Country Wedding Ideas
by glamourbride on 17/06/10 at 7:00 am
When the image of a charming countryside with a breath-taking view of an open field littered with delicate flowers makes you smile, you know a country wedding was made for you. If you want a wedding with rustic appeal by the bucketful and you can see yourself gliding down the aisle in a fresh as spring cotton gown, then you’ve come to the right place for ideas to pull off the ultimate country wedding.
Invitations: Let your guests know that the wedding they’re about to attend is all about enjoying the peaceful outdoors. Your creations should revolve around a palette of earthy tones such as yellows and golds, tans and ambers, sage russet and cinnamon. Then, try building the theme around your favourite rustic flower like sunflowers, black-eyed susans or daisies, or a carefree member of the insect world, such as butterflies or dragonflies. Seal your invitations with a twig, a sprig of lavender or wheat, or place an opaque leaf on the envelope for that touch of Mother Nature.
Photo by Adrian Shields
Attire: For the bride, lace is soft and charming enough to fit with the country theme. You can choose from a wedding dress that is made up of all lace fabric, or one that has accents of lace throughout the dress like a lace top that goes into a chiffon bottom. Cotton is also an accepted and wise fabric choice. The groom can either dress up like a rich horse rider in coattails or casual in a pair of beige chinos and white cotton, buttoned up shirt. Your wedding party can be dressed in shades of lavender, fresh green, or Autumn shades of orange, browns or red.
Décor: This dreamy aesthetic can be as romantic as it is refined if you achieve the key to this ethereal look by keeping everything soft, rustic and reflecting tranquillity. Dress up the focal spots of your wedding like the arch or rafters with branches, country flowers, sheaves of wheat or individual stalks or grapevine wreaths.
Dress up your chair backs with dramatic sheaves of wheat tied off with ribbons or roses in your wedding colours. For more homey touches, place things like planks or hay bales in places where your guests won’t trip over them.
Galvanized washtubs look gorgeous filled with ice and drinks in vintage-style bottles.
Warm up those dark corners by making your lighting interesting. Use hanging lanterns and fairy lights and play them off against glass mason jars with chunky candles. Decorate the jars by tying a sprig of lavender to the neck of the jar with some raffia.
Centrepieces can rest in pots, branches, small hay bails or in woven baskets.
Photo by David Rees
Flowers: Casual flowers make a big, joyous statement and at a reasonable price. You can mass cheerful sunflowers in galvanized pails or watering cans. Or instead of Sunflowers, try sprays of Shasta or Barberton daisies, lupine and viburnum mixed in with small green apples wired to birch branches. Another popular choice is to group differently colour Gerber Daisies together and tie them with raffia or ribbon. You can offset the bold blooms with delicate baby’s breath.
Favours: A packet of seeds of daisies, cosmos or poppies placed in mini plant pots will match your soft country theme perfectly. Your guests will enjoy watching these flowers bloom and be reminded of the beauty of your wedding day. If your budget allows it, you can give your guests picnic baskets with a mini, personalised bottle of wine to enjoy on their return to the serene countryside. For an edible gift, let your friends and family go home with a jar of homemade jam or honey. The label can have either your names or a photograph of the couple on it. If you opt for jam, attach the recipe with some raffia.
Be unique: Want some drama? Then allow your wedding party to create an arch of pitchforks as you walk back down the aisle as husband and wife. Don’t forget the oversized jars filled with fresh iced tea and cold apple cider to add a something different to your usual table settings. If you really want to be authentically country, forget about formal seating and set up a picnic with check, gingham or eyelet linens. Each table’s centrepiece can be a beautifully laid out picnic basket filled with delicious finger foods. For the ceremony itself, why not use a smiling sunflower’s face as your ring cushion?
Tips: Ensure that the countryside that you choose has accommodation for your guests. Make a list of these places along with their contact details and include it in your invitations so your guests can book in time.
