Creating Rustic Wedding Centerpieces: Simple Diy Ideas

Rustic wedding centrepieces are a popular choice for couples who want to add a personal touch to their big day. They can be a fun and rewarding DIY project, with endless possibilities to suit any theme and budget. From simple garlands of greenery to show-stopping installations, there are many ways to achieve a rustic aesthetic. Whether you opt for a barn wedding, an intimate get-together on a farm, or a formal event at a French country estate, here are some ideas to inspire your own rustic centrepieces.

Using wildflowers and greenery

Choose Your Flowers and Greenery

Select wildflowers that are in season and complement a rustic aesthetic. Popular choices include daisies, chamomile, sunflowers, asters, Queen Anne's lace, yarrow, thistle, and poppies. For greenery, opt for eucalyptus, succulents, or greenery garlands. You can even add some unique elements like dried grasses, pine, berries, thistle, wheat, or fruits such as apples.

Containers and Vessels

Rustic weddings often feature wooden elements, so consider using wooden crates, slices, or boxes as your vessel. You can also use mason jars, bottles, buckets, or vases. For a unique twist, try using empty wine bottles or vintage vases. If you want to add a pop of color, use blue or colored mason jars.

Arranging Your Centerpiece

Arrange your wildflowers and greenery in a casual, unfussy manner. You can create low and wide arrangements or try mixing different sizes and heights for a more eclectic look. If using wooden slices or crates, cover them with a crochet or macramé napkin for a delicate touch. For a woodland wedding feel, plant wildflowers in a wooden box or planter and cover it with moss.

Enhancing the Centerpiece

To enhance your wildflower and greenery centerpiece, consider adding candles. Mix in various candle shapes and sizes to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. You can also incorporate twine by using it to tie together flowers and leaves, adding a natural touch. For a touch of elegance, use lace or burlap to accent your centerpiece.

Care Tips for Wildflowers

To ensure your wildflowers look fresh on your wedding day, keep them out of direct sunlight and in a cool room. Change the water daily and trim the stems every few days. If any flowers start to wilt, remove them from the arrangement. It's also a good idea to have a backup plan in case of unexpected issues.

Incorporating rustic elements like wood and burlap

Burlap, also known as hessian or jute, is a woven fabric made from natural fibres of the jute plant. It is a sustainable, biodegradable, and recyclable product that is also breathable and coarse in texture. This makes it perfect for a rustic wedding theme.

• Burlap table runners or placemats: A long burlap runner down the centre of a table can be a great base for candles and fresh flowers. Burlap placemats can also add a rustic touch to your table setting.
• Burlap-wrapped items: Wrapping items like herb pots, tea light jars, or wine bottles in burlap is a simple way to add a rustic element to your centrepiece.
• Burlap and lace: Combining burlap with lace adds a touch of femininity and daintiness to your centrepiece. Try using burlap and lace mason jar sleeves or vases for a chic and effortless look.
• Burlap flowers: Burlap flowers are a fun and unique way to add a rustic twist to your floral arrangements. You can even make your own burlap 'roses'.
• Burlap wreaths: Burlap wreaths can be a beautiful centrepiece for a head table, especially when combined with pops of colour like white pip berries and tiny brown bells.
• Burlap table numbers: Burlap table number tags can be a subtle way to incorporate burlap into your centrepiece. Try adorning mason jars with burlap and twine for a simple DIY look.
• Burlap bottle vases: A set of fun and flirty burlap-covered bottles can make a great centrepiece when combined with fresh flowers and tea light candles.
• Burlap table overlays: A burlap table overlay with stitched edges can be customised with initials or a wedding date for a personal touch.
• Burlap in other colours: Burlap comes in many colours, so you can get creative and try dyeing it at home. For example, a coastal-themed wedding could use grey burlap with teal ribbon.

In addition to burlap, you can incorporate other rustic elements like wood into your centrepieces:

• Wood slices: Wood slices can be used as a base for your centrepiece or as rustic coasters.
• Wooden lanterns: Wooden lanterns can be a chic and homey centrepiece, especially if you reuse at-home pieces or source them from thrift stores.
• Wood candle holders: For a modern take on the rustic look, opt for nude tapers and mango wood candle holders.
• Wood vases: Wooden vases can be filled with simple bud vases or floral arrangements for a natural and rustic centrepiece.
• Wood table numbers: Rustic wooden table numbers can be a great addition to any DIY centrepiece.
• Wood dough bowl: A hand-carved wooden dough bowl can be a unique and rustic centrepiece for a farmhouse-style wedding.
• Wood mountains: Wooden mountain centrepieces can add a rustic touch to your table, especially for a wedding with a mountain theme.
• Wood confetti: Scatter wooden confetti across your tables for a fun and eco-friendly rustic detail.

Choosing a colour palette

• Earthy Tones: Rustic weddings often feature earthy tones such as greens, browns, and neutrals. These colours can be found in nature and can help to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Think about using colours like forest green, olive green, brown, beige, and cream.
• Seasonal Colours: Consider the season in which your wedding will take place and choose colours that reflect the time of year. For example, if you're having a fall wedding, you might want to incorporate colours like burnt orange, yellow, and ruby red. For a summer wedding, bright and cheerful colours like yellow, purple, and pink can be a great choice.
• Muted and Neutral Tones: Rustic weddings often embrace a more subdued colour palette with muted tones and neutrals. These colours can add to the relaxed and intimate atmosphere you may want to create. Consider colours like blush, dusty blue, grey, and taupe.
• Metallics: Adding metallic accents to your colour palette can give your rustic centrepieces a touch of elegance and warmth. Gold, rose gold, bronze, and brass can be beautifully incorporated into your centrepieces through candle holders, vases, or tableware.
• Pops of Colour: If you want to add a bit of whimsy or fun to your rustic centrepieces, consider adding pops of colour. This could be through bright wildflowers, colourful table linens, or even fruit! For example, a bright yellow and purple colour palette can be cheerful for a summer wedding.
• Nature-Inspired Colours: Take inspiration from the natural world around you and choose colours that reflect the beauty of the countryside or your wedding venue. This could include colours like sage green, sky blue, lavender, or even peach.

Remember, your colour palette doesn't have to be limited to just one or two colours. Feel free to mix and match colours that complement each other and reflect the rustic theme you're going for. You can also incorporate different textures and materials, such as wood slices, burlap, lace, and twine, to add to the rustic charm of your centrepieces.

Adding candles and fairy lights

Candles and fairy lights are a great way to light up your wedding reception, especially when transitioning from daytime to night-time. They can also be used to create a warm and romantic ambiance.

Mason Jars with Fairy Lights

Wrap mason jars with burlap and lace, then fill them with acorns or dried moss and warm white fairy lights. The soft lighting will create a romantic, rustic ambiance.

Fairy Lights in Vases

Add fairy lights to a glass vase or cylinder. You can fill the vase with water and add flowers to create a floral centerpiece. This is a great way to avoid the risks of using real candles, such as fire hazards or the breeze blowing out the flame.

Rustic Log Slices with Candles

Place thick slices of logs as bases and arrange cylindrical glass vases filled with pine cones and adorned with white floating candles. This centerpiece combines the warmth of candlelight with the rustic charm of the woodland.

Waterproof Fairy Lights

For an outdoor wedding, use battery-operated LED lights that are waterproof. You can control them with a remote, making it easy to adjust the lighting as the day turns to night.

Geometric Terrarium with Fairy Lights

Use a stylized glass terrarium with black, gold, or rose gold trim to hold dried flowers and fairy lights. This makes a perfect wedding centerpiece and is a unique way to display fairy lights.

Using fruits and vegetables

Choose Seasonal Produce

Select fruits and vegetables that are in season for your wedding. Not only will they be more affordable and taste better, but they will also add a rustic touch to your decor. For example, opt for apples, pomegranates, and carrots for a fall wedding, or peaches, cherries, and tomatoes for a summer celebration.

Mix with Flowers and Greenery

Combining fruits and vegetables with flowers and greenery can create a stunning and vibrant centerpiece. For instance, pair figs, pomegranates, and unripe blueberries with soft spring colors and deep-colored foliage, or mix apples, grapes, and pears with rose and thistle floral arrangements. You can also use fruits and vegetables as a base for your floral arrangements, such as bowls of artichokes and lemons or a bed of tropical greens for bright pink pineapples.

Use Unique Vessels

The vessel you choose to display your fruits and vegetables can also add to the rustic charm. Consider using wooden crates, vintage enamel water jugs, rustic pottery jugs, or burnished bronze bowls. For a more elegant look, opt for brass or wooden bowls, or a silver gravy boat.

Create a Runner

Instead of a traditional centerpiece, create a runner made of fruits and vegetables. For example, arrange artichokes, pomegranates, and apples on a bed of cabbage and lettuce garland, or mix apples, pears, and figs with olive branches and eucalyptus. You can also add candles and votives for a romantic touch.

Add a Personal Touch

Incorporate your personality into your fruit and vegetable centerpieces. For a destination wedding, use local produce to represent the region. If you're having a small wedding, place vintage postcards or family photos among the fruits and vegetables. You can also add a whimsical touch with faux bird's nests made from twigs, moss, and faux eggs, decorated with seasonal elements.

Frequently asked questions