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Rustic romance and laidback charm take center stage when it comes to a Western-themed wedding.
It is a well-loved trope for its versatile nature, especially for couples that are into classic American traditions and the great outdoors. What’s amazing about this concept is that it also boasts of the perfect wedding celebration combo – attire is unique and comfortable, a vibe that is fun and never boring, and activities that are exciting and enjoyable. Another advantage of a Western-style wedding is that you can have it at any time of the year, at just about any venue – from a garden to a desert and mountain top to a farmstead.
If you need more reasons why you should go for a Western wedding theme for your big day, then let this article convince you. We have listed down all the charming elements and details that make it the best choice for an event as momentous as your wedding. But first, here’s a little backgrounder for you…
What’s a Western-themed Wedding?
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A Western wedding theme’s main focus is the charm of country life. It features elements and aesthetics reminiscent of the cowboy ways which include an outdoorsy ambiance, rough and rugged details, and homespun decors that induce warmth and nostalgia. The venue could be a farm or a ranch and even a quaint and intimate little barn.
A Western wedding theme is wholesome, and refreshing, and has a homey vibe where guests can be a little more laid back and relaxed. The color palette usually plays with hues like browns, beiges, and creams with organic components like fresh wildflowers, verdant greenery, and a motley of mixed wooden furniture and vintage ornaments.
What are some Western wedding traditions?
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One thing that makes Western weddings stand out is the unique traditions that come with them. These customs have been well-loved by generations and are still practiced today. In contrast to other wedding themes that are more formal and fancy, Western weddings are all about enjoying the bride and groom’s union and that means lots of dancing, laughter, and wild festivity.
Aside from the loud revelries, there are also must-do activities to complete a Western wedding which include “kidnapping” the bride and holding her for ransom, rice throwing that symbolizes prosperity and fertility, and bouquet toss which symbolizes happiness. There's also the burying of a bottle of bourbon to make sure that it’ll be bright and sunny during the big day.
Now that we’ve covered all the basics, read on and let these wonderful Western wedding ideas charm you into deciding that this is the theme for you.
Western Wedding Idea 1: Ace Invite
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Let your guests know that they’re having the best wedding experience through your invitation. Make sure that your Western wedding invitation includes relevant visual elements like a hand-drawn cattle skull or horseshoe which you can use as your official icon or emblem, some Western-inspired fonts, and a complementing color palette of browns and oranges.
Western Wedding Idea 2: Bold Blooms
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Another signature Western wedding element is the leather wrap for the bride’s bouquet. Make this detail extra special by having your initials intricately embossed in the leather wrap. You can also add other rustic elements like beads and leather tassels.
Western Wedding Idea 3: Country Chic Gown
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Just like any other wedding element, your wedding gown should also follow the theme. Western wedding dresses call for something dreamy yet offbeat, comfortable yet stylish. One idea is a bohemian-styled crocheted gown – interesting and unexpected. If you want to keep everything traditional, it is totally fine to go for something classic in style, silhouette, and fabric.
Western Wedding Idea 4: Gorgeous Garter
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Add an interesting country touch to your bridal wardrobe by going for a leather garter instead of a typical lace one. You can have the item paired with your bridal bouquet leather wrap to make your look still cohesive and polished. This detail will surely be a wonderful surprise come to the garter toss.
Western Wedding Idea 5: Bedazzling Boots
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Country weddings are not complete without their signature stylish boots. Instead of going for the usual stilettos, show off your inner cowgirl by walking down the aisle in white cowboy boots. Have it intricately embellished in beads and crystals for additional razzle and dazzle.
Western Wedding Idea 6: Cool Cowboy
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Have the main cowboy aka the groom be dressed in the finest Western-inspired outfit. A cowboy hat, printed tie, and cowboy boots are a must. If you want to channel a more rustic and rugged style, go for bolo ties instead of the usual fabric and leather vest in place of a coat or jacket.
Western Wedding Idea 7: Free-spirit Friends
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So what should the wedding guests wear to a Western-themed wedding? Something stylish and comfortable for sure. Skip the stuffy suits and glamorous gowns and pick something nice, flowy, and floral. Pair the outfit with comfy sandals or booties and a cool denim or leather jacket and the wearer is all set for a wonderful time of dancing and having fun.
Western Wedding Idea 8: Offbeat Guest List
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Rustic and Western weddings are a great avenue to be a little bit quirky. You get to utilize unusual items as part of your celebration. One example is using an actual cattle skull as your dedication page where guests can write their good wishes and congratulations. In turn, you can use it as a decoration in your new home, a special reminder of the cool and unique wedding that you had.
Western Wedding Idea 9: Wild Entrance
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Another unique Western-themed wedding idea is opting for non-traditional wedding transportation. Jaws will surely drop when you enter the venue riding a horse. To avoid any mishap, make sure that the horse is trained for this kind of activity and will not get spooked around by many people.
Western Wedding Idea 10: Ideal Aisle
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Take your Western wedding aesthetic to the next level by adding unique decorative elements starting with your wedding aisle. Amplify the country and rustic mood by using cowhides instead of the usual red or white carpet.
Western Wedding Idea 11: Fearless Flower Child
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If she’s up for it, prepare a grand entrance for your flower girl, this time riding a miniature horse – a mini version of the bridal entrance. Safety should be the top priority, though, so ensure that the child is fit and has the skill to handle the animal.
Western Wedding Idea 12: Wooden Arch
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Wood is one of the necessary western wedding decor elements of a Western-themed wedding. Make the most of its rustic charm by having a wooden wedding arch for the ceremony. Use some old barn beams and decorate them with wildflowers and some antique wagon wheels for an authentic country wedding altar.
Western Wedding Idea 13: Down-to-earth Decors
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Simple yet stylish and rugged yet romantic, Western-themed wedding decorations are a mix of various materials, textures, and colors that when put together create the most wonderful ambiance in a venue. These decors can be day-to-day items like wooden wheels, old lamps, jars, homespun fabric, or offbeat adornments like cowhide, cattle skulls, and macrame hanging ornaments.
Western Wedding Idea 14: Topnotch Table Setting
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Make your Western-themed wedding cohesive by applying similar decorative elements of the venue to your tablescape. That includes wildflowers for your floral centerpieces, glass goblets, silver flatwares, miniature skulls, and vintage lamps as finishing touches.
Western Wedding Idea 15: Charming Cake
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A naked wedding cake is the most popular choice for a country wedding. The homemade and unpolished finish adds to the appeal and overall charm of this Western-themed wedding cake. Finish off the look with fresh succulent trimmings and a wooden cake stand.
Western Wedding Idea 16: Pleasing Favors
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Send your guests home with wedding favors like a tiny bag of goodies that may include one or a couple of these items: homebaked cookies, cowboy-shaped bottle openers, wooden coasters, miniature horseshoe paperweights, and leather keychains.
Western Wedding Idea 17: Exciting Side Activities
Country weddings are popular for their exciting side activities that highlight the awesomeness of the great outdoors. Include one of these recreations at your Western-themed weddings:
Wood Branding
- brand some wood with your guests to mark the beginning of your happily ever after.
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Mountain Climbing
- tag along your guests to an actual adventure by holding your Western wedding up the mountains.
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County Boat Ride
- if you’re holding the wedding near a body of water or a lake, arrive in style via a wooden boat.
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Snowboarding
- if you’re having a winter Western wedding, hold it at a ski resort and have a wonderful time skiing and snowboarding with your guests after the formal program.
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Hunting
- if you and your hubby are hunting enthusiasts, you can squeeze this activity into the wedding. Just make sure that your wedding falls during hunting season.
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Western Wedding Idea 18: Boho Bridesmaids
Make sure that your girls are dressed for the part in your Western-themed wedding. Here are some of the options you can go for:
Pretty Florals
- floral bridesmaid dresses fit a Western wedding perfectly. They complement the surroundings and add a pop of color to the palette of browns and beige.
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Flowy Fabrics
- show your wedding party’s dreamy and whimsy side by dressing them up in fantastic flowy fabrics like chiffon, satin, or lace. Play with prints and textures by mixing and matching the design and material.
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Shop cicinia’s bridesmaid dress by fabrics
Romantic Rose
- one of the ideal bridesmaid dress colors for a country wedding is dusty rose. Dusty rose bridesmaid dresses are romantic, and trendy, and blend well with the earth-toned color palette of the wedding.
Want more rustic wedding or barn wedding ideas for your wedding day? Check out our blog now!
