It can range from informal, such as a
true cowboy themed along with jeans, boots & cowboy hats...to a more formal
theme in a nice ranch with a tuxedo, black cowboy hat & a beautiful antique
western bridal gown. I am sure that you have
already thought of the big things, like the horse drawn buggy, fancied up
cowboy boots for the wedding party and full circle
skirts but what about the little touches of decoration that will make your
wedding classy and quaint?
The first
thing to consider is the location of your wedding. A western themed wedding
party is not suited to your usual reception venue. A farm barn would be ideal
or a large tent pitched in a field or large garden. Once this is sorted you
need to give your venue an authentic western feel. Bales of hay scattered
around the edges for people to sit with bandana-covered cushions will be an
absolute must. Equally, a few wagon wheels dotted around will give guests a
feel of the Wild West. To liven up the walls, why not have black and white Wanted
posters of the wedding party scattered about?
Establish the style and formality you want
for your wedding. For example, you could choose a formal wedding with a western
twist or a casual and celebratory country hoedown. Wear western attire, which could include a
denim corset dress or a traditional gown and cowgirl boots for the bride and a
western shirt and denim jeans or dress shirt and bolo tie for the groom. The
rest of the wedding party should dress similar to the bride and groom. Invite your
guests to wear “western wear” or clothes “suitable for the rodeo.”
Send invitations to your perspective
guests. Your invitations could be in the shape of a cowboy hat or include
images of a cowboy and cowgirl on a horse, his-and-her cowboy hats or a field
full of wildflowers. Choose wording that lets your guests know how formal your
wedding will be and include western terms if they fit, such as “Round up the
youngins and wear your good hat because Dan and Sandra are gettin’ hitched!”
Pig roasts and
barbeques are to be expected for your wedding reception. Roast chicken pieces
served with French fries would also be great. Lay tables with side dishes of
corn-on-the-cob, coleslaw, potato salad, macaroni and cheese and Barbecue flavored
baked beans. Hot dogs with lashings of ketchup, relish and mustard would be an
ideal supper for the children. Finish the meal off with a country dessert such
as a fruit crumble or mud pie.
Unique ways to tie the knot- Western Style.
A) Instead
of traditional wedding flowers use wild flowers. Wild Roses for example are
beautiful, while having that western feel that you are looking for. You can
even mix in a few blooming cactuses in your arrangements, especially
centerpieces for instant color and an elegant ranch-like touch. Add some
leather fringe, in the same hue as your wedding colors, around the bouquets
that the bridesmaids carry.
B) For example, use picnic tables with red and white
checkered tablecloths. Create faux leather to use as tablecloths at the reception. One
painting technique that I have found to work well is to buy enough cheap fabric
(drop clothes are usually perfect for tablecloths, require no stitching of ends
as other cut fabrics would and can be bought relatively cheap compared to
purchasing other material by the yard) to cover all the tables that you want.
Now, choose what color you want your "˜leather' to be and get three
different shades of that color (dark, medium and light). Paint your base coat
in the dark color and allow it to dry completely before continuing. Next mix
your medium color and light color in separate buckets. The general consensus is
to mix two parts paint to one part glaze. You should apply these to mixtures
randomly over your basecoat, then use a wadded up plastic bag or crumpled
sheets of plastic wrap to blot up the wet paint, blending it in to create the
texture that you are looking for. Once you achieve the look you want, let it
dry completely before clear coating it well. ** It is a good idea to experiment with this
technique on some scrap fabric and become comfortable with doing it before
moving on to your wedding pieces.**
Creating a replica of an old-fashioned saloon
for your reception bar may seem like a great idea on paper, but could very well
require more work than you bargained for. It's good to know that a little can
go a long way. Outdoor elements and entryways are ideal for tulle swag accented
by flowers combined with a few artfully stacked bales of hay. You can also
frame these areas with traditional crops like wheat or corn and, if you're in a
farming mood, add a scarecrow or two. Depending on how elaborate you make your
displays, they may become a popular spot for photographs so consider placing
one off to the side a safe distance from a high traffic area. Decorate your reception venue with jugs of iced
tea or lemonade, cowboy hats, cowboy boots, or any other western decorations. Instead of the
standard streamers, hang up ropes in varying thicknesses. You can keep them
natural for a rustic feel, spray paint them the colors of your wedding. You can
entwine some of the wild flowers you are using for touches of color. Horseshoes
to leather bits to tassel whips, can also be added for more spark. They can
also be spray painted in gold, silver or black depending on the mood you wish
to create.
D)
Decorate personalized wine
glasses. You can buy complete matching sets for your table settings or mix and
match with finds from thrift stores and garage sales for a cheaper alternative
(which actually is more natural). Buy some glass
paint, which you can pick up at any craft store, and all that's left is to
choose your design. You could paint on a horseshoe with the details of the
bride, groom and date inside of it, a lasso rope; a cowboy boot or hat,
anything western!
E)
Finish off your table settings with a one of a kind place card holder and
goodie bags. Create horseshoe name card holders using card stock and any printing project software that
is available on most computers. And you can Google Western images to save to
your computer and using your imagination and either Microsoft word or some
other software edit them to your liking. Instead of the standard mints that are
usually placed in a little bag beside each plate, include things a cowboy or
cowgirl shouldn’t be without after a meal. Toothpicks (mint
flavored for a classy taste), custom match books, mini bottles of liquor (21
and over), flower seed packets, sunflower seeds or small edible treats
can be packaged in small burlap sacks or tied in bandannas. Cowboy hat or
boot-shaped soaps or candles work as well. Small bottles of your favorite
barbecue sauce and anything else they may need for the long trail ahead
after going home . These items can be placed in the standard little bags or you
can embellish these also with a little leather trim around the edges. Of course,
your table stationery naturally will follow from your invitations. When
preparing table plans, decorate your overall plan with cowboy boots and wagon
wheels. This theme can then be followed on your place cards. A fabulous touch
would be to name each table after a famous cowboy rather than assigning tables
with a number. Visit flea markets and antique shops to collect
tack and other antique items to use for decoration. This would make a fun
outing for the bridesmaids or groomsmen to do together.
Think alternative uses for things like old
horseshoes: they can take on a new light wrapped with white Christmas lights or
raffia (a paper material that looks a bit like hay). Keep an eye out for wagon
wheels and mason jars (a beautiful way to display candles). Barrels of hay also
make excellent decorations.
F) Adorn
your wedding cake with a cowboy bride and groom, a fence with a sign that says
“hitchin’ post” or something similar or even a playful bride and groom with one
lassoing the other. If you want something more formal, use wildflowers, daisies
or sunflowers to decorate the cake.
Select Western
Colors. As with any
other wedding theme, selecting your colors is one of your most important
decisions. We recommend starting with a broad palette of earth tones like
orange, brown, tan, yellow, and even green, you can then select from an
assortment of bright complementary colors that will really stand out. Shades of
blue, for example, complement both brown and orange tones while simultaneously
evoking the western sky. Purple is a perfect complement for yellow and might
make a great color choice for your bridesmaids' dresses. And while you don't
want to make it feel like Christmas, red is always a nice complement to green;
you can even soften things a bit with shades of pink.
Location Affects Color Choice
The location you choose will impact your color
choice. Remember that the location is important in setting the ambiance of a
western wedding theme; they tend to be held outdoors, in barns, lodges, and
other rustic areas. So be sure to have an idea of where your wedding's going to
be held before you pick your colors. You'll also need to know if your location will
be able to accommodate your ideas. Questions like the number and placement of
electrical outlets or whether or not the ceiling is accessible for overhead
decorations will be very important later on.
Also, if you happen to know someone with a handy
barn or a nice big yard with a view, consider asking them. You'll save big on
rental fees and likely have much more leeway with your decorating.
Use Western
Flowers
Serving as much more than mere accents, flowers
are the most authentic, unique, and attractive components of western weddings. Cacti,
are traditionally the first plants we think of when we imagine western flora,
so incorporating cacti into your centerpieces will certainly add a nice western
touch to your decorating. It pairs well in centerpieces with sandy colored or
polished stones. Cacti also match textiles like denim and other cloths with
Native American or bandanna designs. We
love spider lilies, those bright and pointy herbs found in ditches and
roadsides all across Mexico and Texas. Spider lilies are very affordable,
completely authentic, and can be found or purchased in a huge variety of
colors, making it relatively easy to match them to your other decor.
Zinnias, meanwhile, are typically associated with
the deep Southwest but are so colorful and vibrant . Zinnias blossom in tight
clusters, are available in almost every color imaginable, and can even be found
in multi-color starburst patterns. Autumn
sage has been around for a long time. This hardy shrub, is the perfect symbol
of the west and is the very definition of rugged beauty. Resistant to cold and
drought, this evergreen features tough spindly stems and leather-textured
leaves that are crowned through much of the summer and autumn with an array of
delicate mint-scented red, pink, or white flowers.
Wildflowers are also perfect for western weddings,
the wild rose is the ultimate western wildflower and can be perfectly
incorporated into your bouquets.
Sunflowers are true American natives and always
work well for western weddings. They're also very nearly a must-have for any
country-style or barn wedding. Sunflowers are available in a range of colors
including red, maroon, orange, and even shades of yellow so pale the flowers
appear white or ivory. Sunflowers make perfect additions to centerpiece floral
arrangements.
Tree saplings can make incredible centerpieces. Putting
a few in galvanized or gingham-patterned buckets for a natural statement. Saplings also pair well
with other floral arrangements.
Paper flowers are fully appropriate for western
weddings and can be used to create a beautiful effect on your church pews and
elsewhere. Even better, you have total control over their color and texture,
allowing you to make them as subtle and delicate or as bright and sturdy as you
wish; all while perfectly blending them into your main wedding colors.
Western Lighting
Once inside, it's time to really set the mood with your
lighting. If you have any leeway consider special lighting like torches or table
candles. We recommend discussing these options with your venue before
considering them, however and if using a barn, use enclosed flames or
artificial lighted candles due to drafts. If your location prohibits open
flame, consider purchasing or even renting fishbowls and filling them with
clear or colored water and floating candles. These are considered
"enclosed" flames and are permitted at most venues. Camping lanterns
may also be appropriate. White or single-color strands of Christmas lights,
meanwhile, can be used to light part of your ceremony or to add a
fun-yet-intimate element to your reception. There are even western themed
strand lights available that include everything from cow skulls and cowboy
boots to cacti and horses. These lights tend to fall on the more relaxed side
of the spectrum, but are perfect for maintaining a comfortable atmosphere at
your reception. Strands of lights can be particularly beautiful for evening and
sunset receptions.
Find
Western Decorations and Centerpieces
Hay bale twine and binder twine is ideal for stringing up
decorative accents like charms or flowers to your reception tables and elsewhere. Use of raffia ribbon or other rope makes it
easy to create a continuing visual western wedding theme that extends through
each part of your wedding day.
Adding a couple horseshoes to your wall decorations, if
possible, is always a nice touch to your western wedding ideas. Horseshoes can
be easily painted to match your wedding colors, and we particularly like the
idea of incorporating a horseshoe or two into your main centerpiece. Also, a
wide variety of wedding-specific accessories are available that have horseshoes
in their designs. Cowboy hats and
boots, meanwhile, go hand-in-hand. They can, of course, be part of your wedding
attire, but can also be used for decorating. Costume clothing and jewelry can
work perfectly well as decorations and even favors for couples on a budget.
Centerpiece ideas are,
in the end, limited only to your imagination. In addition to resin cowboy boots
you can use buckets, pails, Mason jars, metal tubs, or even watering cans
as vases.
In addition to, centerpieces you can also use decorated or
unadorned metal tubs filled with ice and stocked full of drinks like bottles of
root beer, juice, water, and beer
If your western
wedding is going for a more outdoorsy or natural appeal, then we strongly
recommend packets of flower seeds. You can often find them in special packets
that include a romantic tribute to your big day as well as growing
instructions, or create little packets of your own
Wedding Attire
A great western wedding idea is
to add a few decorative flourishes to your attire. Cowboy hats -- white for the
bride and bridesmaids and black for the groom and groomsmen -- aren't just
elegant; they're such powerful symbols that wearing them will effectively
convey your theme even if you do relatively little decorating elsewhere. For a
special touch, the bride's hat can be distinguished by sewing, hot gluing, or
pinning on a tulle or lace veil. If you're a more contemporary cowgirl, think
denim and lace. Fresh flowers can easily be donned on a cowboy hat the day of
the wedding with a little craft glue.
And for the guys, you want to
consider bolo ties. Bolo ties remain a country and western staple. And remember
the costume jewelry we mentioned earlier? If you're willing to be a little
playful during your ceremony then we recommend pinning star badges to your
groomsmen to make your very own posse of "deputy sheriffs" to stand
with you.
Remember to Have Fun
A true western wedding largely involves incorporating things
from the world around you and using them in a fun and creative way.
Country and western wedding themes are
really about going back to our roots. Country images like barns, hay, and
scarecrows are different from Old West images like mesas, saloons, and cacti,
but what all these images represent is a connection to the past that has shaped
who we are. Have fun creating your wedding, and your guests will have fun
attending it!
Look for
Western quotes to incorporate into the ceremony. Cowboy poetry is highly
popular these days.
Horses
are always a good way to add some kick to a western wedding. You might want to
say your vows while on horseback. Or you could have a horse-and-carriage carry
you and your honey away from the ceremony.
Music
is going to be an essential mood-setter at your western style wedding. Make a
list of your favorite artists and country songs. You might want to include a
mix of old and new music. Consider songs of Tammy Wynette, Randy Travis, Lyle
Lovett, Emmylou Harris, The Dixie Chicks, Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash. A way to
save some $$ here would be to use an I-pod or MP3 player. It will give you total
control of what is played. You can also use
a download service online to create a personalized CD to play at the reception.
**And
when the evening is coming to a close, you might want to have a warm bonfire
with marshmallows and skewers on hand for the cowboys and cowgirls.**
You can even incorporate a Rodeo into your big day and get “Hitched” in
the middle of the arena! How cute would that be? If you need a name of a Rodeo
Company, come visit us on Facebook and leave a comment. I have a relative in
that business and maybe you could book with them.
