Country Weddings:
Everything You Need to Know
Country weddings are one of the hottest trends this year, and they can be hosted in venues ranging from idyllic outdoor settings to barns, farms, and ranches. Your country wedding can be as rustic or as elevated as you wish, which makes planning one more fun and open to your and your partner’s interpretation. Whether you prefer the cozy look and feel of a classic country wedding, complete with Mason jar bouquets and gingham print tablescapes, or a more upscale black-tie approach, our directory of real weddings can help inspire you to create the perfect celebration for you, your partner, and your beloved family and friends.
This guide will help you navigate the various elements that go into the planning of a country wedding. These typically include choosing a venue, selecting the proper attire for the wedding party, hiring the best vendors, and determining the perfect country wedding décor for your upcoming ceremony and reception. With 2.5 million weddings each year in the United States alone, finding the best and most trusted vendors to help turn your vision into a reality will help make your celebration as memorable as possible.
From choosing the most beautiful barn wedding venues to figuring out the ideal country wedding invitations and saying “yes” to the most beautiful dress, our directory can assist you in selecting the right vendors and venues for your special day. We offer access to an array of real weddings and information on the vendors that helped to create them, and this guide will help you to plan your formal or rustic country wedding more easily.
What is a country wedding?
Country weddings encompass a wide range of styles and venues, including farm weddings, English country weddings, and outdoor country weddings. Some country weddings can also take place in more urban settings too. In most cases, a couple’s style and décor choices determine whether a wedding is considered a country wedding.
With rustic country weddings and ranch weddings increasing in popularity (we’re looking at you, Yellowstone fans!), you may need to reserve your barn wedding venue early in the planning process. But because the venue doesn’t necessarily determine the overall aesthetic of country weddings, couples can also opt for more unconventional wedding sites and amp up the decor. Outdoor country wedding venues might be easier to find and it’s possible that they’re more widely available, particularly in parts of the country where there are more farms.
Two of the most common features of country wedding dresses and décor include Liberty prints and loose floral arrangements. By incorporating these elements into your overall design when planning your country wedding, you don’t necessarily need anything that screams “country” (think cowboy hats or gingham dresses) to create the most elegant wedding for you and your guests.
How do you create a country wedding theme?
Before beginning the in-depth process of planning your wedding, you may want to put together a wedding planning checklist to ensure that you do not forget any of the critical elements involved in creating the perfect ceremony and reception. Here are some key steps in creating your country wedding theme and putting it in place for your special day:
- Create a country wedding mood board: One of the best ways to come up with country wedding ideas is to create a mood board with images, words, and ideas that appeal to you and your partner. This can help you create a curated look for your country wedding that will pull the whole look together.
- Check out available resources: Our directory features an extensive lineup of real weddings that can serve as inspiration for your own country wedding ideas. Whether you are considering ranch weddings, outdoor country weddings, or just looking for country wedding ideas on a budget, our directory can provide the best ideas for you and your partner. We make it easy to filter your results to include only country wedding venues in your area.
- Choose your appropriate vendors: The right wedding vendors can provide the framework for your upcoming country wedding. In particular, choosing an experienced and knowledgeable wedding planner can help you to focus on your top country wedding ideas and can provide you with assistance in finding the best venues for your ceremony and reception. Your wedding planner will be an amazing resource for you and your partner during the lead-up to your country wedding.
- Work closely with your wedding planner: Some of the most important services rendered by wedding planners include identifying barn wedding venues (among other types of country-themed or inspired locations) that will work for you and helping you to find the right country wedding decorations and lighting to transform these venues into your own one-of-a-kind vision.
- Decide on your country-inspired décor: Country wedding decorations can vary widely depending on your theme, your venue, and your and your partner’s overall aesthetic. In some cases, you may be able to find country wedding decorations that will work for you in secondhand shops too. You can also borrow some items from family and friends or rent them from shops that specialize in country weddings. This can help you to come up with country wedding decorations that look great and will allow you to spend less on décor. Thinking about how to decorate with a high-low mindset can help prioritize which items you want to spend more or less on.
- Choose the music to match your event: Your wedding music is key to creating the perfect ambience for your ceremony and reception. Country wedding songs can create a comfortable atmosphere for you and your guests. By choosing country wedding songs that have meaning to you and your partner and working with experienced professionals, you can enjoy the most appropriate country music for all aspects of your wedding day.
- Put it all together: Whether you work with a wedding planner or handle all aspects of the planning process on your own, it is important to keep track of important dates and to manage payments and reservations efficiently.
These steps can help you in managing the planning process more efficiently and can ensure that every part of your wedding goes as smoothly as possible.
What are the best country wedding venues?
You can choose from a wide range of venues that are specifically designed or can be adjusted to accommodate country weddings. Some of the most popular rustic country wedding venues include the following options:
- Barn wedding venues can be decorated with lights and country wedding decorations to turn these bucolic locations into the perfect romantic setting for your wedding. Barn wedding venues combine the beauty of the great outdoors with an interior space that can provide shelter from weather and can even be air-conditioned to provide a comfortable environment for you and your guest during the warmer summer months. This can make barn weddings a more comfortable choice for you and your guests.
- Venues for ranch weddings typically offer both indoor and outdoor spaces. Ranch weddings can focus on a cowboy and rustic country wedding theme or can reflect a much more elegant and elevated look for your ceremony and reception. These country weddings offer great flexibility for most couples.
- Farm wedding venues provide the perfect setting for rustic country weddings and often have many of the basic country wedding decorations already on hand. This can help you to implement your country wedding ideas more easily. Along with barn weddings, farm wedding venues are among the most popular choices for country weddings. Your wedding planner can also provide you with added guidance on the best country wedding venues in your area.
- Tented wedding venues offer maximum flexibility for country weddings. Rather than renting a venue specifically for your rustic country wedding, you can choose a location that has meaning to you and your partner and rent tents for your ceremony, your reception, or both. If you are looking for unique and flexible country wedding ideas, a tented wedding could be the perfect choice for you.
- Venues for outdoor country weddings will usually require a fallback arrangement in case of inclement weather. This may include a contingency tent rental or a secondary location for holding the ceremony and reception if Mother Nature does not cooperate with your primary wedding plans for outdoor country weddings.
Your wedding planner can often provide added help in choosing the perfect venue for your country wedding. This can help you to find the perfect locations for barn weddings and other types of country weddings during the planning stages of your upcoming nuptials.
How do you design your own country wedding décor?
Country weddings typically take place in pastoral settings. There’s a lot to work with in these country wedding venues, and finding the right country wedding ideas to suit these venues can personalize your ceremony and reception to make your celebration truly unique.
Your country wedding decorations will vary depending on what type of venue you choose. For example, barn wedding venues typically lend themselves to more elaborate lighting and décor options than outdoor country weddings. Venues for ranch weddings, barn weddings, and farm weddings may have certain country wedding decorations already in place, which can sometimes save you time and money on decorating costs. You can still add your own personal touch to these country wedding venues, which makes them ideal locations for your wedding.
There are so many different country wedding ideas and plenty of inspiration to help you determine your desired aesthetic. Here are some of the most popular ideas for country wedding decorations and overall décor:
- Combining natural elements with antique or handmade items: Real wood and natural landscapes can pair well with ornate silver candelabras and embroidered tablecloths. This juxtaposition can capture the look and feel of a rustic country wedding while providing you with an elegant backdrop for your ceremony and reception.
- Highlighting the strengths of your venue: Choosing country wedding ideas that work with your chosen venue can streamline the design process. For instance, if you are planning a farm wedding, you may be able to use existing buildings and areas to pose for pictures or to set up a dance floor for your wedding. Similarly, a barn wedding can offer beautiful backgrounds that can be adorned with lights and other stylish additions.
- Putting together black-tie attire with cowboy boots and hats: One of the iconic images for the traditional country barn wedding is the fun contrast of cowboy boots and hats with elegant and upscale attire. Western wedding dresses are especially suited for this style of wedding and can complement almost any footwear or hat to make a real impression at your country barn wedding, farm wedding, or one of the many other country wedding venues.
- Furnishing your dream country wedding: The right furniture can make the most effective use of space in country wedding venues. For example, venues for barn weddings often have lofted ceilings and expansive indoor areas that can allow setup of rental tables and chairs that work with your theme. Outdoor country weddings may require you to rent chairs for the ceremony and install a dance floor in a tent or under the open sky. Try to stick to natural wood or realistic-looking faux wood to create the most elegant and cohesive results.
- Building a unique and personalized altar: One tradition often incorporated into country barn wedding and farm wedding ceremonies is the use of reclaimed wood altars that can be purchased, rented, or built by hand by you, your partner, or members of your wedding party. This can create the perfect focal point for your farm wedding, especially when covered by country wedding flowers in a variety of colors and types to match your theme and the style of your country wedding.
- Giving more light in the ceremony and reception areas: When choosing the lighting for your wedding, much will depend on the location you choose for your ceremony and reception. Barn wedding venues, for example, often have exposed beams and woodwork that can support suspended lighting and chandeliers to create the most elegant look. Outdoor country weddings, by contrast, may require stringing lights between supports or taking advantage of other features of the venue to create adequate lighting for the wedding during the evening. For receptions, candelabras, candles, and other local light sources can be placed on tables to create an intimate and elegant glow for your entire event. Finding the right country wedding ideas for lighting up your ceremony and reception can make a substantial difference in the experiences of guests at country weddings.
- Setting the most inspired table: Along with your lighting selections, the table linens and tableware chosen for your wedding can have a real impact on the appearance of your reception. Traditional silverware and china can pair nicely with simple eyelet linen or plain white tablecloths to create an elegant and refined look for the tables at your country barn wedding.
- Decorating with flowers: One of the most creative country wedding ideas is the use of loose flowers as decorative features on each table. This can create an elegant look for your reception and can complement your tableware and linens perfectly. The best flowers for your barn wedding, farm wedding, or other outdoor country weddings can go a long way toward creating the look you want.
- Catering your country affair: Choosing the right caterer and menu can go a long way when it comes to communicating the theme and the expected attire for your guests. Farm-to-table dining is one of the hottest country wedding ideas and hosting a farm wedding can allow you to source from local vendors to create a world-class menu for your special day. This is particularly appropriate for barn weddings and ranch weddings and can support local agricultural enterprises while celebrating you and your partner.
- Implementing country wedding ideas on a budget: Thrift stores, secondhand shops, and auctions can be a great resource when planning your farm wedding. You can also find some items through online vendors to keep your costs even lower for your barn wedding ceremony and reception, which will inevitably allow you to implement your own country wedding ideas on a budget. Finally, do-it-yourself decorations for country weddings may include handmade place cards, elegant paper flowers, customized flower arrangements, and burlap cutlery holders. Your wedding planner can often help you to find the right furnishings and décor to bring your country wedding ideas to life.
Coordinating your many country wedding ideas with your dress, invitations, and décor can reinforce the impact of your style choices and help you make the most positive impression on guests to your barn wedding. With the help of our directory, you can easily find the perfect country wedding ideas for your upcoming celebration.
Where do you find country wedding dresses?
Country wedding dresses are available in an array of styles, lengths, and fabric types. You can choose from elegant western wedding dresses, gowns suitable for English country weddings, and rustic wedding dresses that hearken back to classic western style. Whatever your choice, finding the right country wedding dress can be a major step in creating the look and feel of your ranch, farm, or barn wedding. Here are some of the most popular features found on country wedding dresses:
- Western wedding dresses sometimes feature glamorous elements, and most often include some type of lace. An elaborate lace train, for example, can further elevate these elegant wedding gowns. Lace is often used to adorn country wedding dresses, especially to cover or to create long sleeves. This can give a vintage look to country wedding dresses that can complement the décor at ranch weddings, barn wedding venues, and other locations fit for country weddings.
- High necklines and longer lengths are popular choices for country wedding dresses. Taking a look at wedding movies set in the 1850s through the turn of the century can help you to find the best country wedding dresses too.
- English country wedding dresses often feature Liberty prints, which are fabrics with miniature paisley, floral, or abstract designs that offer a touch of elegance to more casual country wedding dresses. These elegant fabrics are typically available in cotton and silk to create the most beautiful look for casual country wedding dresses. Liberty prints offer subtle patterns and splashes of color to create the perfect look for western wedding dresses and upscale barn weddings. Selecting a specific Liberty print for your country wedding dress, wedding party dresses, or décor for your barn wedding (say, for the tablescapes) can tie together the various elements of your wedding too.
- As with other types of wedding gowns, the accessories chosen for western wedding dresses are essential to the entire ensemble. A splash of color from on-theme turquoise jewelry can serve as something blue on the big day, while brilliantly hued velvet ribbons can be used as chokers or sashes to accent country wedding dresses and western wedding dresses perfectly. Whether you are looking at casual country wedding dresses or are deciding between more ornate dresses appropriate for the most upscale country wedding venues, choosing the perfect accessories and jewelry will make a significant difference in the look of your country wedding dress on the big day.
- If you are looking for a country wedding dress for your reception, satin fringes and glittering rhinestones could be a fun way to have your look stand out among other western wedding dresses. Don't forget to accessorize your country wedding dress with boots, hats, and other items perfect for creating the rustic country wedding look and feel.
Shopping for western wedding dresses can be challenging at times. With our directory, you can see how other brides looked, which will provide you with brilliant country wedding ideas and a variety of western wedding dresses for your country barn wedding or other country-inspired ceremony and reception.
Are country weddings expensive?
Country weddings are often more affordable than comparable traditional weddings. The average cost of a wedding in the United States was $33,900 in 2019. Wedding costs vary by state, so comparing costs for various areas could help you save money. Other factors that can affect the cost of your wedding include the following:
- Your choice of venue: Since the cost of the wedding venue typically accounts for almost half of the total budget for the wedding, the affordability of country wedding venues plays a key role in the lower costs associated with these wedding options. Some venues may be located in areas that require you and your vendors to round out the space (think adding a tent, bringing in a caterer, and more). For smaller weddings, you may be able to host your wedding at your home or at a local farm for a significantly lower cost to you, your partner, and the loved ones who might be helping you pay for your wedding.
- Your country wedding dress: Casual country wedding dresses and formal options alike are available in an array of styles and price ranges. Western wedding dresses are available in new and vintage varieties, which can help you to stay within your price range. Vintage country wedding dresses, however, can vary in price from lower-cost thrift shop finds to extremely expensive options that are also viewed as collectibles. If you are planning a simple country barn wedding, you may also be able to save money by choosing one of the more casual country wedding dresses out there, which may have a lower price tag than either traditional or vintage options.
- Your choice of décor: Depending on the venue you choose and your country wedding ideas, you can spend a little or a lot on your wedding décor. Renting antique furniture, for instance, can increase the overall cost of the wedding for you and your partner. Weddings held in very rural areas also may require extensive financial investment to prepare the site for guests. Considering these factors when prioritizing your country wedding ideas can help you to save money that can be used for other elements of your ceremony and reception.
- Your wedding flowers: Loose arrangements of flowers are one of the most popular country wedding ideas and can create a more relaxed, elegantly effortless environment for your guests both at the ceremony and at the reception. Depending on the size of your wedding and the capacity your chosen venue can accommodate, the cost of your wedding flowers could be a significant part of your overall budget.
- Your country wedding invitations: Country wedding invitations can be rustic, modern, or traditional to suit your and your partner’s tastes. A formal event will typically require a traditional approach to your country wedding invitations. You can also opt for paperless country wedding invitation options, which are usually linked to your wedding website. These types of country wedding invitations are especially convenient and affordable for couples with smaller guest lists and tech-savvy friends and family, which has made online invitations one of the most popular trends in the wedding industry. Alternatively, you can hire a professional designer for your country wedding invitations, which can also increase the overall cost of your wedding.
- Your music: Hiring a local band to play country wedding songs during your reception can be a costly undertaking. You may be able to cut costs by opting for a wedding DJ to play your favorite country wedding songs or renting a system to stream your list of country wedding songs throughout the event.
- Your catering options: Because country weddings are often less formal than other wedding themes, a buffet can be a cost-saving option for your reception or wedding dinner. And depending on your venue, farm-to-table options may also cost less or at least have the added convenience of being made at your wedding venue. Since the average cost for catering a wedding is $9,170, finding affordable and delicious options can help you save money while ensuring that you and your guests have the best time at your wedding.
- Your travel expenses: If you plan to get married at a venue far from your home, you should factor in the cost of travel for yourself and your partner. This will include any necessary hotel stays, as well as the incidental costs of staying away from home for a few days. You should consider the cost of honeymoon travel to be part of your overall wedding costs too. This will help you to create a more practical budget for all your wedding-related expenses.
Putting together a reasonable budget for your country wedding requires attention to detail. Your wedding planner can provide you with helpful suggestions to make your country, barn, or garden wedding something truly special and memorable while staying within your allotted budget.
Taking a look at photos, videos, and country wedding dresses from real weddings can also serve as a real source of inspiration for country wedding ideas. Our directory gives brides and grooms access to information on all types of country weddings to help you plan the wedding of your dreams, plus details about the top-notch vendors who can make it happen. Whether you are looking for country wedding invitations, the perfect western wedding dresses or venues for your rustic country wedding, these real weddings provide all the inspiration you need for your big day.
How do you start planning country weddings?
One great place to start the planning process for your country wedding is our directory, which offers a look at real-life weddings to provide you with the perfect inspiration for your own special celebration. From there, you can learn about the gorgeous venues available, and think more about how you want you and your partner to look on your special day. Keeping your desired budget in mind, you can turn to the professionals who contributed to these real weddings and start reaching out and building your trusted team. Take notes of everything you want to accomplish, and make sure to discuss your budget and the overall vibe and aesthetic you hope to create for your wedding. To learn more about all of this, look through our curated directories and prepare to have the best country wedding possible.
