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Updated Oct 14, 2024How to Plan a Fun (And Safe) Weed Wedding, According to Experts
Yes, cannabis weddings are a thing.
Your wedding day is all about what you want. That means you can totally have a weed wedding bar at your reception. With the legalization of recreational marijuana in numerous states, cannabis has entered the wedding industry and is changing how consumers and nonconsumers think about weed at weddings. If you're interested in what big or small ways you can incorporate this powerful plant, we spoke with professional vendors in the cannabis wedding industry about how to legally plan a cannabis wedding. From tasty infused food and beverages to unique party favors, see our comprehensive guide on throwing a memorable celebration.
In this article: What Is a Weed Wedding? | Weed Wedding Ideas | How to Have a Weed Wedding | Types of Weed Wedding Vendors
What Is a Weed Wedding?
A weed wedding is when the ceremony and/or reception includes cannabis in some form. This can mean a couple has CBD cannabis flowers in their floral arrangements or a professional joint roller at the after party. No matter which way to-be-weds have weed at their celebration, Phil Cooper, cannabis expert and founder of High Minded Events, believes these aren't one-size-fits-all events. "People have preconceived notions of what a cannabis wedding looks like, but it can look many different ways. It can be a preppy Cape Cod affair or rustic reception full of Grateful Dead fans," Cooper says.
But why are people having weed weddings? Cooper says the reason is simple. "Not everybody's an alcohol consumer so if someone is at an event where they're immediately greeted with a glass of champagne, they're immediately left out of the guest experience. That's why I created my company so nondrinkers, like myself, have a way to be included in the party and an option to relax and enjoy ourselves," he says. Cooper says by seeing weed used in environments like weddings it helps break the stigma, and hopefully leads to more open enjoyment in the future. Chelsi Katz, co-owner of Irie Weddings and Events and luxury budtending pro, adds, "Cannabis has become a new form of celebration that's shared and enjoyed with the same intentionality as a champagne toast. For many couples, it's about making the day feel like a true reflection of themselves."
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Weed Wedding Ideas
Even though you might not have heard of other couples planning a weed-themed wedding, it doesn't mean including weed is difficult. Check out these fun and creative 420 wedding ideas.
Have Weed Wedding Invitations
You can be direct with your wedding weed invitations by including illustrations of cannabis leaves or, as Jazmine "Chef Jazz" Moore, author of More Than a Cannabis Cookbook and founder of Green Panther Chef, suggests, add CBD pre-rolled joints to your save-the-dates. CBD (or cannabidiol) is in medical marijuana but doesn't have THC (or tetrahydrocannabinol), which gets people "high." Many states have legalized CBD, but you must look up which states don't allow CBD before sending anything through the mail so you and the recipient don't get in trouble. A less risky option, proposed by Katz, is to buy wedding invitations made of hemp, which is in the cannabis family but not illegal in many states.
Include Cannabis in Your Decor
You have numerous routes you can take for your weed wedding decor. Add images of marijuana leaves throughout your reception venue, use green in your wedding color scheme or have an abundance of greenery in the table centerpieces. Remember, you can be as on the nose or subtle as you would like for your wedding. Cevon Lee Iny, pro florist who works with cannabis flowers and founder of Lovepot, says you can also do a flower wall that features cannabis, which is "perfect for creating a unique photo moment at any event. Guests at the end of the wedding can pick the fresh cannabis from the wall, and take home a special souvenir to enjoy later."
Get Creative With Your Attire
You, your partner or your wedding party can wear different shades of green as a nod to your cannabis wedding theme. But if you want to go even further with the concept, Chef Jazz says she's seen some brides include hemp in their wedding dresses. Hemp fabric is breathable, sustainable, soft and has UV protective properties. If you're interested in using hemp in your wedding attire, look for stores selling wedding outfits with hemp in them or ask if you can get a custom hemp wedding outfit.
Offer Vapor in a Glass
For those concerned about smokable weed having an intense smell that might bother nonconsumers, try vapor. "There's so many great ways to vape now. We use these devices called Zenco which takes a 510 thread cartridge and puts that vapor on tap into a little glass. Then, just put it up to your lips, sip it and exhale. It's like doing a little shot, but you could even carry it around for a little bit because the vapor stays in the glass," Cooper says.
Host a Cannabis Bouquet Bar
Yes, weed bouquet wedding stations exist. Iny tells us how it works. "Lovepot offers a unique cannabis bouquet bar, where guests can craft their own mini dried or fresh arrangements with ready-to-smoke hemp and everlasting dried florals. This is a great personalized keepsake guests can take home."
Serve Cannabis-Infused Drinks
Whether it's canned or made fresh, cannabis-infused drinks or all the rage right now, and they're perfect for an alcohol-free wedding. "Companies now offer mobile bar services with CBD- or THC-infused mocktails crafted to match the event's flavor profile and vibe. Now guests can enjoy a refreshing twist on the signature cocktail without the hangover," Iny says.
Hand Out Weed Party Favors
Give your guests the gift of cannabis as a party favor. You can give them anything from a sample of your signature strain (like an alternative to a signature cocktail), a bag of edibles (don't forget to put your personalized wedding stickers on them) or a customized box of matches or a lighter. Feel free to consult a professional wedding planner who specializes in this market for more ideas—they've seen almost everything.
Register for Weed Wedding Gifts
Once you make your wedding registry, use it to ask your loved ones for cannabis-related gifts. Some options can include custom lighters, unique ashtrays, subscription snack boxes and CBD massage oil.
Select April 20th as Your Wedding Date
One of the most obvious ways to nod to your marijuana wedding is to get married on April 20th, a date considered a weed holiday. Curious about where 4/20 falls so you can use this idea for your future wedding? We've got you. In 2026, April 20th is on a Monday, then on a Tuesday the following year and on a Thursday in 2028.
Coordinate Postwedding Transportation
It's always recommended to have transportation for guests at nuptials that involve alcohol and the same is true for weed weddings. Whether it's California sober weddings, which are celebrations that don't have alcohol, or ones with a combination of cannabis and alcohol, we suggest you have a safe way for guests to get home or their accommodations since no one should drive under the influence.
How to Have a Weed Wedding
Even though we're talking about hosting a more laid-back event, that doesn't mean there are no rules to having cannabis at your wedding. Keep reading to see what important tasks you need to do to have a successful weed wedding.
Ensure Cannabis Is Legal in Your State
The first to-do on your wedding planning checklist should be to confirm that your cannabis wedding is in a location where recreational marijuana is legal. California, Colorado, Nevada and New York are some of the first recreational marijuana destinations that come to mind, but you should check with your wedding planner and research the legal regulations since state and local laws vary. You'll need to ensure that your state is legal specifically for adult-use cannabis, which means sales and transfers between adults 21 years old and older. If not, cannabis can't be served, but some exceptions might include Farm Bill-compliant hemp products, such as CBD and Delta-8.
In some states, only medicinal marijuana is allowed, but that doesn't mean you can use this as a loophole to serve cannabis at your wedding. Even if all your wedding guests are medical patients in a medical cannabis program, it's illegal to offer medical marijuana at your wedding since individuals are given a doctor recommendation for their specific health situation. So if incorporating weed into your wedding day is important to you, go the extra mile to ensure it's before signing that wedding venue contract.
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Figure Out How Much Cannabis You Need
If you want a weed bar wedding area, you can do so, but you'll have to supply the weed yourself since currently there aren't licenses that allow cannabis sales at private events. Worried you don't know what amount of cannabis to get? Well, that's what your budtender is for. Cooper explains, "Based on trends I've seen, usually 30% to 40% of your guests will be marijuana consumers. From there, my staff looks at those consumers and the menu of services that the couple has chosen and creates a shopping list for them to pick up at a licensed dispensary." And if you're worried about the cost for this wedding expense, he says it's not as much as you think. "People always say, 'Oh my God, how much is it going to cost to service 50 people?' But in reality, you don't need a lot of cannabis to get people relaxed. As responsible budtenders, our goal isn't to get your guests wasted and unengaged in your event, instead, we want to elevate them a bit. That's why we keep the dosages around two and a half to three milligrams for weddings so it doesn't overwhelm them."
When it comes to weed-infused food, the supply rules are different. "If the couple is working with a full-service cannabis caterer, they don't have to supply the cannabis for the event. I ensure we don't go over 20 milligrams. Everyone's endocannabinoid system is different. You don't want anyone to overdose and end up in a fetal position," Chef Jazz says.
Consider Informing Your Guests in Advance
Want an open weed bar at your wedding or edibles and infused beverages available for guests, but don't know how to tell them before the wedding? Cooper says that isn't necessary, but it can be helpful later down the road. "You don't have to announce weed will be at your wedding as a warning or cautionary tale. As long as you're being responsible adults doing something that's legal in your marrying state, you don't need guests' permission. But it's nice to inform your guests that cannabis will be at the wedding so they know it's there. For example, people might change their mind about indulging in alcohol if they know a weed bar is an option. What you don't want to happen is the money you spent going to waste because nobody knows it's outside for them to enjoy." This is where a wedding website comes in handy. Katz adds, "The easiest and most direct way to inform your guests is by including it on your wedding website. Simply, let them know cannabis is being served at the wedding for 21+ guests." For the day of the wedding, there's no need to worry because an experienced budtender and weed caterer will have clear labels for all the pre-rolls, infused beverages and more so guests know there's cannabis in the product and its dosage.
Have a Weed Wedding Tasting
One of the most fun parts of any wedding is doing the tasting for your food and drink menu. The process is the same for weed-infused food and weed bars at weddings. Schedule a tasting for your food at least five months before the wedding to talk with the caterer about what dishes you like and if you would like to decrease the dosage. Instead of infusing the food, you can pair your food with different strains of cannabis for the perfect combination, like you would for wine. If you're having a wedding weed bar with infused cocktails, edibles or joints, you should schedule a tasting for those around the five-month mark as well.
Designate an Adult-Only Private Area
If you want to have smokable marijuana at the wedding, Cooper says you need to ensure you look at venues with outdoor spaces that aren't in view of the public. He suggests places that have a private courtyard, patio or rooftop. For those who want to stick to edibles and beverages, you can indulge in those indoors as long as the venue's permission to consume THC on the property. To make the area as comfortable as possible, have low lighting, plush seating and amenities, like snacks and water. (If you're getting furniture rentals, ask the company about their policies concerning you and guests smoking near or on the furniture since the odor might linger.)
Types of Weed Wedding Vendors
Just like you would for your other vendors, ensure that your weed pros, like your caterer and budtender, are licensed and insured. This means you shouldn't ask a friend or family member who "knows a lot about weed" to do a professional's job. Take the time to research which cannabis vendors will provide the best experience for you and your guests in a safe manner. The Knot Vendor Marketplace is a great place to start. For example, you can find budtenders in your area under the "bar services" category. Below you'll find other pro options you have to help your cannabis wedding happen without a hitch.
Cannabis-Friendly Wedding Venues
"Truth is, cannabis-friendly venues aren't always advertised as such. We help our couples navigate this by tapping into our industry relationships and identifying private properties, outdoor venues and spaces with owners open to responsible, insured cannabis service," Katz says. Whether you're looking at Colorado wedding venues or ones in New York, we recommend you prepare weed-related policy questions to ask the wedding venue and start that conversation early to avoid surprises later.
Weed Wedding Caterers
Photo Courtesy of Chef Jazz
One of the most popular approaches to weed weddings is marijuana-infused food. For example, low-dose strain-specific edibles are fun and creative options for celebrations. But there's one exception to this idea: Homemade edibles. Stick with licensed edibles manufacturers that print their lab results on their products. This helps you and your guests better regulate the potency of the weed. Katz adds, "Infused dining is an art, and not all chefs are equipped for it. Couples should look for chefs with actual infusion training or experience, not just a personal interest in cannabis. We also recommend working with chefs who understand microdosing and can offer both infused and non-infused versions of their dishes."
If children will be at your wedding, Chef Jazz says distinguishing which foods have weed in them and don't is crucial. "Clear signage is number one because you and your guests need to know what's in the food. Also, separate the infused food from the non-infused food. I love to color code and label the food items, so guests can tell their kids what colors to stay away from," she says. Also, ask your wedding planner to speak with the servers about which foods not to serve to children.
Cannabis Wedding Florists
Integrate cannabis into your wedding florals with a professional who has experience with marijuana and flowers. "At Lovepot, we include cannabis leaves and buds in all our orders whether they are fresh hemp stems or dried ready to smoke stems. Each can be tastefully added to bouquets, boutonnieres, or centerpieces. This approach allows you to infuse your love and appreciation for cannabis into the decor without overwhelming the traditional floral aesthetics," Iny says.
Weed Wedding Bar and Budtender
Like your traditional alcohol open bar, a cannabis bar wedding station can offer guests different strains and edibles. But there must be a budtender to oversee consumption. That's why hiring a sober, trained and responsible budtender that enforces ID checks is a must. This vendor can help decrease the likelihood of overconsumption at your weed wedding reception since they'll understand the consumer better. "We try to ask every guest several questions, like 'Are you a consumer? How much do you normally consume and what's your normal dosage?," Cooper says.
Please note: The Knot and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, legal or medical advice and should not be used as such. You should always consult with your professional advisors about your specific circumstances. This information contained herein is not necessarily exhaustive, complete, accurate or up to date. In addition, we do not take responsibility for information contained in any external links, over which we have no control.
