? A hearty stack of crepes stands in as an unexpected wedding cake. 23 of 30 Ice Cream Sandwiches Jes Workman Easy enough to eat with your hands, ice cream sandwiches are the ultimate dessert, especially if you're getting hitched in the summer. Mouthwatering Ways to Serve Ice Cream at Your Wedding 24 of 30 Tiny Churros Rebecca Yale Photography Add a little cinnamon-sugar sweetness to the desert table with these mini churros. 25 Unexpected Wedding Food Ideas Your Guests Will Love 25 of 30 Yummy Stations Chrisman Studios A simple way to give guests the full picture of your food stations? Make like this couple and set up guests with a map that highlights what each section is serving up. 26 of 30 Glass Jar Vases Connie Lyu Keep ceremony décor festive and unfussy by dotting the aisle with loosely-bunched flowers displayed in glass jars. 27 of 30 Tassel Escort Cards Liz Banfield Colorful and creative, tassel escort cards offer a little quirk to your party. Plus, they're a super-cool departure from the traditional paper options typically seen at fancier fêtes. 28 of 30 Bridesmaids' Choice Redfield Photography Instead of dressing up your bridal party in matching gowns or colors, let them choose their own. They'll be more comfortable in a design and hue they chose for their own bodies and skin tone—and the mismatched look is very in right now. 29 of 30 Neon Sign Amber Gress A trendy neon sign brings a little touch of the club to your backyard wedding's lounge. 30 of 30 Chipotle Cuisine Molly Scott Here's how you ensure that every person on your guest list RSVPs "yes": Tell them Chipotle is catering it. And at your wedding, the guac is most certainly not extra. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit