Country Wedding Ideas For The Perfect Rustic Celebration

Is there anything more classically country than a barn wedding? Barn venues have become more and more popular over the last few years — and for good reason, too. The wide open interior spaces give couples plenty of options for both ceremony and reception decor, and there is often a beautiful flow between interior and exterior spaces that your guests can mix-and-mingle in.

When touring barn venues, be sure to ask what decor and furniture will be provided and what you’ll need to bring in (or what you can customize). While professionally run barn venues are more common than ever, if you’re renting a barn space from a local, be prepared to hire out things like generators, lighting, chairs, tables, and more.

Ranch and farm venues offer all of the same benefits as barn settings, but allow plenty of space for supersized guest lists. Because these venues tend to be a complex of buildings, they also offer more flexibility for hosting your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception in different vignettes (and will likely give your caterers plenty of room to do their thing). Our favorite take on a ranch or farm wedding is to host your ceremony in one of the property’s beautiful pastures, and then offer both indoor and outdoor space for dinner and line dancing.

A hotel is not the first venue choice that comes to mind when planning a country-themed big day. That said, there are plenty of sweet country hotels, small resorts, and even vacation rental properties where you can host your wedding. This is a great choice if you’re planning to have a more intimate guest list, and if you’re looking for a way to streamline some of the decor and catering considerations. If you go this route, make sure that your hotel venue of choice has plenty of country details to go with your theme — look for lots of worn woods, handmade accents, and plenty of pretty outdoor space. (No band ballrooms here, please!)

One of the reasons why country themed weddings have become so popular is that they work especially well to couples looking to stick to a smaller budget by opting for backyard venues and DIY accents. Hosting your wedding in a backyard of one of your friends or family members is a great option if you already call the country home, and can help you really lean into all the sweet personal details that make country weddings so special. Just keep in mind that hosting your wedding in a backyard means you’ll forgo the all-inclusive aspects of more traditional wedding venues. So be prepared to rent everything you’ll need for the big day, including generators, bathrooms, lighting, and more.

For more rustic venue ideas, take a look at our guide to rustic weddings!

Once you’ve selected your venue, it’s time to get down to the fun stuff: making it uniquely you! Your decor choices are where you can put your stamp on the hallmarks of country style. From western-inspired accents to more sophisticated takes on rustic decor, here are ideas for lighting, seating, and beyond for your country wedding.

Lighting

String Lights Does it get more classically country than a venue softly lit by strands of string lights? This is the perfect option for both indoor and outdoor spaces, as you can hang them between tree branches or from the rafters of a barn. Keep in mind that because these lights are soft, you’ll want to make sure you have strings of lights evenly distributed throughout your space.

Vintage Chandeliers. For a more sophisticated take on the country aesthetic, opt to light your space using a vignette of vintage chandeliers. These call to mind the western-stype opulence of railroad and gold rush towns, and are a nice way to add an unexpected touch of glamor to an otherwise rustic wedding.

Clusters of Candles. Mirror the twinkling stars in the sky on your tablescapes by grouping together clusters of candles. The type of candles and candlesticks you choose can vary depending on your theme. We love lining a table with candles in hurricane jars for a sophisticated country look. Or, you can opt for skinnier candles in vintage candlesticks for a more rustic or western vibe.

Classic White Wooden Chairs You can’t go wrong with classic white wooden chairs for both your ceremony and reception. This budget-friendly option lends itself especially well to the worn woods of countryside venues, and lets the rest of your decor take center stage.

Hay Bales You can’t go wrong with hay bale ceremony seating if you’re hosting your wedding at a barn, farm, or ranch venue. The key here is to find something to cover the hay bales with to ensure your guests stay comfortable. Vintage quilts, linens, or colorful woven Mexican blankets are all great options. Hay bales also make for a great option for low-budget vignette seating for your guests to enjoy during your cocktail hour and reception.

Benches If you like the communal feel of hay bales but are looking for something a bit more sophisticated, opt for bench seating. Again, this can work for both the ceremony and the reception. Look for vintage style benches for a more eclectic look, or polished wooden benches for a classic country western feel.

Mix & Match Chairs. Lean into the perfectly imperfect vibe of country living by using an eclectic mix of chairs for both your ceremony and reception seating. To keep things looking purposeful, look for chairs in a similar style — you could go for simple wooden chairs in a mix of colors or for a mix of more ornate upholstered chairs.

Peach, Sage Green, Cream. Call to mind the soft colors of the prairie with this sweet and on-trend color palette. As all of these colors are neutrals, they’ll pair nicely with the wood tones of your venue, and give you plenty of opportunity to add glamor with gold cutlery and accents. In addition to tying these colors into your decor, select menu cards and escort cards in the palette to keep everything feeling refined and cohesive.

Blush, Natural Tan, and Rust. This palette offers an updated and warm twist on classic neutrals. Though it works year-round, we especially love this for late summer and fall country weddings, as the warm tones will tie in nicely to the foliage around you. Look for unexpected ways to incorporate these colors — like in the groom’s suit and tie — to create a memorable experience for everyone in attendance.

Sunflower Yellow, Leafy Green, Rose Pink. We love this cheerful palette for summertime country weddings. It works best for couples leaning into a sweet, vintage vibe for their big day — plan on incorporating it with colored taper candles, vintage-inspired glassware, and lots of organic floral arrangements.

Lavender, Petal Pink, Teal. For couples looking to add a bold and playful flair to the classic country wedding, go for a punchy color palette. This mix of colors works well because they call to mind a patch of wildflowers, which keeps things feeling cohesive with more rustic decor elements like lanterns, wooden tables, and metal seats.

Look for Texture. Elevate even simple invitation designs by looking for ones that evoke the textures of the countryside. Opt for a design that can be printed on a heavier, vintage-feeling cardstock or that has subtle elements that mimic wood grain or burlap.

Sweet Script. If ornate illustrations aren’t your thing, opt for an invitation that lets sweet and flowing typography take center stage. Look for designs that feature script that looks handwritten, and that features small special details.

Vintage Poster. On the opposite end of the spectrum from simple script designs are invitations that take inspiration from vintage western posters. Look for bold, blocky typography mixed with more ornate calligraphy and playful details like small illustrations of wheat or rope.

Floral. Dreaming of a country wedding overflowing with wildflowers? Share your love of nature (and your spouse-to-be!) with an invitation design that features pretty illustrations of some of the florals you’ll be including on your big day. Look for designs that have a hand-drawn feel to keep things feeling sweet and rustic.

Modern Country. Though many couples opt for a country wedding because they love traditional and vintage design, country weddings can be modern, too! If you’re hosting a more modern countryside ceremony, go for an invitation that features stark colors and clean lined illustrative elements.

Lavender. Lavender doesn’t just have to be a filler floral! A country wedding is the perfect opportunity to put lavender front-and-center in sweet, small-scale arrangements, bouquets, or even tumbling down the center of your reception tables. An added bonus? Your big day is sure to smell amazing.

Sunflowers. Sunflowers are a classic choice for country weddings that will be hosted at the height of summer. These happy florals can be used throughout your big day — and make for an unexpected way to add a natural touch to your aisle and altar decor.

Daisies. Daisies are steeped in symbolism — in addition to symbolizing purity, they have been used for centuries to mark new beginnings. What could be more perfect for your new union? They also have a cheerful feel that lends itself nicely to country weddings.

Wildflowers. Work with your venue, wedding planner, and florist to discover what flowers will naturally be in season where you’ll be getting married on the day of your ceremony. Gathering up a variety of different wildflowers into organic and undone bouquets and small arrangements for your centerpieces is a beautiful way to show off your love of the land.

If you’re looking to stretch your floral budget, there are plenty of other ways to nod to nature in your decor. Each of the ideas below can be used on their own, or as a way to make sparser floral arrangements feel full.

Moss. If you’re hosting your wedding in a destination where moss is common, ask if your florist can incorporate it into your centerpieces. It is a beautiful way to ground candles and smaller floral accents, and adds a rustic, undone feel to your space.

Dried Grasses. Dried wheat, cotton, and other leafy plants is a great on-trend alternative to verdant florals. These arrangements will lend a boho feel to your space, and are great to lean on if you’re going to be hosting your country wedding in winter when fresh flowers may be harder to find. We love arranging them in apothecary style bottles to play up their vintage look.

Mason Jars. If you’re looking to skip florals all together for your centerpieces, we love the idea of using mason jars as the focal point. Wrap the top in twine or straw and then simply float a tea candle in some water. Bonus points for clustering mason jars of various sizes and water levels to bring some pretty variations to your tablescapes.

Country Classics. We’re talking jeans, cowboy hats, and cowboy boots. Just be sure to elevate these workwear staples by choosing fresh versions of what you may wear every day. Keep them feeling even more elevated by pairing them with a well-fitted crisp white shirt and sport coat.

Choose Natural Colors. If you choose to wear a full suit, skip traditional black or navy styles, which can feel too formal for a countryside affair. Instead, opt for suits in chocolatey brown for the groom complemented by classic khaki chinos for the groomsmen.

Go for a Vest. There’s something about a traditional vest — especially in a neutral brown or tan — that calls to mind the wild west. Go for a three-piece suit in a textured fabric, or ditch the jacket and simply wear your vest over a button-down.

Lots of Lace. Would it be a traditional country wedding without a lace wedding dress? (Yes, but you get the point!). Opting for a lace dress in a traditional cut is a classic choice for brides hosting a country wedding ceremony.

Unexpected Accessories. Who says cowboy hats are just for the boys? Brides and bridesmaids can also absolutely pair their dresses with a western-style hat. This works best for ceremonies that will be hosted outside and during the day, as the hat won’t look out of place.

Cowboy Boots. Opting for cowboy boots instead of heels has become an iconic choice for country brides and bridesmaids. For a modern take on the trend, look for a special pair of cowboy boots that match the caliber of your dress. A white leather pair of boots are a nice way to keep them feeling bridal, or you could opt to have your boots be your “blue” accent on your big day by going for a turquoise pair.

Denim Jackets. If you’re planning to host your country wedding during the spring or fall, pair your bridesmaid dresses with denim jackets to help keep your favorite girlfriends warm. This works best for simpler bridesmaid dresses, and is a sweet, unexpected way to nod to a casual-country theme.