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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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)
BRIDES, have a great wedding to show you!! simple and rustic!! unfussy which i love!!
* A Real Wedding, II
I need a little help. I’m getting married in May at a barn! The actual ceremony will take place outside and reception up in the loft and some outside. My fiancee and I both grew up on a farm and we still work in agriculture (mostly livestock). My colors are lime green and hot pink because I love spring time and spring colors. I still want the farm/country look though. Any ideas????
april, the key is to pull in rustic elements like clothesline with pictures held by clothepin, mason jars full of flowers, a sign that read your names on old piece of wood, make sure ribbon in your colors can be country like. and bm dresses, with a country feel.
See:
* Brides.com: Shawna and Zachary in Nye, MT a barn wedding just add your colors!
* Ariella Inspired, Part Two
* Sweet Tarts for Sweethearts
* Danielle’s Rustic and Chic Real Wedding
Do you have any idea where I can get lime green and hot pink striped ties. I’ve seen them in two different photos but it doesn’t say where they got them and we have looked all over for them.
april, try these:
* Wailea Beach - necktie
* Pink & green silk, Tied Up (australian — these are 40)
i just read where macy’s had them but i cant find them online. go to some men’s shops and department stores. good luck!!
just use one for groom and keep solids to gm. this is a very hard tie to find! smile!
I am getting married in June and having a country/ barn theme. A few ideas we are planning on are having Ball jars with flowers and later candles in them. We are having cupcakes with an animal on each one and a barn in the center of the table of cupcakes. We are filling mini galvanized tubs with candy corn and peanuts on the table. We are also putting mini hay bales on the tables. We would like to put the presents in a cow trough. Thinking of hankerchiefs for napkins. Borrowing tons of old farm stuff to decorate like milk cans, cream seperators…
BRIDES, HERE IS A PIC I KNOW YOU WILL LOVE!!
ALL BRIDES……
Check out this six page article Country Wedding Decorations: Keep Things Natural And Simple, very helpful! Be sure to scroll down the page past the ads because the article shows up below, depending on your browser.
I am having a Rustic Fall Wedding in November of 2009. My favorite season is fall and it reminds me of my fiance….I see a lot of people are having problems with FAVORS, I am making gourmet apples, caramel, apple pie, chocolate dipped apples. Hope this helps
You should take some coke cans, and put holes in the sid-
es of them ,and cut the silver top off, and put a small can-
dle inside of it. Finally take some wire or[fishing string],
and tie it to the middle of the can then hang it on a tree,
fince post ,and[or] rail of the deck.
Please use my
idea Thank You
Lynlea Welch
me and my fiance met at a steam rally we own 3 vintage stationary engines a vintage allis chalmers B tractor and loads of old models we want to base our theme around the rallies more so our tractor any ideas what we can do for decorations and favours? just to give you an idea the rallies are held in fields with loads of traditional homemade cider the wurzles music etc so thinking country with a twist maybe ideas please!!!
Hi mrsread2b –
A Country Wedding / Graceful Ease in the Country
google image tractor wedding favors for ideas. or give out honey or jam. google image farm wedding
See Colorado Carla | Wedding Couple on Farm Tractor Topper
google image homespun wedding inspiration board,
and rustic wedding inspiration board.
go to brides.com and check out the real weddings it is listed under wedding style look at rustic, and destination wedding. also see A Wedding of Good Old-Fashioned Fun ( i gave this link before all brides could look at this one its great!!)
I’m having a wedding on May 18th and I’m hoping it would be a rustic conutry wedding because that’s the surroundings I grew up around. I live a mile away from the Mississippi River and I live far out into the country. My yard is 10 Achres and I’m getting married on my Uncles Front Lawn. It’s a gorgeus surrounding of trees, which makes it look like a forest along with a barn in the background. I’m having my reception across the street at my house and I have no idea how I’m going to decorate it! I’m trying my hardest of a cute, simple country theme… But I keep going blank! >.
Hi Kara, google image barn wedding, for rustic ideas and colors. google image outdoor wedding and under the trees wedding. See English Country style weddings ( i love this) and then at brides.com Check out Shawna & Zachary Real Weddings in Montana.
Vickie! I have the perfect idea for you for favors if you have not foudn them yet! You should do either jars of honey or small bags of flower seeds. How cute to do something earthy for a rustic outdoor wedding. You could say something like “As we grow closer together in marriage, we hope you plant these in your yards to help us celebrate this day!”
Jars of honey are also a cute outdoors favor. and you can buy them in bulk online. Hope it helps!!
For my fall party favors, I am doing mini cones of dry hunny roasted almonds.. cover the cone with tissue paper to match and tie with raffia.
i’m getting married in Aug. 09 and i want to go with the whole country theme and get married in like a rustic barn but i can not find anything that i like. i live in Athens, Tn so if anyone knows any good ideas please please tell me?
My daughter will get married on July 11, 2009 in Athens Wi. She will also have a barn wedding. We thought about putting flowers in cowboy boots. We also have a few old wagon wheels that we will dress up with wedding bows. Do you have any ideas?
oo your wedding sounds pretty vickie! mine isnt here yet either it is 4-25-09. i love the sunflower diea was thinkin bout doing that with cowboy and girl boots as the centerpieces. my colors are v.lilac and teracota and ivory. what is your dad wearing like as a suit or something? ws wondering bc idk what my stepdad and my real dad should wear. i kinda found stuff at http://www.satinspurs.com but nowhere else really that is ligit.
Hello all. I have not got married yet but I am getting married Sept. 20th, 2008. I thought I would share some ideas that I am doing at my wedding. First of all I am getting married in a field with willow and apple trees. We are renting a tent for ceremony & reception. As for colors I am doing a chocolate brown and dark red theme. I wanted to go for rustic fall harvest look and not fall halloween look. The centerpieces are ball jars with sunflowers, wheat, different grasses, & hydrangeas. Very harvest looking. For candles I have hot glued cinnamon sticks around candle holders and tied them with twine. Instead of serving buttermints and salted peanuts like most traditional weddings I am setting candied pecans and baked caramel popcorn out for people to snack on. As for cake I am not having any and going with different types of pies and my grandma’s homemade candies. I am going to hang ball jars from with candles in them from trees and set out mums and hay bales. I still have no idea what I am doing for favors. Soo I just thought I would give you my ideas. Hope this helps!
Hi all. My husband and I had a rustic outdoor wedding this past May. I wanted to post the website where you could veiw our pictures and maybe get some ideas. I got lots of ideas from people here and I wanted to help in the same way. Here is the website:
http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/4890909_fkjVz#291815066_UCDAd
or you can go to:
http://exquisite.smugmug.com/Weddings
and then click on Crystal and Keith May 3 2008, and veiw our photos.
Also, to those who want an outdoor wedding (which we did) go for it. I was so worried about the weather because it stormed the night before and the next morning, but turned out to be a beautiful afternoon. We just had tents and shelters rented as weather provisions which you can see in the pictures. Hope all this helps.
Crystal
I have enjoyed reading this site!!! Am planning a July 2008 country wedding and have gathered some great ideas. Was wondering what you did for the rain plan. We have a beautiful site picked out but I’m worried about bad weather. The reception dinner is a BBQ and we are looking into renting a tent. Also, my fiance is not sure about dancing. Do you think people will be bored not dancing? Any ideas for entertainment? Thanks!!