A Quick Guide to Rustic Wedding Venues
Rustic wedding venues are perfect for couples who want an outdoor setting that reflects their love of nature. From the rustic barns to the outdoor cottages, there are many different options to choose from. The natural beauty of the woods, rolling farmland, or the mountains in the background make these settings perfect for an outdoor wedding.
The Rise of Rustic Wedding Venues
Rustic weddings have risen in popularity over the past few years, largely due to an overall trend towards informality and natural, organic, or DIY lifestyles. The rustic style perfectly emphasizes this by utilizing natural beauty over manufactured glamor. The rise of Pinterest beginning in 2012 accelerated this trend, and two of Pinterest’s most popular types of pins are DIY ideas and wedding inspiration. Rustic weddings are a natural intersection of these movements, as they often involve elements that appear to be handmade or repurposed. The rustic style often gives the impression of resourcefulness—using simple, commonplace objects in elegant, creative ways.
Many rustic weddings incorporate a vintage style as well, which is a natural fit since “rustic” often suggests “old-fashioned.” Vintage style is somewhat more refined and may provide an attractive contrast with a rustic setting and another rustic décor. To get an idea of how this might look, imagine seating your guests at a table with a lace cover, set with flowered china teacups or art deco-inspired china and lit by antique silver candlesticks; all in a barn-style venue with highlights of rough timber and stone.
Why Couples Love Rustic Style
A rustic wedding is appealing to many couples because it allows them to have a formal event in a setting that feels relaxed and down-to-earth. Many rustic weddings take place outdoors or are held in indoor spaces such as barns that have been outfitted to accommodate such events. If a casual, laid-back feeling suits your style better than a formal affair, a rustic wedding may provide your perfect setting for a memorable day.
Versatility is another key element in the popularity of the rustic style, which allows endless opportunities to personalize your wedding. It may be an especially good choice for couples who like antiques, or who want to include family heirlooms in their dress or décor. You can combine and contrast formal elements with natural or vintage features to create a truly unique experience.
Rustic Wedding Décor
After you have booked your rustic wedding venue and chosen a theme and color scheme, it is time to start planning your décor. A rustic venue can be dressed up or dressed down to match the tone you want to set for your wedding.
Your theme may include a certain motif, such as a particular plant or animal, or even an abstract design. Hints of this motif can be used in every aspect of your wedding. For example, if your motif features sparrows and red roses—which most likely would be reflected in your color scheme—you might include simple illustrations of the birds and flowers on your invitations, programs, and any other printed materials. Recycled paper stock with a beige or brownish tone and a rustic texture may be an ideal choice for printing these materials.
Some elements are quite common in rustic wedding décor. Many rustic weddings feature a burlap aisle runner, which is elegant and practical whether your ceremony is held indoors or outdoors. Wood-framed chalkboard easels are a popular and convenient way to display a welcome message or directional signage and are another place to include your motif.
Antique bottles (either clear or colored glass), twine, brown paper, and linen make frequent appearances in rustic wedding décor. Items made of wood, wire, or wrought iron will fit in nicely as well. Other touches may be included to highlight your tastes and interests as a couple, such as vintage books for avid readers or writers.
Choosing A Theme For Your Rustic Wedding
Rustic and vintage are styles, yes, but a style is not the same as a theme. A wedding held at a farm or ranch is rustic, but so is a wedding held on the beach or at a venue styled after a Spanish mission. Therefore, a couple having a rustic wedding is not restricted to a certain type of theme.
Some weddings have very traditional or formal themes, while others may be more whimsical. For instance, you could have a general western-themed event featuring lassos, cowboy boots, and horseshoes (a sign of good luck!), an “autumn harvest” theme with motifs of wheat, apples, pumpkins, and fall leaves, a Tuscan-themed wedding held at a vineyard, or a very specific or offbeat theme such as steampunk. The theme should reflect your personalities, interests, and tastes as a couple—the levels of specificity and detail you want to include are entirely determined by you!
Your theme can be expressed through every element of the event if you wish— the venue itself, the attire of the wedding party, the content of the ceremony, the décor and floral arrangements, the season, and the cuisine you will serve at the reception. Once you have selected your theme, you will be able to begin filling in the details. One of the most important details is your color scheme, which will have an influence on everything else you choose, from clothing and flowers to the design of printed materials such as invitations and save-the-dates.
Are You Looking To Go Rustic?
As you can see, the versatility of the rustic style makes it easy for many couples to adapt to meet their personal tastes. If you can imagine a version of the rustic wedding that will be perfect for you, go for it! It is sure to be a rewarding experience for all of your guests, creating warm memories to last a lifetime.