Rustic Charm

As we predicted in our earlier post about 2012 wedding trends, rustic-themed weddings continue to be a popular choice among brides. Add a little rustic charm to your upcoming summer wedding with these simple ideas:

Mason Jars: Whether you use them for drinks, décor, or favors, mason jars are a cute and inexpensive way to create a laid-back vibe at your wedding. Load various sized jars with flowers or candles and lay them out across tables or hang them from tree branches for an outdoor gala. Or, fill them with homemade jams or dry baking ingredients for a super cute favor. When all else fails, fill ‘em up with beverages and top them with fun straws for a simple, yet rustic, touch.

Vitalic Photography

Hand-Painted Signs: Grab some reclaimed wood and repurpose it in as an adorable wedding sign. Label various food stations, create signs for directional purposes, or simply paint sweet sayings atop boards for decorative uses.

Kraft Paper: Brown kraft paper adds a note of relaxed charm to any gathering. Use it to print invitations, menus, and programs; craft it into paper cones to hold snacks or rose petals for throwing; or, wrap small bands of it around bottles and vases to add a countrified touch to décor.

Tree Trunks: Rely on nature to add a rustic flare to your event by utilizing tree trunks. Larger stumps make great, casual seating options for outdoor receptions and cocktail hours, while thin trunk slices are a perfect way to display food and desserts, hold table numbers, or—when carved with your initials—act as a cute centerpiece.

JK Photography

Wildflowers: Add some color while maintaining a homey feel by using wildflowers and grasses. Wildflowers can be fashioned into a chic arrangement for bouquets or assembled in small glass bottles, jars, or tin cans for simple and sweet centerpieces.

Hay Bales: Nothing says rustic charm like incorporating hay bales into your affair. Use bales of hay as seating during a laid-back outdoor ceremony, as a place to stack presents or favors, or simply as a way to mark off designated areas at your reception (i.e. the dance floor or buffet line). To glam them up a bit, consider draping them with vintage lace, pretty fabrics, or old quilts.

Clothespins: Clothespins are an inexpensive and practical accessory that can be used in a wide variety of ways. Use them to hang photos of you and your spouse along a ribbon at the reception, affix place cards to string outside of the reception, or clip table numbers or food labels along serving tables.

Chalkboards: Not only do chalkboards add a laid back whimsy to your event, they’re incredibly easy to make yourself. Buy a gallon of chalkboard paint at a local hardware store and start creating signs of different sizes to use as table numbers, props for photos, directional signs, or place cards.