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Planning Tip #1: Read Our FREE Western Wedding Planning Guide
When it comes to a relaxed atmosphere, country and western weddings can be more entertaining than almost any other wedding themes, but as with creating any event, it pays to follow the old motto and be prepared. Before you send out those cowboy-style western wedding invitations, take a look at our complete Western Wedding Planning Guide! We'll review where to hold your wedding, what colors to use, and share tons of insider tips, secrets, and DIY projects that'll help you create a true western wedding experience without running yourselves ragged!
Planning Tip #2: Use Popular Western Wedding Colors
The most popular colors for western weddings over the past few seasons have overwhelmingly been brown and pink, which is why we've recently added an entire line of accessories that feature both! Look above and you'll find several styles of garters in addition to a guest book, ring pillow, and a special edition Western Vintage Flower Girl Basket that perfectly blend these colors. Horseshoes, another western wedding staple, are bigger than ever this year, and here you'll find our utterly unique Western Affection Wedding Horseshoe as well as other "westernized" ring pillow alternatives. And for some popular favorites, don't forget that in addition to western wedding invitations you can also find other stationery like thank you cards and designer wedding programs!
Additional Planning Tips:
Why hold a Western wedding? Western theme weddings capture the same spirit of romance and passion that we all feel when we fall in love. The true essence of the West, after all, is unspoiled natural beauty, adventure, freedom, and the promise of a better future. It's the same sort of feeling that encourages us to take the plunge, and love's allure calls to us the same way those boundless vistas called to the pioneers centuries ago.
It is no surprise, then, that the West remains such an important part of American heritage, and Western weddings are an ideal way to make a visual connection between the West of the American frontier and the journey you will undertake with your spouse-to-be. So whether you love the outdoors and the country, horseback riding and hiking, or just love the spirit of the West that resides in your heart, a country and Western wedding theme may be the one you've been searching for!
Here at Brides Village we've gathered some of our favorite Western wedding ideas below, including hints for Western wedding centerpieces, country wedding favors, decorations, and more. Join as us as we hit the trail to the frontiers of your heart! And remember, for a more detailed discussion on all these topics you can read our full Western Wedding Planning Guide. Go ahead, it's completely free and you don't have to download anything!
Select a Location That Embodies Your Western Spirit:
There's no rulebook for creating the perfect Western wedding, and that means you can design your wedding any way you choose! Many couples traditionally prefer an outdoor venue for their Western wedding, preferably one with an expansive, panoramic view of the surrounding countryside. Many other couples have gone as far as to create a true country wedding by holding their ceremony in a barn complete with hay bales for seats! When selecting a venue, consider looking into area parks, farms, or local natural areas. Many such locations are actually equipped to handle large gatherings and may prove to be less expensive than more traditional reception halls. If an outdoor location or barn isn't feasible, then adding the right decorations can still bring the best of the West to your wedding, even in an urban setting.
Arrive at the Wedding Western-Style:
Once again there are no firm rules, but at Western weddings horse-powered transport has long been the most popular means of travel to and from the ceremony and reception. If you're not quite brave enough to ride horseback in your bridal gown or tuxedo, then rest assured horse-drawn that carriages or old-fashioned buggies are common and just as authentic. However you travel, using horses isn't only romantic, it also creates opportunities for a spectacular entrance that no car or even limo can ever match! Even if you do come by car, you can still have a bit of fun and capture the spirit of the trail with a few fun accessories like Wedding Cowboy Hats!
Lasso Additional Western Wedding Colors:
What truly distinguishes western weddings is they can feature a spectrum of color that's nearly as broad as the frontier. Unlike some wedding themes, Western weddings are vibrant and often lighthearted affairs, and your wedding colors can reflect that sense of life and liveliness no matter where or when your wedding takes place. We recommend a broad palette of earth tones and bright vivid colors to make your wedding stand out, and you should feel free to incorporate orange, brown, tan, yellow, and even green into your decorations.
At Brides Village the selections in our Western wedding collection already feature these colors, but you can take advantage of the colors found in other items as well. Wildflowers and cacti, for example, can be used to make unforgettable and colorful Western wedding centerpieces. You can also use rope of varies thickness to accent tables or as an alternative to streamers. If you have access to items like saddles or other barn accessories, you can use them too! No matter how you construct your theme, adding these western elements will create an earthy, down home environment that will put all your guests at ease.
Add a Few Western Wedding Supplies:
The more creative you make your shopping, the better! There are so many locations and images to draw from that there's almost no limit to the type of supplies you can use. Whether you choose specifically Western wedding themed items like rustic unity candles or use classic Western decorations like horseshoes, you will find no shortage of material in our collections that will enable you to design your Western wedding any way you wish.
Pro Tip: Start Brainstorming Early!
Our number one recommendation is it's never too early to brainstorm your ideas. And it's easy to do! Simply set aside some time with your spouse-to-be and toss around words and phrases that evoke what you like about the country or western landscape, recording them as you go. Boots, cowboys, sage, carriages... if it's one of the first things you think of and you feel a connection to it, write it down. You can then use your list to refine your focus as you start planning in earnest.
As soon as you've got a good sized list made, you're ready to craft your western wedding theme -- and Brides Village offers Western wedding invitations that make a great start! After the invitations are mailed go wherever your imagination takes you. Whether it's the idea of cowboys that you love best, or the indomitable spirit of horses, or the wholesome feeling of a well-run barn, you can translate what you feel into a variety of items for your wedding. Accessories featuring boots, spurs, cowboy hats, lassos -- even miniature bales of hay -- and much more are readily available. At BridesVillage you'll find toasting flutes, glassware, cake tops, guest books, pens, and western wedding favors that all use these elements.
Be Like the Pioneers and DIY!
Western themed weddings are also ideal venues for homemade decorations and favors, which is why for that special down-home do-it-yourself flourish you shouldn't hesitate to design or paint your own tablecloths, favors, and other decorations. And if you're in need of inspiration then check out local craft stores, farmers' markets, and even hardware stores.
Make Your Western Wedding Reception Zesty:
Nothing complements western weddings like a classic cookout! Grab dad's favorite barbecue recipes and fire up the grill because you can incorporate everything from Tex-mex cuisine with plenty of chipotle and chili to more familiar (but just as zesty) items like grilled chicken, ribs, and hamburgers.
The food can be as spicy and lively as the rest of your celebration, but the real keyword is comfort. Western theme weddings can create an elegant yet laidback environment, and this presents a beautiful chance to bring people together in a fun and relaxing atmosphere. A selection of good, familiar food presented in a more informal setting will encourage conversation and help everyone have a great time.
What about dessert? In addition to your wedding cake it's always a nice gesture to offer a range of additional pastries or cookies. One of our favorite options is to bake some western-themed cookies in the shapes of cowboy boots. And yep, you bet we offer Cowboy Boot Cookie Cutters. What's even better is you can serve these cookies and give away the cookie cutters as favors. Add some ribbons and tag 'em up with a little thank you and you've got a western-style masterpiece!
Remember, It's Your Western Wedding:
However you choose to design your Western wedding, the most important thing of all to remember is that your wedding is a celebration of your love. The style and feel of your wedding, no matter what theme you choose, is a reflection of what love means to you, so there's no wrong way to express your feelings. Whether your idea of the West is a classic barn, cowboys on a dusty trail, or just the beauty of open spaces, if you love the venue you've created, your guests will too! | |
