Our most-adored wedding favour ideas from Pinterest are perfect for a rustic theme and seriously great for lovers of DIY crafts. Grab your fiancé or a couple of members from your bridal party to help you put these gifts together and make sure you take advantage of these super cute quotes. We love that all of these are practical and totally rustic gift ideas.
Eight Tips to a Great Wedding on a budget
Wedding costs these days can easily run into the tens of thousands, but what if you don’t want to saddle yourself with a huge debt at the start of married life?
I decided to keep our wedding budget to a minimum and spend the money on an amazing honeymoon instead. Not only was our honeymoon unforgettable, but our wedding (on a budget) was amazing too.
Maybe I can help you with a few tips…
Tip 1 – Keep it Simple
Your family and guests are there to see you and your partner enjoy a happy day, maybe also catch up with some old friends and relatives, they are really not concerned with the cost of the petit fours.
Tip 2 – Call in the favours
Who in your circle of family and friends has any specific talents that could help you out; can anyone make your cake, help with flowers?
For my wedding, my Mum made me a lovely simple white two-tiered square fruitcake, which we decorated with rose buds and ivy from the front garden of my family home. It looked great, tasted great, cost virtually nothing and felt special with meaningful touches of flowers and ivy from the garden.
Image from Sugar Plum Bakes
Another university friend who was a photographer took all our photographs for the price of a hotel room for him and his girlfriend for the night of the wedding – a lot cheaper than a professional wedding photographer and the photographs are professional quality.
One of the best weddings I can remember attending was one set in a rural community, where everyone mucked in to prepare the food, decorate the venue and the evening do was a barn dance, in a proper cleared out farm barn, a fun and unforgettable day.
Image from Rock My Wedding
Make the most of the ‘natural decoration’ of the venue, a manor house with wood panelling, stags heads and oil paintings doesn’t need the addition of mountains of costly flowers. A rural barn can be beautifully attired with some tasteful bunting, tea lights in jars, posies of flowers or coloured bottles filled with twinkling fairy lights. There are many crafting websites which can give great ideas for simple, non-costly decorations.
Tip 3 – Keep it all in one place
Try to find a venue where you can ‘have it all’ – service, reception and evening event, this will cut transport costs and cut down on the stressful logistics of moving yourselves and your guests around. Not only will this cut costs, but from our experience people had a better time!
Tip 4 – Rent holiday accommodation
Accommodation in wedding venues and hotels can cost a fortune, whereas sites such as AirBnB and Holiday Lettings give you an amazing place to stay at a fraction of the price.
Tip 5 – Print your own
For invitation cards, menu cards and place cards – simply print your own, there are many packages online that you can use to print them yourself, easily and cheaply.
Tip 6 – Buy a cancelled wedding
Buy a cancelled wedding from someone like cancelledweddings.co.uk – yes, that’s right, you can save a fortune by buying a wedding package that’s been cancelled!
Tip 7 – Buy a dress that is not a “wedding dress”
The word wedding immediately adds £££ to the price of a dress, but you do not need to. Some of the large High Street retailers, like Next stock a range of beautiful, elegant, stylish dresses, which start at less than £100.00 and no more than £600.00, considerably less than a bespoke designer dress, remember it’s only going to be worn once.
Tip 8 – Don’t get sucked into the wedding ‘thing’
Don’t get sucked in… There is a myriad of ways to spend a fortune on everything from bespoke acceptance cards to dresses, try to keep in mind what the day is about, and that it is only one day.
The best weddings I’ve been too were where people happy and relaxed, invariably the weddings that cost less!
So make it fun – challenge yourself to get value for money and see how far your budget can go….., and why not have an amazing honeymoon instead – I’ll never forget our three week trip to New Zealand paid for by the savings from our wedding.
This post was contributed by Abigail Monk, a recommended supplier for rustic accommodation. We loved Abi’s budget, rustic wedding tips and are delighted she offered to share with NRW’s readers. We know you’ll also adore Abi’s accommodation, Alber Barn in Ashwell, Hertfordshire – there are beams galore! It’s the perfect place to relax after any local wedding celebrations or just to get away with your family and friends for a week.
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5 adorable rustic wedding favours
Love in bloom
Whatever your favourite miniature plant or succulent, bulk buy and pot them with a rustic twist. Tie the pots in with your theme by mixing up the pot material, shape, colour or accessory. Top tip, they also make a great name setting.
Meant to bee
Why not turn this idea into a fun day out with your partner? Arrange a date with your local honey supplier to learn something new, check out the hives and most importantly bag yourself some delicious, sweet honey for guest to enjoy.
Let love grow
We love these simple and low-cost wildflower seed packets. Wildflowers go hand in hand with a rustic theme, especially if you’re planning to include them in your floral designs.
Where friends and marshmallows get toasted
So delicious and great fun for all ages. Leave out a bucket of roasting sticks for guests to make their own s’mores around the fire as they reminisce on the day’s highlights. There’s no doubt, the next time you’re around a firepit you’ll be flooded with memories of your special day.
Keep the fire burning
The classical candle is a popular choice, but there’s something extra special about making them yourself – another great date night idea too! Combine your ‘wedding scent’ whether it be lavender, roses or woodland for a delightful gift.
Find more details to all images on our Pinterest Wedding Decor board.
Choosing between a rustic or boho wedding
Image source: Stennack Farm Weddings
With so much inspiration for wedding themes and decor choices, a combination of rustic and boho weddings are becoming increasingly common. Couples that tend to opt for the rustic or boho themes are likely to be inspired by natural and organic elements. Within this blog, we will explore the differences between the two styles helping to keep you on track with your theme or pick and choose features of each.
A rustic themed wedding
Outdoor ceremonies and barn reception venues provide the perfect backdrop for a rustic wedding. Nature-inspired textures along with a natural colour palette create a romantic, cosy atmosphere, think Champagne, Lavender, Peach, with lots of greenery from grasses and foliage.
Photographer: Emily Black Photography.
If you’re dreaming of a rustic wedding you’re probably going to need some, if not all the rustic wedding decor and accessories listed here:
- Weathered wood, chipped furniture and worn pieces are essential to set the rustic theme.
- Exposed wood tables dressed with a rough linen table runner and mismatched glassware, flowers and candles for simple table decor.
- Earthy green and white floral arrangements – think large white flowers, such as Peonies or White Scabiosa, coupled with the soft green hue of eucalyptus.
- Wooden tree log slice to sit a naked wedding cake lightly dusted with icing sugar and decorated with flowers and foliage.
- Incorporate vintage metal buckets and wooden crates filled with flowers, drinks, snacks, wedding favours, or blankets.
- Enhance focal points with loosely draped greenery from beams, stepladders, or lights.
A boho wedding theme
Image source: The Secret Garden Kent
Boho or Bohemian weddings theme suits the free-spirited couple who want to incorporate an effortless, elegant style teamed with a creative colour palette, patterns and soft materials for a romantic feel.
Embrace a vibrant colour scheme with saffron, ruby, bright pink, magenta and golden yellow, perfect for a green setting. If you’re planning a boho beach wedding, add colour through gorgeous pops of amethyst, turquoise and jade.
Style your boho wedding that dreams are made of with these hallmark decorative ideas to create a look that both embraces nature and luxury.
- A boho essential is the Flower Crown to replace or work alongside the traditional veil. Create a statement piece or a dainty crown, just don’t miss out on the boho signature look.
- Decorate your tables with soft linen paired with jam jar posies or terrariums bursting with air plants and greenery
- Greenhouses create a light filled, vintage backdrop, ideal to fill with draping greenery for a lush botanical garden vibe.
- Add a pinch of sparkle and a whole lot of spiritual healing with quartz to decorate your table or incorporate as name place cards.
- Create that romantic, dreamy space with macramé accents, drapes and dreamcatchers.
- For the effortless look, choose mismatched décor teamed with vintage cushions and rugs for the ultimate in boho style.
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2023 Ideas for a Rustic Wedding in the UK
A wedding with a rustic charm is perfect for couples looking for a relaxed, warm, and cozy celebration. With organic and down-to-earth elements, it’s a style that’s perfect for a UK wedding. Here are some ideas on planning a wedding with a rustic feel, along with some ideas for things to do, food, and decoration.
Rustic Venue Options:
There are plenty of venue styles to suit a rustic wedding. From barns, walled gardens, woodlands, castle ruins, and country houses. There are all great options that will give your wedding a relaxed and charming feel. You can find plenty of venues that will provide you with the perfect rustic backdrop for your special day. Here are 3 venues that perfectly fit the brief of a rustic wedding:
Dewsall Court
Herefordshire | Exclusively yours for your special weekend with up to 170 guests
@redonblondephotography
Learn more about Dewsall Court
Plas Dinam
Wales | “Wow’ your guests with the amazing glass roofed, rustic stable barn that can hold up to 180 of your friends and family.
@wyldbeephotography
Danby Castle
North Yorkshire | The stunning castle ruins are the perfect backdrop for everlasting memories and photos.
Wedding Activities with a Rustic Charm
Things to do:
- Lawn games: Set up some traditional lawn games like croquet, bocce, or giant Jenga. These games are perfect for outdoor weddings and will keep your guests entertained.
- DIY photo booth: Set up a DIY photo booth with a rustic backdrop made of burlap and vintage frames. This is a great way to capture memories and keep your guests entertained.
- Hayrides: Take your guests on a hayride around the venue. It’s a fun way to explore the surrounding area and will give everyone a chance to take in the beautiful scenery.
- Bonfire: Set up a bonfire for your guests to gather around in the evening. Provide marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate for s’mores. It’s a great way to end the night.
- Rustic dance floor: Create a dance floor with rustic elements like wooden pallets and burlap. It will add to the charm of your wedding and provide a perfect spot for dancing.
Rustic Food Ideas
When it comes to food for a rustic charm wedding, think comfort food with a homemade touch. Here are some ideas for rustic style food:
- Pie bar: Set up a pie bar with a variety of homemade pies like apple, cherry, and peach. Add some rustic décor to the table, like wooden crates and burlap table runners.
- BBQ: A BBQ is a perfect option for a rustic charm wedding. Serve up classic BBQ foods like pulled pork, baked beans, and coleslaw. Add some mason jars for drinks and you’ll have the perfect country-style meal.
- Cheese board: Create a cheese board with a variety of cheeses, crackers, and fruits. Add some rustic touches like wooden boards and burlap runners.
- Roast dinner: A traditional roast dinner with all the trimmings is a great option for a rustic wedding. Serve up roast beef or chicken, potatoes, vegetables, and gravy.
- Fish and chips: A classic British dish, fish and chips is a great option for a UK rustic charm wedding. Serve it up in newspaper cones for a rustic touch.
Rustic Wedding Decoration
When it comes to decoration for a rustic charm wedding, think natural elements with a homemade feel. Here are some ideas for decoration:
- Mason jars: Mason jars are a great way to add a rustic touch to your wedding. Use them as vases for flowers, as candle holders, or as drinking glasses.
- Burlap: Burlap is a versatile material that can be used in many different ways for decoration. Use it as table runners, as a backdrop for photos, or to wrap around bouquets.
- Wooden crates: Wooden crates are perfect for adding a rustic touch to your wedding. Use them to hold flowers, as a base for centerpieces, or to display favors.
- Wildflowers: Wildflowers are perfect for a rustic charm wedding. Use them in your bouquet, as centerpieces, or to decorate the aisle.
- Twinkle lights: Twinkle lights can add a magical touch to your rustic wedding. Use them to create a canopy over
Choosing Luxury Wedding Transport
Make your day feel that extra bit special with luxurious transportation. Travel in a magnificent Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Cadillac or whatever takes your fancy.
Traditionally, it’s not just the bride and groom who require specialist transport. The bride’s parents, along with the bridesmaids and groomsmen, would usually be treated to the luxury travel treatment also.
There’s much more to wedding transport hire than just picking a fancy car, though. You’ll need to think about how many vehicles are needed, the routes that will be travelled, the time required to get to the ceremony without panic erupting and the budget allocated for transport hire. The importance of booking early and overestimating journey times cannot be downplayed.
Establishing a good rapport with the car hire company is highly recommended. If you can get onside with your chauffeur, he/she might include a few optional extras to make the journey all the more luxurious. More importantly, they might seek out some handy shortcuts to give you an even better chance of getting to the ceremony in good time.
This infographic from L.A. Stretch Limos offers a well-informed overall guide to the wedding transport booking process. It recommends some ideal cars to hire and dispenses some important advice which is well worth heeding. If you’re part of a wedding party and you’ve been assigned the duty of hiring transport, this infographic is essential reading.
Rustic Wedding Ring Inspiration
We love this stylish blend of Rose Gold and Rosewood joined forever in this gorgeous wedding band set by Eco Wood Rings . Eco Wood Rings uses sustainable materials that are sourced from a mix of salvage, recycled, Fairtrade or sustainable materials to create a unique collection bound to appeal to lovers seeking a natural rustic venue for their nuptials. Inlays include sand and seashells. A visit to Eco Wood Rings is a must!
Ooh … just the name Beachcomber Jewellery based on the Welsh coastline evokes the rustic natural spirit we love. Kerry Hughes in Ceredigion designs and handmakes eco-friendly jewellery inspired by walks on the beach and using recycled silver and gold. Your man will love this driftwood ring.
From Wales we jump to Cornwall to Justin Duance whose handcrafted wedding sets combine the textures of land and sea. Justin’s team create their magic in a workshop in the woods of Heamoor. We love their sandcast rings and the textured rock designs will be a permanent reminder of your special day!
In South Devon, Kate of Glasswing loves to craft sea glass found on the beach into her rings. Her ethically sourced collection extends to gemstones and diamonds mounted on beautifully silversmithed rings that are often medieval in style. Gorgeous.
Jasmine Bowden will work with you to create your own unique ring from recycled materials of metal and gem stones. Browse her gallery to see the intricate workmanship of the bands. We love this one above for its unusual natural look.
Jacqueline & Edward are the UK’s ethical wild west. They pan and prospect their alluvial gold from rivers across the UK with a focus on sustainability or recycle / repurpose gems and metal into their own enchanting designs. Some of these designs are perfect for that rustic charm.
Nature and gold flake captured within a beautiful and yet low budget setting of eco-resin. Dora’s Jewellery is based in Scotland and her website blogs about the use of resin for engagement rings. If the idea of locking nature into a resin ring appeals make sure to check your chosen jeweler uses eco or bio resin. A browse through Etsy will spark ideas with many suppliers from Europe.
9 Ideas To Make a Small Wedding Beautifully Intimate & Memorable
2020 has been the year all attention has turned to small and intimate weddings. So many couples have embraced the restrictions put in place this year and altered their special day and the results have been outstanding, so there’s no surprise the demand for small weddings is increasing – restrictions or not!
Featured image by MT Studio Photography
Let’s talk about money
Thousands of couples are embracing a smaller wedding and jumping for joy once realising there’s no more blowing the budget on feeding up to 70+ people on sausages and mash and limiting everyone to one glass of the cheapest prosecco. One clear benefit of hosting a smaller wedding is that it costs less, giving you an opportunity to spend on the things that will make a real difference. If you’re thinking about organising your wedding with a smaller number of guests or rethinking the scale of your current guest list, here are 9 ideas to make your intimate wedding stylish and memorable.
Put more thought into decor and styling
Let your creativity shine through or be inspired by a wedding stylist and planner. The unusual and one of a kind are always memorable additions to a small wedding and you don’t need many. Just a few statements are enough to make a big impact. Here are a few things that have inspired us recently.
Get creative with the catering
If sausages and mash are your thing, then we love you for it, but there are so many caterers with innovative dishes and picture-perfect presentation that giving a bit of extra thought to who you choose to prepare your wedding breakfast will add to the overall deliciousness of the day.
In our opinion, you can never go wrong with sharing platters or a grazing table, it’s got a real WOW factor and instantly forms part of your overall decor; the mix of colours, textures, smells, shapes, and heights, makes for a very attractive display. You’ll find many grazing tables on the side, but why not make it your table centerpiece!
It’s not all sausage rolls, grapes, and cheese. You can incorporate almost anything, just take a look at these.
Top tip: Don’t forget to top with edible flowers and herbs, this cheap and simple trick makes all the difference.
DIY projects are less daunting
Ever thought about doing a DIY wedding project and stopped when you considered the amount of time it would take to create for 100+ guests? There’s no excuse now. Get started with some simple DIY invitations, place settings, wedding favours, centerpieces, or chair dressings. DIY projects are a great way to save money, build excitement, and get your bridal party and guests involved too.
Ask for help from experienced planners
Planning a wedding, large or small requires a lot of research, organisation, and creativity that altogether takes months. This year, thousands of heartbroken couples have been stalling, cancelling, and rearranging their ceremonies and we all remain uncertain of the months ahead. Times like this call for experts, someone who has established connections with hundreds of venues and suppliers, and has the ability to adapt quickly.
Hiring a planner will help you to enjoy the run-up to your wedding day knowing you have a professional to support you throughout. Your wedding planner will expose you to new ideas, recommend the best vendors, and many will be able to negotiate deals on your behalf.
We’re excited to see luxury wedding planner Constance Taylor’s new initiative “Sweet 15” combines all these advantages and more. She has grouped together a team of her best suppliers and venues (many that we already know and love) that will help couples to tie the knot and throw a gorgeous wedding for a total of £15,000 with 15 attendees. Learn more about Sweet 15 here.
Know how to make use of big spaces
Many wedding venues have big open rooms, easily seating 120 people at a time. So how can you make such a vast space feel cosy and intimate?
Sectioning a room not only improves the feeling of the space, but it also gives you the opportunity to incorporate some fun features like a games section, beanbags or sofas around the fire, a photo area for the silliest photos, gallery walls of your adventures together, and the must-have baby photos.
Choosing a smaller venue
There are so many small venues that don’t compromise that all-important WOW factor and often come at the fraction of the price. You’ll also find many restaurants with private rooms that have bags of character or where you can hire the whole place. Then there are the bigger wedding venues who are transforming their smaller barns or buildings into intimate spaces as the demand for smaller venues increases. To help you with your search we’ve put together a selection of our favourite small rustic venues across the UK.
A weekend-long affair
English weddings are typically day-long with a large guest list, making a weekend-long wedding quite the challenge. For a start, where’s everyone meant to stay when there are almost a hundred guests and who really has the budget for accommodation like that? A small wedding is the perfect time to make your special day into two, three, or four!
Here are a few of our favourite weekend-long wedding venues and links to their packages.
It’s all about you and your partner to be
This is so important to remember no matter what the size of your wedding party. It’s your wedding day, make it your own. Forget about traditional weddings with big cakes, sit down meals, a white dress, and bow ties. What do you and your partner enjoy, what do you do in your spare time? Incorporating this into your day will not only make it extra special but so memorable to you, family and friends.
Getting everyone involved on the day
The bridal party and guest might have been involved with some of the wedding planning, DIY projects and hen do/stag celebrations, but you can also get them involved during the wedding for a memorable experience. If you’re lucky enough to have a friend with musical talent, a grandparent who’ll read a poem or share a blessing, or a younger cousin who can present the rings, these moments add a little magic and intimacy to a wedding.
9 Unique Ways to Display Your Grazing Tables
Ditch the traditional table set up and add some wow factor with these unique rustic themed grazing, dessert and drink ‘tables’.
Canoe
If your venue is next to a water’s edge, incorporate this theme into your grazing table designs. Any outdoor space is ideal for this set up and perfect for adding character in a unique way. Top tip: embrace the rustic look and feel by using hay bales to raise the canoe to a comfortable height for your grazers.
Image source: Aimée Wimbush-Bourque
Ladders
With at least three different ladder ‘table’ set ups to choose from, this is such a great way to add rustic appeal. It’s also incredibly functional and space saving too. For the super organised brides and grooms, use the multiple levels for starters, mains and desserts.
Image source: Studio Impressions
Image source: Rock My Wedding via www.mandjphotos.com
Carts
You’ll often see carts used for sweets and drinks tables, but they aren’t always rustic enough for us. So, we’ve been searching and found this rustic cart from To Have & To Hire Weddings for just £90! A bargain for such a special piece.
Image source: To Have & To Hire Weddings
Log slices
The top rustic wedding trend of 2018? Log slices. You’ll find the majority of catering and decor hire companies stock these beauties but you can also source your own from your local sawmill, or online. For extra wow factor, get yourself a rustic log cupcake stand – or if you’re a DIY enthusiast, give it a go yourself.
Image source: BullLogs
Image source: Pinterest
Shelves
Love this look, simple yet charming. Pair rustic planks from your local timber recycling yard (or a couple of waney edge boards) with rustic draws, crates or tree trumps to add the layers and create a ‘shelf’ set up.
Image source: Yolk and Flour
Hanging table
I’d love to see more ‘hanging’ features in 2019 weddings, who agrees? So unique but surprisingly easy to put up, especially if you’ve got a venue with beams or a large tree. Just grab some rope, a ‘table’ top (or maybe an old timber door) and depending on the style, a holesaw drill bit. It’s certainly a personal favourite, where rustic meets festival chic.
Image source: Michael and Carina Photography
Image source: Pinterest
Crates
We adore this farmers market set up with the fruit and wooden crates. Something different, cost effective, and tasty too. Remember, good quality local produce is always recommended but has every item really got to be so extravagant? A true rustic theme embraces nature’s goods, so fruit would be a massive tick! And who can resist a fresh loaf, especially when it looks this pretty.
Image source: Wedding Bells
Image source: The Tomkat Studio
Pallets
Pallets are a core rustic trend for furnishings. We love how the glass top gives a clean modern edge but allows you to admire the pallet too. Easy to construct and they give vast space to fill with a stunning grazing selection.
Barrels
Who doesn’t love the look of a barrel, even better when topped with some delicious grazing food, but we wouldn’t mind if they were filled with wine too… Why not try individual barrel platters, dotted around? What a great incentive to get your guests socialising.
Image source: Over The Top Events
Image source: I Am Board
We’d love to see your take on these rustic grazing, dessert and drinks tables. Tag us on instagram @naturallyrusticweddings or email us to feature in your very own ‘real wedding’ blog sara@naturallyrusticweddings.co.uk.
The Gin Bar by Nakd Weddings
Searching for quirky yet practical props for your wedding? The Gin Bar by Nakd Weddings, provides you and your guests with hours of pure pleasure. Made from reclaimed school desks, the Gin Bar is a best seller.
Guests will love making their own Gin cocktails, adding fruit, edible flowers, herbs and spices to create their perfect individual mix.
Why should you love Nakd Weddings?
Because they always reclaim things that are overlooked and think of how to put a twist on it without decimating the original design.
Owners Mark & Olly say “The trick is to look at what others have done but don’t copy, and to keep it personal but relevant to all. Quite often we have storming sessions where we find a nice lump of wood or and old piece of furniture and throw the craziest ideas at it until it works”
Whats better that a Gin Bar? A Gin Bar with games. Discover a range of games to complement your rustic theme perfectly, providing hours of entertainment for the kids and young at heart! Follow Nakd Weddings on Facebook & Instagram.
