Rustic and Homey, NO MASON JARS!

Anyone who has been to a wedding or two in the last few years knows that one of the biggest trends is a combination of rustic/barn/country and an eclectic vintage look-- it has an individuality and a nostalgia to both of them that I love. Some brides are more country and all about the barn, some are more about trying to make it feel like a party in your grandmother's garden. Here are a few tips on how to keep it fresh and personal and you.

1) Decide what's most critical to your day-- what does "rustic" mean to you? Are you a hiker and need the feel of a Rocky Mountain Lodge? Do you want the farm and hay and sunflowers and a nostalgic/Americana? Is it more about a garden party with eclectic tea sets and vintage dishes? Decide what it means to you and focus on that. Don't go out and buy 50 yards of burlap when you really want colors and lace and the feel of an English garden party. If you want a picnic feel, don't worry about china and crystal, bring in picnic baskets full of flowers, simple dishes and handmade quilts instead of tablecloths. Below are ideas for three rustic weddings, each as different as night and day based on the couple's overall look, feel and location choice.

2) Don't necessarily focus your shopping and design efforts on craft stores-- check out the thrift stores near you, flea markets and charity stores are GOLDMINES for inexpensive (and perfectly expendable if they are dropped) vases, candle holders, dishes, tablecloths and more. For the couple that likes garage sales and flea markets, this is a fun way to spend time together before the wedding-- even a great bonding experience for mother/daughter or mother-in-law, maybe bridesmaids. Enlist friends to keep an eye out for you for specific items, maybe even bring in items from places you've visited together.

3) Don't forget you're a host: most of the time a rustic wedding is going to be, at least a good part of it, outside. You may be rustic, but maybe not all of your guests are as outdoorsy as you. Try to make them as comfortable as possible with bug repellant (wipes- not sprays), sunscreen wipes, fans and such. Hay bale benches are a great way to bring in your rustic feeling, but maybe have a few chairs with back support for your Great Aunt Ida.

4) Leverage what you love about your setting. Love the feeling of harvest time? USE IT! Bring in pumpkins (albino are gorgeous for this), hay, herbs and coniferous foliage-- try darker fall colors and wood accents. Are you a summer, classic Americana picnic kind of person? Use fruit for decor (strawberries, blueberries and peaches are gorgeous pops of color and edible the next day), work with gingham and picnic baskets, sunflowers fireworks like the 4th of July. If you love roses, don't choose a mountainside venue with pine trees everywhere, find a location with big and beautiful summer gardens. Perhaps the place is on a lake or at an old summer camp, maybe an old canoe can serve as a "help yourself" kind of bar/cooler. When in wine country, use old wine barrels to create displays. Let your place dictate the decor, not fight it.

Remember, a wedding is about you as a couple, and I think rustic/vintage weddings really speak to a sense of family and nostalgia-- they also lend themselves to simplicity. Find what works for you, don't worry about covering every single item in burlap or hay-- think about the memories you have of hiking and camping or skiing and horseback riding- think about what you can do to bring those feelings of happiness and family and nostalgia to the party and forget about the rest.

For more ideas of rustic decor that may work for you, check out my Rustic board on Pinterest. If you're looking for a venue in the DC/MD/VA area, check out my Rustic Settings board for a comprehensive list of ideas.