Rustic Wedding Theme

The rustic wedding theme started blooming back a few years ago. At the time, many wedding experts and decorators found it hard to envision that mix of elements: the elegant and the rustic, the lace and the twine.

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A year after, burlap and lace became the absolute star of the rustic wedding themes. You could see it featured in invitations, chair sashes, signs, table runners, etc. Today the trend is still incedibly popular (yet not a novelty anymore) and has extended beyond weddings, to bridal showers, baptisms, birthdays and coorporate functions. The rustic wedding theme is a winner, and can have  luxury and a down to earth feel, all in one

Rustic weddings, sometimes labelled 'shabby chic', are becoming more popular due to the diversity of brides and grooms and their desires to have the wedding they choose, that speaks of them as people, whether that be a traditional white gown and church wedding or a rustic wedding held on a farm, or in a garden or vineyard. The point is that you are marrying the love of your life and you want the wedding to be the wedding to reflect your personality and style.

A rustic wedding can be both down to earth, shabby and rugged as well as chic, elegant and sophisticated as long as it reflects who you and your groom are. Whilst some would say that lace, pearls and bling do not belong at a rustic wedding, it really is up to you. If used sparingly, they can add the chic to the shabby.

Check out our rustic wedding invitation designs

Invitations
Rustic wedding invitations may feature recycled or handmade papers, hessian or burlap, raffia or twine, corrugated board, typewriter or handwriting fonts and may be dressed up with ribbons or string, maybe add some pearls for a chic touch. Burlap and lace is the most popular wedding invitation trend for rustic, shabby chic and bohemian weddings. Country lace for a cosy look or french lace with beads for an elegant glam rustic celebration,
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Locations for a Rustic Wedding
Many locations are suitable, but there is usually an outdoors element, where nature is second in beauty only to the bride and groom. Some of these places include a mountain top, a farm, barnyard, a vineyard, a lake, camp setting, the city park or garden, the beach, backyard, national park, or a resort. If you prefer to have it inside in case the weather changes, try inside a mountain lodge, a winery or brewery, or a clubhouse. Rustic weddings can be most anywhere you want them because it has a great deal to do with the decor.
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Decor
Rustic weddings held outside can also be much less expensive because you can use the beauty of the surrounds as part of your decor.

​You can set up candles to light the way down the aisle and string white fairy lights up in the trees for an evening wedding or reception. Rustic weddings can take on many themes, shapes and sizes depending on what you want and what your budget will allow, the possibilities are endless.

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​You can add plenty of rustic chic to your wedding, with chairs and tables draped with hessian table runners. Other rustic theme items include:

• Pick fresh flowers from the surrounding woods or fields and use pine cones to hold them.
• Decorating preserving jars with strips of hessian or handmade paper.
• Fill those same jars with honey, jams or jellies to give as favours or use the jars as cups to drink from.
• Use pine bark or straw laid out as an aisle.
• Pottery filled with boughs of eucalypt, cedar or other local trees as table centrepieces.
• Cover hay bales with blankets, tablecloths or clean hessian to use as informal seating.

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Bridal Attire
If this is your first wedding, you may want to wear white. Even brides who wear a beautiful white gown can have a rustic wedding. Picture a beautiful bride walking down the aisle, through a path in the woods, or a barn breezeway wearing a great pair of cowgirl boots and carrying lovely bouquet of wild flowers mixed with straw and wrapped with a piece of hessian or cheesecloth.

Favours or Bomboniere
As mentioned in the decor section above, once the wedding and reception are over you can give away the preserving jars filled with jams, honey, fruit or whatever as wedding favors. You could do the same with any special candles that you've used, like the ones wrapped in cinnamon sticks pictured.

Browse our rustic wedding invitations

Photo Credits:
​ Mason Jars: Studio Larsen
Jars: Lindsey Gomes Photographer.
Bride Dress: Morilee By Madeline Gardner.
Cinnamon Candles: Welke.