Country Barn Wedding

I assume that when most brides picture a breathtaking and romantic setting for their wedding, a barn isn't the first idea that comes to mind. A country barn wedding will make an interesting and beautiful venue, however, with the right preparations and a little creativity!

Most likely you are searching for country barn wedding ideas to get the creative juices flowing. Are you envisioning bales of hay, farm implements and horse tack adorning the scene? Whatever the case, the sky is the limit! Let your imagination run wild. Let's see if we can help you craft the special country barn wedding of your dreams.

Let me say from the start; a barn is a barn. Don't try to cover up the flaws too much...you chose a country barn for it's rustic charm. Embrace this setting and enhance what is already there. Work to achieve a gorgeous focal area rather than worrying about various imperfections that are assuredly present. You'll go crazy if you don't!

Photo courtesy of qmnonic~
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Clean It Up!!!

A country barn is not ready for decorations and adornments without a good cleaning first! Clean out all the old hay and dirt then open it up as much as possible to let it air out. You'll want to get rid of dust and cobwebs. Some people use a pressure washer and just hose the whole thing down. That would be a great option, in my opinion! If you don't have your own, pressure washers are available to rent.

Wash any windows, inside and out. Keep in mind that any loose nails or splintering wood can cause injuries to your wedding guests. There may be minor repairs that need to be addressed in your wedding barn: loose hinges and floorboards, etc.

Often Overlooked Details

Another area you want to tackle right from the beginning is the ability of the barn to handle the affair. Are there adequate electrical outlets for the lighting and music? Is there a bathroom in or close to the barn? Portable outhouses can be rented easily if not. Is there decent ventilation or will the wedding barn be hot and stuffy? Placing fans around will help you and the guests feel comfortable or look into renting air conditioners. Is there room for parking? This could be something very easily overlooked. Don't find yourself stressed on the wedding day because guests don't have a place to park their cars!

When the wedding barn is clean and your ideas have been gathered, it's time to turn that simple, rustic country barn into an utterly charming and stunning place to hold your dream country barn wedding!

The fun of your barn wedding is that informal wedding ideas are so diverse...and usually cheap! Look around to find new uses for every day objects. Vintage objects are the best choice and fit nicely within the country barn wedding theme. Here are a few to get things started:

• Get a hold of strings and strings of white Christmas lights!!! Of course, if you prefer lights with more color, that is completely up to you! Wind lights around arches and/or poles and hang from the rafters. Put them in any area you would like to highlight.
• Use branches, wheat or corn stalks to make unique bouquets. These can be placed around focal spots in the barn and you could even create a wedding arch with these materials.
• Hanging lanterns will add a soft glow, which creates a romantic ambiance for your country barn wedding.
• Try using dried ears of corn for distinctive accents.
• For fall weddings, the use of gourds and pumpkins is absolutely charming, especially in a barn setting.

Use hay or straw bales for seating, or for your wedding alter! Inexpensive white (or any color) sheets can be placed over the bales 'seating area' to keep them from poking your guests. The same for your alter; place a coordinating fabric as you would a table runner.

• Canning jars make great candle holders. The flame is safely inside the glass...until it gets tipped over though, so keep them away from any bustling areas. Maybe the alter would be the best bet. Or they can be hung from barn rafters by simply using wire.

• Set up a rail 'fence' on each side of your
  wedding arch and adorn with saddles
  or colorful blankets.
• If you can round up some wagon wheels, they can be leaning up along your 'fence' or perhaps against your straw wedding alter.
• Hang cowboy hats on nails along the rafters or on support poles.
• Ok, this might seem weird, but how about having your wedding party devise a pitch fork arch for you to walk through after the ceremony??
• I love to use galvanized washtubs filled with ice to keep drinks cold during a party. You could provide vintage style bottled beverages by doing a little searching. Even a regular pop or beer can looks better in an old fashioned washtub.

Do you have a great barn wedding idea you'd like to share with us? Use our contact form and let us know. Your idea will be posted here with credit to you! Be sure to type 'barn wedding idea' on the first line!

An interest in the country lifestyle is growing by leaps and bounds. Brides crossing over to a preference for country wedding music is an expected result of this and the list of qualifying wedding song ideas is massive indeed.

Our Favorite Wedding Music:

Barn ceremonies inspire a whole host of wedding color ideas, many of which are casual, rustic and earthy. Of course, you should choose whichever color scheme makes you and your partner happiest and nothing is considered 'wrong' for a country barn wedding.

You may want to start with some earthy choices; yellows, rusts and golds, maybe some browns and tans which are becoming hugely popular ~ and then there are nature's best greens in sage or forest. Reds might be in cinnamon or anything with a very warm tone.

These are just some suggestions...the sky is the limit!! And remember to go with what you love.

I like to take one of my favorite flowers and build a color scheme around that. If you like sunflowers or black-eyes susans, bold yellows and golds might be paired with black and rust. Insects inspire color palettes too; look at the different hues in butterflies or dragonflies to find inspiration. (see right margin)