How to plan a rustic wedding - from the dress to the decor

Whether you walk barefoot down the aisle at a vineyard or say your vows in a flower-filled barn, a country wedding is unique, beautiful and very photogenic.

The aim is for the wedding to look like a scene in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Think: candle-lit ceremony, tulle dresses and an abundance of flowers. It's small wonder that rustic weddings are so popular, given the gorgeous scenery and sitting-together-on-a-hay-bale photo opp.

However, it’s worth noting that you can’t just turn up at a meadow and get married - a marriage is only legally binding if the ceremony takes place under a licensed permanent structure, with a roof over the newlyweds and registrar.

After getting married under a licensed pergola/hut/gazebo, you may not want to stay outdoors (it will get a bit nippy in the evening), so it’s worth investing in a marquee or tipi or choosing a venue with an indoor dining area.

Choosing a wedding venue can be difficult when you decide on a nature theme because there is so much choice. Similarly, it can be overwhelming when looking for decorations, flowers and The Dress. That’s why we have created a complete guide on how to plan a rustic wedding.

Rustic wedding venues

Location is everything when it comes to planning a wedding - especially one with a nature theme. “If you have a venue that naturally fits into a wild, luxury, rustic setting then you need to spend far less money on making it look authentic,” says wedding planner Emma McDonald, director of Something Blue.

A rustic wedding can take place anywhere that’s outdoorsy and ‘natural’ - a woodland, garden or meadow, to name a few. Taking these options into consideration, the following is our shortlist of the best venues for a rustic wedding.

The best woodland wedding venue

Hothorpe Hall - The Woodlands

Take your vows under The Hideaway, a licensed pergola-type structure in rural Leicestershire. Up to 60 guests can witness the ceremony, sitting on benches made from fallen trees, and 150 guests can attend the reception. Evening celebrations take place indoors (although there can be games on the lawns), so guests won’t catch a chill. Accommodation is also available - including a treehouse suite for the newlyweds.

For a blessing, as opposed to a legal ceremony, Middle Coombe Farm’s woodlands is a picturesque venue surrounded by 240 acres of woodland in Devon. Similarly, Upthorpe Woods, on the Suffolk/Norfolk border, is an idyllic and flexible space where you can erect either tipis or marquees.

The best barn wedding venue

Bassmead Manor Barns, Cambridgeshire

Say “I do” in a 300-year-old barn in Cambridgeshire, decked with oak beams, chandeliers and fairy lights. The barn itself is gorgeous (and seats up to 150 guests) but the surrounding scenery is even better - especially the corn fields. There are two other barns, for the reception drinks and dinner, plus a private garden with a romantic gazebo.

We were also impressed by Almonry Barn, an 800-year-old barn in Somerset, with its light and airy atmosphere. Cripps Barn in Gloucestershire also deserves a mention for its interior design, with candles in the walls. For a more medieval aesthetic, however, look no further than Stockbridge Farm Barn, situated on a small farm in Dorset.

The best outdoor ceremony with a marquee

Woodsman’s Cabin, Kent

Overlooking the boat lake, the Woodsman’s Cabin in Kent is a gorgeous ceremony location, with a capacity of 120 guests. After the ceremony, explore the surrounding woodland and meadow, and take photos by the wooden footbridge. The meal and evening celebrations are held in three huge tipi tents, with a capacity of 160 guests.

For larger wedding parties, The Black Horse Beamish on the Red Row Estate, County Durham is a unique marquee location, with a maximum capacity of 250 guests for the ceremony and 500 for the evening celebrations. The marquee is complete with a dance floor, chandelier and sound system.

The best vineyard wedding venue

Three Choirs Vineyard, Hampshire

Get married under a gazebo next to a vineyard, surrounded by 75 acres of greenery. This fully-licensed venue holds up to 90 guests and there are three alternative ceremony options. The wedding reception is held in a renovated barn that holds up to 150 guests.

For a more intimate venue, the Brickhouse Vineyard in Devon specialises in small weddings of up to 50 guests, with views of 20 acres of hills and woodland. The Trevibban Mill near Padstow also impressed us, with its sustainable vineyard. However, this venue is not fully licensed so you’ll need to make a separate trip to the registry office.

Decorations

Authenticity is the watch-word when planning a rustic wedding. “You want to enhance the space - not take over it or create something that doesn’t work. Less is more,” explains wedding planner Matthew Oliver. Decoration can be subtle: if there is wisteria on the outside of the barn, for instance, put some wisteria on the tables.

In keeping with the nature theme, wood is the material du jour. Wooden signs add to the rustic vibe, and wooden tables are a must.

Oliver suggests hanging foliage and lights from the ceiling or atop a pergola as this feels “intimate and romantic”. Candles are also essential for creating an intimate atmosphere. “I like to have a mix of high and low candles so you’ve got that depth to the table,” Oliver says. However, McDonald notes that many barns won’t allow real flames, so check the company’s policy before you book. Glass orbs, lanterns and fairy lights can also create a whimsical aesthetic.

For a premium finish, McDonald recommends premium cutlery and table settings. “To achieve a higher-end look, it’s in the details,” she says. She recommends coloured glassware, copper or gold cutlery, good quality linen and place cards written in calligraphy on natural hand-dyed paper.

Flowers

Whether you think a flower crown will make you look like a Romantic heroine or a teen at Glastonbury, flowers should be the focal point of your rustic wedding. McDonald recommends filling your wedding with seasonal flowers and branches from trees for a “more authentic look”.

Don’t rule out artificial flowers from your ceremony, either, as they complement real flowers. “Artificial flowers have a place - to add volume,” McDonald says, “but I think they should only be used to support real flowers.”

For real flowers on the day, we recommend London's Wild At Heart for their big, dramatic displays that work well as decorations. For the bridal bouquet, we suggest Grace & Thorn, because their wild arrangements are quirky and unkempt (in a good way).

Rustic wedding dress

Nothing is stopping you from wearing a fishtail ball-gown on your wedding day but if you want to keep with the rustic theme, you might choose a simpler option. “I prefer a bride in something simple with clean lines for a more rustic venue,” says wedding dress designer Charlie Brear. “There’s something so cool about a more directional fashion look in this kind of setting.”

Taking Brear’s advice for a simple design into account, the following are our favourite bridal dresses for a rustic wedding.

1. Emelina Embellished V-Necked Dress.

£295, French Connection

With a fitted bodice and flowingy skirting, this dress embodies rustic elegance. We particularly like the lace detail and short cap sleeves.

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2. Isabel

£2,695, Temperley London

This bohemian-style dress is elegant and charming, made entirely from embroidered fabric. We especially love the bell sleeves which give it a timeless look.

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3. Arla

£2,285, Charlie Brear

This classic style, with a streamlined waist and full-bodied skirt, is ideal for getting married on a meadow or in a candle-lit barn. The scooped back is particularly elegant.

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4. Monique Lhuillier - Brie strapless gown

£3,340, Net-a-porter

This tulle dress has a more traditional fairytale aesthetic, and it’s reminiscent of the dress Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell wore in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. We particularly like the fact it is not floor-length, as this will save the hem of your dress from being caked in mud.

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5. Estelle Embellished V-Neck Dress

£225, French Connection

The floral embroidery of the bodice makes this dress ideal for a rustic wedding. The flowing tulle-inspired body of the dress also creates a bohemian aesthetic.

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Wedding favours

The wedding celebrations are over and it’s time for the guests to retire to their hotels. But first, following the age-old custom, it’s time to give them a wedding favour.

In keeping with the theme of the wedding, it could be a good idea to give them a candle - perhaps labelled with the date of the wedding. Or you can order engraved wooden pencils that you can personalise. Similarly, personalised jigsaw pieces are a nice gesture.

Read more of our wedding favour suggestions for under £5 here.

DIY ideas: What you can do yourself

For a personal touch, you may wish to make the wedding favours by hand. You could create bookmarks using good-quality card and a calligraphy set. Or you could fill tiny glass jars with forget-me-not seeds - very symbolic, and in keeping with the rustic theme.

Decorations for the wedding venue can also be made from scratch. This could include personalised bunting - using pegs to hang pictures of the happy couple on long pieces of string. Or, even more unique, you could make origami birds and dangle them from the ceiling.

You can also make the cake, and we particularly recommend this recipe from the blog Actually Ashley. Alternatively, for an even more natural look, you can make a ‘naked’ cake - where you can see the icing rings between each layer. If you do make your own cake, it may be worth investing in some wooden wedding cake toppers to add to the rustic theme.

Here's our instructions for how to make your own wedding cupcakes, and how to make your own wedding cake.