Rustic weddings
Rustic weddings and North Devon’s Old Barn venue … a match made in heaven! You’re imagining a rustic Devon wedding scene strewn with sheaths of hops, and ceramic jugs and jam jars filled with wild flowers … which work perfectly against the backdrop of The Old Barn’s whitewashed stone walls and wooden beams.
For rustic themed wedding food, styling and entertainment read on, and see festival wedding, boho wedding and vintage wedding ideas here … and please use the contact form at the bottom of the page to ask questions or arrange a viewing.
Rustic wedding styling
A rustic wedding theme is easy to do, can be pretty low-cost, and works very well in our DIY wedding venue. Salvage yards and car boot sales are great places to hunt for props such as old crates and palettes, and rustic jug and vases - just add a few embellishments to create menus, seating, signs and decoration, and make your own bunting. Finish the rustic look off with hessian table runners, natural hearts hanging around the venue made from twigs and candle holders made from tree bark. We love to see our couples' DIY rustic wedding accessories – plus, we have an authentic milk churn which many like to use as a postbox for wedding cards, and there are local suppliers offering props for hire.
What could you wear?
You're aiming for low-key rather than high-beam, but that doesn't mean you won't look stunning! Simple, traditional shapes look great, but you can add a touch of the unexpected when it comes to the length and colour; many brides aiming for a rustic wedding look go for ankle-length or above, and shades ranging from ashes of roses to parchment. Layer upon layer of petticoats can look very striking, and you can luxe your look up a little by choosing silk and vintage-look lace. Accessorise with shawls, ribbons and fresh flowers. Rustic-style grooms look great in browns and greens, tweed and twill. Add interest with a waistcoat, neckerchief and wild flower buttonhole.
Rustic wedding entertainment
There's lots of room at The Old Barn, so a barn dance is a fantastic choice - the sound of the fiddle is guaranteed to get both old and young dancing, and it's great fun watching your uncle do-si-do in the wrong direction! There are a number of great ceilidh/barn dance bands (such as Paddy's Whiskers, pictured) who are happy to play at The Old Barn. But if you want more of a modern-rustic vibe, bring in a folk rock or indie folk band; there's quite a strong live folk music scene in North Devon, and a number of artists and bands that can create that Mumford & Sons sound - see our local suppliers page for ideas.
Rustic wedding food
A rustic wedding is not the time for caviar and fine-dining - think hearty dishes in generous portions. But if you do want a finer touch, you could always buy Devon 'champagne' cider for the toast! Hog roasts are always popular; they look great, smell amazing, and all that delicious roast pork can either be served in a bap for a stand-up meal, or with roast potatoes and vegetables for a sit down meal. Or, go for trays of sausages served with piles of steaming mash, or even freshly baked, still-warm pasties ... and follow with Devon ice cream or scones and clotted cream to follow. On the tables use natural bark, wild flowers and vintage cutlery.
