Rustic Ballroom Weddings: Simple Tricks For A Cozy Feel

Many couples dream of a rustic wedding, but the cost of a barn or farm venue can be prohibitive. If you're set on a rustic theme but your budget is tight, you can still achieve your dream wedding by holding the reception in a ballroom or banquet hall and adding rustic touches to the decor. From table settings to lighting, there are plenty of ways to bring a rustic feel to your big day without breaking the bank.

Use rustic centrepieces with candles, greenery, white flowers, and wood elements

Rustic centrepieces with candles, greenery, white flowers, and wood elements can be a beautiful addition to a ballroom wedding. Here are some ideas to create these centrepieces:

Choose the Right Flowers and Greenery

Select white flowers such as garden roses, peonies, orchids, tulips, lilies, baby's breath, or hydrangeas. Combine these with greenery like eucalyptus, Italian ruscus, or smilax vines to add a rustic touch. You can also include other natural elements like berries, pussy willow branches, or even small trees draped in twinkle lights.

Incorporate Candles and Wood Elements

Integrate votive candles, pillar candles, or taper candles into your centrepiece design. These can be scattered along the tables or placed in candle holders. For a more rustic feel, use wood slices as candle holders or incorporate wood elements such as birch wood vessels or wooden troughs.

Create Height and Visual Interest

Play with height by using tall vases, candelabras, or topiaries as part of your centrepieces. Alternating between tall and low centrepieces will add visual interest and prevent the tables from feeling too crowded. You can also explore hanging installations of greenery or lights to utilise the vertical space in the ballroom.

Mix and Match Centrepiece Vessels

Combine different shapes and sizes of vessels, such as glass bud vases, rustic wine bottles, or birch wood containers. This will create a whimsical, mismatched look that adds to the rustic charm.

Keep it Simple and Elegant

While you can get creative with your centrepieces, remember that simplicity can be elegant. A few carefully arranged flowers, candles, and greenery can make a powerful statement. Opt for casual place settings and neutral colours to enhance the rustic elegance of your ballroom wedding.

Opt for casual place settings

Opting for casual place settings is a great way to make your ballroom wedding more rustic. Instead of a formal, multi-course meal, consider a more relaxed dining experience. Grazing tables and sharing platters are a wonderful way to encourage your guests to mix and mingle, creating a laid-back atmosphere.

For a truly rustic feel, opt for a farm-to-table menu, with locally sourced produce and an emphasis on seasonality. This could be a fun way to incorporate your heritage or cultural background, or simply reflect the region in which you're getting married. For example, a wedding in the South might feature a low-country boil, while a wedding in New England might showcase a clambake.

When it comes to tableware, mix-and-match vintage china and glassware will add a rustic, eclectic touch. Look for pieces in soft, muted colours, such as blush, dusty blue, and mint green. Gold accents can also add a touch of rustic elegance. Alternatively, for a more relaxed vibe, opt for simple fabric napkins made from cotton or linen, paired with fresh herbs or greenery tied to the menus.

If you're looking for a unique twist on traditional place settings, consider using slices of wood as chargers or even as a cake stand. For a truly rustic tablescape, incorporate mismatched bud vases and small glass pitchers in various colours and styles. You can even add in household items like small glass bottles to the arrangement.

For a fun and interactive element, include a charcuterie or bread and butter board on each table for guests to enjoy while they wait for the main course to be served. This is a great way to incorporate some rustic, homemade elements into your wedding, and it's sure to be a hit with your guests!

Bring in small trees with twinkle lights draped over them

If you're looking to bring a rustic feel to your ballroom wedding, small trees draped in twinkle lights are a great way to bring elements of the outdoors into your venue. Here are some tips to achieve this look:

Firstly, you'll need to source small trees that are suitable for your venue. Consider the size of your venue and the number of trees you want to include. You can opt for real trees or explore rental options for artificial trees. If you're feeling creative, you may even want to decorate the trees with flowers or other rustic elements.

Next, choose your twinkle lights. Fairy lights, globe string lights, or LED lights can all work well and are easily accessible. Consider the colour and brightness of the lights to match your wedding theme and create the desired atmosphere. Warm white lights can create a soft, romantic glow, while colourful lights can add a whimsical touch. Don't forget to plan and measure the amount of lighting you'll need, as well as ensuring you have access to power sources and extension cords.

When setting up the trees, consider placing them in clusters or groupings to create a natural, outdoor feel. You can place them in corners, along walls, or use them to frame certain areas, such as the entrance, photo booth, or lounge areas. Drape the twinkle lights over the trees, allowing the lights to cascade down and create a magical effect. Combine this with other lighting elements, such as candles or fairy lights, to add to the rustic ambiance.

Small trees with twinkle lights can also be used to enhance your wedding theme or colour palette. For example, if you're going for a rustic elegance theme, use wood accents and votive candles alongside your twinkle-lit trees. If you're aiming for a more bohemian vibe, pair the trees with organic textiles and various textures to create a unique, earthy atmosphere.

Remember to discuss your plans with the venue coordinator to ensure they can accommodate your vision. With careful planning and a bit of creativity, you can transform your ballroom wedding into a rustic wonderland that your guests will adore.

Choose a wooden theme, with wood slices, stumps, and branches

Wood is a versatile material that can be used in many ways to create a rustic theme for your ballroom wedding. From wood slices to stumps and branches, you can easily incorporate a natural, rustic feel into your special day.

For a cohesive look, consider using wood slices as a base for your table centrepieces. They can be used as rustic placemats, with candles, flowers, or other decorations placed on top. Wood slices can also be used as a stand for your wedding cake, with your names and the date burned into the wood. This can be a great way to showcase your cake and tie your theme together. If you're feeling creative, you can even make a multi-tiered cupcake stand from wood slices.

For a more natural, woodland-inspired look, combine wood slices with moss, succulents, and candles wrapped in twine. You can also use larger wood slices as a base for displaying vases, bottles, and other decorative items. If you want to add a touch of glamour, add some glitter to your wood slices, or combine them with mercury glass vases and bold florals.

Tree stumps and branches can also be used to create a rustic atmosphere. For example, you could use a tree stump as a unique, rustic chair for the bride and groom at the head table. Branches can be draped with twinkling lights and brought indoors to add a whimsical, fairy-tale element to your ballroom.

Don't forget that you can also use wood outside of your décor. For a truly unique touch, use a wood slice as a ring dish during your ceremony, or create a guest book from a giant wood slice, with smaller slices attached for guests to sign.

Use copper lanterns as centrepieces

If you're looking to add a rustic touch to your ballroom wedding, consider using copper lanterns as centrepieces. Here are some tips and ideas to help you achieve this look:

Choosing the Right Copper Lanterns

When selecting copper lanterns for your wedding centrepieces, consider the size and style that will best fit your tables. You can find copper lanterns in various sizes, from small and delicate to large and statement-making. Choose a size that is proportionate to the size of your tables and allows enough space for other table decorations and place settings. You can also opt for copper lanterns with intricate designs or simple, sleek styles depending on your overall wedding aesthetic.

Incorporating Other Decorative Elements

To enhance the rustic charm of your copper lantern centrepieces, combine them with other decorative elements. Fill your lanterns with candles, preferably in neutral colours like ivory or beige, to create a warm and inviting ambiance. You can also add greenery, such as eucalyptus or baby's breath, to bring a touch of nature to your tables. If you want to incorporate more rustic elements, consider using wooden slices as a base for your lanterns or scattering pinecones or dried flowers around them.

Creating a Cohesive Look

To make your copper lantern centrepieces truly stand out, create a cohesive look by incorporating similar design elements throughout your ballroom. You can use copper accents in other areas of your wedding decor, such as copper candle holders, copper flatware, or copper frames for table numbers. This will help to tie the whole space together and make your centrepieces feel like an integral part of your wedding design.

Playing with Height

When creating your centrepieces, don't be afraid to play with height to add visual interest. You can use varying sizes of copper lanterns to create a sense of depth. Place taller lanterns in the centre or alternate between tall and small lanterns on different tables. You can also surround your lanterns with floral arrangements or greenery to add more height and texture to your tablescape.

Personalising Your Lanterns

Finally, consider personalising your copper lanterns to make them even more special. You can engrave your initials, wedding date, or a meaningful quote on the lanterns to create a lasting memento. You can also add decorative touches, such as ribbons or lace, to the handles of the lanterns to incorporate your wedding colours or theme. These personal touches will make your copper lantern centrepieces unique to your special day.

Frequently asked questions