Whether you’re planning to eat on the grass or dance in a barn, there are many unique ways to go rustic.
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The quantity and diversity of wedding pictures on Pinterest and in magazines can make your head spin … so much so that even if you’ve decided on a “rustic” wedding location or theme, you can still feel that the options are endless: A barn hung with glittering chandeliers, farm tables with jewel tone baroque bouquets, or a simple eco-party with burlap and mason jars? To help you figure out which kind of rustic you are, we hunted for the 13 best reception ideas for farms, barns, backyards, grassy knolls or fields of gold.
Whatever you choose, the key is consistency: Find your vision, and adhere to that one idea (even if the idea is for everything to be mismatched)!
Rustic buffet
Perfection is overrated! Why not go truly rustic with scratched-up tables, platters in different styles and sizes, wooden boxes and old drawers as shelves? These decorations aren’t hard to make (all you need for the sign above is a wooden crate, a thick sharpie and good handwriting!), but always come together to create a charming tableau that puts your guests (and you!) at ease with its homey and perfect imperfections.
Fruity bouquets
There is no rule that your table decor needs to be floral. In the fall, apples and pears decorated with a few choice branches look just as beautiful as an ordinary bouquet, don’t you think?
Hanging gardens
If you’re a nature girl, it will be hard to beat bouquets suspended from the ceiling. They add to the rustic outdoorsy feel, while also providing a real WOW effect. (But, beware: Unless you plan to hang these yourself, your floral budget will need to increase to afford this upside down garden affect.)
Lofty goals
The urban industrial space with raw bricks had been softened with leaf garlands, white bouquets and vintage chairs. Keeping to basic, clean colors (whites, greens, brick reds and browns) will let the space feel large and impress your guests.
Crazy for cocoa
If you’re a cold weather bride, why not get cozy with a self-serve hot chocolate buffet. You may not even need to go through your caterer because it requires minimum supplies (cups, paper plates for marshmallows, some whipped cream cans and a large thermos) but definitely has a maximum effect on the overall good cheer of your gathering.
Life in Provence
Lavender in pots is a simple, delicate and fuss-free way to add beauty to your tables. Here, tiny rosemary pots also work as sweet place cards that also smell amazing.
Grace, glass & grass
The idea here is to be casual and relaxed, with wildflowers and mismatched plates and cutlery. The combination of picnic tables, grass and cute glass mason jars will add a certain magic, as if it all just appeared by itself, right out of Alice in Wonderland.
Color me happy
Don’t be afraid to go bold with celebratory colors to mark your joyous occasion. Why choose just one or two accent colors when you can choose them all? The table decor is fun, and guests can lean back and marvel at the full glory of your multi-colored ceiling.
Lace & love
A simple lace runner instead of full traditional tablecloths gives a romantic touch to your tables, while single flowers held in glass bottles add an air of elegance.
Devotion is in the details
This simple setting is taken to a new level by wrapping plain black metal lamps with boxwood branches.
The golden touch
Barn venues don’t always need to be dressed in burlap and barrels. This barn has been given an elegant high-end feel, with golden cutlery and the glow of well-placed string lights.
Very vibrant
These intense shades of purple and pink with hints of orange and yellow are bold but playful, and especially good for an autumn wedding. Your table’s deep shades will feel reminiscent of precious stones … but don’t feel like you need to pay a Queen’s ransom for those tall centerpieces. You can create a similar color display with smaller bouquets.
Wedding bell jars
Mason jars aren’t just for flowers or water glasses. If you pile them into the middle of a table, they can make adorable, homey wedding table centerpieces. Wrap them with decorative ribbons, draw on hearts, and put tea candles inside. And with this look, the more you cluster together, the better.
This article was originally published in the Polish edition of Aleteia.
