A wedding in a rustic style will be remembered by guests and newlyweds as a celebration that combines the main newfangled trends and traditions of life in the outback of villages. The main differences of such a wedding are hospitality, natural conditions, freedom of spirit and creativity, reduced financial costs for preparation and decoration, since the basis of the celebration is, most often, laid down by nature itself. The main thing is to know a few nuances of this style, and the rest will fall into place as the holiday develops.
Key Features of a Country Wedding
Most people, when they hear the phrase “village wedding,” imagine a cozy home and natural conditions, a barbecue dinner by the fire and folk songs and dances. It is the combination of these nuances that allows you to create a unique village atmosphere. When decorating a thematic celebration, it is worth using personal associations and forming them into a single style, as well as a unique atmosphere. In the process of decorating a wedding, it is important to adhere to the principle of simplicity: the simpler the celebration, the closer the wedding will be to traditional village culture and basic customs.
Peculiarities
What do you think of when you hear the word “village”? Small wooden log houses, fields with ears of rye, a hearty lunch in the fresh air, vegetable gardens and orchards, interesting items of rustic interior design? Many of these natural, family details create a cozy, rustic wedding. It is worth using your own associations when organizing a thematic celebration.
It is optimal to hold a village wedding in the warm season in order to accurately recreate the necessary atmosphere and not worry that the weather will let you down.
Important! When decorating the wedding venue, creating the image of the bride and groom, and accessories, it is important to keep in mind the key idea: the simpler, the closer to the given theme.
Venue selection
Ideally, such a holiday should be organized in a rural area. If this is not possible, you can adapt a lawn or other natural area in a rented rustic-style mansion. If you can agree on a number of issues with the city administration, you can choose a local city park or public garden as a location. When planning a celebration in the winter season, it would be logical to rent a hall in the national style of the fraternal peoples, or in the traditional Russian version. The advantage of this location option is that there is no need to think through the menu. Such establishments themselves specialize in national cuisine and will provide assistance to newlyweds in arranging a banquet for an additional fee.
Those couples who have limited finances and live in the village themselves can sign at the local House of Culture. This approach can surprise guests who are already accustomed to painting the same type of walls of city registry offices.
Snacks
The rustic style is very democratic. A lush feast with several individual hot dishes is not entirely suitable for it; the best option is to arrange for guests a buffet table with cold and hot appetizers, which they can put on plates themselves and move freely with them throughout the entire area allocated for your celebration.
As for the snacks , these can be all kinds of seasonal vegetables - fresh, baked or grilled vegetables. Rustic is a rustic style, so such a treat will come in handy. Also perfectly fit into the concept are crispy baguettes and other aromatic pastries, various cheeses with nuts, honey and olives, pies and quiches, French fries or country-style with herbs, mini-burgers and sandwiches, homemade sausages or ham, vegetable salads, which served with fresh herbs and a wide variety of sauces and dressings to choose from.
Such a convenient format for serving snacks, such as “one-bite” dishes, is perfect for a rustic wedding: tartlets, canapés and sandwiches, salads in small bowls and glasses, delicious snacks in glasses - “shot snacks”, kebabs. As a rule, snacks such as nuts, chips, croutons, crackers, and popcorn are also very popular among guests.
Creating an image of the bride
A country wedding places certain demands on the images of guests and newlyweds. The main difficulties may arise with recreating the rustic image of the bride.
It is logical to assume that at a village wedding, a traditional fluffy dress with sequins and rhinestones will look at least ridiculous. It is recommended to give preference to simple sundresses in the national style. With well-chosen jewelry, you will get a traditional Russian costume for the bride in a discreet and chaste style. A wreath woven from flowers that grow in a local field is perfect. It is only important that they are not poisonous and dangerous to the health of the bride.
If a girl prefers a dress that is close to her favorite classic, you should pay attention to the romantic airy cut with sequins and frills in the hem area. Ruffles that smoothly fall from the girl’s shoulders will add femininity. An appropriate decoration for such an outfit would be traditional rustic embroidery in ethnic or boho style.
When it comes to shoes, the bride's choice will be a little limited. After all, open sandals and high heels in a rural setting will look at least ridiculous. To create originality, you can choose short cowboy boots that are not afraid of dirt and will become an original highlight of the image. You can also complement the look with national bast shoes made from natural materials, but only if rain and slush are not expected during the holiday. In order to avoid misunderstandings, it is worth providing several options for lighter and unusual pairs of shoes in case of sudden bad weather and other force majeure circumstances.
The bride's bouquet will fit perfectly into the overall picture of the holiday if it contains wildflowers and ears of wheat as additional decor. The bouquet is tied using simple twine. If you want to dilute the composition, you can use white peonies or lilacs in delicate tones.
Manicure and makeup in a rustic wedding should be as natural as possible. A nude option is ideal in this case. The hairstyle can be slightly careless. You can also pay tribute to traditions and ask your friends to braid their hair as a sign of marriage.
Outdoor celebration: pros and cons
Despite its increased popularity, an outdoor wedding reception, like any other, is not without its advantages and disadvantages. The undeniable advantages of this event format include:
- The atmosphere of celebration and romance is created by the setting. Beautiful views, sounds of nature, fresh air will leave few people indifferent.
- The space for fun is unlimited.
- Choosing a suitable place for your celebration is easy. This could be the nearest suburb, a city park, a beach, a recreation center, or a dacha. If you have the financial means, you can organize a trip abroad to a romantic corner of the globe.
- There is no need to adapt to the establishment's work schedule. You can walk in nature around the clock or longer.
- You can add originality to an outdoor wedding with the help of entertainment such as flying kites or glowing lanterns, fireworks, and balloons.
- No one will forbid organizing an original marriage.
- The cost of organization is lower than when ordering a restaurant or banquet hall. A budget holiday gives you the opportunity to invite more guests, who, by the way, are easy to accommodate.
- Many options for themed wedding celebrations (boho, pirates, Hawaiian party, Provence, picnic).
But there are disadvantages to such a celebration:
- Weather. Even if it’s sunny in the morning, no one can cancel the possibility of rain. And the event is planned in advance; it will be unpleasant if, after careful preparation, weather conditions do not allow everything planned to be organized.
- Insects. Of course, protective equipment will help get rid of them, but it will spoil the impression of the holiday.
- Availability of space may be an issue for some guests. The possibility of transfer for guests should be provided in advance. The reverse too.
- Difficulties with organizing a feast. This also applies to a wedding cake, which is problematic to transport even in urban conditions. The menu needs to be carefully considered.
- Difficulties in arranging holiday lighting. Garlands or lamps will have to be purchased portable or connected to portable batteries.
- Restriction on the choice of time of year. Such holidays can only be held from May to September.
Creating the image of the groom
The groom's look is created after the bride's look is completed. Naturally, in a rural setting, a formal tuxedo and patent leather shoes will look out of place. When it comes to footwear, a man should give preference to light moccasins. The uniform should be loose and please the groom. Usually they choose loose jeans and a shirt in a national costume made of natural fabric. A well-chosen national vest and slightly tousled hair will help complete the look.
Dress code for party guests
For a unified look, you can ask guests to take straw hats with them when going outdoors. This is a national attribute that will not only add zest, but also help protect your head from the sun and prevent the consequences of overheating.
You shouldn’t demand the impossible from guests, like kokoshniks or shirts in unusual designs. But it is recommended to specify the need to comply with the dress code in invitations. You can complement the images of the bridesmaids with kokoshniks or give them out at the entrance according to the status or age of the guests. You can also complement your looks with simpler elements in the form of national belts with patterns or traditional beads.
In addition to kokoshniks, a wreath woven from the same set of colors will add unity to the style of the bridesmaids. Several similar elements should also be left for force majeure cases.
Some newlyweds worry that guests may not take the need to comply with the dress code seriously enough. You can create motivation for them in the form of a competition for the best national costume in a rustic style. The winner will receive a free commemorative photo session with a professional guest photographer.
Styling of the wedding procession
At first glance, the choice of transport for a village wedding is small. But if you take a closer look, you can see the following variants of tuples for rural areas:
- a rustic-style cart, or a cart for short distances;
- A rented tractor will provide greater comfort for young people who make noise to tell the entire neighborhood about the event;
- If you want to immerse yourself in the past, you can rent special retro-style cars.
Some couples rent motorcades only for photo sessions. And they try to hold the event itself in the same place where the registration ceremony took place or in close proximity so that you can walk to the place. The money saved can be used to organize live music or simply put aside to create the first joint savings.
Entertainment
We see a wedding in the village as a very soulful and cheerful holiday! You can’t do without dancing, and preferably with live music. If there is an opportunity to invite a musical group, that’s great, but if not, there will definitely be an accordion player among your friends and neighbors. And this is exactly the case when his tool will come in handy.
If the celebration takes place near a farm or stable, a photo shoot with animals (rabbits, goats, ducklings) will be a wonderful entertainment for guests. It is unlikely that anyone will be indifferent to an excursion to the stables, the opportunity to pet the horses and feed them apples. You and your fiancé should definitely arrange a horseback ride and invite your guests to join.
At the end of the holiday, you can light a big fire, sit with blankets around and have intimate conversations.
A wedding in a village, on a farm or in a country garden is not only an opportunity to save money, but also to spend a truly family, cozy day. Where the focus will not be on luxury and glamor, but on the beauty of nature and sincerity of feelings. Where there will be no delicacies, but there will be hearty food cooked on coals. And if you and your loved one see your holiday this way, throw away prejudices and create your unforgettable day! YesYes wishes you harmony and love.
Design of invitation cards
Today it is possible to design invitations from natural materials such as leather or linen. This nuance will emphasize rustic chic and create a special atmosphere of rural national culture. Given the popularity of scrapbooking, you can design your own invitations. Individuality and slight negligence can become a special feature. Handwritten text can be decorated with ears of wheat or dried wildflowers. To ensure that the details on the invitation card are securely fixed, you can use hairspray or a wax seal, for example, with the signatures of the newlyweds.
Details for creating decoration
In order to create a beautiful image of the wedding day, it is necessary to use natural objects and things in the design. For example, this could be a bag, rope, lace napkins, cans and bottles. You can make some decorative element yourself with your own hands, using only the necessary things. In this style, you can use aged paper for the invitation, on which the wedding invitation itself will be written in beautiful text. This invitation can be in the form of a card or a package tied with a beautiful lace ribbon. When decorating a hall or room, you can use wildflowers, which will elegantly emphasize the rustic style.
Decoration of the wedding area
If the holiday takes place in natural conditions, in the summer or late spring, you can simply arrange chairs and tables under the treetops, or organize a tent. Then nature will do everything for man itself. The crowns of the trees can be decorated with homemade flags with the names of the newlyweds or a meaningful inscription of other content, for example, Just Married, which means “Betrothed.” The original location will be a field with stacks of freshly cut hay.
In fact, it is risky to choose only natural surroundings due to possible unforeseen circumstances, for example, the vagaries of the weather. If you rent premises for such an occasion, you will need to create an environment that matches the style of the wedding. The simplicity of the preferred decor hides the creation of home comfort and a special atmosphere that will be appreciated by guests of different ages and social statuses.
The surroundings will be added by candles, kerosene lamps placed on the tables, as well as handmade napkins. Traditional bottles are replaced by flowerpots with locally harvested flowers, fruits and vegetables, and are also decorated with ears of wheat. Rare plants placed on the hearth in special pots with soil, for example, sweet peas, will add unusualness.
For tablecloths and other textiles, it is better to choose the most natural materials. Cotton, linen, and chintz will fit perfectly into a rustic style. The chairs and wedding arch should be decorated with the same materials.
Decor
Nowadays, a large number of restaurants boast wooden decoration. The interior decoration corresponds to the rural style as much as possible. Choose an establishment with a rustic interior, this will help significantly ease the hassle of decorating the hall.
To decorate a wedding in a rustic style, choose natural fabrics: chintz, burlap, cotton. Bouquets of dried flowers look beautiful. An excellent decor option: a small haystack, a cart with wooden wheels, an exhibition of antique pottery, lace “grandmother’s” napkins on the tables, bright strips of fabric that can be used to decorate chairs for guests or a photo zone.
You can place flowers on the tables. But no vases! Use small jars tied at the neck with thin twine; you can paint them by hand. Simple glass vases with thin necks are ideal. Design and compose bouquets of wildflowers and arrange them harmoniously in the room. Pompous roses and other exquisite flowers have no place at a village wedding.
The rustic wedding decor pictured below is absolutely stunning.
In the evening, burning candles in handmade candlesticks look great. Take the time to watch a few master classes. Even fruits with their centers cut out can be used to make elegant candlesticks. When the lights are dimmed in the evening, the fire of candles relaxes and puts you in a romantic mood. A dance floor with a lot of burning candles around it looks good.
Place the candles at a safe distance so that none of the guests get burned or accidentally knocked over!
A wedding in a rustic style requires attention - let's look at a few more creative ideas for decorating the hall:
- The color scheme should be warm and natural. No bright neon shades! Warm brown, beige, green, muted blue or yellow will perfectly highlight the overall picture of the holiday.
- An arch for a special moment can be made from branches, decorated with flowers or bright ribbons. Flowers of the field or meadow, remember: a themed wedding does not tolerate rough mixing of styles!
- If you are celebrating in a village, in the open air or in a hut, don’t forget about textile lanterns. The more there are, the better. Hang it on poles or nearby trees - lanterns are an ideal lighting option. They can be one color or multi-colored - it's up to you.
- Rustic-style wedding invitations and table seating cards can be made with your own hands, decorated with pieces of burlap or lace.
- An interesting option is sign boards. They can show the location of the photo zone, dance floor, banquet hall, registration place. Naturally, they need to be made of wood and brightly painted.
- Flowers for bouquets - daisies, dandelions, lavender, cornflowers, protea, peas, daisies, peonies, tulips.
- You can try decorating the hall with multi-colored garlands of textile flags, it looks very original and interesting.
- Prepare small surprises for guests: these could be elegant boxes with sweet “grandmother’s” pastries inside.
The rustic wedding in the photo above turned out to be interesting. The decoration of the hall is a plus.
Using optional accessories
To create a special wedding atmosphere, some newlyweds use special village installations. Which can be used not only as decoration, but also to decorate a photo zone with them. Accents can be made of carts, window frames, haystacks in natural conditions.
A table in the shape of a tree stump or a real stump can be used as a stand for a book of wishes, decorated in a natural style, for example, in the image of a grimoire of the elements of earth. The role of an arch can be either a simple doorway, which was a symbol of the transition between worlds among the Slavs, or a simple tree that matches the energy of the couple. The most powerful tree and protector of the family is considered to be oak or birch as a truly Russian plant. The book of wishes is then kept as a relic and passed on from generation to generation. Watering cans and buckets, decorated in a special way and filled with water, will be an excellent replacement for vases for bouquets given by invited guests.
Rustic wedding decoration
Before you start choosing design elements for a rustic style, you need to properly disassemble it
For such a wedding, it is extremely important to think through every detail. First you need to choose a venue for the celebration.
Abroad, such thematic weddings are usually celebrated outdoors, where an outdoor wedding ceremony is organized. Outside the city there are always many charming cozy establishments that are perfect for hosting such a celebration. Next, you need to decide on the design of the remaining wedding details.
Invitations for guests
The rustic style should be visible even in the smallest details. Carefully choose the decor of your invitations. To make them, designers use natural materials such as tree bark, dry grass, flax, and flowers. These days, the rustic style has gained unprecedented popularity, so the wedding decor market offers a wide range of various invitation options.
Banquet hall decoration
A natural setting is the perfect choice for a rustic wedding style. An option with tables carefully placed under the treetops and a clearing surrounded by haystacks will create the right atmosphere for the holiday. However, choosing an outdoor location for a wedding can be risky, primarily due to the variability of the weather. It is necessary to think about resolving this problem. You may need to set up a tent, which is not cheap.
These days, outside the city limits there are a lot of stylish modern establishments designed in a rustic style. When choosing a venue for your celebration, you should carefully consider the decor in advance. This style is good because it opens up an endless field for creativity for creative newlyweds and decorators. All kinds of garlands, jars with candles, antique lanterns, charming bouquets with ribbons, knitted napkins - all this will help create a warm, cozy atmosphere that should reign at a modern rural wedding.
Rustic Menu
Traditionally, at a Russian wedding, the tables are almost bursting with an abundance of tasty, fatty, and most importantly, filling treats. Vodka plays one of the key roles at the banquet. Abroad, the approach to organizing a feast is somewhat different. As a rule, most of the banquet takes place in the form of a light buffet with original snacks and champagne. At the tables, guests are served only hot dishes with side dishes.
A festive cake is the main sweet treat on the table, the culmination of a wedding celebration. The delivery of the dish is accompanied by a spectacular show. The newlyweds cut the dessert and treat it to the invited guests. The key sweet delicacy for a rustic wedding is decorated with characteristic decorative elements: cranberries, dried flowers, mint leaves. Many people separately organize a sweet zone with baked caramel apples, corn on the cob, pies, homemade berry jam
The bride's bouquet
The bouquet is another integral part of the wedding decor and the bride’s festive image. The choice of the ideal floral composition should be approached carefully and responsibly. A kind of totem in the form of a charming bouquet should correspond to the chosen theme of the celebration. Delicate wildflowers are combined with lush peonies; a modest bouquet of fragrant lilacs will look no less impressive.
Accessories for a rustic wedding
Various installations located in the courtyard can become interesting accents in the wedding decor. For this, old wooden wheels, carts, window frames, and doorways are used as arches. If you play with such attributes correctly, you will be able to create an original atmospheric composition. For example, shabby signs with pointers are especially popular. Instead of pompous vases, decorate tables with glass bottles, wicker baskets, wooden boxes tied with twine and decorated with wheat.
Give preference to wildflowers: dahlias, daisies, daisies, and peonies are perfect for a rustic style. Decorators use protea, lavender, sweet peas and other plants to create floral compositions. Textiles play an important role in wedding decoration - use linen tablecloths, chintz, burlap to decorate tables, chairs, and decorate garlands.
Ideas for creating a holiday menu
A rustic-style wedding table will be bursting with an abundance of tasty and satisfying treats. Simple home-cooked and wood-fired options fit perfectly into the rustic theme. Pies, home-made baked goods and warming drinks in the winter season are perfect desserts. The sweet zone with caramel apples or sweet corn will be original. The alcoholic menu will be complemented by vodka, moonshine or home-made tincture.
Fruits
Not a single rustic wedding taking place in the warm season can do without seasonal fruits and berries . It is very tasty and beautiful - fruits and berries can become part of the decor of your celebration. And it’s very easy to decorate a fruit table effectively.
Examples of village entertainment
Without an invited toastmaster, a village wedding can become a boring and dull event. Ideally, if you can find a girl who knows village customs and ditties with jokes well. Such a toastmaster is able to cheer up guests at the right time and skillfully organize events for a specific occasion. You can add to the entertainment program the observance of local village customs with the participation of both guests and newlyweds. If you don’t want to spend money and time searching for a toastmaster, you can use the following ideas for creating your own entertainment program:
- songs and national round dances;
- folk ensemble with an accordionist and his performance;
- organizing a show with gypsies or real village grandmothers with competitions and gifts.
It is advisable to think through the competition program as carefully as possible.
It is important to think through not only the program, but also to get the props, as well as choose the right time to start and end the competition program.
Tips from seasoned visitors for the bride and groom
It is best to select all prospective assistants at least 3-4 months before the planned celebration. It is also worth appointing a person responsible for the state of alcohol and food at the end of the holiday, otherwise something may be missing later. A rehearsal dinner will help you calm down and rehearse the possible course of events.
Fashionable photos from rural weddings
I recently looked through a family album and had a good laugh at the photographs from the wedding of some relative, which was celebrated in the village; I was about 7 years old at the time, and to me, a city child, the wedding seemed very beautiful and interesting!
And I was inspired by how village weddings took place, so I want to share a selection of typical wedding photos so that you can clearly imagine the wedding scenario.
Morning of the bride. The series of wedding photographs begins with photographs of the bride getting ready for the wedding. Photos of mother, sisters or friends helping the bride get dressed remain as a keepsake.
Ransom. Then, when everything is ready, the groom arrives with his guests and the bride price begins. It represents various competitions for the groom and witness. If they cannot complete the tasks, they pay money.
Most often this happens on the landing, which does not always look civilized. Wedding photos look very atmospheric against such a background.
Customs are good, but do you really want to keep such photos as a keepsake?
And don't forget about the groom's final test - to get his pseudo-bride.
Walking before the banquet. As soon as the bride is won/ransomed, the entire large company of guests goes for a walk to local attractions. Transport in this case can be absolutely anything. But it definitely needs to be decorated beautifully.
During this period, the most fun moments often occur, since guests do not go for a walk empty-handed and by the time of the banquet they arrive already heavily fueled with strong drinks.
Wedding photo session of the newlyweds. No wedding is complete without traditional wedding photographs. But the script and subjects of photographs at almost all weddings are the same:
dragging the groom, a smaller bride or groom in the palm of your hand, ridiculous photoshop.
Banquet. Usually a lot of guests are invited and large tables are set.
During the banquet, someone always steals the bride’s shoes and the witness must then drink a glass from them.
It’s not hard to imagine what happens to shoes if you spend half the day in them.
A good toastmaster and the competitions are excellent. After the festivities, the guests are usually already cheerful, and those who have not matured come to the right condition during the banquet and the toastmaster actively contributes to this.
At this moment, the wildest competitions begin and the most modest ones become liberated. And then the newlyweds admire their relatives in wedding albums.
Under the bride's dress. And at the end of the wedding, the bride must throw her bouquet to her bridesmaids, and the husband a garter for his friends. But first he must remove it from the bride with his teeth. And to the general merriment he goes under the skirt of his betrothed.
The wedding ends with the counting of the donated money on the wedding night.
These are such fun rural weddings.
And some photos:
Have a great week!
Organization of summer and winter photo sessions
If you have the opportunity and desire, it is best to reschedule a photo shoot in nature to a day specifically designated for the event. This way you can escape from worries and focus on each other without prying eyes. An original idea would be to rent horses and carts for a ride in the nearest village during one day of a wedding photo shoot.
At a couples photo shoot, any attributes that match the style of a rustic wedding will look original. You can use signs indicating the bride and groom, or write funny nicknames for the couple for each other. You can also make a homemade swing and attach it to a real tree. Such surroundings will also allow you to take some romantic pictures in natural, natural conditions.
Traditionally, in Russian villages, weddings took place before the Epiphany period in the fall or winter. According to signs, it was believed that those marriages that take place in winter would be the most successful. The ideal area for a winter-style photo shoot would be a completely snow-covered forest, for example, a ski trip through a forested park area alone with each other.
A rustic wedding will allow you to return to your roots and pay tribute to traditions. By observing a number of signs, you can strengthen your connection with each other. Despite its apparent simplicity, a wedding in this style will require more careful preparation. The issue of organizing a celebration should be taken as responsibly as possible, filling it with warmth and home comfort. As a reward for your efforts, you can get wonderful photos and memories that will help preserve your family, peace of mind and harmony with each other for many years.
Wedding customs
When celebrating a wedding outside the city, remember that everything goes according to the rules and traditions must be followed.
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What do they include?
- According to village customs, the holiday should be celebrated for at least two or three days.
- On the second day, the newlyweds should go to the bathhouse, and all preparations should fall on the shoulders of the father-in-law and mother-in-law.
- In principle, all customs and traditions should usually be associated with the relatives of the bride and groom and all their relatives.
- According to the old custom, the bride and groom can be replaced.
To find out more about what other rituals and traditions exist, you can seek advice from grandmothers who have lived in the village all their lives. They have vast experience in conducting such wedding events.
