Planning a Wedding with a Western Theme

If you want to be a little more casual with a themed wedding, a western theme works nicely (although it is possible to make a western theme formal by dressing in formal attire of the mid to late 19th Century). Western themed weddings can be a great deal of fun, and it is a unique way to tie the knot. It can be especially fun to have a fake shotgun on hand for whoever gives the bride away to hold (a "shotgun wedding").

The bridal gown should be made from heavy fabric and have long sleeves (a western wedding is great in the late fall and in the winter). Make sure that there is a great deal of lace present as well. Silver jewelry or pearls make good accents at a western-themed wedding. Consider wearing a white cowgirl hat with the veil trailing from the back, or one of those hats worn by ladies who run brothels in western movies. Watch a variety of western movies to get an idea of some dress ideas. The groom can either wear a western-style suit (for chic, check out Will Smith's suit in the film Wild, Wild West) or blue jeans with a button up shirt and leather vest. In any case, cowboy boots are a must.

A fun way to decorate for a western wedding is to use hay bales. Gold bows make good decorations for accents. Set up fence posts and decorate them with hats, boots at the base, and wheat berries and wild flowers. Old wagon wheels also make good decorations. Use a horse trough as your gift holder instead of a table. Hang old-time lamps for lighting (there are lamps that look like kerosene lamps, but are not). If the wedding is informal, try to use long wooden tables for the reception dinner. Dinner should be down-home beef and chicken with garden vegetables. Fresh fruit is also good to have on hand. Homemade ice cream makes a great dessert. Have the kids make the ice cream using cleaned coffee cans. This is a great way for the children to enjoy the reception, and it will keep them busy. They can roll the cans back and forth on the floor in a designated area.

Centerpieces for a western wedding include the usual "cowboy" items. Turn a hat upside down and fill it with wildflowers and baby's breath. Set an old pair of boots on the table. You might add a sunflower to one boot (upright) while the other boot is flopped to the side. Place standing oil lamps on the table. Many have different colored bases, and this can add variety to your centerpieces. Or, fill wicker baskets with sunflowers, daisies, wildflowers, baby's breath, and greenery.