21 Budget Rustic Wedding Ideas and Invitation Designs

There’s something romantic about a rustic wedding. The old-world charm, intimate atmosphere, and simplicity of natural elements make it a fanciful way to celebrate love. Rustic themes are also versatile, making it easy to incorporate personal elements and put your own spin on the theme.

Here, we’ll show you how to plan a stunning rustic wedding without breaking your budget. From choosing a romantic venue to creating DIY decor, these budget rustic wedding ideas will help you plan the big day of your dreams.

Budget Rustic Wedding Ideas: 16 Affordable and Stylish Tips

Here are our favorite budget rustic wedding ideas to fall in love with. Whether you’re looking for wedding decoration ideas, venue inspiration, or party favor options, get ready for an unforgettable celebration.

1. Host a Barn Wedding

Wedding venues don’t have to be expensive to be memorable. Plan your country wedding in a barn. Depending on where you live or plan to host your nuptials, you might be able to talk directly to local farm owners. If that’s not an option, search for barn wedding venues online to find a location that suits your vision and budget.

2. Incorporate Wedding Colors Inspired By Nature

For a boho-chic rustic wedding, choose colors that are inspired by nature. Various shades of greens and brown are perfect for creating an earthy feel. You can then play up those colors with gemstone hues like burgundy, sapphire, and amethyst. 

3. Create Rustic Wedding Centerpieces

One of the most expensive elements of a wedding is flowers. But there are plenty of budget-friendly options, especially if you go the DIY route. Order flowers wholesale and ask your friends, family, and wedding party to assemble wedding bouquets before the big day. Or you might use flowers from your garden or pick wildflowers for a small ceremony. 

Display your wedding flowers in rustic centerpieces using small wooden boxes or create mason jar bouquets. Fill the jars with affordable wedding flowers like baby’s breath, sunflowers, or daisies. Add fairy lights around the centerpieces to create mood lighting and use twine to amplify the romantically rustic look.

4. Use Wood Slices as Charger Plates

Instead of spending money on fancy charger plates, use wood slices to add rustic charm. You can find affordable options from retailers like Walmart and Etsy so be sure to do some comparison shopping to get the best deal.

5. Have a Backyard Wedding Reception

Rather than paying loads of cash for a fancy wedding venue, plan the event in your own backyard or that of a family member or friend. There are plenty of backyard wedding reception ideas so you can make it as simple or over-the-top as you want.

6. Create Soft Lighting With Candles

Set the scene for a romantic evening with candlelight. You can pick up antique candle holders from thrift stores or choose a selection of mismatched candelabras for a whimsical feel.

7. Use a Macrame Table Runner

Adding texture is one way to create a rustic look. Use macrame table decorations like tablecloths and runners to create a boho vibe that adds to the laid-back atmosphere. 

8. Choose a Romantic Wedding Dress

Rustic wedding dresses are free-spirited and fun. Choose a whimsical dress for a summertime wedding or opt for cascading lace sleeves to celebrate spring nuptials. You don’t need to spend a fortune on an elaborate ball gown but you can still have a gorgeous dress. Consider designs with just a touch of tulle or feathers for playful flair or stick to a simple A-line gown if you prefer classic elegance on your wedding day.

9. Set the Scene for Romance With String Lights

No need to invest in fancy lighting when you can create rustic, ambient lighting with string lights. Hang string lights over the reception tables or incorporate them into your wedding arch to add a whimsical glow.

10. Create DIY Wedding Signs to Greet Guests 

Welcome guests with delightful and budget-friendly chalkboard, pallet, or plain wood signs. Make your own sign by adding your message and either placing it on an easel, leaning it on a chair, or nailing it to a tree. (Don’t worry — as long as your sign is lightweight and you follow some basic guidelines, you will not harm the tree.)

11. Incorporate Hay Bale Seating

Hay bales are a great way to create seating without having to rent expensive chairs. They’re also an easy way to add a rustic-chic element to your decor. Set out hay bales and cover them in thick plaid blankets as part of your fall wedding decor or use lightweight cotton throws during warmer months. Either way, you’ll protect guests from scratchy hay and build on the rustic theme.

12. Adorn Chairs With Burlap

Another easy DIY wedding idea is to wrap chairs with burlap ribbon. This will add instant visual interest and can spice up the design without having to splurge on expensive chair decor.

13. Line the Wedding Aisle With Greenery

Wow your guests with an aisle surrounded by greenery. Use potted plants to line the aisle or use grasses, which can be more affordable than floral arrangements. Eucalyptus branches and pine boughs are another stylish option.

14. Design a Rustic Wedding Ceremony Arch

Create a rustic wedding arch by using natural elements throughout your rustic wedding decorations. If possible, choose an outdoor wedding ceremony location that features a natural arch, like a giant olive tree or a pine tree with cascading boughs. You can also create a DIY wedding arch by using wood to create a triangle arch or a hoop to create a circular arch. 

15. Order a Rustic Wedding Cake

Planning a budget-friendly wedding doesn’t mean you have to do everything yourself. Spending money on a wedding cake or wedding cupcakes is a good idea if you don’t have the time or skills to make your own dessert. Order a cake with rustic elements like leaves, twigs, and dried fruits.

16. Send Guest Home With Rustic Wedding Favors

Show your appreciation for guests by gifting them something special at the end of your big day. Mini bottles of olive oil, honey jars, or mason jars filled with seasonal treats make practical yet chic wedding favors. Brown packets filled with wildflower seeds from the garden are another great choice. Add a custom label to the containers with your wedding date and names to mark the special day. 

Rustic Wedding Invitations: 5 Chic Designs 

With these budget-friendly rustic wedding ideas, you’re sure to have a romantic wedding for the ages. Fortunately, Greenvelope ties in perfectly as our selection of affordable wedding invitations suits all themes, including rustic weddings. 

From whimsical and understated to natural and country-inspired, you’ll get the look and feel of custom-made designs without the cost (and waste) of paper invites. Plus, you can easily track RSVPs online when you use digital invitations. Here are some of our favorite designs to inspire you.

1. Rustic Twinkle Invitation

Design: Jessica Williams

This twinkling invite features a wood grain background and sparkling lights for a romantic and rustic feel. It’s ideal for barn weddings, backyard weddings, and vineyard nuptials. 

2. Rustic Citrus Invitation

Design: Robinson Creative House

Celebrate joining forces with your main squeeze with this delightful citrus-inspired invitation. Juicy oranges and delicate greenery frame your wedding event details and you can customize the look by changing up the color scheme to match your wedding theme. 

3. Classic Pinecone Invitation

Design: Jen Montgomery

Planning your nuptials in a wooded area? This pinecone invite is the perfect way to invite guests to your rustic wedding. The coordinating pinecone pattern on the envelope creates a cohesive look and matching thank you notes and save the dates complete the stationery suite.

4. Spring Bouquet Invitation

Design: Lissa Anglin

For a stunning spring affair, choose this floral bouquet invitation. Colorful and cheerful, it boats a sophisticated script that adds elegance to any rustic event whether it’s a rustic wedding theme, bridal shower, or birthday party.

5. Luxe Leaves

Design: frau brandt

This elegant and unique wedding invitation features shimmering details and whimsical leaves on a simple background. The letterpress design adds a touch of glamor and there’s plenty of room to include all the details of your rustic-themed wedding.

Create the Rustic Wedding of Your Dreams

If you love natural elements, you’ll love a rustic wedding. With these budget rustic wedding ideas, you can plan budget-friendly nuptials that don’t skimp on style. Best of all, when you choose paper-free rustic wedding invitations, you can send them in minutes via email, text, and even social media. Plus, you can track RSVPs right from your computer or smartphone. You’ll save time and money so you can focus on the more important aspects of your big day.

Continue browsing our Stationers blog for more wedding planning tips. From decor ideas to etiquette, we have plenty of resources to help you pull off the perfect event.