Continuing our love affair with all things green, gorgeous and sustainable, we're sharing botanical wedding decor  we can't get enough of — potted plants! Not only are potted plants an eco-friendly wedding decor option, they are a great budget-friendly alternative to flowers too. Even better, they can easily double up as evergreen keepsakes for you and your guests after the big day. Decor that is fabulous and functional? Now that's what we call a wedding win-win!

Photo by Jessica Haley Photography

From teeny tiny cacti and aromatic herbs to flowering hydrangea and flowing ferns, we're sharing 7 creative ways to use the potted plant trend at your own wedding. Whether it's the main attraction or as a support act for your wedding day florals, we’re here to show you that opting for potted plants in your wedding decor is a naturally beautiful choice!

Potted Plant Wedding Inspiration

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1. Potted Plant Ceremony Backdrops

We love seeing potted plants used as ceremony decor. Use smaller plants to define and frame your ceremony space or feature larger potted plants to create a cool ceremony backdrop.

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Image by Rebecca Yale from Callista & Company

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2. Potted Plant Aisle Decor

Lush potted plants make for quite the dramatic entry. Place larger potted plants on either side of the aisle at your ceremony to create a grand entryway. You can also line your entire wedding aisle with a mix of potted herbs for a fragrant-filled ceremony or place blooming potted plants and the end of each pew to help add colour and texture to the space.

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3. Potted Plant Wedding Table Plans

Potted plants make for fantastic table plan options. Not only do they create a beautiful, natural focal point they can act as a sturdy display option too, especially for outdoor weddings. We have more unique table plan ideas here!

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4. Potted Plant Table Numbers & Names

Using potted plants to mark your tables is a simple yet effective table number idea!

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5. Potted Plants as Centrepieces

Potted plants are ideal for creating table centrepieces. Mix up the size and style of both your plants and pots to keep things interesting. Cluster small, low plants around taller ones to get a range of heights and shapes. Bonus points for using herbs that smell good (sage, lavender, rosemary, etc.)!

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6. Potted Plant Place Cards & Favours

Mini cacti, succulents and air plants make for great escort card holders and place settings and can easily double as a keepsakes for your guests. They're super easy to take care of, so your friends don't have to worry if they don't have green fingers. Use the same size pot and keep the scale similar throughout, but mix up the types of plant so each one feels unique.

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7. Create a Focal Point Using Potted Plants

Potted plants are a fantastic option to create mini styled areas around your venue (or to hide unsightly areas!). Utilise smaller plants to decorate table tops such as the cake table or cocktail bar and larger versions to fill open spaces around your wedding venue.

Image by Genevieve Leiper Photography 

Tips for Using Potted Plants in your Wedding

• Potted plants can be a fantastic budget-friendly alternative to flowers so a great choice if you need a more inexpensive or alternative floral decor option.
• If you have space to plant the plants after use or are giving them as favours, then pick up your favourite potted plants at your local gardening centre. However, if you don't really have space in your home to plant after the big day, then consider plant renting. Some florists and event hire companies offer this option, so make sure to ask around.
• Potted plant decor can be arranged in advance, so it's ideal for DIY projects or anything that needs to be made ahead of the wedding such as wedding favours. Just make sure to keep them watered!
• Use a mixture of both blooming and greenery potted plants for variety and don't be afraid to mix and match! Trailing ivy, beautiful potted hydrangeas, sweet succulents and lush ferns are great options to start with.
• When styling potted plants, include a variety of textures, heights and types. Vary the heights to create an additional layer of visual interest.
• Professional florists are fantastic at complementing the shapes of various blooms and can help guide you in creating the look you want. Here is our hand-picked selection of recommended florists in Ireland.

From bouquets to centrepieces, check out more wedding flower inspiration.