Want a country-style wedding with rusticity and charm by the bucketful? Envisioning a glorious ride for two around the hayfield? See yourself gliding down the aisle in a fresh-as-summer cotton eyelet gown?
Then you've found the right place to help you pull off that special event you've always dreamed of!
Back to the Land
Start with a palette of earthy tones: yellows and golds, tans and umbers, sage and russet, celadon and cinnamon.
Then, try building the theme around your favorite rustic flower (like sunflowers, black-eyed susans or daisies), or a carefree member of the insect world, such as bees, butterflies or dragonflies.
For a venue, try a cornfield or a wheatfield, barn or cabin. Tents can travel to all kinds of charming spots. Call around for camps and lodges that lightly booked and eager for business (though be aware that really remote locales may pose challenges for grandparents in the Lincoln Town Car ... not to mention tricky logistics involving electricity, catering, DJs and so on).
A Touch of Country
Fancy up wedding arches, rafters and other focal spots with branches, bundles of corn stalks and sheaves of wheat. If you're lucky enough to be holding your event in a barn or a lodge, wrap any rafters and pillars in elegant twinkle lights.
More great accents: ears of dried corn, grapevine wreaths, hanging lanterns, and gourds and pumpkins (carve out your monogram, then give them some glow with a votive or a battery-powered light).
To jazz up personal focal points like favors and place settings, start with raffia ties and cinnamon sticks, individual wheat stalks or lavender springs, or Mason jars, burlap bags and small pots of jam or honey.
Country-Style Centerpieces
It's simple to set the table with a little down-home glory. Candles are inherently rustic, so start there: tealights floating in water-filled mason jars, for example. Or tuck pillar candles into terra cotta pots, or place in glass cylinders filled with popcorn, dried peas or coffee beans.
Casual flowers make a big, joyous statement at a reasonable price. Try massing cheerful sunflowers in galvanized pails or watering cans. (You can even use a sunflower's enormous, friendly face as your ring pillow.) Or instead of sunflowers, try sprays of shasta daisies, lupine and viburnum mixed in with small green apples wired to birch branches, or stuck to dowels. Another popular choice: group colorful Gerber daisies into simple mason jars.
Speaking of birch branches, elegant bare-branch centerpieces can be set in any pot and anchored with Quik-Crete for sturdiness. They look especially lovely when lit with hanging votives. Then, warm up those dark corners and windowsills with evocative punched tin lanterns.
More Ways to Make it Country
Give your guest an adorable first impression by hanging escort cards from wooden clothespins on a clothesline strung near the entrance.
Want some drama when it's time to walk back down the aisle as husband and wife? Equip your best men with the goods to create an arch of pitchforks!
Finally, once it's time to eat, dress up the chair backs at the sweetheart table with dramatic sheaves of wheat tied off with russet ribbons or roses. And if your main meal's held outside, you could set the stage with homey touches like buffet or serving tables made from planks set on hay bales and sawhorses. As for the guests, set up picnic-style seating with checkered, gingham or eyelet linens.
Galvanized washtubs look gorgeous filled with ice and drinks in vintage-style bottles (think: Stewart's Sodas — and ask your local suppliers about their best-tasting microbrews.) Don't forget the oversized jars filled with fresh iced tea and cold apple cider.
Treat your guests to home-cooked soul food like pot roast and pulled pork, fritters and cornbread, apple cider donuts and fruit pies.
As for cake, try any of the Autumn-style flavors on for size (spice or carrot, apple or pumpkin ...). Decorate with your favorite fresh flowers, making sure they're unsprayed and organic.
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Kathy, thank you for taking the time to respond. It is a great thing that you did because it was not until you mentioned weather did I even consider this really. Your right, it would be a long ride in any extreme weather. I am hoping I would of thought of it eventually!!!! Well, we will certainly have on site the horses and wagon for the kiddies and young at heart. We are welcoming all the little people and will plan accordingly for them as well. Thanks again, much appreciated. I am still looking for advice on how to handle the buffet arrangements. I am able to accomodate a sit down dinner for all 50 plus in one large square sitting area but again buffet style will have some done before others start. I have to really think this one out, any experience with this out there?
I am thinking of getting married late July 2008 in a rented rustic cabin. It has a nice big room that they tell me is often used for wedding receptions and such. i thought I would have the food and dancing in this room, and the ceremony on the front porch. Here is my problem . . . I would love to have my colors be a pale pink and sage green (predominantly), and I’m afraid this will clash with the browns and earthy tones that will be needed to make it “rustic”. What do u think????? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!
Giselle, I do have thoughts on your idea about the hayride with the guests. If it takes less that 30 minutes it might work. I would just consider the weather. If it’s very hot then it’s probably not a good idea. But instead of that why not offer hay rides for the kids during the reception? Just an idea. Tell me what you think.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to post their ideas. I am also having a July 2008 county barn wedding, in my own yard!. I have several timing concerns as we are hosting our own wedding and hope someone will be kind enough to share their thoughts with me. The majority of our guests (50 max) will need to travel at least 2 hours to get to us. As an additional thought I would love to have our guests travel by horse and wagon to the church from the house but this would take under an hour each way. Our little town is only 10 minutes by car but the wagon will take longer. Does this sound too long to put a group of folks through?
However, this time for my guests travel would allow me to have an hour on each end. I am thinking I can finish little details around the house or myself as the company is gone and still arrive to the church in time and have most of the pictures finished by the time they get back? Or so I hope. I am concerned that they will all arrive back to our home and we are not here to assist with their welcome. And if they do, any ideas how to get them to settle in and get comfortable without us here? And how should I handle the serving and lining up of food?
We are having a pig roast buffet for early evening. As the hostess and host, we would like for our company to come and have a great time and feel awkward asking for someone else to get up and dish food, serve etc. etc. . I suppose we should eat first according to every other wedding I have been to, but we feel like we should be eating last as hosts to our company. We would in any other event with people in our home, so I am not sure how to do this one. Also”¦I see many other folks here are doing picnics, bbq’s and well we are having an old fashion pig roast with all the classic trimmings. Can I use plastic cutlery, paper plates etc.??? Any thoughts out there ladies? Much appreciated.
tO SAVE MONEY ON tUXES. hAVE THE uSHERS AND BEST MAN WEAR JEANS.thEY COULD ALSO WEAR JEAN SHIRTS.bLACK. wHITE OR YOUR BRIDESMAIDS COLORS.
bRIDESMAIDS COULD WEAR JEAN WESTERN-FLARE SKIRTS WITH COWBOY BOOTS/HATS AND BLOUCE OR T-SHIRTS.ANY COLOR.
bRIDE AND GROOM IN EITHER ALL WHITE OR AT LEAST WHITE SHIRTSAND WHITE BOOTS FOR BRIDE
planning a fall 2008 wedding. So my aunt thought we could plant white pumpkins to carve Bride and Grooms names in -one way to scratch into before harvest-the scar will heal, also carv part way through and put tealight inside to use for a luminaire. you could punch the holes all the way through then pop little mini white lights in holes. I use battery operated lites. Use mini pumpkins to hold name /place cards- just cut a small slice in top of stem to slide card into. Also use your pumpkins carved out for vases fill with water or floral foam. Dont forget gourds.. Plant your own to lower budget.
If you need hay bales. just stop at a farm with cows and they may let you borrow them without a fee as long as you return them. We actually have a farm and loan out bales. Little pumpkins are cute with the tops cut out leaving stems on as you would for a jack-o-lantern except you dont carve a face.–just re attach the top at an angle on the side with somethine ,i used a cut nail( like they use in putting down pine floors of reproduction homes) leave it showing at the top tie raffia bow on to the nail -insert a votive candle. Adorable at each place setting-beware of children. Also carve guests name into mini pumpkin or gourd before done growing so it can heal. Depending on number of guests this could be used for showers or rehearsal dinners.
I also went on line and searched for apple and pumpkin desserts and used family recipes. Let friends and relatives help u if your ‘e on a tight budget. My brother even built a cinder block fireplace at his outdoor wedding in october it was cold but he had a rental tent and it worked great. No concrete to put it together. He just stacked them. And took it apart after.
Servers are those you see that hold pie plates, usually 2 or 3 tiers. just replace with plates to match your colors. I used mustard with fall leaves. pattern I found at Christmas Tree Shops. Just $1 or $2 each I used 3. Also found at Goodwill and Christmas Tree Shop for
Servers are those wrought iron stands you see for holding pies. Just replace with a plate to match your colors. Usually come 2 or 3 tier. I also found 2 at Goodwill for $2 large and small which held a saucer/lunch plate size or even a bowl. I used the bowl for a cool-whip pumpkin spice dip and bottom with a plate that held cookies/fried won-tons dipped in cinnamon or vanilla sugar.
I found 3 Tier servers also at Christmas Tree Shops for $5 They had black, and gold. One with a rope design, and one narrower and smooth. All you have to do is spray paint them
I also scattered silk fall leaves on white tablecloth to fill in spaces of white, and used silk flowers. Fresh mum plants, gourds. To get guests up and dancing I gave them all cowboy hats. Also found Soooo cheap at Target in their dollar section Yes only $1.00. Good Luck
fall wedding I used wildflower/daisey country cowboy/girl theme. Bride in white w/white cowboy hat/bootsGroom same.Bridesmaids in brown skirts with pink t shirts and cowboy boots/hats Asked guests to dress in country attire. Colors were pink and brown. White tablecloths with 3 squares of scrapbooking papers variety of each spread out in center of table. Next on top burlap square with smaller size. Then Paper bag rolled down to hold vase of daiseys. pink gerber and other wildflowers, bag then tied with jute. you could use small brown rope .
Ideas for party favors. black picture frames with b&w picture of bride and groom. Or homemade mini albums of black cover using card stock-beige paper inside add b&w photo slideshow of couple. also for fall-using unbleached muslin sew small bags with recipe of mulling cider. also served at reception. (opt. herbs for making dips,just add cream cheese,s.cream etc.
Walls were covered with burlap. Ropes hung to hold photos with clothespins, wildflowers hung from stems. Many props of antiques. Wheelbarrow, wagons. tin cans to hold flowers. jugs, Wooden pitchforks, rakes. baskets ,wicker and wire. Ive also seen barn with all wooden beams. Wide pine floors. Stained wooden fold up chairs but using all white tulle, china. and crystal and candles-very elegant. I picked up alot of wine/water goblets at Goodill. Many serving trays. white, crystal, silver sooooo cheap! Even ice cream sunday cups-clear glass. I used strawberry & cream topped with whipp topping and vanilla mirangue.
Check dollar stores too. Use many tiers. Servers-just use white or glass plates . Stack up those cake plates for hordervs or desserts. One more tip for all you daisey lovers. Candy melt molds made for daiseys/black eye-susan. individually wrapped tie off with raffia. very cheap. Enjoy
Ok we have changed everything about our wedding. It will be a true country wedding!! The groomsmen will be wearing the Mossy Oaks Camo vest and ties. The bridesmaids will be in a new color from Davids bridal called cognac the matchs the leaves on the guys vest. I was going to use brown and dark green and this cognac color as my colors. I also want to do a candy bar around my cake. I found jelly beans in these colors and rock candy. Im going to use a lot of chocolate stuff and since my wedding will me held outdoors in March I want to set up a smores station and have fire pits out on the patio. Does this sound ok? Im doing the camo for my fiance he is n avid hunter and just found out he got a job as a Texas Game Warden. As if the camo is not enough we are getting married at a game ranch. If you have done this or have any ideas PLEASE help!!!!
We think we are having our wedding in mid May. Do you guys think Lavendar and Silver would go good with a sort of county theme? I was thinking the groom in a wetern tux and just not to dressed up as far the bridesmaid and groomsmen. I wanted counrty like decorations though. Do you think these would clash? Please let me know. Email me at gwarthen@hotmail.com and let me know. THank you?!
We are getting married in April at a church built in the late 1800’s. The church is in a very wooded are, you can not see the road from the church or vise versa. We are planning a country theme. With old lanterns as center pieces, mason jars with tea lights hanging around the outdoor reception pavillion, and raffia instead of ribbon. I plan on having a true picnic themed reception, with fried chicken, potato salad, cole slaw, corn on the cob, and baked beans. Sweet tea and Lemonade with cokes, water & maybe beer in a metal washtub of ice. Also I’m thinking of giving favor boxes filled with the brown paper filler with the makings of s’mores in them tied up with raffia for a favor. I would like to know if this sounds ok or not?:-?
Lynn,
I would try garden centers or craft stores like Michaels. Also, try going to http://www.etchesinstone.com. It might be a bit more money, but he may give you a significant deal on quantity.
Hello,
I am trying to find some rocks that I can write on. I am having a beach wedding and would like to do my seating written on rocks instead of place cards, problem is, i don’t know where to find rocks that will be suitable. any suggestions???? Thank You!
Lynn
Jessika,
I think if you add a little yellow that would be completely summery. More important then colors is the texture of the colors and how you will be using them. The bouquets and flowers could have pink and red, with a little yellow here and there and hand tied with a cream ribbon. The Tables could be covered in red and cream checkered gingham, you could but another color with the ribbons, with napkins. I think even the worst possible color combinations can work if you think about texture.
By the way. I looooove the idea of the barn and am totally envious. The posibilities seem endless. I saw this barn reception site online where someone made curtains around the barn doors, with a gauzy material and had hay on the floor under the tables. I don’t know any one with a barn like that so I am going for a rustic goddess garden near a brook. My centerpieces are going to be herb baskets. I am even naming the tables after herbs. I wil be sitting at Thyme, you know… Because it is about thyme I got married.:D
Good luck. I think if you are stuck, just add one other accent color and work with textures.
I am getting married July 12th 2008, We are having a rustic country themed wedding- getting married in a remodeled barn with our two refinished tractors and the works- we are having our reception at a country club called rustic hills, It is very country. i am looking for ideas for colors that would be country and rustic for the summer time but not clash with the red tractors! i was thinking of a deep red, light pink, and cream but i am afraid that it is not very summery! any ideas???? my favors for the reception are going to be seed packets inside terra cotta pots, wrapped in tule with the saying- Plant these flowers and watch them bloom, just like the love of the bride and groom”. if anyone has any ideas for me - please let me know!!!
amanda,
If you google Calvin Klein Cadbury brown Tuxedo it should come up. Heads up. If your dress is off white, make sure all of the male attendants wear off white shirts or the photos of your dress will look muddy. Also, the off white shirt looks much better with this tuxedo; in my opinion.
Amanda,
My fiancee is wearing a very nice, Dark Brown tuxedo that is very thin and breezy… all things considered. It has a black undertone so that black might go. I don’t know how easy it is to find in your area. It is a Calvin Klein suit that is pin striped in texture, not color. I think if you see it you will be as pleased as I was.
Im getting married in late Julyin Texas. O yea and its going to be outdoors ( I know so hot) I have found a color that I love but I cant find it anywhere but Davids Bridal. Its called Pool. I also wanted the guys to wear brown but can you mix a black tux and brown? I dont know, any ideas on flowers or anything will be a great help!:-?
Jennifer,
have you thought about a barn? I saw someone do a posh, rustic wedding reception in a barn. You can have the doors open if it is nice and have picnic tables or whatever have you inside to bring elegance to a rustic setting.
Just a suggestion
Well I’m having a spring wedding (may more than likely) and I live in northeastern oklahoma. I would like it to be outside, but with living in Oklahoma there is never a guarantee on what the weather will be like, so I am torn as to go ahead and try for an outside wedding or try to bring the outside inside and what kind of facility to have it in. I’m going with a country theme, by colors are white and baby blue, with daisies being white and just an assortment of light blue flowers, kinda like wildflowers. I don’t want to have to pay two deposits on places just so I will have a backup and then loose the money that could have went to something else. Cost is a big matter. So if anyone has any suggestions I would really really appreciate it. Thanks!!!