The Rustic Wedding Part III: The Details

via Paper Proposal

Twig table numbers from Green Wedding Shoes

 If you would prefer the look for your wedding to fall under the category of "rustic" then there are a few elements that you will want to consider. First, natural elements should be at the core, whether in the form of wood, natural fabrics that tend to the more textured feel such as linen or burlap, and the inspiration that you find around you in the great outdoors. Twigs, leaves, birds all lend themselves well to a rustic theme.

This menu board made from an old window adds a bit of sparkle to the room (from Style Me Pretty). It is shown in the Venue post here.

These chairs found on Delightfully Engaged show how pretty worn elements look when details such as flowers and gauzy strips of fabric are used as embellishments.

Vintage keys in this Green Wedding Shoes photo add a sense of history and intrigue.

Second, the rust and the nicks and dents in well used and vintage items naturally give a worn and lived in feel. This is why vintage and found objects play so prominently in this look, the wear and tear is already there and you don't get a plasticky, too perfect look. It also gives a sense of history and interest to the decor and overall feel of the venue. DIY also features well as the personality of the couple shows through in details that are personalized and not mass produced, or the "same" as everyone else's event.

This image from Green Wedding Shoes shows simple kraft paper used in favour boxes for a natural and unadorned look.

Simplicity is another feature of rustic weddings. Taking cues from nature in a simple form adds elegance. If this were a complicated centerpiece it would have an entirely different feel but as place-card holders, these single pine cones and polished stones are sweet little ideas. From floral arrangements to food, the rustic wedding takes away many of the frills and lets the beauty of simplicity shine through. This does not mean that there is a lack of adornment, rather it is not overdone.

For most rustic themes, the colour palette is a pretty mix of colours found in nature. If you have a colour that you love and want to use, but are not sure if it is a "natural" choice, find a paint chip and compare the range you find. Generally natural colours have a small amount of gray in them which takes it out of the "true" colour and into a softer hue of the same. If you look at the above photos you can see that the pinks and yellows are not bright versions, but soft and they blend well. Sometimes it is best to stick with the neutral backdrop you get from natural (unbleached) fabrics, woods, glass and metals. Then add your colours in small doses until you find the right balance.

Use inspiration shots to find ideas as to where colour can be brought in without being overwhelming. For example, the blue found in some glass is a beautiful way to introduce blue when you mass vintage mason jars or bottles. A collection of various vintage glass is a very pretty way to introduce a rustic feel and glass can be found in blues, greens, browns, even lavenders and pinks. Or simply use clear glass for the look without the colour, it is still a beautiful way to add interest to a centerpiece.

Add some fun elements to your day with painted wood signage, another mainstay of rustic decor. Many of these projects are easy to do and can often be a way to get the groom or other men involved. Woodwork and painting using stencils is often more their cup of tea than sorting china or making fabric flowers. To distress the wood, they can hit it with hammers and random tools :)

The last word on rustic detailing is in flowers. In the past couple of years, the look has been very woodsy or country feeling, using sheafs of wheat and grasses, twigs and leaves and berries but with few flowers, or perhaps focusing on one simple flower type such as white roses. There are still those elements, but now there is more of a balance where there is more of a mix of flowers and the grasses, twigs and berries take a supporting role. Try for a wildflower look that implies that you gathered your bouquet on your way to the venue with a few choice varieties like poppies, ranunculous, anenomes and lily of the valley. The most important part of this look is local and in season. You want it to look natural and effortless.

via Green Wedding Shoes

Basically, the rustic look is all about natural elements and a less formal theme, even when you dress the table formally and add the sparkle of chandeliers. When you mix a few luxe touches with a natural setting, you have a good foundation for a rustic feeling affair and you can tweak it however you would like. As with any event or planning process, once you have your foundation set, you just need to scour inspiration sources and collect ideas for the details! Next, we will be looking at how to incorporate your own look into this rustic theme with words on dresses, hair and accessories. Till then...