Rustic Wedding Ideas on a Budget: Themes, Decorations, Flowers and Dresses

 
Pinterest Pin of a table set with burlap, wood and wildflowers with the title "Rustic Wedding Ideas on a Budget".

Wedding reception table set with rustic decor for Pinterest.

 

If you’re trying to stick to a budget, a rustic themed wedding is the perfect choice. A rustic wedding is stylish and pulled together, but still simple and easy to plan. The easy going nature and less formal style makes it fun for everyone. You can put together a fantastic wedding with inexpensive or even DIY options. There’s lots of ways to save money when you’re planning a rustic wedding.

Please note: this article contains affiliate links. That means that I may earn a commission if you decide to buy something.

How Do You Plan a Rustic Wedding?

First, decide what style you want for your wedding: formal, semi-formal or casual. A rustic wedding can be upscale and elegant or down home and easy going. Remember, the more formal your style, the more expensive your wedding will be. If you’re on a budget, the rustic theme is perfect for a semi-formal or casual wedding.

Choose a Theme For Your Wedding

Of course, you’ve already decided that your theme is rustic. But that covers a lot of ground.  A rustic wedding can be elegant with roses and chandeliers. Or it can be sunflowers and cowboy boots. A rustic theme is a good starting point, but your planning will be easier if you add some more description words to your rustic theme.

For example: if you search for rustic wedding invitations, there are millions. Literally - google will give you over 78 million rustic wedding invitations! 

But maybe you love barns, fireflies or mason jars. You can choose one of them as the look for your rustic wedding. Now, if you search for rustic barn wedding invitations, you’ve only got 4 million to choose from. Ok, so it’s still a lot. But deciding on a look for your wedding will help narrow down the choices, save time and make all your decisions easier. 

You can choose a look, an item or a season that you love. If you’re not in love with a certain idea, you can wait till you find your venue. Then choose a look that matches it.

Themes For a Rustic Wedding

  • Sunflowers

  • Daisies

  • Wildflowers 

  • Dragonflies

  • Cowboy boots

  • Barns

  • Boho

  • Vintage

  • Romantic

  • Eco friendly

  • Birch Trees

  • Campground

  • Lake

  • Pond

  • Fall 

  • Winter

  • Spring

  • Summer

  • Fourth of July

  • Barbecue

 
Bride and groom sharing a kiss on the dance floor at a rustic wedding reception.

Bride and groom sharing a kiss on the dance floor at their rustic barn wedding.

 

How to Choose a Wedding Venue

When you start looking at venues, take your time. The room rental and catering for your reception is usually the most expensive part of your wedding. If you choose your venue carefully it’ll be a lot easier to stick to your budget. Once you find a venue that you like, do a bit of math before you sign the contract:

  • How much is the room rental fee?

  • How much are the food and beverage packages? 

  • Does the venue have a minimum guest requirement?

  • Does the venue have a preferred vendor list or can you hire less expensive vendors?

Outdoor Venues for a Rustic Wedding

An outdoor venue is perfect for a rustic wedding. Especially if you’re planning a natural or easy going style. Look for venues that offer outdoor space:

  • Ranch

  • Meadow 

  • Campground

  • Nature reserve

  • State park

  • Garden 

  • Beach

  • Lake

  • Gazebo

Indoor Venues for a Rustic Wedding

If you’re worried about the weather, or just feel better with an inside venue, there’s lots of great choices for a rustic themed wedding:

  • Barn

  • Lodge

  • Cabin

  • Cottage 

  • Greenhouse

Planning Your Rustic Wedding Ceremony

An outdoor ceremony is perfect for a rustic wedding ceremony. You can make the most of the natural surrounding and use the view as your backdrop. If you plan your ceremony indoors, there’s lots of ways to bring an outdoor feel to it. You can highlight the altar space with a gazebo, a canopy or an arbor. Decorate your altar and aisle with flowers, greenery and wood for a natural, rustic look.

What Food Should You Serve at a Rustic Wedding Reception?

 
Table set with dishes, natural canvas table runner and wildflowers for a rustic wedding reception.

Rustic wedding reception tables set with flowers, candles and wooden decor.

 

One of the most expensive parts of your wedding reception is your food. With a rustic theme, you can choose more affordable options and it will fit the style perfectly. Buffet or family style are less expensive ways to serve your meal and it matches the less formal feel of a rustic wedding.

You can also choose a more affordable menu. Comfort foods are a good fit for a semi-formal wedding. Chicken, roast beef and pasta are great choices for a rustic meal on a budget. If your wedding is casual style, you can even serve barbecue, food trucks or food bars and save even more money.

For more ideas on choosing your menu, read this next: Affordable Wedding Food: Menu Ideas for a Small Budget

Rustic Wedding Decor

A good way to save a ton of money is by planning DIY for your decorations. For your ceremony, you can decorate the altar and the aisle. At your reception, you can make centerpieces and decorations for the entrance, the guest tables and the head table. With a rustic style, it’s easy to find items to use as part of your decor. You can check thrift stores, dollar stores and craft stores for inexpensive glassware, fabric and accessories.

  • Wooden signs

  • Hay bales

  • Watering cans

  • Tin buckets

  • Chalkboards 

  • Wood slices

  • Branches or bark

  • Wood ladders or shelves

  • Barrels

  • Pallets

  • Crates

  • Lanterns

  • Lace 

 
Rustic wood table set with dishes and flowers for a wedding reception.

Pin of a rustic picnic table set for a wedding reception.

 

Ideas for a Rustic Fall Wedding: Real Wedding

This real wedding from the Knot is a fantastic rustic barn wedding. The couple planned an outdoor ceremony, served up comfort food, great music and dancing. With a gorgeous color palette of green, orange and burgundy, this adds up to a perfect fall wedding:

An Autumn Barn Wedding at BoBrook Farms in Roland, Arkansas

Ideas for a Rustic Summer Wedding: Real Wedding

This real wedding from Kennedy Blue features gorgeous summer colors: pink, peach and mint. Plus bright pink and apricot flowers in loose, easy bouquets and centerpieces. The string lights and glassware add the perfect decoration for a rustic barn wedding reception.

McKenzie & Adam's Rustic Blush Pink Wedding

Wedding Dresses for a Rustic Bride

Plus Size Wedding Dress For a Rustic Bride

Menswear for a Rustic Wedding

Menswear should match the formality level of your gown. If you’re wearing a formal or semi formal dress, it’ll look best if your partner sticks with a traditional suit or more dressy clothes. If your dress is less formal or casual, choose more casual looks for your groom and groomsmen.

  • Traditional suit

  • Khakis

  • Jeans 

  • Dress shirts

  • Suspenders

  • String ties

  • Vests

  • Cowboy hats

  • Cowboy boots

Bouquets & Boutonnières With a Rustic Style

If you want to save money on flowers, the casual style of a rustic wedding makes it easy to DIY your bouquet. You can buy silk or sola wood flowers and make all your bouquets and boutonnieres ahead of time. Or you can order fresh flowers to be delivered the day before and put them together yourself. Whether you do them yourself or order from a florist, some flowers are a perfect fit for a rustic wedding:

  • Sunflowers

  • Tulips

  • Roses

  • Anemones

  • Ranunculus

  • Peonies

  • Dahlias

  • Carnations

  • Daisies

Rustic Wedding Invitations


Want a closer look at the invitations? Order a free sample from Minted. You can choose a free sample kit with assorted styles, colors and swatches. Or you can order a free a kit with a personalized save the date.

If you’ve got your eye on a certain style, you can order samples of invitations, menus and programs. Most samples cost $1 to $2, but for a limited time, you can receive $10 worth of free samples.

Browse the website, choose your favorites and add the samples to your cart. When it’s time to check out, use the code 10FREE to receive $10 off your shopping cart.


Unique Guest Books For a Rustic Wedding

Rustic Wedding Favors

Wedding Planning Book For a Rustic Wedding

Ready to start planning? The DIY Rustic Wedding Planner has everything you need to plan your wedding. There’s pages for figuring out your budget, finding your venue and planning your menu. Plus tip sheets and checklists for everything in between. Available now on Amazon:


Previous
Previous

Rustic Bridesmaid Dresses: Affordable Gowns Under $150

Next
Next

Plus Size Wedding Dresses: Best Bridal Gowns For Curvy Brides