Transform your wedding into a fairy-tale with the addition of horses!
February is a month filled with love. It’s no surprise that it’s dubbed the National Wedding Month. Couples all across the world celebrate their unconditional love for one another. Cupid is busy aiming his arrow as brides and grooms get ready for their special day! Planning a wedding is no easy feat.
It’s a quick decision for equestrian though; horses will be in the wedding, of course! It could be as simple as horseshoes centerpieces or as grand as a carriage ride. The options are limitless. The fact remains if you include horses, then expect to have a beautiful, fairy-tale wedding!
A Barn Venue
Rustic wedding are trending! Many brides and grooms are opting to hold their celebration in a barn or horse stable. It’s surprising how clean and decked out they can get. I’ve seen a fair share of weddings be held in the spacious hay loft of an old red or white barn. Another clever idea is to hold it outside in a field. Bring out the hay bales!
For an added touch, choose a venue that actually has horses on the property. There’s nothing more tranquil than seeing them out in the fields grazing. And the pictures come out amazing!
The Cutest Ringbearer
Perfect for those with ponies or miniatures, dress one up and have someone lead them down the aisle as a ringbearer. A small pillow can be attached to their halter. I’m sure they will get some “awwws” and ‘ohhhs”.
A Royal Entrance
An elegant way to include horses in your big day is to arrive on them! Many companies offer horse-drawn carriages for weddings. Can you picture it? A bride in her beautiful white dress arrives to the ceremony in a Cinderella carriage pulled by two steeds. Now, that’s a fairy-tale!
Some choose to do without the carriage; rather they arrive on their saddled horse. It could be your personal one or any calm, trustworthy horse. The bride’s dress could elegantly drape over the horse’s haunches as she makes her way down the aisle.
Wedding Pictures with Horses
You can get creative with your wedding pictures. Make sure to choose a photographer who is comfortable with horses. They’ll know some unique poses you and your spouse can do. Some couples may trailer in their horses for the day (especially if they’re involved in other aspects), while others may schedule a follow up photo shoot in a week or two.
Horse-Themed Decor
If you can dream it, then you can make it a reality. There are so many different decor options. Create a Pinterest board and go crazy! For rustic weddings, horseshoes, hay bales, lariats, steer skulls, and old wagon wheels make the place feel western. You can create an elegant ambience with a horse ice sculpture, equine-themed dinnerware, and fancy invitation cards.
Involve the Kids
You can keep the children occupied during cocktail hour with some activities. It’s a great idea to offer them horsey coloring books and crayons. If you want to go really big, set up pony rides or a petting zoo. That’ll be a hit among the younger crowd (and even some of the adults).
There’s a lot of planning that goes into weddings. After all, it’s probably going to be one of the biggest celebrations of your life. So, make it count by including your favorite things- like horses!
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Emily Fought discovered her passion for horses early on in life. When she isn’t writing about them, you can find her in the barn riding. Although Emily’s background is in dressage, she enjoys cross-training and is an avid trail rider. She resides in Northwestern Pennsylvania with her husband and small dog. Together, they own and operate Humblewood Farm.
