12 Essentials for an Elegant Country Wedding
12 Essentials for an Elegant Country Wedding
Usually associated with barns, mason jars, and gingham linens, a country style wedding doesn’t always have the best reputation. Venues atop rolling hills, loose arrangements of specialty florals, and rural backdrops that double as one-of-a-kind décor, however, can make hosting a country wedding as elegant and elevated as a black-tie affair. To pull off a sophisticated country fete, we tapped the minds of industry experts who know a thing or two about rustic refinement.
1) Go garden-style with your florals.
“Potting plants along the sides of the aisle was an innovative way to evoke a country feel without taking the focus away from the couple during their I-Dos,” says Kerri-Lynn Orsini Mulhearn, Owner of Stella Day Events. Keeping the florals monochromatic was an elegant way to elevate the design of the ceremony as well as the country aesthetic.
2) Let your surroundings act as décor.
Don’t crowd your ceremony space with unnecessary décor that could essentially take away from the magnificent country backdrop. “Sleek wood and iron ceremony chairs and lush green aisle runners beautifully complimented the outdoor venue’s stunning features ,” says Rosemary Hattenbach, Owner of Rosemary Events. “Opting to do without a ceremony structure was another way we chose to let the surroundings shine,” Hattenbach adds.
3) Bring in raw wood elements.
Whether you’re hosting your I-Dos at an outdoor venue, or at an indoor location, one of the best ways to elevate your country ceremony is with wooden accents. “Along with bringing in a personal touch to your I-Dos, keeping your palette neutral with raw wood tables and benches is a great way to create a nod to your countryside environment,” says Britt, Owner of BrittRene Photography, who captured this breathtaking outdoor ceremony that embraced tree stumps in replace of the traditional ceremony arch.
4) Consider a greenery-filled tented space.
"The joy of a tented country wedding is the ability to recreate elements of nature while putting your own elegant twist on the affair,” says Kent Drake, Owner of Kent Drake Photography. Maintaining the warm, rich tones of your country surroundings with lush greenery against a backdrop of a white tent can leave room for an introduction of vibrant colors. “Capturing the pop of greenery against this tented landscape really tied-in the entire country style of the event,” says Drake.
5) Create a rustic altar.
“This outdoor wedding ceremony took place on a working organic farm,” says Elisabeth Zemetis, Owner and Creative Director of Blush Floral Design who used a reclaimed wooden structure and a natural canvas canopy to create a rustic chuppah that coordinated with the natural surroundings. “We incorporated lots of dahlias and antiqued hydrangea, both of which could be seen growing in the gardens of the property,” Zemetis adds.
6) Construct a tablescape with raw materials.
Taking a country wedding from rustic to upscale is all in the details. “We love taking a blank, rugged slate and making it shine,” says Eatherly Schultz, Owner of Floressence Flowers. Lush florals elevate raw materials and mixed metals in a tablecape. “Elegance can be anywhere, it just takes the right elements and details to bring it out,” Schultz adds
7) Lean into your natural surroundings.
“When developing a wedding site in a broad open space, consider tailoring your aisle to flow with the surrounding area,” says Neillie Butler, Owner of Mariée Ami. Loose organic, florals lined the aisle of this alfresco setup, adding a pop of color with “something blue” hued blooms.
8) Bring the country indoors.
Keep the focus on seasonal and timeless floral elements. “Embrace the colors and elements found in nature when bringing country elements indoors,” says Andrea Smith, Owner and Chief Event Planner of SoiréeSmith. “For this wedding, we leaned into the combination of the blue found just outside the country club's lakeside views, while layering in the creamy whites, and greens, and the small pop of the garden roses and peonies found in garden's this time of year,” Smith adds.
9) Go with loose and organic arrangements.
“Bringing candlelight and nature such as birch logs into an already rustic setting such as a forest makes for an enchanting wedding,” says Jennifer Zukovsky, Co-owner of Fionna Floral. For this celebration, we used deconstructed, elegant florals such as orchids and calla lilies to add an upscale look while still respecting the organic nature of the event.”
10) Highlight a color scheme of white and green.
“Classic green and white is one of our favorite color palettes for a countryside wedding,” says Matthew Robbins, Owner of Matthew Robbins Design. “It’s a great way to give a bit more formality and elegance to a more rustic setting,” Robbins adds. It’s important to compliment your country setting to include lots of textural elements and beautiful foliage. “Flowers that feel less fussy are also great such as anemones, sweet peas, and delphinium,” says Robbins.
11) Emphasize guest comfort.
To achieve a luxury feeling in a rustic setting, it's imperative to prioritize your guests' satisfaction. “For example, if you want to get married in the countryside with a beautiful, bucolic backdrop, make sure your guests have a comfortable, air-conditioned mode of transportation there, refreshing drinks upon arrival, and comfortable seats to sit on,” suggests Lisa Karvellas, CEO and Owner of Cedar Lakes Estate.
12) Don’t shy from opulence.
It’s easy to fall for the common misconception that a country wedding can’t be lavish. An absence of glitter and sparkle isn’t always the correct route when planning a countryside affair. “Consider adding crystal chandeliers into surrounding trees for lighting,” says Anne Mulvihill, Founder of Fête in France. This will add a touch of opulence while staying true to your overall country-inspired vision.
For the couple that who craves something rustic and refined.