This article was originally written and posted on TeamWedding.com on Nov 27, 2011.
Rustic (also called “rustic chic”) weddings are still all the rage, particularly if you’re having your big event in a part of the country where barns, farms or covered bridges are a plenty. The theme is a natural fit for couples who love the outdoors or simply want a unique wedding that is inspired by nature.
While the setting itself acts as a natural, rustic backdrop for the big day (think outdoor weddings in barns, meadows, backyards, wineries and gardens), it’s the details that really bring home the rustic theme. Thankfully many wedding providers have expanded their inventories to meet the cry for rustic inspired accents. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Ideas for Your Own Rustic Wedding
Colors: If you’re struggling to decide on your wedding colors, simply take a look around. Rustic wedding colors should be inspired by hues from nature–wildflowers, natural stone, bark and wood tones. Many colors from Pantone’s annual Wedding Color Report (Pantone is the absolute leader in color trend and many wedding planners, clothing designers and more refer to this report to guide their color choices) are pulled from nature.
Food: Serving local, specialty foods—like foods coming from local farms—are a perfect way to reconnect with the local setting. Cakes decorated with real flowers and presented on log rounds, or a tier of scrumptious cupcakes versus a traditional wedding cake. Dessert tables set with homemade, seasonal favorites (think apple pie, zucchini bread or mom’s famous cookies) are additional ideas for a rustic wedding.
Photo credits Elizabeth Bradford Photography
Flowers: Wildflowers, sprigs of berries, and sprays of cattails or ornamental grasses replace traditional bouquets of roses, lilies and ivy. Decorating with seasonal objects is also a popular rustic wedding trend – think pumpkins, colorful cabbage flowers, and hurricane lamps filled with apples, cranberries or tree branches. For tented weddings, tree branches can be secured to tent poles to bring the outside in.
Photo credits Birch Blaze Photography
Seating: Opting for wood or wood-toned chairs adds to the rustic feel. Dark wood garden chairs and crossback chairs (also known as X-back chairs) are particularly popular chair rentals. While not practical for a sit down dinner, rustic benches or bales of hay are unique seating for the wedding ceremony. We’ve even seen a lounge area created with hay bale seating.
Photo credits Aaron Nicholas Photography
Tables: Burlap linens are a great option for both round and rectangular tables, or consider a classic white tablecloth with a burlap runner. Linens with flowers, leaves or vines embroidered into the fabric add a touch of the outdoors. The latest trend, and a pricier option, is the use of farm tables. If your budget is tight, but you love the look, consider just renting the farmhouse tables for the buffet, cake table and seating/sign-in table.
Photo credits Aaron Nicholas Photography
The web is full of rustic wedding inspiration boards to give you more ideas. One tip to successful planning is consolidating your needs. You’ll save time and money by finding as many of your “must haves” through a small group of vendors. Most full-service rental providers will carry a large selection of chairs, tables, linens, tableware, etc., but it doesn’t necessarily mean they will carry every variation of a style. If you can’t find a provider whose inventory meets all your needs, consider whether your item is worth the extra delivery cost to engage another vendor.
