The Rustic Wedding - Affordable and fun!

In the last blog we talked about choosing a theme to base your wedding decor around. A theme helps to keep you focused with your ideas for everything from the wedding dress to the cake to the favors.
I love to browse wedding ideas. The one trend that I see that looks very affordable and attractive is the Rustic wedding. I am going to share with you some ideas that are inexpensive and look fantastic.

Let's begin with the Bridal party attire. You can go either formal with gowns and tuxes, which makes a great contrast to the rustic decorations. This is not the inexpensive option but it does look great! The less costly option is a dress that is simple and has a special charm all its own. There are many online clothing sites that offer Bridal gowns. I love the this one from JCrew.
http://www.jcrew.com/wedding/Wedding_Bride/gowns/sheath/PRDOVR~19836/19836.jsp

They also have beautiful bridesmaids gowns that very easy to wear again for other special events. Your Bridesmaids will love you for it! There are lots of colors to choose from for most styles.
http://www.jcrew.com/wedding/Wedding_Bridesmaid/silkchiffon/PRDOVR~43049/43049.jsp

The groom and the groomsmen can go with a great suit and tie or even just dress pants with an beautiful plaid shirt and tie. Again, all reusable in the future.
http://www.jcrew.com/mens_category/shirts/linenshirts/PRDOVR~72740/72740.jsp

Centerpieces can also be an expensive part of your wedding. Your guests will be seated at the tables and be staring at your centerpiece off and on all night. You can make it something that is memorable and inexpensive. If you have someone that can wield a saw for you or if you can do it yourself - it is even less costly. You can purchase a couple sizes of mason jars. Often you can find these that someone is willing to part with cheap, since they don't want to can anymore. In one size of jars you can put an inexpensive pillar candle. In another you can put flowers. In the third you can put pens - I will explain this shortly. If you have the access, get a 2-3 inch thick cut of a log or large branch.  You can place the mason jars on top of the log slice. Another idea takes a bit of planning ahead, but if you have a green thumb it looks great. Get some inexpensive terra cotta pots. You can leave them that color or you can gilt them in gold, silver or one of your wedding colors. Plant herbs and flowers approx 1 month prior to your wedding - make sure you tend them. To complete the decoration you can put a few taper candles in the pot.  You can make a table number flag with a dowel rod and a paper pennant.

It is great to have something to remember the people who attended your wedding. (This is where the pens come in) Using the premise of Mad Libs, which many of us enjoyed as kids, here is a great idea. It gives the guests something to do during the picture taking and also is a funny reminder of those who attended your wedding.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/90243221/printable-wedding-mad-lib-a-fun-guest?ref=sc_3

A great and very inexpensive option for place cards is to use the spring clothespins spray painted gold, silver or a color that matches your wedding decor. You can use business card blanks to write the names on. Place the card in the clothes pin and it will look great!

If you have someone handy with some basic carpentry skills you can have them make a few rustic boxes to set the cake on, to place around the wedding area or reception area filled with a few plants left in their pots from the store. These can then be planted later. You can hand paint the Bride and Groom's names and the date on them too.  You can also have them make a few signs with sayings or pictures of the bride and groom tacked to them to place around for decoration.

Favors are next on the list. If you have a few wonderful people with some basic sewing skills, you can make small burlap or muslin bags. There are also websites that sell inexpensive bags that you can use.You can fill the bags with candy and wrap color coordinating ribbon around the top. or set up a candy bar and have the guests fill their own.

The Rustic wedding gives a relaxed feel for both the wedding party and the guests. You can let your imagination have fun with this theme. It can also be as expensive or inexpensive as you want!