Wings of Love: Whimsical Bird Themed Wedding Ideas

What happens when two bird lovers decide to tie the knot? They plan a whimsical bird themed wedding with all their feathered friends on the guest list! 

 

Whether you’re avid birdwatchers, nature enthusiasts, or simply flying high on the wings of love, this list of bird theme wedding ideas will help make your imagination take flight. 

 

Need a wedding officiant? Ask a friend to officiate your wedding with free online ordination from American Marriage Ministries. 

 

• 5 Great Reasons to Ask a Friend to Officiate Your Wedding

 

 

Grab your birding binoculars and change into some comfy shoes for a pre-wedding birdwatching hike with friends! Or meet up after the reception for a relaxing outdoor afterparty. (Photo: ASphotowed / iStock)

 

 

10 Bird Themed Wedding Ideas for Your Ceremony & Reception

 

1. Birdwatcher Wedding Hike or Afterparty

 

During a pre-wedding hike or after the reception, head outside for a birdwatching party with friends! If your venue is surrounded by interesting birdlife, this activity will be a dream come true. Keep a checklist of all the species you spot as a unique wedding day memento. Be sure to let guests know to bring a pair of sensible shoes to change into for this outdoor adventure.

 

And if you already know the bird species that are common near your venue,  print out a birdwatching checklist to place on the welcome table or reception tables for guests. See who can spot the most birds throughout the wedding day! 

 

Related: A Simple Wedding Planning Checklist & Timeline for Busy Couples

 

 

2. Hawk or Owl Ring Bearer

 

One of the most unexpected wedding trends we’ve seen lately is to have a barn owl, hawk, or falcon to serve as your ring bearer! These winged guests arrive on the arm of a falconer and then swoop forward to deliver your wedding rings during the ring exchange.

 

Having a bird of prey in the wedding party is not without risks, but the impact is undeniable! You can hire these romantic raptors just for the ceremony, or pay extra to have in wedding photos with guests during the reception.

 

Related: Wedding Ceremony Outline & Order : Understanding the Parts of a Wedding Ceremony

 

Trained owls for weddings? You bet! Wedding owls add a magical touch to any ceremony, but especially a bird lovers or wizardly Harry Potter themed wedding. (Photo: VEX Collective / iStock)

 

 

3. Cute Bird Costumes for a Ring Bearer or Flower Girl

 

Don’t want to hire an owl for the wedding day? Transform your ring bearer or flower girl into adorable wedding fledglings with cute bird costumes! These young helpers can flap their way down the aisle dressed as owls or hawks, blue birds or eagles, ducklings or crows, cardinals or wedding wrens – bringing joy to everyone in attendance. 

 

And if there will be a lot of children at your wedding, why not give all of them the option to dress in a cute bird costume, instead of those inevitably-uncomfortable wedding outfits? Imagine the photo opportunities at an outdoor wedding! 

 

Related: 8 Creative Alternatives to a Flower Girl or Ring Bearer for Your Wedding Ceremony

 

 

4. Reserve a ‘Tweetheart Table’ 

 

Put a sweet spin on the ‘sweetheart table’ wedding custom with a ‘tweetheart table.’ A sweetheart table is a small table at a wedding reception that’s just for the couple, giving the newlyweds a chance to take a break from socializing for a few minutes. Place a small sign on the table reserving it for the tweethearts – that’s you! 

 

 

Plan a sweetheart table that's for the (love) birds: with charming bird candles, love bird statutes, and a reserved sign just for the newlyweds. (Photo: DBC  / iStock)

 

 

5. Unique Bird Wedding Favors

 

Your friends are thrilled that you’re getting married, but they probably don’t need another wedding magnet… The best wedding favors are items your guests can use or consume, because they won’t end up in the back of a drawer or cluttering up a bookcase.

 

With that in mind, here are a few bird themed wedding favors to consider: 

 

• Mini birdcage candle holder & candles
• Mini birdcage with candies / chocolates
• Custom bird shaped soaps or soap sets
• Custom ‘love birds’ label on mint tins or candy bars
• Paper hand fans with sweet bird designs
• Bird seed bags, packets, or heart-shaped seed ornaments

 

 

6. Cute Bird Themed Sayings for a Wedding Welcome Sign, Invitations, or Place Cards

 

Add cute bird themed sayings to any of your paper products – your custom wedding napkins, save the dates, wedding invitations, table markers, seating place cards, thank you cards, or wedding welcome sign. Consider familiar phrases like “we’re birds of a feather,” “this way to the love birds,” “two night owls in love,” “we’re cuckoo for each other,” “love takes flight,” “on the wings of love” – you get the idea! 

 

Related: Creative Save the Date Wording & Designs for Your Wedding

 

Look at these sweet bird theme wedding invitations! Personalize your invites and save the dates with your names, wedding date, location, and favorite bird-inspired puns or phrases. (This example was created using a free Adobe Express wedding invitation template.) 

 

 

7. Birdcage Card Box 

 

Embrace the theme with a decorative bird cage in place of a traditional card box! A wedding card box is a container where guests can place cards and monetary gifts (gift cards or cash placed in envelopes) during the reception. A birdcage is the perfect substitute for an ordinary, with slats that are just right to slip a card through! Choose a vintage wooden or wire bird cage and adorn it with flowers and foliage, and a small sign that says “cards.”

 

 

8. Bird Themed Wedding Centerpieces & Table Accents

 

Give your wedding reception an earthy, ethereal, and whimsical feel with unique bird themed centerpieces and natural accents. Some of these fun ideas can be DIY, or commission a local artist or vendor to help you bring the vision to life!

 

Here are a few bird themed wedding centerpieces & accents to inspire you: 

 

• Bird nest centerpieces with flowers and foliage
• Bird statues
• Folded paper origami birds
• Illustrated bird prints to designate each table
• Birdhouse centerpieces with flowers and foliage 
• Birdcage candle arrangements
• Peacock feathers in flower arrangements
• Love bird salt and pepper shakers
• Bird napkin rings

 

 

(Photo: boggy22 / iStock)

 

 

9. Owl Wedding Cakes and Love Bird Cake Toppers

 

Add a unconventional touch to the dessert table with bird themed wedding cakes featuring your favorite feathered friends. These sweet treats are perfect for lovebirds like you, and they can fit seamlessly into any style wedding day – elegant, casual, modern, or traditional – without needing any other big changes to the decor. 

 

 

10. Birdseed Wedding Toss

 

Last but not least, throwing birdseed at weddings is a sweet bird-friendly alternative to the traditional rice toss. Although rice isn’t bad for birds at weddings, birdseed can be a better choice. (Just be sure to choose bird food that’s appropriate for the local wild birdlife, and ok it with the venue before handing it out to guests.)

 

 

One last thought...

 

If you have birds as pets, you might want to include them in the wedding celebration! Your beloved bird/s can join you as you walk down the aisle, pose in wedding photos, and even 'participate' in a family handfasting or unity painting if they're especially clever. To get started, choose a pet-friendly wedding venue, and ask about birds specifically (in case of allergies and other considerations). 

 

• 5 Tips for Including Pets in Your Wedding Ceremony
   

 

(Photo: Aiman Dairabaeva / iStock)

 

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Ask a Friend to Officiate Your Wedding!

Good things happen when friends and relatives help out at the wedding ceremony! Having a friend officiate your wedding is more affordable than hiring a professional officiant, and a great way to ensure the wedding day is as intimate and personal as it can be. When a loved one officiates, every moment means more! 

Ask a friend or family member to officiate your wedding with free online ordination through American Marriage Ministries (AMM). 

|* custom-button, "https://theamm.org/ordination-application", "ORDAINED MINISTER ONLINE APPLICATION" *|

Why AMM? American Marriage Ministries is an inclusive nondenominational internet church that ordains and trains ministers to officiate marriage ceremonies. We are a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit church, and help people from all backgrounds and beliefs become ordained ministers for weddings. Our online ordination is free, accessible, and never expires.

 

Officiating weddings is an incredible honor, and a great way to show your love and support for the people getting married. As a wedding officiant, you will help to create memorable ceremonies and memories that last a lifetime.

AMM Ministers can legally officiate weddings in every state* (it's much harder in Virginia, where we're looking into our options). After getting ordained with AMM, you might need to register your ordination with your local county clerk’s office. Click the link above to get started! 

 

Become an ordained minister online with American Marriage Ministries and officiate wedding for friends and relatives. (Photo: Tash Jones - Love Luella Photography / iStock)

 

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