Planning a wedding involves choosing a style that aligns with your personality and vision. Two popular wedding themes are boho and hippie, both known for their connection to nature and a laid-back vibe.
Although they share some similarities, there are distinct elements that make each style unique. Let’s explore these differences to help you decide which theme suits your special day.
Let’s get straight to the point
Boho and hippie weddings both focus on nature, freedom, and a relaxed vibe but differ in style.
Boho weddings blend elegance with eclectic details, featuring soft, artistic elements and a curated aesthetic.
Hippie weddings are rooted in 1960s counterculture, favouring a casual, DIY approach with bright colours and natural, sustainable decor.
Boho celebrations often have a polished, organised feel, while hippie weddings are more spontaneous and communal. Choosing between them depends on whether you prefer the chic, artistic vibe of boho or the laid-back, earthy spirit of a hippie celebration.
Boho vs. Hippie Wedding Styles
Boho and hippie weddings both celebrate non-traditional elements with a focus on freedom, simplicity, and a relaxed atmosphere. However, their styles differ in significant ways that influence the overall vibe of the celebration.
- Boho Style: This theme combines elegance with an eclectic touch, featuring earthy tones, soft fabrics, and artistic details like lace and macramé. It’s all about creating a whimsical, romantic ambience with modern and vintage elements.
- Hippie Style: Rooted in the 1960s counterculture, the hippie wedding style is more casual and free-spirited. It focuses on bright colours, tie-dye patterns, and a DIY feel that embraces sustainability and simplicity.
Fashion Choices
Fashion plays a key role in distinguishing between boho and hippie wedding styles.
- Boho Brides and Grooms: Boho brides often wear flowing dresses with lace details, bell sleeves, or off-the-shoulder designs, accessorised with minimalist jewellery and flower crowns. Grooms usually opt for relaxed yet tailored suits, sometimes with mismatched elements.
- Hippie Brides and Grooms: Hippie brides favour loose, comfortable dresses made from natural fabrics like cotton, with wild and organic accessories. Grooms in hippie weddings are more likely to wear casual outfits, like linen shirts and jeans, reflecting the theme’s laid-back nature.
Ideal Venues and Settings
The setting of your wedding significantly influences its overall feel, and both boho and hippie styles have their preferred venues.
- Boho Venues: These weddings are often held in unique locations that blend natural beauty with a hint of sophistication, like vineyards, gardens, or rustic barns. The focus is on creating a beautifully curated, stylish environment.
- Hippie Venues: Hippie weddings embrace the outdoors in a more unstructured way, favouring natural settings like open fields, beaches, or forests. These venues highlight the carefree, communal vibe of the hippie culture.
Décor and Atmosphere
The décor plays a major role in setting the mood for both wedding styles.
- Boho Décor: This style is known for its artistic blend of modern and vintage elements, including items like lanterns, dreamcatchers, and macramé. The aim is to create a relaxed yet stylish atmosphere with soft lighting and carefully curated pieces.
- Hippie Décor: Hippie weddings focus on sustainability and natural materials. Expect to see wildflowers, tie-dye fabrics, and handmade decorations that emphasise a more down-to-earth, eco-friendly vibe.
Music and Vibe
Music is a key aspect that shapes the vibe of the wedding celebration, setting the tone for the event.
- Boho Weddings: They often feature indie, acoustic, or folk music to maintain a relaxed, elegant atmosphere. Live musicians are a popular choice to complement the soft and intimate vibe.
- Hippie Weddings: Music at hippie weddings typically includes classics from the 1960s and 70s, like tracks from The Beatles or Janis Joplin. The atmosphere is more spontaneous, with activities like drumming circles or jam sessions to enhance the free-spirited feel.
Connection to Nature
Both wedding styles have a strong bond with nature, but their approach differs.
- Boho Connection: Nature is used as a stunning backdrop in boho weddings, with elegant décor complementing the surroundings. The focus is on balancing rustic elements with a touch of refinement.
- Hippie Connection: Hippie weddings go deeper in their connection to nature, often held in untouched, natural settings. The emphasis is on celebrating the couple’s bond with the earth, keeping decorations minimal to let nature shine.
Spirituality and Traditions
Each style incorporates spiritual elements, but with different focuses.
- Boho Spirituality: Rituals like unity candles, handfasting, or nature blessings are common in boho weddings. These traditions add a meaningful touch, blending global influences for a personalised ceremony.
- Hippie Spirituality: Hippie weddings focus on spiritual practices rooted in love, peace, and unity. Ceremonies often include meditation, chanting, or drumming to create a communal experience for everyone present.
Food and Dining Experience
The dining experience at boho and hippie weddings reflects their unique approaches to style and sustainability.
- Boho Menu: Typically features a trendy, modern menu with farm-to-table dishes, artisanal cocktails, and beautifully presented food stations. There is a strong emphasis on quality, variety, and aesthetic presentation.
- Hippie Menu: Food at hippie weddings is more casual, often served potluck-style with an emphasis on organic, locally sourced ingredients. Vegan and vegetarian options are common, highlighting the sustainable and communal nature of the event.
Guest Experience
The guest experience at these weddings also reflects the themes’ unique vibes.
- Boho Wedding Experience: Guests enjoy a well-organised event with a curated playlist, comfortable seating, and beautifully presented decor that creates a memorable yet laid-back atmosphere.
- Hippie Wedding Experience: At hippie weddings, guests are encouraged to actively participate in the celebration through communal activities like singing or dancing. The event is spontaneous and interactive, creating a truly shared experience.
Deciding Between Boho and Hippie Wedding Styles
Choosing between a boho and hippie wedding ultimately comes down to personal preference and how you want your big day to feel.
- If you lean towards a stylish, artistic vibe with a touch of luxury, a boho wedding might be the perfect choice.
- If you value simplicity, a connection to nature, and a more communal atmosphere, then a hippie wedding could be the best fit.
Conclusion: Embrace Your Unique Style
Whether you choose the chic elegance of a boho wedding or the free-spirited vibe of a hippie celebration, both styles offer a meaningful way to express your love.
The key is to select the theme that resonates most with your personality and vision for your wedding day, creating a celebration that feels truly authentic to who you are.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Hippie and Boho the Same?
While boho and hippie fashions have certain things in common, boho is more about encouraging a more romantic appearance and a more nomadic way of living. Hippie and boho fashions both attempt to break away from conventional dress. Boho fashion, in contrast to hippie fashion, has no political roots.
What Is Boho and Hippie Style?
Bohemian style is a fashion style strongly related to hippie fashion, in which natural fabrics, retro patterns, neutrals and warm shades merge with 70s style accents and a flair for statement accessories. Bohemian style is more than just a fashion trend.
What Is Considered Hippie Style?
Hippies were also known for their unique style, favouring long hair and casual, often unconventional, dress, sometimes in “psychedelic” colours. Many males grew beards, and both men and women wore sandals and beads.
What Is Considered Boho Style?
Boho style is a free-spirited aesthetic that mixes different cultures and artistic expressions into an eclectic style with an emphasis on organic elements and nature. When putting together your boho style space, mixing patterns, metals, woods, materials, animal hides and trinkets from your travels is highly encouraged.
How Do You Look Boho?
To achieve a Boho Chic look, look for natural tones and fabrics, and for loose, flowy clothing in fun patterns. Additionally, choose bold accessories, like bangles, leather handbags with fringe, and crystal pendants. When it comes to shoes, look for leather or suede flats, sandals, or boots.
