Wedding Ideas: The Western Wedding (page 2)

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Wedding Ideas: The Western Wedding

Posted by Alexandra C. | Thursday December 8, 2011

27 comments

A few weeks a go, I was checking out (i.e. living vicariously through) photos of Lauren Bush's (as in George W. Bush's niece) wedding to David Lauren (as in Ralph Lauren's son). The wedding was absolutely gorgeous- a classic, elegant wedding with a vintage western twist. I couldn't get the images of the lace gown, horse drawn carriages and waistcoats out of my mind.

So I enlisted the help of Maggie Lord from rusticweddingchic.com to give me the lowdown on how to create a fun and fabulous western themed wedding. Giddy up!

Lauren Bush's Wedding Carriage: Le sigh, how romantic can you get?

Venue

(images via imgfave.com, livecreatingyourself.com, rusticweddingchic.com)

Nothing says 'wild, wild west' like the open air! Farms surrounded by fields are the perfect locale for a down home, country feel and a barn provides coverage for bad weather and as an eating/dancing area for the reception. Maggie suggests dressing up the barn for a more country-chic feel with white lights or curtains and I'm especially a fan of paper lanterns or mason jar candle holders. Of course, not everyone has a barn accessible to them and a country club is a great option for all sorts of weather conditions. Even a styled back yard can be a great venue, like Maggie mentions, customize your space to personalize it for you!

Décor

(all images via rusticweddingchic.com)

We love some of the ideas from our rustic wedding article and think they translate wonderfully for a western wedding- most notably, mason jars and burlap fabrics!

"Think hay bales, country style fabrics, horseshoe favors, mason jars for drinking and for vases, silverware wrapped up in twine and long tables with bandana napkins. Burlap table runners can add depth to tables."

Maggie also points to using hay bales as seating, plaid fabrics over top would not only add comfort but colour and quirkiness. I loved HER idea of adding a "fun prop like an old red pickup truck which can be great in pictures but also help in transporting your guests."

Flowers

(images via celebrationsathomeblog.com, rusticweddingchic.com, tumblr.com)

Wildflowers can be elegant when dressed up, but lend a casual and more intimate feeling to a wedding. Think of using straw or wheat for centrepieces or as accents in bouquets. Add in your plaid or accent coloured fabric by wrapping it around your flowers or even twine around the base. An alternative to the floral centrepiece is farm fresh foods! One couple used eggs- how cute!

Food

(images via thepioneerwoman.com and pinterest.com)

One word for you: Barbeque. However, this being a more classy western affair, we're going to make it gourmet B.B.Q.

Maggie loves "pulled pork mini sandwiches, baskets of fried chicken, mom's [home]made potato salad and fancy mac and cheese" for a western wedding. I'm all about western food with an exotic twist- I love this recipe for beef fajita nachos or what about some beef stew with beer and paprika?

Music

(images via pinterest.com, ohpioneer.com, pinterest.com)

Go all out with a western wedding and hire a good country band to play live- your dancing guests will thank you. If standard country music isn't your thing, try an alternative like a bluegrass band. And not just for the reception, as Maggie suggests "sweet music for the ceremony and be in keeping with the theme."

An idea we found while researching western weddings was to put together a personalized CD of country music as a take away for your guests.

Dress

(images via dustjacketattic.blogspot.com, theweddingidea.onsugar.com, fabweds.wordpress.com)

"There is a major trend right now of brides and bridesmaids wearing cowboy boots," Maggie says. "I have seen brides go with the classic brown color or going with white to keep with their dress."

As for the bride's dress, take a cue from Lauren Bush and go with vintage lace. We've also been seeing more long sleeve wedding dresses as well (think Kate Middleton or even Bella Swan in Breaking Dawn) perfect for a more classic and modest yet trendy bride.

Maggie also brought to our attention the suggestion of dressing bridesmaids in denim. Certainly denim is right on point with the country/western theme but a dress cut in a more modern way doesn't, as Maggie points out, "have to be as casual as you think they would be." Western styles shouldn't exclude the men either- think cowboy hats, boots, vests and fun patterns.

Would you ever try a western theme for your wedding?

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20 Comments

	on December 08, 2011 Bren 25,851 said: The last picture the wedding gown with the veil is gorgeous!It looks like it would be a fun wedding very rustic, but I have to agree with mamaluv that I wouldn't be able to handle all the country music
	on December 08, 2011 takoda 28,648 said: It was a beautiful wedding and the most memorable one I've ever been to. That could also be because I expecting our second son and wasn't drinking. LOL My husband stood up in it and still has the cowboy hat and boots. The guy's just had on black jeans, white Levi button up shirts with black Levi jackets along with their cowboy boots and black cowboy hats. I'm not sure if I have any pic on my computer of the wedding because it was 16 years ago. We didn't have a computer back then, but I might be able to find a few. If I can dig some up I'll post them so you can see how nice it was.
	on December 08, 2011 LadyChick234234 3,701 said: I'm a glam girl. For me, while it's cute for those that love country music and the theme of country n western it would be a nice idea but personally not for me...... I wouldn't want to be stepping in cow dung with stilettos on and country music makes my ears bleed.
	on December 08, 2011 Becky 13,128 said: wow this looks soooo romantic!! I would love to be a bridesmaid at something like this :) even they have cool outfits and boots you can totally wear again!
	on December 08, 2011 mamaluv STAFF said: @Takoda - a wedding in a forest clearing! What a gorgeous visual! I love that idea. I like the idea of a western wedding and love pretty much every aspect of it... except I REALLY do not like country music :/
	on December 08, 2011 AlexJC 50 said: @TashaCat haha I actually read an interview with her and they asked her the same question! For simplicity's sake, I think she will stick with Bush though- can you imagine having the name Lauren Lauren?! LOL!
	on December 08, 2011 AlexJC 50 said: @takoda That sounds amazing!!! I love the idea of a horse and buggy and just having the vows done in a beautiful and simple field! What I love about these weddings is that because they have a 'country feel' to them, they also feel so much more intimate.
	on December 08, 2011 Suelyn 2,249 said: Wow!! beautiful western wedding.
	on December 08, 2011 TashaCat 6,762 said: Lauren Lauren is now her name? Now that's funny! There is something really sweet, homey, and authentic about this theme. And, I've never been to one... I think it could be so creatively and beautifully executed.
	on December 08, 2011 takoda 28,648 said: Friends of ours had they're wedding in a clearing in the middle of a small forest. Everyone dress in western out fits, they even had gunslingers showing people the way to where the wedding was taking place.The wedding party showed up in a horse and buggy that dropped them off at clearing where everyone was waiting. It was really nice! The reception was in a barn that is rented out just for weddings. One side of the barn was set up for the dinner and the other side was the bar and dance floor. It was one of the best wedding we were ever at.