A-Z Step Guide to Planning a Fairy Tale Wedding

Wedding planning doesn’t need to be costly! Here are 28 stunning ideas to help create a magical storybook event!

Selecting the ideal location is of utmost importance when planning a fairytale wedding. A grand ballroom or charming villa will set an elegant, romantic ambiance that you and your partner will treasure forever.

1. Venue

Finding your ideal venue starts with choosing a fairytale-inspired setting – maybe an enchanted woodland wedding, or one reminiscent of Renaissance castle. Killruddery House is a fairy-tale wedding destination that might pique your interest.

If Cinderella is your fairy tale wedding inspiration, consider choosing a venue with an exquisite ballroom for both reception and ceremony. A forested grove may better suit Snow White who prefers moody floral arrangements and bold color combinations.

Other venues perfect for creating the feel of a fairytale wedding include greenhouses or locations with ample trees and natural beauty, like botanical gardens. A backyard can also make an elegant backdrop, provided there is enough room for guests and an alternative plan should weather turn against you.

Fairy tale weddings can be more costly, since you will require lots of decor and flowers to achieve this wedding style. However, many venues provide decor as part of their rental package or add-on options, to help reduce costs. Also consider using gold or silver accents on mirror frames, frames and jewelry for an enchanting finish!

2. Decor

Make guests feel like they’re walking into your fairy tale by adding royal decor elements such as crowns or scrolls – or adding a gilded arch and table settings that’re sure to wow them!

Flower arrangements play a central role in fairytale weddings, and the more elaborate the better. Look for long stemmed, multitextured blooms such as peonies, ranunculus or orchids; floral crowns and wands can add even more magic!

Glitter can add the perfect sparkle to a modern bride’s event and can be integrated in various ways into her design – be it string lights or an embellished cape, there is sure to be an option that speaks to you and fits within your budget.

If you want your wedding to stand out, consider renting a horse-drawn carriage or making your exit an extravagant sparkler finale. Sparklers make for great photo opps as you walk down the aisle!

3. Dress

Your wedding gown should be at the core of every fairytale wedding experience; brides have been dreaming about, romancing and coveting it for many months prior to choosing theirs.

Choose a gown with an elegant and dramatic skirt or full-length lace or silk design to set your fairy tale wedding apart from other ceremonies. Add some shimmer with crystals or glitter for added beauty – whether opting for classic white, blush, lilac hues, or another color, fairy tale weddings require stunning gowns to complement their surroundings and inspire guests with their magical theme.

Fairytale weddings typically involve many tiny attendants, like flower girls and ring bearers. Make your fairytale wedding more realistic by providing these lovely additions with adorable attire such as flower crowns for little girls and suspenders or bow ties for boys to complete your wedding party and provide plenty of memorable pictures!

No fairytale wedding would be complete without the iconic image of arriving by horse-drawn carriage; this could be an elegant and memorable way to arrive at your venue. Or arrive in style using another mode of transport such as vintage car or even taxi!

4. Hairstyle

If a fairy tale wedding sounds like your ideal way to say “I do”, there are a few details you must take into account in order to bring that vision into reality. From venue selection and cake planning ideas, we have everything you need for an unforgettable celebration!

Commence the wedding theme right with an invite that captures its magic with scrolls and monograms evoking royalty, as well as designs featuring gold accents. Additionally, consider including images of crowns or tiaras along with elegant design elements like lace.

Every princess needs a beautiful wedding gown, and there are many choices that fit with the fairytale motif. If you want to add that special something, try adding crystal headpieces or glass slippers for an enchanting effect.

Fairy tale weddings wouldn’t be complete without their attendants in miniature form, making this an easy part to add. Flower girls and ring bearers are essential, with many outfitted in adorable crowns or suspenders for adorable pictures.

5. Makeup

Starting as children, many girls dream of their fairytale wedding day and its celebration. Even as adults, many brides decide to bring these dreams alive on their big day by planning an elaborate themed event that meets those childhood fantasies.

No matter the theme of your fairy tale wedding, there are numerous ways to make the day unforgettable. From including flowers from each story to using phrases such as “once upon a time” or “happily ever after”, there are countless details which can transform the event into an enchanting fairytale experience.

Other decor options to help set the stage for your fairy tale wedding include hanging lanterns (such as this paper rosette version) or mason jars with twinkling lights inside, draped lace curtains across doors, archways or chandeliers and hanging flowers for added romance.

Add some drama with a princess-inspired hairstyle or tiara to complete your fairy tale theme! Wear your hair down or up in an elaborate braid or chignon style; finish the look off with a flower crown, pins or combs that tie into the theme for added effect.

6. Cake

Every little girl dreams of her wedding day, from seeing herself dressed like a princess on her special day to meeting their prince charming and having her dream wedding become as magical as the ones they read or watch about in fairytales.

Fairy tale weddings can be expensive to plan, as many items need to be acquired to achieve the ideal theme. But it is essential that you follow your heart and do what feels right; if a fairy tale wedding is something you truly desire then nothing should stand in its way of becoming reality.

Even on a tight budget, there are still ways to add a fairy tale romance to your big day. Use gold or silver accents as decorative features for an air of luxury and whimsicality; alternatively choose wedding colors inspired by Cinderella, Belle, Sleeping Beauty or Jasmine as romantic flourishes for your big day celebrations.

Bring the magic of fairy tale weddings into your ceremony by including details like glass slippers or the phrase, “Once upon a time…” into the celebration through signage, cake toppers or stationery.

7. Entertainment

Hopeless romantics often dream of fairy tale weddings as the ideal celebration. From large ceremonies in castles or forests to intimate elopements in forests, there are endless ways to make sure their special day feels like something out of a fairy tale book.

Begin your wedding planning journey by choosing a fairy tale that speaks to both of you. Once selected, build your elements around that tale – for instance if Cinderella inspires you, choose cool blues with stunning ball gowns and an enchanting venue; while for Snow White opt for moody florals with rich pops of dark colors in an enchanted forest.

At your ceremony, live music can create the ideal setting of romance and grandeur, while making a grand entrance in either a horse-drawn carriage or hot air balloon is sure to leave guests spellbound.

Add an extra touch of magic with fireworks or sparklers for a magical entrance into the night. Finally, to make your fairy tale wedding extra memorable you could include iconic phrases from your favorite fairy tale such as “Once upon a time”, or “They lived happily ever after”, into wedding signage or the cake topper inscriptions.