15 Excellent Rustic Wedding Ideas on a Budget

When you hear “rustic wedding,” you may think of burlap, cowboy boots and mason jars. Rustic weddings have come a long way since they exploded onto the wedding-style scene!

Rustic wedding ideas refers to anything more organic or rough around the edges. Others call it boho or bohemian.

You can think of these weddings as specific outdoor wedding themes. Forest weddings with leaves and branches as décor are a fantastic example. Think farm weddings at barn venues with organic produce woven throughout the floral arrangements or even mountaintop weddings with the bride wearing a floral crown.

Anything casual, simple, natural, rural and outdoorsy can fit under the rustic wedding umbrella. A mason jar with string lights at a barn wedding will help set the tone at the tables in a budget-friendly manner and provide the centerpieces with an elegant rustic wedding feel.

A rustic wedding does not need to be expensive. But when rustic weddings do not invest enough money into the budget, it reflects on the wedding day.

Affordable Budget Rustic Wedding Ideas 

Everyone has a wedding budget that needs to be followed. Some budgets are more significant than others, but most couples are looking for ways to save money.

There are many ways you can have a rustic wedding on a budget. Here we will define specific ways to save without your rustic wedding looking like a horror story. 

1. Guests List

The number one way to save when planning a wedding is to trim the guest list. The fewer people you have at your wedding, the less you spend on invitations, food and rentals. It’s simple math. The more people you have, the more cost there will be. Get your guest list down to a reasonable number and you will see significant savings.

2. Can I Borrow That?

Borrowing or renting what you need for your day is a great way to save money because you are not putting out large sums of money for items you can’t do anything with after the big day. You can rent anything you might need for a wedding, including bridesmaid dresses from companies like Rent The Runway or even linens and vintage goods.

Borrowing items is always a good solution – items like dresses, shoes, decor and more can be borrowed from friends and family. If you are having a backyard wedding, think about borrowing chairs from friends instead of renting tons of them for your backyard ceremony.

3. DIY…But Only a Little

I know many brides think that if you DIY your entire wedding, you will be saving money, but in the end, DIYing only sometimes means a considerable saving is coming your way. I advise picking only a few items to DIY and turning the rest over to the professionals. 

You only want to make your wedding cake if you are a professional baker. You also will not save by trying to cook your food for your day since you will probably either overfeed or underfeed your guests and you will not be getting the discounts that many catering companies are entitled to. 

If you want to DIY a few essential items at your wedding, think about taking on just the centerpieces, the ceremony decor or the wedding flowers – beyond that, you are better off working with the pros.

4. Timing is Everything

Afternoon and evening weddings are the most expensive by far, so if you are looking for an excellent way to save, consider hosting a morning or brunch wedding. Not only will many locations offer you a better price for a wedding at these times, but since it is not at night, you can get away with a dance-free wedding which can help you save on fun entertainment. 

5. Shop Around

Just because you met with one florist does not mean you have to work with them even if you loved all their ideas. If you took the arguments to another florist, you would find that they, too, can produce the look you desire. Not all wedding florists have friendly storefront locations, so make sure you research florists for your wedding to learn about florists other than the ones you might see just driving down the street.

If you start planning early, you can save money. You can find candles, string lights, wooden crates, mason jars and table runners at discounted prices throughout the year.

6. The Off-Season

A rustic wedding is typically held in spring and summer, but you can save a ton of money by keeping your wedding in the winter months. Many venues will offer winter wedding packages or discounts to drive some wedding business at this time so that you can get a good deal on an excellent platform. If you are not crazy about a winter wedding, think about having a wedding in the very early part of the spring – you might find a venue that will give you a price break. They may not be booked for those early weekends yet.

7. Wedding Favors

Have you ever thought about cutting wedding favors out of the budget? It is acceptable to bypass purchasing these gifts, especially if it is something your bridal party will never use. Going with cheap gifts may create this issue. 

You can DIY some of the wedding presents to save, but you want to do something other than DIY your whole rustic wedding.

The best wedding favors are ones they will keep for a lifetime. Be thoughtful. Ultimately you want these wedding gifts to be in the right place. 

8. Traditional Wedding Flowers

Depending on the season, you can save some money with fresh flowers. The natural beauty at your outdoor ceremony can use flowers such as baby’s breath, sunflowers or other astrids. Wrapping the flowers in lace trim is an elegant way to DIY the arrangement of wedding flowers.

Wedding bouquets with greenery are stylish and romantic.

9. Location, Location, Location

The wedding venue cost can eat up a budget, so one great way to save money is to select a venue that is not a full-service type of wedding location. You can rent wedding locations like parks, camps and gardens to secure the area for as little as $150.

The fantastic couple could host their wedding at a public park and make it look as elegant as a traditional wedding venue. Ever think about having your wedding in your backyard? It’s free and can look beautiful. 

If your style is more pastoral than posh, a rustic wedding may be the boho bash of your dreams. Here’s how to make it happen:

Amazing Rustic Wedding Ideas for your Wedding Venue

Find other wedding inspirations from our other favorite posts:

• How to Plan Your Perfect Country Wedding
• The Best Black and Red Wedding Theme Ideas
• Wedding Centerpiece Ideas with Candles

1. Barn Wedding Venues

Barn venues burst with rustic charm, be they weathered and historic or updated with all the modern amenities you could want. Many are set within the quiet countryside or nestled in a ranch or farm setting, but they all offer a beautifully rustic backdrop for your celebration.

2. Camp Wedding Venues

We are calling all nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts! Consider a camping venue if you want a rustic theme for your wedding with adventure. Your camping wedding will be more than a simple event. It will provide your guests the gift of a summer camp-style shindig. 

3. Mountain Wedding Venues

Consider a mountain wedding venue if you want a majestic backdrop for your rustic wedding. The beauty and splendor of Mother Nature will be on full display for your guests and your wedding photos will be next-level gorgeous. And with a setting, this extraordinary, over-the-top décor becomes unnecessary. Embrace simplicity and enjoy the view!

4. Ranch + Farm Outdoor Wedding Venues

A rustic outdoor wedding is right at home on the range, so a ranch or farm setting is the perfect fit! From modern farmhouse décor to farm-to-table cuisine, ranch and farm settings can be incredibly versatile. Whether you want countryside or contemporary, you can find a ranch or farm to fit your style.

5. Retreat Wedding Venues

If the word “rustic” brings about visions of festivals and campgrounds, consider tying the knot at a retreat! The open-air festival feels and the boho-chic location will give you all the “wedding-palooza” vibes — especially if you incorporate tents, teepees or yurts, lawn games, food trucks, fire pits and of course, music!

6. Woodsy Wedding Venues

The great outdoors is inherently rustic, so a woodsy, forested location is a natural backdrop for this wedding style. Trees impart an irresistible beauty to a rustic wedding, whether a single spreading oak, a dappled forest or a towering grove of redwoods.