Deciding a theme is the first step in the journey of wedding planning. Wedding planners are very persistent about the theme of the wedding; there are multiple themes in existence, and a lot more are rapidly emerging in the market.
However, the most talked about, and relevant idea around the elegant theme is associated with the classical and traditional decor of the entire decor setup.
The entire concept, as described, is perfectly encapsulated in the rustic wedding idea theme, which brings bits of help in infusing life into the final preparation for the wedding.
This theme is widely opted for by couples requiring intimate country weddings. Rustic wedding themes bring out a feeling of home and belongingness.
We have curated a list of 24 similar rustic wedding theme ideas that will help you in doing flawless planning for the big day that too well under your budget.
1. Play with Nature
One of the must-do rustic wedding ideas is to use nature as the most beautiful prop. Rustic weddings and country weddings are quite synonymous. So, it is advisable to take inspiration from the latter to get the best results. It is best to keep the wedding venue in some countryside field or barn.
An open-air wedding is the best way to play with nature and includes little things that make a huge impact. The wedding can also be officiated in a barn or closed space with an outdoor dinner and orchestra setting. Either way, an outdoor arrangement is a must.
2. Old School Sitting Arrangement
Usually, weddings following the rustic theme have an outdoor function. Either the wedding is officiated outdoors, or the reception is set up outdoors. So either way, it is best to incorporate old-school setting arrangements like wooden chairs and wooden benches rather than plastic ones. To some extent, we can even use metal chairs with good polish.
The wood mingles with nature quite nicely, giving out a perfect earthy character. The contrasting decoration for aisle runners with flowers and candles, along with the wood, is simply perfect.
3. Coffee Painted Handmade Paper Scroll Invitations
In the quest to make everything look earthy and rustic, why should we leave out the wedding invitations? Wedding invitations are responsible for projecting the first impression of the wedding that is going to take place. For instance, a beautifully calligraphed white wedding card tells us about the upcoming church wedding.
A coffee-painted wedding scroll is an innovative rustic wedding idea while projecting an old-school and earthy character for the wedding. This type of card is quite budget-friendly and easy on the environment, too, as the scrolls are usually tied with organic ropes mostly made out of coconut trees.
4. Earthy Tiaras for the Bridesmaids
It takes a lot of brainstorming and decision-making to select a wedding theme and stick with it. The best way to enjoy the wedding theme is to include its essence in little things around the wedding. For instance, we can give a creative makeover to the tiaras worn by the bridesmaids. Bridesmaids are an important part of the wedding precisely because they hold a deep connection with the bride.
We can honor their relationship by creating customized tiaras complementing the theme. Making them a special part of the wedding. Hand-woven tiaras with leaves and small flowers, along with some yellow LED bulbs, is a small gesture to decorate the bridesmaids, similar to the wedding theme.
5. Get Creative with the Toss
We see brides walking down the aisle with tightly made bouquets of roses, orchids, and lilies. Usually, brides wish to either contrast the flowers from their dresses. Or pick out flowers that hold deep meaning in their relationship with the groom. It is always best to incorporate some meaning into everything related to the special day.
These meaningful gestures are responsible for making the day so thoughtful and mesmerizing for the couple. A bunch of freshly picked wildflowers from the garden nearby to the venue can be an exquisite pick to charm the wedding. A rare choice of flower with vibrant hues.
6. String Lights
The image might resemble a fest, but certainly, it is not. String lights are usually assumed to be used in big seasonal fests or at Christmas. But we have something unique for you. The globe string lights are yellow-colored lights with rounded transparent bulbs.
These bulb lights have been in use for ages. The warm yellow lights are sufficient to light up any dark space with warmth and vibrance. The string lights mingle perfectly with the outdoor setup, making it a cozy gala. It makes up a perfect late-night setup with live music, dinner, string lights, and maybe a bonfire.
7. Minimal Centrepieces
Centerpieces are required to decorate the table, which makes it an inclusive part of the wedding theme. A mixture of two to three elements can be chosen to create a beautiful centerpiece for each table. A flower bouquet matching the theme colors is one of the most common options for table centerpieces.
However, we can get creative and choose personalized centerpieces related to the groom and the bride. There are many options, like candles or electric candles, to last long. A small transparent jar with a few strands of wildflowers. Notes talking about the relationship between the groom and the bride.
8. Wooden Seating Board
In spite of having your guests move around the tables to find their names or a wedding planner struggling to get everyone seated. This rustic-style planner is the best for you, which is a rather new concept that perfectly fits the idea for your wedding planning. You can use bring a wooden board and pin down the seating arrangement for each table into it.
The arrangement can be written on coffee-painted handmade paper similar to the invitations or normal paper, whichever is available. This will help in getting everyone seated according to the arrangement in an organized and hassle-free way. A few hiccups here and there are always manageable.
9. Flow with Fabrics
The wedding decorations mostly encompass the use of flowers and string lights to the fullest. In some places, some sheer curtains are also added for the entrance, tables, or so. But our rustic wedding idea suggests the usage of the net fabric of different earthy tones to set the mood for the wedding.
The fabrics can be intertwined around huge tree trunks or wooden palmates. Simply the best way to include nature in our wedding. The usage of sheer fabrics creates an expression of flow and free movement. The fabrics mingle well with flowers and string lights. Also, covers up a good amount of space, thus, helping with a budget-friendly decoration.
10. A Rustic Hairdo
While we are trying to bind every tiny element of the wedding with the rustic theme, ranging from the centerpieces to wedding invitations and even the seating arrangement board, this idea is exclusively dedicated to the bride. There are many hairstyles that our bride can go for which would fit perfectly with the rustic wedding idea. The open hair looks with a section of it pinned with flowers giving the impression of an intimate, informal wedding filled with love and playfulness.
11. Lanterns Down the Aisle
The bride walks down the aisle with her father on the left side to get married at the altar. It is important to decorate and illuminate the passage with flowers and lights to make it a special walk for the bride. All the guests stand up to welcome the bride and admire her beauty. There are a lot of smiles, tears, and blessings at this moment.
One of the options to make it even more special is by decorating the passage with metallic, electric lanterns that will give out a warm yellowish glow to the entire passage. Lanterns can be paired with long leaf branches and flower bouquets coordinated with the theme.
12. Live Music Band
Live music band for weddings is not a new-age concept. The tradition of a live music band is as old as exchanging rings or saying ‘I DO.’ The soft jingles from rich instruments like the violin and trumpet make the wedding more intimate and traditional. The orchestra can be set up out in the woods or outdoors for the first nice to take place.
The band will also help entertain the guests during the wedding feast. Please prepare the band to take requests from the audience so that everyone can enjoy themselves. Also, don’t forget to decide upon a fixed playlist for the wedding ceremony and first dance.
13. Country Dance
One added element that may be suitable only as the rustic wedding idea could be the special country dance performance but the groomsmen and bridesmaids. Here, the couples will have to learn an authentic country dance number for the wedding reception. The groom and the bride can also be a part of the dance.
Frankly, anyone filling in to perform can contribute their skills for a jolly laugh and an unforgettable wedding ceremony for everyone. This concept will add a flavor of cultural relevance to the area and make it a unique wedding for all. A wedding is true to its theme and character.
14. Fun with Barrels
Have you seen large wooden barrels in movies and television shows while streaming Netflix? The barrels are an element of extreme importance in the countryside for weddings. As a part of the decoration, we can use such barrels for the wedding at a few places, making it a complete country-style wedding.
The barrels can be used in the drinks section for the setting up of a bar. Barrels themselves remind others of wine and vineyards. So why not serve drinks with décor that reminds you of drinks? This a thoughtful rustic wedding idea for all those coming to get sloshed.
15. Well Laid Tablescapes
Tablescapes are particularly chosen for long tables, majorly only one, where the bride and groom sit accompanied by close friends and family. But, since we are talking about a rustic wedding theme, the number of long tables might increase. As we discussed earlier, wooden benches for the seating arrangement will invite the setting up of long tables.
A narrow and long table mat for the center of the table is a must. It should then be decorated with tall white candles with candle stands, lanterns with flowers, chocolates, or simply candles, and some fruit baskets.
16. Hanging Décor
When we plan for an outdoor wedding and reception, we get a chance to set our own ceiling limit. There are no restrictions caused by bricks and cement to limit us. The country-style wedding theme helps us to incorporate tall trees and decorate them as per our likes. We can creatively use the hanging décor for outdoor decorations.
A trail of hanging décor with light bulbs, lanterns, and flowers for every table, helps in creating a united look for the tablescapes and the hanging décor. The flowers and branches can be tied together and made to fall from above right above the aisle where the wedding will be officiated, similar to mistletoe.
17. Flower Crown for Flower Girls
Since ancient times, flower girls have carried herbs and flowers to bless the new couple with fertility and prosperity. Flower girls walk down the aisle right before the bride, spreading the flower and blessing the bride.
Culture and traditions help us be close to our roots in these changing times. So, it becomes necessary to make the flower girls a part of our theme.
We have a creative rustic wedding idea for our cute little flower girl – a flower crown. The flower crown will be handmade with color matching the outfit of the girl. The crown looks spectacular on little heads.
18. Fresh Flowers for the Path
Nowadays, many people opt for small paper circles or artificial dried flowers for the flower girl to throw. It is believed that the pathway looks good and the artificial flowers remain fresh as against the real ones. We do not believe so. It is our motto to make the wedding as natural and traditional as possible.
We are keen on tending to every small detail of the wedding and making it coincide with the rustic wedding idea. So, we choose to go with fresh flowers of the bride’s choice. Or we can hand-pick wildflowers and leaves from around for our flower girl to shower down the aisle.
19. Rustic Lapel Pin for the Father
While planning for every minute detail of the wedding. Making sure that everything is going as per the wedding theme. We thought of doing something special for the father. This idea is meant to create a lapel pin for the father with the same flowers that the bride will hold as her bouquet.
A small pin has a similar hue as the bouquet. In fact, we thought of creating a similarity between the father and daughter with the thought that the daughter’s essence can never leave the father, even after her marriage.
20. Cheese to Ease the Breeze
This rustic wedding idea is optional and depends on the tastes and preferences of the hosts and guests. The hosts can save a spot for cheese tasting, maybe near the bar, as an afternoon or early evening activity. The activity should be done after lunch so that both entertainment and snack filling can be done at the same time.
The cheese can be served as fondue or cubes, depending on the likes of the guests, with a range of loaves of bread, toasted nuts, crackers, and olives. It is advisable to offer wine that can go well with the central idea of offering cheese.
21. Seal the Deal with Wine
Wine is a must, and it is very common for weddings to have a fortress of champagne glass made for the guests. It is also customary that new champagne is popped out by the couple to start with the wedding reception. Let us try something different. Instead of serving champagne, we can serve a variety of wines to our guests.
Wine brings in a projection of status and sophistication. Also, it becomes a must if we decide to set up a cheese-tasting table. The variety of wines may be limited as per the budget, but a combination of both white and red wines is a must, along with different alcohol options available at the bar.
22. A Long Trail for the Bride
The long trail of the veil is a dream come true for many brides as the appearance looks straight out of a princess movie. A want for a long trial by the brides is unitedly common among all. However, budget constraints are the main reason to opt out of the idea. But since we are planning for a partly DIY wedding theme, a long trail might be affordable.
A beautiful long white trail sweeping through the green grass with warm yellow lights shining all over is a treat for the eyes. It also helps in getting a dozen aesthetic pictures to remember the day.
23. Beat the Cold with Fire
ight wedding reception amidst chilly breeze and cold weather is memorable and incredible like no other. A small bonfire is lit under the night sky for the guests to unwind. Make sure to book the live musicians until late at night to enjoy the bonfire with soft live music, alcohol, and snacks.
The bonfire can be accommodated in a barn or an outdoor ground with no major cost increment. Make sure to discuss the idea with your wedding planner so that the seating arrangements can be taken care of.
24. Organic Aisle Runners
We have talked about using metallic, electric lanterns on the passage placed on the ground. Here, we are talking about the aisle runners that are fixed on the side of chairs or benches facing the passage from where the bride walks down the aisle.
Since it’s a rustic wedding theme, we can opt for a varied combination of flowers and leaves freshly hand-picked from the meadows or forests. If the agricultural land is in close proximity, golden wheat can be used to create the perfect hue for an autumn wedding.
Conclusion
After a long list of rustic wedding ideas and doable suggestions, we come to the end of a beautiful journey. Here we talked about the importance of rustic wedding themes and easy ways of implementing them while minding the budget.
Before making any haphazard decision, it is best to sit down with the wedding planner and have a detailed conversation about the likes, dislikes, must-haves, and costs. It is your crucial responsibility to maintain all the checks and balances in order to execute a cost-effective wedding that offers the utmost fun.
Do let us know what you think about the host of ideas included for a perfect rustic wedding and which one of the above you are planning to take for the next mega event.
