27 Western Wedding Ideas That Are Anything But Tacky

Create your own Western wonderland with these tips.

western wedding place setting with pink flowers and blue napkins

Photo by Aaron Delesie

If you’re a couple that loves spending time outdoors, taking country drives, listening to country music, or even grew up in the West, there’s a good chance a Western wedding is a perfect fit for you. Western weddings tend to be a bit more rustic, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be jam-packed with gorgeous details just like any other wedding theme.

Whether you’re saying "I do" at a ranch, in a beautiful barn, or in the backyard, a Western wedding can be entirely charming. And whether you go all out or simply include a few nods to the theme, you can choose to include Western details in any capacity to fit your personality.

If you’re looking for Western wedding ideas that are anything but tacky, look no further. Read on for 27 of our favorite ideas.

01 of 27

Look to Western Fonts

western themed wedding invitations

Photo by The Carter Collective Co.; Invitations by Summit and Sage

Kick things off by letting your guests know the theme right away. Theme your invitations with clever illustrations and look to old-time Western-style fonts to deliver the important details.

02 of 27

Welcome Your Guests

western wedding welcome bag

PHOTO BY RED ASPEN PHOTOGRAPHY

Give your guests a proper welcome! Especially if you're hosting a destination wedding, welcome bags are such a nice touch. Design the bag to match your theme and fill it with western-inspired goodies for everyone to enjoy.

03 of 27

Wrap Your Bouquet

leather bouquet wrap with wildflowers

Courtesy of Whiskey Jain Leather Company

You can certainly choose a more rustic-style bouquet with wildflowers to boot. To take it one step further? A leather wrap to hold your blooms in place makes for such a charming touch.

04 of 27

Welcome With a Friendly Sign

wedding welcome sign

PHOTO BY Belathée Photography

Mimic the feeling of driving up to the entrance of a ranch with a friendly sign. We love the way this tall wooden sign is dressed up with additional greenery and blooms to fit the theme.

05 of 27

Plan a Rodeo

Couple going down the aisle at rodeo wedding

Photo by Shana Bailey Photography

Not interested in a barn or a ranch for your venue? Throw a rodeo instead! Check out local rodeo grounds as potential ceremony locations. The Pendleton Round-Up is one of the biggest rodeos in the world, with over 100 years running.

06 of 27

Set Up a Natural Altar

western wooden altar

Photo by Shana Bailey Photography

Hosting your ceremony outside? Look for simple, natural altar ideas. We love the organic look of this wooden altar, framing the gorgeous mountain views behind it. Of course, dress it up with dried greenery and flowers, and complete the look with a cowhide rug.

07 of 27

Bring in a Banjo

western wedding band

PHOTO BY NORMAN & BLAKE

It wouldn't be a Western wedding without a bit of country music. Bring in a live band that specializes in either old-time Western music or modern country music. Either way, you'll have a blast kicking up your boots!

08 of 27

Draw a Crowd With a Drink Truck

wedding drink truck

Photo by Pam Kriangkum

Gather everyone around a watering hole and make a statement while you're at it! An old Chevy truck can be turned into a bar with a few kegs and the right equipment. Dress it up even further with beautiful blooms.

09 of 27

Get Custom Champagne Glasses

cow champagne glasses

Photo by The Carter Collective Co.

Want to really flaunt your love for country? Carry it around with you! Commission custom champagne glasses with adorable cow illustrations to use on your wedding day and to keep as special mementos for years to come.

10 of 27

Theme Your Bar

western wedding bar

PHOTO BY AARON DELESIE

If you're hosting a bar, don't be afraid to get creative. One real couple chose to dress up their wedding bar to look like an old saloon. Feature old whiskey bottles and plenty of wood detailing for a beautiful set-up.

11 of 27

Gather 'Round the Fire

wedding firepit with couches with blankets

PHOTO BY Belathée Photography

Encourage your guests to enjoy a casual celebration and cozy up. Use your reception space to create a lounge area, complete with a warm fire, hay bales, and plenty of warm blankets.

12 of 27

Incorporate Raw Wood

wooden escort display

PHOTO BY JAMES & SCHULZE; PLANNING AND DESIGN BY BLUEBIRD PRODUCTIONS

One of the simplest ways to make your Western wedding feel that much more rustic is to bring wood into the mix. Incorporate clever details such as raw wood escort cards for guests to find their seats. We love the idea of stacking them as if you're reserving wood for a fire.

13 of 27

Play With Texture and Color

western boho place settings

Photo by The Carter Collective Co.

A Western wedding definitely doesn't have to mean a drab, brown color palette. Keep things lively by playing with color and texture throughout. This set-up features leather chargers and frayed yellow napkins for a stunning reception table.

14 of 27

Look to Old-Time Lanterns

western wedding table

PHOTO BY RED ASPEN PHOTOGRAPHY

Dress up your dinner table with Western flair. We love the idea of incorporating old-time lanterns to transport your guests back to the Wild West.

15 of 27

Add a Touch of Leather

western wedding place setting

PHOTO BY NORMAN & BLAKE

It's all in the details, right? If you're looking to incorporate simple nods to a Western theme, leather is a great addition. Tie a simple leather string around the napkins on your reception table for a charming look.

16 of 27

Turn Whiskey Into Water

whiskey water bottles

PHOTO BY NATALIE WATSON PHOTOGRAPHY

Many whiskey bottles can be repurposed and used for other things. One real couple utilized Bulleit Rye Whiskey bottles to serve as their water vessels on a beautiful reception table.

17 of 27

Wow With Wooden Chargers

wood chargers on wedding table

Photo by Elsa Eileen Photography

Incorporate wood into your tablescape to immediately make it feel a bit more rustic. This set-up incorporated thinly sliced wood chargers for each place setting, as well as centerpiece holders complete with kerosene lanterns.

18 of 27

Keep Warm With Pendleton

pendleton blanket at reception table

PHOTO BY CARRIE PATTERSON PHOTOGRAPHY

If there's one textile company that just screams Western, it's Pendleton. Pendleton Woolen Mills opened in Oregon in the early 1900s and has remained a symbol of exploring the West. Incorporate Pendleton blankets to spruce up your reception tables, or hand them out to guests to keep warm during an outdoor ceremony.

19 of 27

Trade Napkins for Bandanas

bandana napkins on wedding table

PHOTO BY ALEX BRAMALL; DESIGN BY FIREFLY EVENTS

An easy way to transform a table to match a Western theme? Opt to utilize bandanas as napkins instead of plain linen. It will immediately add a pop of color and aWeestern pattern to your set-up.

20 of 27

Set a Sonoran Table

western wedding place setting

Photo by Kadi Tobin Photography

Channel the desert with your reception table by utilizing unique textiles as a table runner. From there, consider incorporating a prickly pear cactus pad (no thorns, of course!) to make a statement at each setting.

21 of 27

Incorporate Terracotta Table Numbers

terracotta table numbers

Photo by Angela Mae Payaban

Terracotta is prevalent in the Southwest, and it's a great way to bring a Western vibe and a hint of warmth to your table. Consider utilizing broken pieces of terracotta pots as unique table numbers.

22 of 27

Brand Personalized Flasks

leather flasks at western wedding

Photo by Elsa Eileen Photography

Want to give a unique gift to the wedding party? Look to custom flasks, complete with personalized leather brands on each, for a Western nod. Bonus points if they're filled with whiskey!

23 of 27

Create a Scene on Your Cake

desert inspired wedding cake

PHOTO BY ALICIA LUCIA PHOTOGRAPHY

Channel the Southwest with a desert-themed cake. With handpainted cacti along with real blooms and thistles, this confection certainly makes a statement.

24 of 27

Choose Milk and Cookies

milk and cookies

Photo by Rachel Case Photography

Sometimes, it's just all about good home cooking, and what could be better than a timeless treat? Offer a classic combo, but serve the milk in mason jars with twine for a rustic look.

25 of 27

Serve Cigars and Whiskey

cigar and whiskey wedding station

Photo by Angela Mae Payaban

The combination of whiskey and cigars certainly embodies a Western theme. Put together a special display of multiple whiskeys for your guests to enjoy.

26 of 27

Customize Cactus Cookies

white iced cactus cookies at a wedding reception

Photo by Mary Claire Photography

Why not incorporate a nod to the Southwest and the desert? Dish up decorated saguaro cactus cookies with a touch of gold flake detailing to elevate their look.

27 of 27

Theme Your Cake

western patterned three-tier wedding cake surrounded by candles

PHOTO BY AARON DELESIE

Think you can't incorporate a Western textile design on your wedding day sweet? Think again. This cake was handpainted to match a Western design, making it the perfect addition to a ranch wedding.

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