Let’s be honest, traditional weddings unless they are your own, or those of a very close relative are pretty much a snooze and a repeat of the last. Aside from the service which officially ties husband to wife, wedding receptions hold little variation. The newly married couple will be announced along with their wedding party, a toast will ensue, a first dance will be had, dinner will be eaten, cake will be cut, bouquets and garters will be thrown, the happy couple will change, and then you’re on to the next one. In between the centerpieces will be fought over, and the latest line dance will be preformed in various stages of intoxication. No surprises here.
Thankfully a new trend in weddings has begun to emerge. Couples seeking to marry in more nontraditional ways are giving the routine wedding reception a run for their money. One theme which seems to be catching on fairly quickly is the Old West wedding reception. With a little imagination and some good old fashioned ingenuity, turning a stuffy reception hall into a barn or saloon straight out of the 1800’s is easier than you would think. If at all possible find an already rustic location.
One of the first things newly engaged women begin to contemplate before all else is the wedding dress and attire for the bridal party. You may think tying your wedding to a theme seriously cuts down on your choices but this is not the case. With an old west themed wedding even the guests can get in on the dress up fun. Formal weddings may choose to incorporate the theme with modern fashion trends or go all out for the authentic Victorian theme. Less formal affairs may wish to have everyone show up in denim, checkered shirts, and cowboy boots. The late 1800’s are full of inspiration, from the gold rush to the long arm of the law. Finding a central theme shouldn’t be a problem, and there are many websites dedicated to this theme which will be able to help you with period style clothing.
Wedding invitations should be gauged according to formality. Traditional invitations incorporating this theme are readily available. More creative, less traditional ways to send them out would be in the form of telegraph messages or 1800 newsprint articles. Anyone with a computer and a quality printer could make their own, the graphics are endless.
When thinking about your bouquets, think simple and wild. The old west didn’t have modern day florists. Bouquets for them would have consisted of sunflowers, wild roses, poppies, and wild field flowers such as black eyed Susan’s, bound together very simply with raffia or ribbon. If it’s the modern bouquet you’re after try to incorporate a few of these flowers.
Table linens and centerpieces could become a cost nightmare if you try too hard to keep with authenticity. Victorian weddings would have used lace, most likely hand embroidered and unless you have a relative who has been making them for years this option could quickly become expensive. If you find lace is beyond your reach use standard table linens with rustic centerpieces. Kerosene lamps which have been antiqued and minimally decorated would work well. Informal weddings can make use of checkered tablecloths with centerpieces incorporating any number of succulent plants.
Wedding cakes and favors of the old west would have been simple confections. With the endless choices available today finding one to fit your theme will not be a problem.
Whenever possible incorporate as much of the old west wedding traditions into the décor. Hay bales would have been used for seating, and cornstalks would adorn alters. It would have been customary for the bride and groom to arrive on horseback or in horse drawn carriages. Having the bride arrive on a grey mare would insure good luck. It also would have been customary for the bride and groom to release white doves after the wedding ceremony.
All you need now is the best barbeque in town and a damn good band. For more information on Old West Weddings check out www.westernweddings.com
