Country Wedding Essentials: What You'll Need

what use in a country wedding

Country weddings have become increasingly popular, with many couples choosing bucolic backdrops and rural venues for their special day. Country weddings are often associated with barns, mason jars, and gingham linens, but they can also be sophisticated and elegant affairs. The key to a successful country wedding is to incorporate rustic elements in modern ways, such as using wooden accents, natural textures, and seasonal foliage. The dress code for a country wedding is typically more casual, with grooms in suits with lighter hues and brides in bohemian-style dresses. Country weddings are a beautiful way to celebrate with a fun, laid-back attitude.

Characteristics Values
Dress code Slightly more casual than average wedding attire, but still dressy casual
Think ankle-length instead of floor-length dresses, ruffles and tiers instead of plunging satin styles, and blue and neutral-toned suiting over black
Warm colours like blush, burgundy, burnt orange, earthy tones, shades of green, brown, beige, cream, grey, navy, dusty blue
Cowboy hats, wool with leather trim
Simple outfits without much chic and glitter
Flowy dresses, florals, soft colours, lace
Venue Barns, farms, vineyards, mountains, outdoor venues, indoor locations
Wooden accents, raw wood tables and benches
Tented
Air-conditioned mode of transportation for guests
Decor Gingham linens, mason jars, florals, trees and plants, tree stumps, crystal chandeliers
Rustic refinement
Monochromatic florals

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Wedding attire: Cowboy hats, light suits, floral prints, and ruffles

Country weddings are a chance to express your creativity and lean into a Western theme. For men, this could mean wearing a cowboy hat and boots with a light-coloured suit. Avoid black and charcoal grey, and instead opt for earthy colours like browns and greens. You could also wear a tweed blazer with navy trousers, or a floral shirt or tie. If you want to be more casual, dark wash jeans with a blazer and no tie is also an option.

For women, a light, flowy dress with floral prints, ruffles, or other boho-chic elements is a good choice. A midi dress is a good option for both style and comfort, and you can pair it with ankle boots. If you prefer trousers, a wide-legged jumpsuit or a chic pantsuit is a great alternative. You can also accessorise with a wide-brimmed hat, which will add to the country vibe and protect you from the sun.

It's important to remember that country weddings often take place outdoors, so choose your footwear carefully. Stilettos, for example, may sink into the grass or mud. Block heels, wedges, or fashionable flats are more sensible options.

While it's fun to dress up, remember that how you dress is a sign of respect toward the couple. Check the dress code, and if in doubt, don't be afraid to ask for clarification.

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Wedding decor: Sunflowers, lace, natural textures, and rustic fabrics

When it comes to wedding decor, sunflowers, lace, natural textures, and rustic fabrics can come together to create a whimsical, rustic, and romantic atmosphere.

For a rustic and natural look, consider using burlap fabric for table settings, aisle runners, or to add texture to floral bouquets. Burlap, also known as sackcloth, is a type of rustic fabric made from jute plant fibres that is often used in gardening and landscaping. Another rustic fabric option is linen, which can be used for embroidery, cross-stitch, or home decor items like napkins and tablecloths.

Sunflowers are a bright and cheerful addition to any wedding decor. For a creative twist, consider using artificial sunflowers mixed with wine-coloured roses, fall leaves, and berries, finished with a satin ribbon. For a more natural look, sunflowers can be mixed with baby's breath, hydrangeas, or dark red roses, with stems wrapped in twine and accented with pearls. A bridal bouquet made with a mix of burgundy dahlias, baby's breath, and sunflowers is perfect for a fall wedding or any other season. If you're looking for a unique keepsake, consider a paper-based polymer clay sunflower bouquet that will never fade.

Lace is a delicate and intricate fabric that can add a touch of elegance to your wedding decor. It can be used in the bridal veil, table runners, or as an accent on bouquets.

Natural textures like wood or stone can be incorporated to create a stunning backdrop, such as a hanging greenery wall or individual leaves scattered across tables. Bold greenery, such as eucalyptus or ferns, can be used in floral arrangements, bridal bouquets, or groom's boutonnieres for a fresh and romantic touch. To enhance the natural and rustic charm, consider adding whimsical floral installations, rustic table settings, or hanging installations.

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Wedding venue: Barns, rolling hills, and rural backdrops

Barns, rolling hills, and rural backdrops make for a breathtaking wedding venue, offering a relaxed and romantic atmosphere. This style of wedding has evolved from mason jars, hay bales, and burlap centerpieces to a more refined aesthetic.

When choosing a barn venue, look for one surrounded by natural views, like rolling hills, wildflower fields, or lush fields. These natural elements will provide a stunning backdrop for wedding portraits and can be incorporated into the wedding decor. Barns with tin roofs and walls, exposed wooden beams, weathered walls, and vintage decor create a mix of rustic and industrial charm.

To decorate the barn, consider using lots of fresh greenery and flowers, as well as romantic details like string lights and wreaths. Simple white pillar candles and small bundles of greenery can be paired together at varying heights to create an elegant and understated look. If you want to add a modern twist, use industrial-style chairs, and hang small bouquets of greenery on the back. For a pop of colour, hang branches of colourful leaves above reception tables, especially if your barn has brick or stone walls.

For an outdoor wedding ceremony, you can use a reclaimed wooden structure and a natural canvas canopy to create a rustic chuppah. Incorporate flowers and greenery that match those found on the property to tie the whole look together.

Finally, don't forget the importance of guest comfort. Make sure there is comfortable transportation to the venue, refreshing drinks upon arrival, and comfortable seating.

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Wedding drinks: Country-inspired cocktails, served in specialty glasses

When it comes to wedding drinks, offering a signature cocktail is a creative way to serve alcohol without the expense of an open bar. It also allows you to put a unique twist on classic cocktails, with a name that ties into your wedding theme. For a country-inspired wedding, you could serve cocktails inspired by nature, such as a gin-based cocktail with fresh, botanical flavours. For example, a refreshing gin cocktail with raspberry and lemon, served in a rocks glass, or a Negroni, paired with something sweet and fruity.

For a summer country wedding, a mojito with a sweet mango twist is a perfect choice, or a slushy, fruity cocktail like a banana tequila sour. For a fun twist, serve cocktails in tiki-style glasses with colourful straws and paper umbrellas. If you're looking for something more elegant, a summer wedding cocktail made with Prosecco, limoncello, frozen raspberries, and mint is a great option. Serve it in a coupette glass, garnished with a kaffir lime leaf.

For a country wedding with a Western theme, you could serve cocktails in cowboy-themed glasses, such as a boot-shaped glass or a hat-shaped glass. A fun idea for a signature cocktail is to name it after the couple, such as the "Mr & Mrs Margarita" or the "I Do Daiquiri". If you're looking for a non-alcoholic option, you could serve a mocktail with a fun name, such as a "Mock-jito" or a "Virgin Mary".

In terms of timing, it's a good idea to serve your signature cocktail after the ceremony to get your guests mingling, or after the evening meal to signal that the evening celebrations are beginning. To keep costs down, you could limit the signature cocktails to a specific cocktail hour, as they can be time-consuming and expensive to prepare. Instead, you could offer an open bar for beer and wine, with your signature cocktail as the third option.

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Wedding food: Apple pie, served with bourbon sweet tea

Country weddings are often more casual than traditional weddings, with Western-themed welcome parties and cowboy-coded details. Barn weddings, mountain weddings, farmhouse weddings, and weddings with a Western theme are all examples of country weddings.

For a country wedding, guests may wear sundresses or ankle-length dresses instead of floor-length gowns. The bride may wear a bohemian dress or a slinky white slip dress with a lace veil. The groom and guests might wear a cowboy hat, which can be chic and is especially nice for fall weddings.

For a country wedding with a twist, serve guests apple pie with a boozy bourbon sweet tea. This dessert will add a unique, drunken twist to the wedding. The apple pie filling can be made with any type of cooking apples, and it also includes bourbon-infused raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg, apricot preserves, and chopped, toasted pecans or walnuts. The natural oak, vanilla, and caramel flavors of the bourbon add depth to the classic apple pie. The apples should be half sweet and half tart, with lemon juice to prevent browning. The perfect combination of sugars is brown and granulated, and cinnamon is a must-have for apple pie. Vanilla extract and salt will ramp up the natural flavors, and you can use your favorite bourbon.

For a Southern twist, serve the apple pie with sweet tea. Sweet tea and bourbon are a match made in heaven, and the drink will pair perfectly with the apple pie.

Frequently asked questions

Country wedding attire is typically more casual, with lighter colours like tan and light grey. Cowboy hats and boots are also common. Brides may opt for a bohemian look, such as a Slinky white slip dress and a lace veil.

Country weddings often feature rustic elements, such as wood, tree stumps, and fresh flowers. Sunflowers are a popular choice for a country wedding, as are autumnal hues like burnt orange, deep red, and deep green.

Country-inspired signature cocktails are a great way to bring the countryside into your wedding. You could also serve apple pie bourbon sweet tea in specialty glasses. For food, potting plants along the aisle can evoke a country feel, and you can use tree stumps instead of traditional tables and benches.

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