Living There
There are many different types of wedding styles available for a bride and groom to choose from. Some could be considered trendy, as in they’re a style that comes and goes. Other types of weddings are simply considered a time-honored style that a couple chooses simply because that’s the way they want to have their wedding. While faddish or trendy weddings are often influenced by what the celebrities of the day are doing, weddings that are just a type of style tend to be time honored and often have the touch of a classic feel.
Rustic weddings are one such wedding style. They forgo the traditional feel in favor of focusing on textures, patterns and natural organics like trees and barks. Often there’s a focus on nature which makes Catskill Weddings a perfect option for anyone who wants a rustic style wedding.
This type of wedding doesn’t really have a manual or specific guide to follow. It’s often up to the bride what she wants for the wedding and how she’ll decorate it and what will be the focal points. As long as there are plenty of organic textures, a rustic style wedding can be held anywhere. Rustic weddings don’t necessarily have to be exclusively earthy. They can be glamorous. They can also be handmade, retro, shabby chic, beach, vintage or even do-it –yourself.
There are a few points to keep in mind if you want your wedding to be classified rustic in style. Keeping in tune with the idea of organic textures, feel free to use burlap, twine, lace, handmade wooden signs, barns, homemade food and moss covered monograms. A rustic wedding is not the place for the use of an excessive amount of silk fabric. Better choices are wool and linen. Cowboy boots work fabulously and checks, plaid and suspenders are not out of place at a rustic wedding.
Burlap is often a signature fabric of a rustic style wedding. This simple fabric will not be out of place at an earth themed Catskill wedding and can (surprisingly) be dressed up with minimal effort. It also has a lot of uses from practical to decorative. Small burlap bags can be used for favor bags. Placing the bride and grooms initials on the bag adds that personal touch. For decoration, try a strip of burlap as a table runner and complement it with a basic vase of fresh garden flowers. Don’t pick anything too exotic. Flowers that can be found locally are your best bet.
One of the best features of rustic themed Catskills resorts weddings is that some of the most basic items, the kind you can get cheaply in any hardware store, can easily be used as accent pieces in the wedding. For example, basic mason jars can become a bride’s best friend. So simple and cheap, they’re also versatile and practical. You can get the simple clear glass jars. There’s nothing wrong with that. But for an extra touch of oomph, try tinted, painted or glittered varieties. They cost a little more and can’t usually be used for anything else after the wedding. But they can look absolutely stunning against a green backdrop of hills and trees.
When announcing the location of the wedding, don’t feel like you have to go fancy. There’s no need to purchase fancy printed signs. A piece of wood painted with the bride and groom’s name attached to a post can work wonders. It’s basic and inexpensive, but perfectly in keeping with the theme of a rustic wedding and a location like the Catskill Mountains.
Don’t bother with fancy chairs. If you’re having the wedding outside, try hay bales for seating at the ceremony. Cover them in blankets so your guests don’t have straw poking their nether regions. You can space the bales apart just like you would regular chairs. With bales, you don’t need any extra decorations like ribbons or tulle. The bales themselves will add to the atmosphere and the blankets will make them more welcoming to sit on.
Stick to organic textures with other choices in your wedding as well. If you have a ring bearer, don’t bother with a satin and lace covered ring pillow. Instead use a section of a small long for a truly rustic style. Use wood as well for flatware. Not all places have wood flatware and you may have to settle for stainless steel. But if you have access to wood, it’ll add that much more to the rustic theme of your wedding.
Flower decorations don’t need to be expensive for a rustic wedding. There’s no need for big exotic blooms. Bunches of baby’s breath is large but simple glass vases will look stunning against a wood backdrop or fun finds from garage sales and flea markets. You can save quite a bit of money getting display pieces from these locations instead of renting them. An old wash basin, for example, can be cleaned up and repurposed into a unique table.
Keep the menu simple and hearty. This is not the time for expensive lobster and steak. Go for favorites of stuff people might eat at home. Have the food professionally cooked. Or if you’re having a smaller and more intimate wedding, everyone can bring an item of food and you can have a potluck style feast. Stand-by favorites like Mac and Cheese (not the kind in a box), sweet potatoes and grits are possibilities.
Don’t underestimate the power of candles. They add a touch of romance to almost any location if they’re used properly. You can place them in mason jars. You can even buy plenty of cheap glass vases from a local dollar store. Buy the better quality candles so they last longer and burn more evenly. If you want some scent, get the scented kind. You can buy ones in vanilla scents or pine scents or any other scent you wish.
If you have access to antiques or anything that looks like an antique, rustic Catskill weddings are one of the best places to put them to use. This is also a good time to use to old, unfinished classic truck or vehicle.
