Rustic Romance: A Country-Themed Bridal Shower
A dessert table with rustic decor. Photo Credit: The Fancy Treat Shop.
Is your favorite bride-to-be a country girl? Whether she loves everything rustic, grew up in the country, or both, throw her a rustic romance bridal shower!
Themes are a great way to elevate your event and offer the guest of honor an unparalleled experience. It also immerses the guests in the event and builds amazing memories!
Rustic items are easy to find and look stunning when paired with soft, romantic touches. Plus, a country theme is great for an at-home bridal shower!
Here’s everything you need to know about hosting an unforgettable country-themed bridal shower.
Narrowing Down Your Theme & Venue
Rustic romance is a broad theme. You can go in so many different directions. This means it’s important to whittle down your theme and focus on one or two key components to really make your party pop.
Think about all things country, like flowers, barns, shiplap, and farm stands. Talk with your bride about her bridal shower vision and see what parts of the country lifestyle appeal to her. That way, you can give her the party of her dreams!
With a good idea of how you will decorate, turn your attention to the shower venue location. Country-themed bridal showers will fit in any space. However, they pop in an outdoor venue or even a backyard!
Check with local farms to see if you can rent space on their property. Some have converted old barns into stunning venues. You can also check out local vineyards to see if you can host on their patios.
Country-Inspired Theme Ideas
Cowboy boots and wildflowers
Shiplap and fairy lights
Farmer’s market
Sunflowers
Antlers and flowers
Country jamboree
Setting the Scene with Rustic Invitations
a bridal shower invitation with boots, flowers, and champagne images on it. Image by Alniprints on Etsy.
The invite is your guests’ first glimpse into your event, so make sure it matches your theme to a T! Look for a shiplap background with fun accent images, like cowboy boots, sunflowers, and farm stands.
If you’re using flowers, match them to the wedding color palette or the shades you plan to use for the event. Start off with fun sayings for your invitation wording and the bride’s name. Then, list the event details, like who’s hosting, where it’s being held, and what time it will start.
Finally, give the RSVP and registry info so guests can claim their spot and start shopping! Send the invites out around 6 weeks before the event to avoid clashing schedules.
Fun Country-Themed Sayings for Your Invitation
Bridal Round Up
Rooted in Love
Saddle Up, Y’all! She Lassoed a Cowboy
Boots & Bubbly
She’s Off The Market!
She’s in Love with the Boy!
Y’all are Invited to a Bridal Shower!
Country-Core Decor
Shabby chic is the name of the game when it comes to country decor! Burlap, plaid, and colorful accents will instantly transform any space into a romantically rustic space.
The good news is these supplies tend to be affordable, so you’ll get the most bang for your buck! Start by making the tables pop with gorgeous country centerpieces and burlap place settings.
Since many country textiles have earthy tones, don’t forget to add pops of color by using ribbon or floral accents. Pampas grass mixed with flowers looks stunning on a tablescape or set up around your venue.
Add floral garlands along the walls. Accent them with horseshoes. Bonus points if you can find authentic, used horseshoes!
Remember, country decor is meant to be rustic and worn in, so don’t be afraid to thrift items or borrow them from friends and family. This is a great way to add a personal touch while staying on theme!
Ideas for Fun Rustic Decor
Burlap table runners
Mason jars of wildflowers
Faux farmer’s market stand
Chicken wire statues
Horseshoes
Lassos
Sunflower garland
Lanterns
Tea light candles
Jute twine
Cloth napkins
Buffalo plaid accents
Mismatched ribbon wreaths
Food and Drinks for A Country Bridal Shower
Go country with your food and drink offerings! BBQ and picnic foods are great options. No matter what your venue is, a DIY biscuit bar is unique and totally rustic. Pile baskets high with warm biscuits.
Guests can choose from delectable topics like country gravy, jams, and cinnamon butter. Add some protein options like bacon, sausage, or scrambled eggs, and you’ll have a brunch buffet!
For dessert, offer a rustic dessert charcuterie board that look humble but pack a huge flavor punch. Mini pies and pastries taste delicious, especially warmed like they are right out of the oven. You can offer a variety of flavors so everyone gets exactly what they want.
Don’t forget the whipped cream! If you want to serve classic cupcakes, top them with country-themed decorations, like sugar horseshoes or delicate edible wildflowers.
To quench everyone’s thirst, offer a lemonade bar. Guests can pour ice cold lemonade into mason jars and then add fun syrups to customize their own flavors. Add signage to suggest ideas for flavor mixes that complement your menu.
You can also design a fun signature rustic cocktails and mocktail to serve along with sodas. Opt for items that have a “country” connotation, like mint juelps.
Ideas for Country-Themed Foods
Biscuits & gravy
Shredded pork sliders
Baked beans
Coleslaw
Brisket
Rolls
Grilled veggies
Fruit kebabs
Watermelon
Fried green tomatoes
Rustic Activities and Games
Wedding shower games and activities keep guests entertained and bring laughter and joy to your bridal shower. Crafts are popular because they give everyone a creative outlet and an instant party favor, so don’t leave them off your bridal shower checklist!
Wildflower crowns and jute twine wreaths are easy to craft. The supplies are pretty affordable too! Another idea is decorating mason jar vases.
Give guests a choice of ribbons and embellishments and let them flex their creative muscles. Afterward, they can fill the jar with flowers of their choice. If you’re hosting outside, set up stations with fun yard games like corn hole, lawn darts, and ring toss.
You can name each game after the bride and groom, or even their pets, to customize it to the event. Of course, you can also offer classic shower games like bridal shower trivia or bingo.
It’s easy to find premade, customizable templates online that you can adjust with the bride and groom’s info and print off yourself to make room in you budget for other things.
Be sure to have some exciting, country-themed bridal shower prizes to up the competition! Guests will be eager to join in to bring home the coveted items.
Finally, give the guests a way to remember the event by setting up a fun photo booth or selfie station! You can use a balloon arch, but banners, hay bales, and other rustic touches will help you stay on theme.
Place signs and photo props around the space so guests can pose together or with the bride-to-be. It’s a great way to keep guests occupied and offer them a fun way to remember the day.
Outfits and Accessories for the Guests and Bride
Setting a dress code is a fun way to enhance your theme and get everyone on board. Ask guests to dress in their country best. This could mean a gingham dress or floral top.
You can also provide cowboy hats to the guests as they arrive. Each person can get a neutral colored hat, saving the white cowboy hat for the guest of honor!
Of course, the bride will need to stand out! She will look stunning in a white dress in an eyelet fabric or a ditzy floral print. You can also suggest she wear cowboy boots with her dress for an instant rustic vibe.
Gift her some fun, country themed jewelry or hair accessories. That way, she can wear whatever white dress she prefers and still be on theme.
Country-Themed Favor Ideas
Favors are a great way to show your appreciation to your guests. Go with favors that are useful or can be eaten on the way home. Channel the farmers market by handing out handmade items like hand poured candles, natural soaps, or flower seeds that can be planted in a window box or garden.
You can source these items from local vendors, who may offer a discount if you buy a certain amount. This is a great way to personalize the event and offer sustainable shower favors.
If you’re on a budget, edible favors are a great option. Homemade cookies or dipped pretzels are another edible option that guests will love. Wrap them in parchment paper, tie with twine and add a heartfelt note! You can also fill mini mason jars with the bride’s favorite candy!
Either way, you can enlist the help of the bride’s friends and family to make the process go quickly. Everyone will want to pitch in to make the bride’s special day a success!
Rustic Romance Inspiration Gallery
Roping In the Bridal Fun
It’s an honor to organize a bridal shower! The process can be stressful, but if you discuss the event with your bride or her family, you’ll be able to make choices that will reflect her unique style. That way, you can give her the shower of her dreams!
So start researching and making a to-do list. Once you get the ball rolling, all the pieces will come together and you’ll be celebrating the future bride in no time!