Ideas for Planning a Rustic Themed Wedding

When planning a wedding, many couples are looking for decorations and themes that are rustic but sophisticated. Such a rustic wedding could include design and colors that evoke a sense of the country life but have elegant elements that make rustic style suitable for a wedding ceremony. A rustic wedding would be perfect for a couple hoping to marry in the spring, summer, or fall, particularly if the ceremony and/or the reception were to be held outdoors or in a country setting such as a barn. For this rustic wedding theme, the primary colors will be chocolate brown, sage green, and orange.

Rustic Wedding Attire
The rustic bride will want to keep her gown simple, as an elaborate ball gown may look out of place in a country setting. A strapless satin full length or tea length gown would be beautiful. This organza gown from David's Bridal doubles as a wedding gown and a reception sheath dress and would be perfect for a rustic wedding. For bridesmaid's gowns, choose a strapless, knee length styled dress in sage green and have the bridesmaids carry orange floral bouquets for a pop of color.

Rustic Wedding Decorations
Decorating a wedding with rustic flair can be a fun process during wedding planning. Many couples following the rustic trend have borrowed design elements and objects with a vintage and whimsical flavor, such as finding an old bicycle and dressing it up by wrapping the metal parts with craft wooden branches. To add a rustic feel to this piece, the basket of the bike can be used to hold white hydrangea balls or wedding programs. A rusty old child's wagon could also be dressed up with potted grass to hold place cards, flowers, or favors. If possible, use old-fashioned wooden tables to hold favors, for a possible candy bar, and to use as serving tables for a buffet-styled reception. If authentic wooden tables aren't available, cover tables with chocolate brown or sage green linens. If you're looking for a DIY rustic centerpiece, check out this tutorial from Once Wed which features a slab of wood, votive candles, and dried flowers. If marking tables by numbers, think about using small chalkboards with wooden frames, which can usually be found at craft stores. Another idea for decorations to be sprinkled throughout the reception venue would be wooden hearts, birds, horseshoes, or other country shapes which have a burned wood effect or cute messages such as "Just Married" or the couples' names engraved on them. Such pieces can be bought commercially and personalized, but wood-burning tools can be purchased at craft supply stores and the process is not difficult for crafty adults. A rustic wedding gives couples the opportunity to combine simplicity with romance and elegance and can also give guests an experience they are sure to enjoy.

Sources:
DavidsBridal.com
Once Wed