A Rustic Country Wedding
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
Country Colors
Start with a palette of earthy tones: yellows and golds, tans and umbers, sage and russet, celadon and cinnamon.
Farmhouse Flowers
Then, try building the theme around your favorite rustic flower (like
sunflowers, black-eyed susans or
daisies). Or borrow a carefree member of the insect world, such as bees,
butterflies or
dragonflies.
Festive Fields
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.
Add Inexpensive Accents
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.
For more country touches, draw on 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
Let There Be Light
It's simple to set the table with a little down-home glory. Candles are inherently rustic, so start with tea lights floating in water-filled mason jars. Or tuck pillar candles into terra cotta pots, or place in glass cylinders filled with popcorn, dried peas or coffee beans.
Farmers' Market Flowers
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 try sprays of shasta daisies, lupine and viburnum mixed in with small green apples wired to birch branches, or stuck to dowels. Or group colorful Gerber daisies into simple mason jars.
Twig to This Clever Idea
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 window sills with evocative punched tin lanterns.
More Rustic Touches
Give your guest an adorable first impression by hanging escort cards from wooden clothespins on a clothesline strung near the entrance.
When 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.
I have some great pictures of our rustic wedding on my myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/425726955
Hey Everybody,
I am getting married next September and am having a country themed wedding. My finace and I are big horseback riders and he is into roping. We are having the reception and the barn we are building right now. It is going to be beautiful with a red roof. My colors are going to be brown, red, and yellow, with the bridesmaids wearing brown and red and yellow flowers. But I need other ideas for decorating the reception and everything else haha. Any help is appreciated.
rebecca,
here are some great links….
*barn decor
*barn wedding
*barn real wedding
*wedding reception
*brides.com
*brides cafe barn wedding
*wedding pics
*real wedding
*brides real weddings
*hartford wedding
*fall wedding
*your gonna like this one
I know I have mentioned them before . . . but this wedding
screams out for rope wreaths! Are ropers the ones who
win belt buckles? Sorry, I’m a city girl! If they are, you
could do the top layer of your cake with a belt, and have
a “buckle” with your monogram, initials, or names on it.
Or maybe you could make a customized “brand” for the wedding
and put it on your cake, thank you cards, etc. Also, I love
pinto cakes (black and white), the kind that look like a cow or
a pinto horse. Good luck!
I’m looking for a few ideas for flowers and decor for inside for a September wedding on a strawberry/pumpkin farm. My bridesmaids are wearing black and flowergirls are wearing black and white. The ceremony will be outside beside the pumpkin patch with hay bales for seating. We are using straw and pumpkins as decor for outside. The scenery will probably be still mostly green. What colour scheme will go best for this? I was also thinking of having caramel sliced apples instead of wedding cake. I also need an idea for favours.
leah,
i would actually have a spice cake with cream cheese icing or pies, and have the caramel apples for favors or a bag of roasted peanuts. i would go with a simple white green and yellow color scheme. or just white and green that way all the decor and you all will stand out. chrysanthemums would be my first choice along with roses etc. like in last board i posted. actually you could add light orange inthe mix. but make sure your bm carry white green and yellow. not the orange flowers. so it wont look halloweenish.
*pumpkin farm wedding
*pumpkin farm wedding board
*pumpkin wedding
*wedding board
Consider using those small gourds that look like pumpkins
as placecards . . . since black is one of your colors, get a thin
sharpie marker and have someone with nice handwriting write
the names of your guests on each “mini-pumpkin”. . .
you could attach small thank you tags to the stems with
raffia. Consider small bottles of maple syrup or small jars of pumpkin butter or jars of strawberry preserves as favors.
Why not have a sweet table or a dessert table that includes
a small wedding cake, maybe some pumpkin muffins or
mini-pumpkin pies, and strawberry short-cake? Or have
wedding cake and a sweet table later in the evening with
coffee, so everyone has a chance to have food and coffee
before driving home. How about cider (NOT the hard kind!!)
and doughnuts? As far as flowers, why not use baskets
with black and white flowers, some greenery, and if you like,
add a pumpkin orange bow? Or black and white pomander
(kissing ball) with a pumpkin orange ribbon. I would stick with
a spicey-orange or burnt-orange, as opposeed to a halloween,
bright orange.
im gettin married aug 09. and the theme is county wedding. its outside under a beautiful old oak tree n a lil feild w a creek. the seating is on hay bales. my colors are yellow, baby blue(fathers are wearin, i have my dad n step dad walking me dwn isle) jungle green and sunset orange. every one in the wedding party will b barefooted, includin me. i will b riding up to the isle runner on a horse and we will be leavin on it as well. my reception is also outside and im lost on ideas for it. and for the flowers as well any ideas plz!!!!
jessica,
can you tell me what color the bm will be wearing? i am thinking sunflowers for your decor. also what time of day will it be held?
i am gonna give you a couple links to browse,
*rustic country weddings
i just ran across this party idea, you might love it….
*hoedown wedding
*Celebrity Wedding
*rustic elegance
*real wedding
*real celebrity wedding ( they had just a few floral pomanders hanging from the tree)
hi well use lots and lots of bales and any wild flowers that u can get in the fields and even use the feeding bale as seating and iron plates and cups…
I’m going to go with magnolias as a main flower. They are really expensive but the silk version is pretty decent. It seems like such a southern rustic flower to me.
Xtina,
that is my state flower love it!!
You’re welcome!
Hi! I am getting married July of 2010. My colors are watermelon, black, and white. I love the rustic country theme and was wondering how to incorporate it into my wedding and reception. I am getting married at local park under a gazebo with a pond in the background. The reception is at the fairgrounds in the 4H bldg. My bridesmaids are wearing watermelon colored dresses. I am not sure the color is the best choice for the theme, but my home and taste reflect it greatly! Any help is greatly needed. Thanks to all of you!!
Obviously, you have to have a watermelon basket at the reception. Also, consider using watermelon vases . . . maybe not as centerpieces, but on your buffett table or another accent table. For decorating gazebos, I have 2 suggestions:
1) DO NOT put tulle or fabric around the top of the gazebo . . . one good gust of wind can leave it hanging in front of your face during the ceremony. Instead wrap it around the BOTTOM near the railings.
2)If you are using candles, consider the battery operated kind or put candles in large, deep jars
so the wind doesn’t blow them out. An easy way to decorate around the gazebo is to buy shepherds hooks and hang kissing balls on them, wrapping them around the hook twice (yes, because of the wind!). The size of the hook depends on the height of the gazebo . . . they should be seen by the guests who are sitting, but not so high as to distract from the bride and groom. Don’t fight with Mother Nature, you can’t win . . . let the pond be your biggest decoration.
I found a photo of an aisle similar to what I was suggesting for around the gazebo in my prevous post.
Thank you soooo much for your ideas, they are helpful. I was considering using the shephards hooks for the aisle markers and hang lanterns or something holding flowers. That was great to see you suggest that!! The pond will be fabulous for decoration. I was mainly concerned about how to decorate the gazebo haha!! Again thank you for taking time to help and send photos!!
You can go to a local home improvement store and get some flower boxes that hang over the railings of the gazebo . . . these can be easily removed – but you’ll have to go out and measure the railings.
Some more gazebo photos
Hello all!!! I am getting married Sept. 12, 2009. We are working with a very minimal budget but we have discussed that we would like a rustic country wedding. We found a moose lodge that is beautiful and has wooden walls and a hardwood floor but I am still struggling with decoration ideas for the ceremony which is outdoors and also inside decorations. My colors are Dark truffle brown and a burgandy/ wine red. Please any advice is great. I don’t mind making everything myself I just can’t seem to find any ideas that I like.
Thanks in advance,
The future Mrs. Leah Schultz
Hi, i just read your question and would like to no if you could pass on any info about country lodges or barns to get married in.
If you could help that would be great.
Kind regards
Melissa
leah,
here are some links….
*real wedding
*Lazy Moose Ranch Inspiration Board
*rustic lodge wedding
*Negeen and Bjoern in Inverness, CA
* Real Wedding Saturday: Kristin & Dan
*A Real Wedding, II
*red and brown wedding
*rustic weddings
check this site out for decor…
*wedding decor
*wedding decor
*rustic lodge wedding
( your gonna love this site!!)
i gave several decor ideas and i hope you find several things to use!! in your colors of course!! i would use a grapevine or rustic wooden arch to marry under. or find a beautiful spot and let nature be the decor. wrap candles in grapevine inside hurricane globes on on brown linens. surround with smaller burgundy votives in rustic holders and burgundy napkins. on tables have wooden signs with numbers of tables. loop grapevine here and there in the lodge with white lights.
Getting some great ideas from everyone’s comments. I have to say country is the most fun and versatile to plan. so many options to choose from that you can mix and match and it comes out looking spectacular. we are having roughly 40 people. so probably 5 tables of 8. How should i do the seating for everyone? let them sit where they want and mingle or something cute and creative so they know which table they will be at. it is mainly family. any ideas would be wonderful. i love to be different and think of creative things, but drwing a blank on this one. Help!
Hi my name is Chris and I am getting married Aug. 28th in central n.y. ceromony and reception at a nice resteraunt on the water. It is very casual, just family and a couple of close friends, around 40 people. we love anything country and rustic (our whole house is very country) so i would love to go with that for the wedding but dont know where to start. how do i incorporate that with getting married on the water? i am getting a very simple but pretty dress, nothing traditional and he is wearing a coat and tie. i am starting to stress out. only 2 months away.
also, i do have a couple old milk cans that i painted a country blue and a wagon wheel that is stained a couple months ago that i added candles to. how could i use these in the room?
and i have alot of country quilts in blues, greens and burgundies that i would love to use as well, any ideas?
If you can get permission from the restaurant, hang 3 quilts from a clothesline (not necessarily in the same area). Hang one and pin placecards on them in alphabetical order using
pearl pins. Use another to pin photos of you and your new husband (use copies, so you don’t have pin holes in the originals). Instead of a guest book, put out colored pieces of paper (colors that coordinate with the quilt) and pens and
have people write you notes or advice on marriage and pin them to the 3rd quilt. If the milk cans are big enough,
get some dried cat tails or other tall dried branches and place them at the entrance to the reception. Also, consider
using a quilt theme for your wedding cake, maybe you could
even use clothespins to hang a quilt as a backdrop for the cake. Since you’ll have a small cake, consider using a quilt theme . . . do the bottom layer in a quilt pattern, and place
wedding rings (like one on a wedding quilt) on the top layer.
Craft stores sell small tin milk cans, you could use them
as centerpieces. Cat tails, some wheat stalks, and a few country flowers in each would be a nice addition to your country theme.
Thank you so much Nancy. those are great ideas and i love the quilt theme. my mother has a ton of them as well. And i love the cat tails. Was thinking of using mason jars for the center pieces with flowers but i like the milk cans better. Thanks again.
I thought cat tails are both country and water related. . . and you can put any style flower with them
in your centerpieces. Good luck!
HELP!!! I am having a very counrty reception… We ran off to Vegas and got hitched, we are having a big pig pickin at our mountian cabin, very causual…. I need decorating ideas.. my husband and i are very outdoorsy,m we hunt and ride dirt bikes i want it to be kinda redneck with class…….
Also… any suggestions on doing a “sand ceramony” ???
I am open to all ideas…
brandy,
i would go with a wildflower theme. you can either fresh pick or head to a local flowerstand or walmart and grab up bunches of wildflowers. no specific color necessary. for containers you can get mason jars or any rustic container. washed soup cans are perfect!! i will give you a link soyou can see. i am thinking stringing lights overhead, whether its paper lanterns, or bulbs. for tablecloths consider any natural material like burlap ( be careful with burlap, the fibers may be annoying) branches in glass vases surrounded by votives are inexpensive and amazing. i would just put together some friends and gather up evergreens, pinecones, etc. i would use gingham tablecloths.
*Real Wedding: Davida & Chris
brandy,
*How to Perform a Wedding Sand Ceremony
thank you so much, i was thinking mason jars with votive candles, i was also thinking hay bales scattered for seating.. do you think that would work? maybe put burlap on top so save fro getting poked…
brandy,
yes, actually i was gonna mention the haybales and got side tracked. wonderful ideas!!
Well we are both from a really small town. He is a farm boy and we are both in Utah. We love doing things outdoor. Our garden reception is going to be outside of a little, gray rock church. It is quaint and secluded. Our style isn’t elegant. I would love to find some casual colors that will be fun and unique but classy at the same time. I’m not sure why this is so hard! haha Let me know if you would like any more information…
The hot color combos right now are brown and any color that
pops: brown and turquoise, brown and red, but personally,
I like brown with orange. Most things (ie: the bmaids dresses)
would be brown with beige and use orange as a highlight.
(Think of a Utah sunset!) Orange ribbon on the bouquets,
orange lining in the invitaion evelope, etc. I think of orange as
a ‘western’ color, and it can be cool or warm, depending on
how you use it. Good luck with your color selection!
ashley,
go here and check out some of the greatest weddings!!
* all weddings
google image casual garden wedding and also casual garden wedding board also try whimsical garden wedding.
google image farm wedding ( gives great pics)
*real wedding
*real wedding #2
* this is a great color scheme and perfect wedding
nancyann,
i google imaged denim wedding and found wedding dresses etc. then i imaged denim dress and found some really cute dresses, just not a whole lot. so instead i made you a board to show how completely gorgeous sunflowers are with denim.
Thanks for the help!!!! I only have two weeks til the big day.
Go to ebay and search for country wedding flowers spurs …
A lady makes custom bouquets. . . she uses sunflowers,
white and light blue flowers and white rope instead of ribbon.
They might give you some ideas.
Hello, I’m trying to plan my wedding and i want to doa rustic theme. Using Stars, wagon wheels, camo any ideas?? Im not crazy about flowers, I like things that look like weeds and i love cactus. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
tiffany,
i would have centerpieces of cactus instead of flowers. if you dont wnat to carry a bouquet consider carrying something sentimental, like a necklace etc. could ya tell me a bit more about your vision? the stars etc?
tiffany, oh yeah!
are youwearing camo or wanting to decorate with camo?
Consider doing terraiums with sand and cactus (a plus . . .
you can make them MONTHS before the wedding.) Add a second
color sand to match your wedding colors. Also, baskets can
be rustic. Have your bridesmaids carry small fan baskets with
wildflowers or wheat stalks, etc.
I live in Australia and having a rustic country wedding My colours are light browns mocca’s and dusty pinks i need some ideas for decorations. I also want to use hay bales inside the old hall for a lounge cocktail area.
ammie,
*Country Wedding Decorations: Keep Things Natural And Simple: Ideas For Your Own Country Wedding Decorations
*Cayucos Creek Barn Wedding in Cayucos, CA
*Elizabeth and David in Wimberley, TX
*Shawna and Zachary in Nye, MT
also google image rustic barn wedding then rustic barn wedding board ( i used barn because it will pull up more results) might i suggest going to a feed and seed store and picking up small or medium galvanized buckets for floral centerpieces. i would light color linen to brighten things up a bit in the old hall. like the dusty pink. if that isnt possible use beige it will blend perfectly with your colors. choose an array of pink wildflowers with a few white and very pale yellow with greenery( whatever looks like it came from a garden or a field). have brown napkins ( gingham or a rustic print if ya can find it, place silverware inside the napkin and tie with twine. even if you are having a more rustic elegance you can still do this little trick.
for favors have an old fashioned penny candy or fave treat wrapped and tied with twine ( if homemade attach a recipe card to the favor) grapevine looks fab with white lights in the mix, so does tree branches set in rented urns at entrance’s. let everyone drink at the cocktail area out of mason jars ( these are inexpensive, you can buy a case here in louisiana for 5 bucks. mix and match is great idea here especially with containers. so borrow all you can. if you need more help let me know!!
Im getting married Aug. 15 of this year. We live on the family tobacoo barn and we are thinking of having the wedding at an old tobacco barn thats not being used anymore. We will have to do some fixing up. Im needing some ideas on how to decorate it and everything else!! i have nothing yet!! i need some help, stressin BAD!!
stephanie,
google image tobacco farm wedding also tobacco farm wedding board. also google image and google search tobacco farm real wedding.i couldnt believehow pretty these real weddings were!! love it hands down!! also google image barn wedding and barn wedding board. this should work too.
*Beth and Mike ( at website type in beth and mike cause there are more parts to this beautiful wedding)
* My Dream Wedding
*Ticia & Scott in Pilot Mountain, NC
*Reception Stories
i posted some ideas that would work!!
stephanie,
think about using iced down washtubs to hold sodas and water and/or the idea of the punch bar.
thank you so much stacey!!
Use some small strings of lights to decorate doorways.
Consider using mason jars for centerpieces to put fresh
flowers in. Ball now makes 2 sizes of “Elite” jars which are
a little more fancy than plain mason jars. You may want to use
gingham fabric for the tableclothes. If the barn needs lots of
work, concentrate on the area where your head table and
cake tables would be and set aside an area for taking photos.
This could be the back of an old pickup truck with buckets of
seasonal fruit and flowers, or a bench or arbor or even
bales of hay with some buckets or jars with sunflowers.
Also, use hanging lights to accent this area and the cake table
and the dance floor. Also, you may want to get a generator
to accomodate for the lights, music, etc. Good Luck!
Found a cute website . . . could give anyone who is having a barn wedding some cute ideas:
http://www.vermontweddingprops.com/wagons/
Hi,
I’m getting married on Sept. 26, 09 and my colors are aqua, black, and white. It’s outside at a lake with gazebos. I need some decorating ideas to give it the country feel. I’m using lots of lights and candles and i’m using mason jars as my centerpieces. Does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks
kay, consider lanterns they are very beautiful!! also paper lanterns in natural or colors.
*Cozy Country Night Wedding…
*English Country Romance
I think most fabric stores carry a “bandana” print that is an
aqua or teal blue with white or black. You could make napkins,
table runners, etc.
Another idea . . . consider making rope wreaths (wind
rope into a circle 3 or 4 times) and use ribbons and flowers
in your colors. Small ones can be used in place of pew
flowers, or can be hung on the back of the bridal party’s
chairs. Rope can also be used in place of garland, if you
hang it in swags and tie sections off with ribbons or raffia.
Splatterware also could be used for vases (that spotted
pattern of plates, bowls, etc. that is used on camping
stuff). It also comes in a aqua (almost) blue.
at vermontlanterns.com they have mini lanterns in the wedding section for 5.95 a piece, buy two get one free. If you don’t want them after, give them as gifts when the wedding is done.
I’m having a country wedding next month and here are some of my plans/ideas: I wanted it to be elegent and country as well, so my dress is traditional white but with camo underskirting and a thin camo band on the top of the dress(whitelaceandpromises.com). My cake is also a traditional white, but I purchased some camo fabric so that I can make a 2 1/2-3 inch band around the bottom of each tier. Also if you both hunt, I found an awesome cake topper at Cabelas.com of a man and woman dressed in camo/hunter orange and guns…it’s very cute. Also my bridesmaid’s dresses are orange with a 3 inch camo belt in the middle of their dress that ties into a bow. The groomsman are wearing khaki long-sleeved button ups with camo arms from deergear.com and the groom is wearing the same only the black version. They are also wearing white cowboy hats while the groom a black one along with cowboy boots. I’m not sure about what flowers I want yet so I don’t have any suggestions there. I do know the flowers will be in mason jars. I’m also serving beer and jungle juice, lol.
meg,
living in the south hunting is huge here!! the best flowers i can suggest is anything wildflower looking or since you are having orange in the color scheme. have a very pale orange or pale orange and yellow(you can get away with roses as long as they are the open and old fashioned) but gerbera daisies or just plain yellow, orange and white gerbera or shasta daisies would be better but tie it with lots of natural greenery(think blades of grasses, vines,leaves,berries,feathers, grapevine and of course….cattails(dont forget these, it will make the theme come alive!!)google image camo wedding, also camo wedding theme, then camo wedding board. i google imaged camo wedding flowers for xtra ideas.
hi i am wanting to do a simple country theme wedding in september and need ideas. my colors are marine blue and a lighter blue. our reception is at a country campground and i want something simple as far as decorating. i have thought about using mason jars with candles in them as part of the centerpieces or something. i like the ” old country store look” like cracker barrel or “famous daves” restraunt style enviroments. i need flower ideas also. this is my first wedding so im lost please help =) thank you!
hannah, gogle image camp wedding board. what about heading to a local feed store and pick up some small bushel baskets for centepieces. have mix and match platters etc. to fit the theme better and wildflowers/greenery(anything else would take away), hang some lanterns from limbs and have candles here and there. use gingham or lace tablecloths. buy some tin signs lemonade for 5 cents etc. and have iced tea and “ades” in large glass containers(like in naomi and larrys wedding). think glass jars filled with dime store candy and small paper bags waiting to be filled!! lemons and limes for decor would look real great! have a bonfire and smores. have mason jars for adults to drink from. plastic for kids. brides.com and theknot.com has some great rustic real weddings. google image and search wildflower wedding theme also rustic wedding board and country wedding board.
*A Wedding
*Naomi & Larry: Part II
*Reception Decor: Picnic Style
*country wedding theme
*Real Weddings(check these out especially davida and chris)
hannah, here is another link…
*Reception Stories ( all the country ones)
just pay careful attention to the decor when you go in the places again. all of this should be super budget friendly. buy the blue and white gingham cloths and have white and a mix of blues for the flowers, i would add a pop of yellow, red or burgundy though to the flowers so it will add even more to the theme. not much. i think i would choose yellow and add lemons to my decor. google image outdoor rustic wedding also barn wedding board and barn wedding. all of these have great ideas for country decor. dont forget the washtubs iced down for sodas, water etc.
*BH&G: country wedding
*A True Montana Wedding
*RealSimple: Weddings also check out the supermarket flowers)
thank you so much for your help, it really helps! if you come across any other ideas feel free to tell me =)
Love all the ideas about Western Weddings/Receptions. I am catering, decoration, etc. a wedding in June. The bride wants a western wedding but her mom said that the western part doesn’t have a place in the church (it’s a religion thing and I respect that very much) so she is doing the traditional wedding with all the frills and lace then the reception is going to be Western. It’s gonna be quite a challenge to get the transistion and yet tie them together but I love the challenge. Keeps live interesting
Anyway, just though I see if anyone had any better ideas than I do 
.
Thanks,
Marty
Here is what a dear friend’s daughter did. They were married in the Episcopal church. The ceremony was formal-while gown and veil for the bride, black tuxedos and tails for the groom and groomsmen. For the reception, which was western themed, the bride changed to white cowboy boots. Here dress had a train that buttoned up to a bustle. The groomsmen changed to black wranglers, black boots and black string ties. The dance floor was ringed with bales of hay. Center pieces were mason jars with wild flowers and old cowboy boots from a collection by a church member. Guest were told to wear denim. Being Texans, the brides dance with her father was “I’ll Waltz Across Texas with You” and the one with her groom was “May I Have This Dance for the Rest of My Life”. Then relatives led the invited guests in a grand march where everyone from grandparents to kids and babies in arms participated. Barbeque was served. Bride and groom departed to everyone waving sparklers in the black night. One of the most fun weddings I’ve ever attend.
WE DID A MORE COUNTRY WEDDING. TRY RAFFIA INSTEAD OF TRADITIONAL RIBBONS AROUND HAND TIED BOUQUETS. THIS SMALL TOUCH CAN HELP WITH THE TRANSITION. WE ALSO DID GRAPVINE WREATHS IN THE WINDOWS WITH PAPER RIBBON BOWS AND THE MEN HAD RAFFIA ON THE BOUTS. JUST A FEW IDEAS.
Hi Everyone,
Im getting married in June on the 5th, 2009. One of the thing I have done I took old shot gun shell and made light out of them. I took and drilled a hole in the side of them and then cut them down the side and placed white lights in them the hole hold the line in place, they look really great. We have built a deck out of old barn wood to help give that rustic look and thats where we are getting married on. And two it will help add the rustic look to our wedding pics a well. We are going with the red and white checked board tableclothes and mason jar with candles and flowers in them. We are placing bandanas in the middle of the tables and then putting our flowers or candle on them. We are have hay bale for our guest to set on. I am make a scrapbook of our guest book that way it will be something that is looked at more then once. What I did was use the colors of my wedding and take and place that color over half the page for wher the picuter will be and the other side will be for the guest to give ther best wishes at and sign in. I did this on the front and back of each page and if you dont have enough page just print more or get more so you have enough for all your guest. I hope this helps any one that needed some ideas for there wedding date. I know this page has really helped me so I wanted to try and help someone else as well. Good luck and have fun this is your day.
brides, here is a great wedding i ran across, the dress is ethereal and rustic at the same time. wow! here is the link also, there are a couple more pics with info!
*rustic fairytale wedding
Also, I am having an ice cream bar along with the cake. I am a huge fan of ice cream so we thought this would be an out of the ordinary idea that people might think is fun. Has anyone ever seen this done or have any advice/ideas about this. Also, any places to get all the toppings? We are going to have about 150 guest. Thanks ladies!!
meagan,
this is a fantastic idea!! i see it in weddings alot. your actually borrowing from an old fashioned traditon. my mom got married in the 1960 and ice cream was part of the reception( but only cake and punch with the possible little sandwiches accompanied) where i live we have sams wholesale club. if you have one they have ice cream toppings. i dont know much about costco or wholesale places in your area. but that would be where i went. or walmart in the candy aisle. i would keep it simple. like containers of oreo crumbles, m&m’s, nuts, sprinkles, i wouldnt go the berry route, will stain outfits( on this i would have disposable but pretty bowls, napkins, and spoons, i promise for this it will be easier!) or have buckets of ice creamaxe the toppings, for ice cream cones which guests REALLY LOVE, or assorted ice cream bars which you can get everywhere( popsicles, chocolate covered ice cream, fudgecicles, etc) i did see an idea where you can rent a real ice cream truck for a little while at a reasonable rate, it pulls up with the music and guests just line up, ice cream really does make you happy!! another idea is offer milkshakes, chocolat, cavanilla, and strawberry in disposable paper glasses with straws and lids, have someone whipping them up. guests would love this too!!
meagan, forgot to post your link!!
*Victorian Ice Cream Social: Setting up the Ice Cream Bar
*New Jersey Bride – Wedding of Shalini Ramasunder & Scott Buckel
ask your caterer or your venue have they ever hosted these, chances are they have. i would see how much they charge, cause this is a pretty bid thing cause it can be messy and they will have the equipment to keep the ice cream cold.
*An Old Fashioned Ice Cream Social is a fun and inexpensive wedding party idea.
Oh my God! My friend just told me that she was searching stuff for her wedding and found a link to my pics on here! That’s my wedding with the ice cream! I had no idea that the pics were public on line!
It was a really big hit and I totally rec it! I hate the traditional formal pastries that people don’t really eat anyway. We had three flavors of ice cream and a crazy amount of toppings and everyone talked about it forever afterward! The one thing that was a little hard to negotiate was to have two people there to scoop the ice cream for the guests. the ice cream bar wasn’t part of the hall’s offering, but i said it was the only thing that i really wanted in terms of dessert so they caved for no extra cost – cheaper for them than all the crazy pastries!
shali b.,
you had a beautiful wedding and great ideas!!!!
I’m having a sundae bar at my wedding, partly because my family owns an ice cream shop and partly because my fiancee and i have an ice cream obsession. i’ve never seen this before so i thought it would be fun! if you have a local ice cream shop you could find out if you could rent some of their equipment for toppings, etc. also, we are having pies instead of a wedding cake, a more western tradition we thought. good luck with your planning, this was my first time on this site, i love it!
Hey everyone,
I have come to love this site and have gotten many wonderful ideas for our big day. My fience and i are getting married on May 2, 2009. We are getting married in a refurbished barn with the reception in a log lodge. The guys are going to be wearing jean, cowboy boots and suit jackets. the brides maids have black dresses that we got at jc pennys and i will be wearing a traditional wedding dress with my cowgirl boots! :)
Can anyone give tips on the hay bail bride and groom? My future husband has a haying company with his father and brother and thought this was a really cute idea and would love to do it. Just wondering if anyone who has done it would have any helpful tips.
Thanks!!
Hi, i am having a country wedding in december, and i am desperate for help. I havent gotten my invitations or decorations. My theme is marine blue, so if anyone could help me with this i would appreciate it. Thanks,
-Heather
heather,
are the bm dresses in marine blue? i would have girls in this blue and have guys in simple black suits ( i would not have blue vests etc. if you want color here have just marine blue ties for gm, have groom wearing simple black tie) since you are having a country winter wedding. use lots of winter greenery, it will give your wedding a more country feel. white flowers is what i would choose. add blue winter berries to girls bouquets. tie with a gingham or solid color country ribbon. you carry white bouquet with a white or pale blue lace or crouchet ribbon.
* Board #278: Budget Friendly #10, Winter Wonderland( i am in love with this board)
* Board #311: Winter Whimsyland
*Board #323: Sleighbells Ring( look at the hanging pinecones, I LOVE this idea!! could you imagine having a wedding arch covered in greenery and hanging glittery pinecones and all this can be free, if you live where you can gather it.? that would be soooo beautiful, then carry the pinecones as your wedding motif, onto your invites, cake, centerpieces, this is both country elegance) (google image pinecone wedding invite also pinecone wedding cake, also pinecone centerpiece)
i do love the idea of all white reception with white candles and pinecone centerpieces and evergreens, tie napkins or have runners of marine blue( it may be just a deep blue) and white or beige gingham, tie strips of gingham around napkins. this will pull in the blue.
*Board #189: Urban Rustic ( leading up to your pinecone arch, could be candle lined aisle)
branches would be beautiful incorporated in this scheme, especially on either side of the arch in urns or country butter churns and at back of aisle too. move to the reception by the wedding cake or well placed spot. for favors have something edible, like small or medium jars of preserves or honey tied with a gingham ribbon. place these in baskets on a table for guests to have with a sign that reads please take one. in your reception area use jars with candles placed here and there for romantic lighting. or use these on your table ( google image mason jar wedding)
Thanks you so much for helping me. I kinda liked the pine cone idea, it was differeent. and yes the bm dresses are marine blue, i like your ideas, please feel free to give me more ideas, i really need them. I havent really gotten much for the wedding so anything is useful. any tips too. thank you
-Heather
heather, google image rustic winter wedding.
*How to Plan a Country Themed Wedding
*A Country Wedding
*top {10} winter wedding details ( great details!!love the 1st board)
*Let It Snow ( just breathtaking!!)
*Elizabeth and David in Wimberley, TX ( i know this isnt winter but the garlands are ideal)
* a Christmas Eve Wedding…
Hello
My name is Santana and I am planning a country wedding. I looking for some help on ideas for the weddings. My colors are hunter green, yellow, silver, and black. I’m using sunflowers as my foral arrangements. The wedding will take place outside in August. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas?
Thanks for all the help!
santana,
could you tell me what color your bridal party is wearing? is it casual? tie bouquets with raffia or gingham ribbon. have white linens with sunflowers in cans, mason jars, or silver buckets(will bring in the silver)i would keep the silver in the silverware and containers. think about adding silver lanterns or paper lanterns.
use everything you can, wheelbarrows and other nontraditional things to hold a bevy of sunflowers.
if you ar going a more elegance way then have girls in shade your using say black. have white linens, sunflowers in silver containers, green napkins, and white boxes with black and white gingham ribbon. hang paper lanterns in trees green white, silver flower girl baskets or buckets with black and white gingham flowing from handle. have drinks iced down in silver galvanized tubs. you can make this rustic too by your choice of containers etc. you use. think guestbook and have a mason jar holding the pen. any unique rustic detail you add will make it so amazing!! i hope these ideas help, let me know if you need more!!
* A Look Back At Our Creative, Crafty, and Cost Effective Backyard …You’re
*sunflower wedding ( the galleries)
*Real Weddings: A Twist on Country Chic
*Fourth Of July Weekend Wedding on Long Island
Hey Stacey,
Again thanks for everything!
Thank you so much for the ideas you suggested. I thinking of using some of them! Have any more? They were great! Well the first thing is..when I say outside wedding. I’m getting married on a farm. The wedding will take place in front a big pond. Have any ideas for that? My bridal party is wearing hunter green dresses. Plus when I say country wedding..it’s half western too. The theme is sunflowers and horseshoes . Because I ride horses..show them..and trail ride with them. Oh yes and the dressing for everyone will be casual. I’m using a horseshoe to hold my pen for the guest book and I think I’m going to use a big sunflower as the wedding ring hold.
santana, love your wedding theme! i would let nature decorate for me. for the pond you could get 2 big galvanized tubs or buckets and fill with overflowing flowers and greenery or better yet branches, for your alter. is there a beautiful tree at the pond you could marry in front of/under? just make a grapevine wreath and hang on tree or hang great ribbons from the branches. have packages favors in gingham bags tied with twine or simple brown paper bags, like homemade cookies or homemade preserves . why not even have gingham tablecloths or lace ? think: like a big family reunion style wedding. have sunflowers in the buckets or mason jars, mixed borrowed cake plates, pitchers( can even use these for flowers), downhome cooking. i included decor ideas from the springhill pavillion the venue used for the danch hall in the horse whisperer.
*Bozeman Montana weddings Venue – Springhill Pavilion
*Ranch Style Wedding
* An Apple Farm Wedding
*Lucky In Love ( love the ringbearer entrance!!)
*Old-fashioned, Country Wedding Near Chautauqua, New York
*Will and Liz’s Farm wedding ( love the arch in this wedding)
google image farm wedding (loads of ideas and real weddings)
*No Place Like Home
*House Party
* Sara Evans: A Family Affair
OH PLEASE TELL ME YOU KNOW WHERE TO BUY THE MINI DRESS IN THE PIC with the girl in cowboy boots…
I’m getting married in the summer, not sure exact date but in the mt. outside and we are def. horse people! I love your ideas santana!!! and friends!!!!
I need to make it elegant, but country! I am so in love with the dress on the girl in the pic with the boots…!!! can’t find one like it anywhere on the net!!!
jules, it is as ktjeans.com. they make it in different lengths. the short dress that you love is $250.00
*W E D D I N G — Vintage Slipdress
jules,
also google image elegant country wedding board and also elegant country wedding. i think you will find alot of beautiful ideas.
Thanks so much stacey, for the information on the dress!!!!
We are getting married in late September or October and it’s going to be county/ fishing themed and I loved the eyelet dress with the cowboy boots in the picture above. Where can I find a dress like this?
Julie..thanks so much for liking my ideas..I wanted something totally country-western wedding.
Stacey..once again thanks for the ideas..you have really helped me..if you have any more please let me know! Thanks again..
sarah,
*W E D D I N G — Vintage Slipdress
*NEW! Tiered Bra Top dress with crochet bust
if its out of stock or limited. then google image white eyelet dress.
sarah, also google image casual white dress and also casual wedding dress. dresses like these should be plentiful, maybe not with all the ruffles, but everywhere.
I am planning a summer wedding at our family farm in june. I would really like to have orange and royal blue as my colors, and i want tiger lilies as the flowers. The problem i am having is deciding if these colors are too loud, and if the colors and flowers will mix with the outdoor wedding and western (country) theme. The bridesmaid dresses are goin to be orange and the groomsmen are going to have royal blue dress shirts, jeans, cowboy boots and hats. IS THIS TOO MUCH? or will all of this mix together?
katie,
it will mix just perfectly!! just keep everything else low key. like in pic. (its not royal blue, but it may help to give ideas), white linens(though brown anchors well otherwise do without the linens if you have wood tables), simple orange flowers in mason jars, i love the blue and orange lanterns, put orange flowers with lots of greenery against the orange dresses. i think i would consider neutral color shoes like brown or a metallic for bm. as i mentioned, if your concerned about the boldness, then tie in natural browns( in wood, linens, etc.) and keep the cake in your blue and orange, cause the brown will keep it from being to bold.touches of the blue and orange will give off the casual country feel like in the pic. i think it will be a beautiful. i love the blue and orange. smile! for more pics google image blue and orange wedding.
* a summer wedding…
The colors will be fine . . . just keep flower arrangements small,
and make sure the mom’s have subtle color dresses so the corsages won’t clash.
I am getting married on May 2nd 2009. We are going to be having a country wedding too it is also going to be outside. My colors are Apple green and pink with browns and white. We are needing some help on decoration ideas. I will be walking though a barn and we will be standing in front of a horse pastor. I also need some ideas of country wedding songs or web sites that i can go too. we are already using the milk can idea and chicken wire for flower arrangements and latterns for light, mason jars to drink out of. So if you have anymore ideas just let me know.
Thanks future Mrs. McLain
kendra, you can take whatever you find and make it into a floral container, wheelbarrow, ladder, troughs, let flowergirl carry bucket of flower petals, hanging mason jar lanterns, wreaths on trees, haybales with quilts on top and with flowers spilling over side, old sign that reads wedding this way, lace covered tables, churns filled with flowers and dont forget fresh clippings from the woods. for songs just google search country wedding songs( i did this the other day and there are so many songs!!) i love the way you love me john michael montgomery also big and rich lost in this moment. also google image barn wedding decor ( lots of ideas)
* An at-a-glance guide to getting hitched at home
* More Rustic Love
* Shawna and Zachary in Nye, MT
* How to Decorate a Barn for a Wedding
* Yahoo Answers: Any Barn Wedding ideas?
* GAC’s Top 40 Country Wedding Songs
kendra, oh yes hang swags of boughs on fence rows.
* Elizabeth and David in Wimberley, TX
Hey Kendra,
There are Patron Tequila bottles if you peel the stickers off they look like really antique rustic bottles feel them up with water and put two gerber daises in it. It looks very nice. also if you tie that stuff i cant think of the name but its like straw but it string you can buy it in packs at walmart. but tie it in a bow around the top it really adds a country feel. Also for some songs Allen Jackson sings a song called I’ll go on loving you. its so romantic. or alison krauss has that song you will know what im talken about but it goes like the smile on your face and says something like oh mr. webster. something something but that song is really good but the original singer is keith whitley and his version is really old country its gorgeous as a wedding song. HOPE I was some help. But congrats and Good Luck.
Best Wishes – Crisjin
Hi Ladies
I live in South Africa and getting married next year. I heard a really good country weeding march once, but I can’t find it anywhere. If one of you can help me I would appreciate it very much.
You look stunnig
Kind Regards
Valme
valme, could you give me a few more details like if it was instrumental, or some of the words. male or female singer? i will do what i can to find it!! smile!
take a look here to see if any looks familiar.
* GAC’s Top 40 Country Wedding Songs
Hello to all the country brides to be- I was married in June and I used this site a lot!!!! It gave me lots of wonderful ideas so now I am back to try and help the next brides to be. I have attached my wedding ceremony picture, however I don’t have any of my reception pictures back yet, as soon as I get them I will be sure to share them.
My husband and I are tractor pullers, we restored a couple tractors together and we wanted to add them into the ceremony, however I still wanted a elegent formal type wedding. This is what we came up with! we had the tradtional clothing in a beautiful outdoor setting. The ceremony and reception were both at the same place, a local park that was perfect for us. We had the traditional wedding vows, with a little bit of a modification. Instead of a unity candle we had a unity grain ceremony. We had two mason jars (that our mothers brought to a table that we had set up) one was filled with wheat and the other was filled with corn. I modified a reading for a unity sand ceremony and we poured the grain together into a pretty vase with a matching ribbon to symbolize the unity of the marriage. I am more then willing to post the ceremony words that we used if anyone is interested.
I used wheat in everything, the flowers, the decorations, even the programs were tied with a stalk of wheat. I used very country flowers- viking daisys (they look like mini black eyed susans), I used peruvian lilly’s, spray roses and wheat stalks. The yellow did a great job of popping the red and white to make it look more country. I also handed the guests little bags of wheat to throw at the end instead of rice. The bags had little tags that read: shower the couple with wishes of golden grain, love and prosperity ours to gain. Another idea that I used was that on I put our new address on the back of the wedding programs so that everyone who attended the wedding would have it. I hope these ideas help. I will be back with more ideas from the reception as soon as i get pictures!
I would love to see the ceremony words. I am getting married in a western theme and am trying to tie that in my cermony.
Sarah
I would also like the words to the grain unity ceremony! This would go along perfect to our country wedding!!!
Hi my name is Susan. Sounds like you had a great wedding. You had alot of neat ideas for your wedding theme. I am going nuts coming up with ideas for our wedding. My fiance and i are planning on finally tying the knot after being together 6 yrs and engaged 4 yrs and we are talking about having a farm wedding. He’s been married before and i haven’t. We are wanting our wedding outdoors at our house w/ Case IH tractors and equipment surrounding us..then having the reception in a local community center in our small town. We both don’t want to spend alot of money so i am planning on doing alot of the stuff myself from the decorations to the wedding cake, but coming up w/ ideas is brain racking..Do you think you could give me some more ideas? Would you mind sending me a copy of your ceremony words? At this time i could use any and all ideas i can get…Thanks. Susan.
Brides, I come from a big hunter’s state. and when i came across this i had to post it!! camo wedding at its finest!! enjoy!! for all you hunters or soon to be hunters spouse!!
* Camouflage Wedding Theme, Camo Wedding
brides, in addition to camo theme wedding. wedding dress with green top by justin alexander, the camo dress is custom.bm dresses are mori lee and winnie couture. google image camo wedding for alot of the pics posted. and camo wedding shoes also camo high heels. an camo wedding dress. couldnt find the heels shown???
* {loving camo-print dresses} (camo dress courtesy victoriassecret.com)
Where did you find the sight? My groom is a hunter and I would like to have a few camo surprises for him.
Miss “T”, this was all i found. the link above will take you to the site. for more ideas google image camo wedding and also camo wedding board. i just saw a couple of weddings there you might enjoy!! happy planning!!
I am planning a simple yet rustic wedding on my own property. I’m looking for some good ideas…i love the mason jar and candle idea, but looking for some backdrop setting ideas…thinking maybe bon fire? Any suggestions?
cathy, go to brides.com real weddings rustic theme. i love the idea of a bonfire, have smores. can have movies in seperate area for children, things to keep them occupied with a “babysitter”, i love the jar idea too. but why not have paper lanterns? green and brown would definitley fit bill.
have your arch entirely of grapevine, or marry under a tree, adorned with a simple grapevine wreath and ribbon, attached to trunk. have simple plaid tablecloths set with basket filled with your chosen favors (like homemade cookies or old fashioned wrapped candy in small brown paper bags tied with twine or ribbon. (just like a dime store!!) have a dessert table with assorted cakes and pies. ( i am sure your guests will love this, and family will chip in making 1 dessert!!) you will not need much for outdoors. the key is simple.
shephard hooks are amazing when used down the aisle hang lanterns or jars. if in daytime, just tie rustic flowers with plaid ribbons puddling to ground. i am in love with the idea of hanging ribbons from trees branches. think about wheelbarrows with flowers or overflowing greenery, anything that can be used in a strategic spot. wooden crates for centerpiece containers,(especially with writing on side) check out your local thrift stores, do not worry about matching everything. hang photos on a “clothesline”)
* Board #190: Earth Friendly #1, Rustic Charm
* Vintage Chic: Kevin & Heather
( kevin and heather, just beautiful)
* Real Wedding: Davida & Chris ( i love the simple cans used for centerpieces!!i love this wedding! i think you may get all you need here!!)
* This Young House: Wedding Album ( great ideas here!!)
* Board #158: Backyard Charm
* Inspiration Board: A Backyard Bash
google image rustic wedding boards and rustic weddings.
cathy, your pics!!
cathy, one more!! how about a picnic reception! how fun and easy!! love it so much!! i guarantee your guests will rave about this reception style from now on!! smile!!
* Board #279: Budget Friendly #11, Picnic in the Park
* Board #276: Budget Friendly #8, Keep It Simple
* Board #186: Budget Friendly #3, Casual Dinner
i found all of these boards on snippetandink.com just type in budget friendly wedding board in top left hand corner(search box)