Decorating my first bridal shower looked like this: countless hours on Pinterest, endless scrolling on blogs, and wasted money on avoidable mistakes. When decorating my fourth bridal shower, I was MUCH more strategic.
Specifically, you need to focus your rustic bridal shower planning on aligning with the bridal vision and nailing the rustic bridal shower essential theme elements. Whether you’re undecided on the rustic bridal shower theme or hungry for rustic bridal shower ideas, let us handle all the guesswork while you enjoy the extra time! Just keep reading!
What is a rustic bridal shower?
A rustic bridal shower theme is not just about decorating. It’s a feeling: imagine being in a wooden lodge on a snowy winter’s day, curled in front of a crackling fire, sipping tea, and surrounded by loved ones.
It typically includes a countryside-inspired theme with natural elements and a cozy, laid-back atmosphere.
The right bridal shower theme sets the stage for memories that will last a lifetime! But a rustic bridal shower will not suit every type of bride! A rustic bridal shower is suitable for a bride with a very specific personality.
Should I Choose a Rustic Bridal Shower?
The bridal shower theme needs to align perfectly with your bridal vision.
Without a clear bridal vision, your whole bridal shower will crumble! If you want to halve the time on bridal shower planning, we’ve written a comprehensive bridal shower planning guide for you in which we a) explain the bridal vision and b) spill the tea on the simple 7-step formula to throwing an easy bridal shower!
Signs from the universe that a rustic bridal shower is THE ONE:
If you see that sparkle in the bride’s eye when you pitch the rustic theme, you know you’ve hit the jackpot! It’ll be helpful to share this article with the bride or jot down notes as you go (of what you like, don’t like and logistical considerations)!
Grab Your FREE Bridal Shower Checklist
A rustic bridal shower suits a bride that is:
By investing time in selecting the perfect theme for your bridal shower, you’re actually saving yourself from the hassle of trying to force a good atmosphere later on. Before settling on the perfect theme, take the time to explore several options (or share them with the bride and ask her opinions)!
Essential Rustic Bridal Shower Elements You NEED
Shh… lean in closer because as part of the Bridal Shower Club, we’re about to spill the beans on the secret ingredients that will transform your rustic bridal shower! These are the essential elements to creating a rustic bridal shower with that unmistakeable cozy feel:
- Natural Wood Decor: Incorporate wooden elements into the decor, such as wooden tables, chairs, or even wooden signs, to bring the rustic charm to life.
- Warm Lighting: Opt for warm and soft lighting, such as string lights, lanterns, or candles, to create a cozy and intimate atmosphere.
- Earthy Color Palette: Choose a color palette inspired by nature, such as earthy tones like browns, greens, and soft neutrals, to evoke a sense of rustic elegance.
- Vintage Touches: Add vintage accents like antique vases, old-fashioned frames, or rustic crates to enhance the rustic charm and nostalgia.
- Rustic Florals: Use fresh flowers with a rustic vibe, such as wildflowers, baby’s breath, or sunflowers, to bring a touch of nature to the celebration.
- Farmhouse Table Setting: Set the table with rustic-inspired dinnerware, burlap table runners, and mason jar glasses to create an inviting and homely dining experience.
- Rustic Venue Selection: Choose a venue with natural surroundings, such as a charming barn, a picturesque garden, or a cozy lodge, to set the rustic ambiance right from the start. In our experience, the best way we’ve found rustic bridal shower venues are through renting AirBnBs in national parks. Remember to examine all the photos and check reviews. Consider the guest capacity and what facilities are neccessary to cater to guests.
Now, considering these essential rustic bridal shower elements, we’ve done the heavy lifting for you by gathering all the perfect rustic ideas for your bridal shower. You’re officially off the hook from brainstorming! Keep reading for a treasure trove of rustic bridal shower ideas to add to your plan.
25 Magical Rustic Bridal Shower Ideas
This is the last part of our rustic bridal shower guide (sob!). We hope we see you again! Anyways, your local Bridal Shower Club has compiled all these rustic bridal shower ideas, saving you the hassle of brainstorming (while also having guests wondering how you came up with these ideas):
Pyjama Party
Host a pyjama-themed rustic bridal shower, where guests can relax in their comfy pajamas and enjoy the laid-back atmosphere.
Marshmallows and Chocolate
Set up a DIY s’mores station with marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers for a delightful and delicious treat.
Sock Station and Warm Blankets
Provide soft blankets and warming socks to keep guests warm and toasty throughout the event, and consider offering them as favors for guests to take home.
One of our favourite features at a rustic bridal shower is a sock station situated near the entrance. This station showcases an array of colorful and playful socks, allowing guests to select their favorite pair and experience the joy of slipping off their shoes and embracing the comfort of these whimsical and stylish socks.
Book Reading Session
Create a cozy reading corner with a selection of books for guests to enjoy during the bridal shower, allowing them to unwind and escape into captivating stories.
Rustic cake
Embrace the beauty of rustic charm with a cake that exudes warmth and simplicity. Naked or semi-naked cakes with fresh berries, flowers, and a light dusting of powdered sugar can create an organic and inviting look.
Wooden crate table and chairs
Incorporating wooden crates, tables, and chairs into a rustic bridal shower can add a charming and cozy touch to the overall theme. They are budget-friendly and sustainable.
Take it outside
If the weather permits, take the celebration outdoors to enjoy the beauty of nature and the rustic ambiance.
Sightseeing Train
Organize a scenic train ride where guests can soak in breathtaking views and cherish memorable moments together. This will provide a truly magical experience. Though, in order to do this, you need to find venues with scenic train rides nearby.
Cooking Chaos
Ditch the fancy dinners and get down and dirty with a farm-to-table cooking class. It’s part culinary adventure, part comedy show as guests attempt to chop, sauté, and flambe their way to gourmet greatness. Spoiler alert: hilarity—and maybe a few burnt dishes—ensues!
Stargazing
End the evening with a stargazing session, providing blankets and cushions for a magical experience under the night sky. Supply guests with lanterns! It definitely adds to the atmosphere.
Dangling leaves
OH MY GOSH! IS THIS JUST NOT STUNNING!! Sorry! I just got a little bit too excited.
Incorporating dangling leaves is a brilliant rustic bridal shower idea that adds a touch of natural elegance and charm to the event. To achieve this enchanting look, carefully select various types of leaves, ensuring they are sturdy enough to be attached to a transparent string.
Hang these beautiful leaf strands from the ceiling to create a dynamic, mesmerizing, nature-inspired canopy that brings the outdoors indoors as if the leaves are falling in the air. Plus it’s super budget-friendly!
Hiking Adventure
Plan a nature hike for the adventurous guests to explore the rustic surroundings and enjoy the fresh air.
Firemaking
Host a fun and interactive firemaking activity where guests can learn to build a campfire and share stories around the flames.
Guitar by the Fireplace
Create a cozy atmosphere by the fireplace and invite someone to play the guitar, serenading the guests with beautiful melodies while they eat some smores.
Flower Picking
Organize a flower-picking activity, allowing guests to create their own rustic bouquets to take home as lovely keepsakes.
Outdoor lounge
Transform your bridal shower into an enchanting wonderland with an outdoor lounge featuring a charming tent, soft blankets, lanterns, fairy lights, and plush pillows. This magical setup will create an unforgettable ambiance, surrounding the bride-to-be and her guests with a dreamy and cozy atmosphere under the stars.
With these rustic DIY ideas, your bridal shower will be a heartwarming and memorable celebration filled with love and rustic charm. Guests will appreciate the thoughtful touches and the opportunity to bond over delightful activities in a cozy setting.
Leaves in a bottle centerpiece
By repurposing wine bottles to hold branches of leaves, this centerpiece idea cleverly combines eco-friendliness and budget-friendliness. Reusing wine bottles not only minimizes waste but also eliminates the need to purchase expensive vases, allowing you to allocate your resources to other aspects of the rustic bridal shower while still creating a beautiful and sustainable decoration.
Woodland-inspired Centerpieces
Arrange mason jars filled with wildflowers, twigs, and greenery as enchanting centerpieces. Incorporate wooden slices as bases for a touch of rustic elegance.
Fairy Lights and Candles
Enhance the cozy atmosphere with the soft glow of fairy lights and flickering candles in vintage lanterns or mason jars.
Vintage thrifted items
Shop for vintage items such as clocks, candle, plates and decorations to add a budget-friendly rustic charm to your rustic bridal shower.
S’mores Bar
Fire up those taste buds with a s’mores bar that’s more than just marshmallows and chocolate. Think gourmet toppings like caramel swirls, bacon bits, or even spicy jalapenos for the adventurous souls. May the best s’more win!
Wooden Sign Painting
Get artsy with a wooden sign painting party! From heartfelt messages to hilarious quotes, guests can unleash their inner Picasso on rustic canvases.
Vintage Vogue
Strike a pose and say cheese in a vintage-inspired photo booth extravaganza! With props ranging from quirky to downright ridiculous, guests can let loose and capture memories that’ll have them laughing for years to come. Warning: photo booth hogging may occur.
Seed Packet Surprise
Say goodbye to boring favors and hello to wildflower seed packets! Not only are they adorable, but they also promise to bloom into beautiful memories of the bride’s special day. Just be prepared for guests to unleash their inner green thumbs!
Karoke
Kick back and relax with a karoke that’s sure to strike a chord with guests. Picture it: twinkling lights, cozy blankets, and toe-tapping tunes that’ll have even the most reluctant dancers busting a move.
Conclusion: Rustic Bridal Shower
Thanks for sticking with us! I hope I’ve been helpful to you and made your rustic bridal shower easier to plan with our rustic bridal shower ideas! The next step in your bridal shower planning process is sending your bridal shower invitations (or IMO the superior version, digital bridal shower invitations to save you time, hassle and $$).
