100+ Safari themed wedding ideas (decors, favors…)

Planning a safari themed wedding? Fantastic!
I want to help you infuse passion into your special day.
To make your research easier, I have gathered and created over 100 ideas (from details to big decisions) covering: 

• safari themed wedding invitations,
• colors, decors and centerpieces,
• safari themed favors,
• ceremony and clothes,
• party details and cake toppers,
• and much more!

All you need to create an unforgettable safari wedding!

This article contains affiliate Links (see Disclosure page). If you purchase using my link, I receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Venue and colors

Love nature and wild animals? Me too.
Safari is a great theme to create an inspiring wedding that you and your guests won't forget!
You can enjoy different types of safari themed weddings:

• savannah / bush safaris
• jungle safaris
• vintage safaris
• abstract safari / print themed style

Special venue ideas

You can have a safari themed wedding anywhere. It is all in the decor.
However, you can consider venues that fit best with your theme, such as:

• a destination wedding (we all wished...),
• a zoo - for example, the San Diego zoo organizes weddings,
• a place in the desert,
• rustic buildings with lots of natural materials,
• any outdoor venue with safari style tens.

Colors

One of the first decision to make it the color scheme since stationery, flowers, decors and all will be relating to that decision.
If you don't have any ideas, I recommend you look at invitations in the next section and see what appeals to you most.

For a safari, earthy tones are the most appropriate
Consider:

• Brown, ochre and gold for savannah safari
• White, Deep green with accents of one vibrant color for Jungle
• Brown, silver and striped
• Soft green and beige
• beige or white with one animal print

Careful: I list a lot of ideas, but don't go overboard with your theme!

Safari themed wedding invitations

The invitations and the stationery are some of the most important ways to convey the xx theme of your wedding and how special it will be.
Design Elements to take into consideration to be in accordance with your theme are:

• The drawings or pictures - 
  Wild animals of course: elephant, giraffe, zebras...
  And some leaves, branches or trees
• The font - 
  There is no specific type of font attached to this theme.
  You can choose what you like. But if you want the accent to be on the design element, stay simple with the font.
• The shape -
  The classic shapes work well as you have plenty of visual to design on them.
  For something more original, you can imagine an Africa-shaped, a leaf-shaped or an animal-shaped invitation.
• Special safari theme related words -
  You can have fun with your words or stay simple as you wish. Consider:
  Wild party to follow
  Come observe 2 wild humans getting married
  Binoculars are not necessary
  Bring your own binoculars
  The Big 2
  We are marking our territory

Here are some inspiring examples.
Most have complete suites of safari themed wedding stationery.
Once opened, click on personalize to add your wedding's information :

Or you can opt for themed but classic stationery options with your picture in safari clothes or on a safari.
Here are some beautiful examples :

Don't forget to consider, as applicable, the:

• Save the date
• Wedding invitation
• RSVP cards
• Bridal shower invitation
• Rehearsal dinner invitation

Other fun elements

The details can also be important.
When the person received the invitation, seeing a special themed sticker or a wax sealed at the back of the envelope can already trigger excitement!
Here are some examples:

Other formal invitations

You can also have fun in relation to your proposal to be groomsmen, bridesmaids, best man, maid of honour, ring bearer...
Here are some examples: 

Safari wedding decors

Safari themed centerpieces ideas

It is with centerpieces that you can have a lot of fun around your theme.
I have tried to collect ideas that you can order, personalize or make yourself.
Consider:

• Giant fake leaves with rocks and golden touches
• Small animals statues
• For tall centerpieces - vases with pampas grass
• Candles (see next section)
• African style vases
• Succulents
• Dry branches
• Natural fabrics and elements e.g. dried palm leaves
• Terracotta
• ...

Candles & holders

You can also add candles to add to the ambiance.
You can consider 3 types of candles to decorate your wedding:

• Candles with safari themed drawings, and your wedding date
• Candles with a picture of you dressed for a safari or on a safari, and your wedding date
• Simple candles just for lighting and mood

And if you don't want to risk of fire, but do want the ambiance, consider some flameless candles:

Other table decor elements

The rest of the elements on the table can also be chosen around your theme.
But don't go overboard.
Always remember to remove one accessory when you are finished.

Consider choosing themed:

• Napkins with prints or safari designs,
• Name card holders,
• Table numbers or names,
• Silverware - gold table ware,
• Wine bottle labels,
• Table runners with jute in natural colors,
• Table runners with a print if the rest of the decor remains simple,
• Animal print plates if decor of the table is toned down,
• ...

Other decor elements

The table is not the only place where you can have fun with the decor.
All around the events, you can include small touches of safari decors such as:

• fairy string for the starry skies
• djembe
• Pampas grass creations
• animal wall decors

And consider adding a backdrops to a wall, that an also be a place for cool pictures of the guest:

Flowers

Mostly leafy plants with lots of green.
You can also wonder succulents. If you decorate with a lot of small succulent, you can offer them to your guests as they leave the party.
For a touch of color, the bird of paradise flowers are often a favorite as any flowers that reminds us of an African sunset.

Or artificial succulents:

Favors for safari wedding theme

Safari themed favors

It can be really fun to create favors that are products related to your xx theme or at least decorated with your animal designs or prints.
Consider:

Classic personalized favors

Or you can opt for the more traditional favors but that you personalize around the theme or just with pictures of you and the date of the wedding.
For example:

• stickers
• mug
• keychain
• magnet
• glass
• match box (the perfect match)
• photo block
• hand sanitizer (spread love not germs)
• candy box
• mint box (mint to be)
• liquor bottle
• chocolate bar
• ...

Favor boxes and tags

Once again, you can personalize with a picture of your (themed or not) and find a box with decors related to your theme.
Here are some examples:

Ceremony and clothes

Officiant & program

If you are not going the traditional religious route, you can have fun with the officiant and the ceremony program.
Here are some ideas:

• Officiant with a fun tie with animals on it or wearing an animal print suit
• Officiant dressed as a ranger
• Adding the noises of wild animals to the ceremony
• Having hand fans with the wedding program on it
• Instead of an arch, have the maid of honour and best man hold giant leaves above the couple

Safari theme vows - fun ideas

If you are writing your own vows, you can include some xx related words or sentences, to make the audience smile and your partner swoon.
Here are some ideas:

• Our journey was a great migration, but we have found our territory
• I want to be the ranger of our union, protecting and preserving our land and our animals, meaning our family
• I want to go on bushwalks with you for the res tof my life
• I will love your under the torrential rains of the jungle and the droughts of the savannah
• see more terms related to safaris

Dress and clothes

Choose the dress you really want. This should not be about the theme, but about you. Wear what makes you happy!

BRIDE'S DRESS

• simple and flowing dresses work best
• light in the top
• white is good, 
• or earth colors (natural, ochre...)
• If you are of African heritage, then you can incorporate bold, printed African designs on your dress

a coral strapless A-line wedding dress with an overskirt with African motifs and some statement accessories

BRIDESMAID'S DRESSES

• you can go traditional with single color simple dress 
• short seems more appropriate (for safari shorts)
• if you go with prints, have them wear different prints so has not to create a wall of one single print (see example)
• safari clothes inspired dress (see example)

GROOM AND GROOMSMEN

• earth tone suit with natural fabric would look chic and appropriate
• green suits
• elephant grey suit

Accessories

You can keep the clothes simple so that everyone feels comfortable and beautiful, but go a little wilder with accessories.

For the women, consider:

• Simple strapped shoes - especially flats with straps going up the leg
• Big earrings
• stylish hair piece (headband for example)
• safari hat or vintage ones
• nature inspired jewelry and hair accessories

For the men, consider:

• Socks with animal prints - each groomsman is a different animal
• socks with wild animals
• Safari hat or vintage ones
• A boutonniere made with ropes or natural fabric (jute) or with greenery

Bouquet

Lot of green.
And then you can do what you want depending on the style of your wedding.
I think staying in the natural colors without flowers is very elegant.

Ring

No special suggestions here.
The ring bearer could bring them holding the statue of an elephant with the trunk up and place the rings around it.
Or go with those elegant options:

Fun safari wedding photo ideas

Now, it's time to take pictures of the couple and the wedding party.
You will, of course, start with the classic pictures, but then you can also have fun.
Here are some ideas:

• with binoculars
• with dried palm leaves as fans
• with the bridal party holding pampas grass or leaves to create a guard of honor
• sunset pictures
• ...

Safari wedding ideas for the party

Transportation

Transportation between the events or just for the last 500 yards can be related to your theme. You can make a grand entrance!
You can consider:

• a jeep, of course
• walking with hiking shoes! LOL

Seating chart

Creating a fun seating chart is one of the easiest way to include your theme in your wedding.
Here are some ideas for safari themed seating charts:

• Name each table after a wild animal
• Name each table after a reserve or national park or famous safari destination
• Decorate the seating chart with safari related drawings
• Write the table and names on vintage paper and attach it to jute fabric

Or you can keep a traditional-looking seating chart:

Cake shapes and safari cake toppers

With the cake, you can also have a lot of fun around your theme:

Option 1 - Traditional cake with decor

You can have traditional cakes but with:

•  a few safari related decors such as wild animals, leaves, pampas grass
• a fun cake toppers with bride and groom xxx!
• Or you can personalize a traditional cake topper with your photo, names or safari themed designs

Option 2 - Theme-shaped cake

You can have a cake in a fun shape but with a much simpler topper so that it is not overwhelming:

• With intricate animal drawings
• In the shape of your favorite wild animal
• In the shape of binoculars
• ...

Food / Menu

No specific suggestions in terms of food.

The menu can be printed on beautiful themed stationery:

Speech jokes

If you are a bridesmaid, groomsman, or a parent of the happy couple, you may have to give a speech.
A great wedding speech makes people say ohhhhhh and laugh.
The ohhhh part will come from personal stories about the couple.

But to make the audience laugh, the theme can be very useful.
Here are some jokes you could include:

• He is a hunter
• She first roared at him
• They have been circling around each other
• Can we say ambushed? Maybe...
• They are both nocturnal
• Like wild animals, they met at a watering hole, named... (name of the bar)
• Or get inspired by this article with animal behavior terms

Guest book

Don't forget to have a guest book for people to write you special message you will enjoy reading and re-reading later in life.
You can go with a traditional guest book or you can imagine something more unique and creative:

• have guests write on natural looking paper and place inside a djembe
• have guests write on animal print post-it and stuck them on a big poster paper than can then be framed and decorate a wall at your place

Activities - Entertainment - Music

And finally, to keep everyone entertain, you can plan for fun activities during the wedding.
Not all of them have to be related to your theme, but a few could be.
Here are some examples:

• A trivia challenge around wild animals
• A modified version of "him/me or her/me" - where you ask about animal behavior and they decide who is most like that
• Fun photo booth to behave like animals with props
• Many people have never looked into binoculars - so hide a drawing (or a Waldo) in the room and place a binocular station for people to try them and find the drawing

Registry / wedding gift ideas

A registry is a curated list of gifts that a couple creates to make the wedding gift experience easier and more guided for their guests.
It is rarely related to the wedding theme and is more focused on building a home together.
You can create a traditional registry, including:

• tableware
• cookware
• bakeware
• appliances
• entertaining furniture or tools (bar cart, wine decanter...)
• linen
• home decor
• garden and outdoor cooking supply
• luggages
• ...

These can be created at:

• traditional shops
• on Amazon - see their Wedding registry system (which allows you to list from everything on the store!)
• online registries with cash options
• honeymoon registries

Don't forget to select products with various price points.

Or you can register for cash.

Or you can ask for a few gifts specific to your passion / theme:

• a honeymoon trip to do a safari
• money for a new jeep
• high tech photography equipment

Other wedding events

Bridal showers and Bachelor Parties

The showers and parties don't have to be related to your theme.
But if you want to carry out the theme, you could consider:

• A scavenger tracing party
• A day at the zoo
• ...

Rehearsal Dinner

The rehearsal dinner doesn't have to be related to your theme.
But if you want to apply for it as well, you can use all the ideas already listed in this article.

Honeymoon

Once again, the honeymoon doesn't have to be related to your theme.
But you can keep enjoying your passion.
You could consider:

• Namibia - my favorite destination with dunes, canyon, deserts and wild animals
• Tanzania
• Kenya
• ...

Check out other nature or animal wedding themes:

• Woodland or Forest - see ideas
• Peacock - see ideas
• Butterfly - see ideas
• Mountain (incl. hiking) - see ideas
• See all animal wedding themes