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?