One of the first important decisions you’ll need to make when planning your wedding is the theme. It really is crucial, as all other decisions will stem from the central theme of the day, from your colour scheme to the flowers and even your wedding suit.
If you’ve already got a venue in mind and it’s perfect for an outdoor or nature-inspired event, you might want to consider either a rustic or boho theme for your big day. But what are the differences between rustic and boho, and which is the right choice for you?
What Is A Rustic Wedding Theme?
At its core, the rustic wedding theme is inspired by nature and the countryside. Think ‘rural simplicity’, with lots of warm, earthy tones and natural materials. The vibe is laid-back, cosy, simple and beautiful.
Common design elements used in rustic weddings include:
- Natural materials such as wood, linen, burlap, stone and dried flowers
- Gentle lighting, such as twinkly fairy lights and lanterns
- Vintage décor and furniture, along with barrels, crates and mason jars.
Examples of Rustic Styling
There are lots of ways you can bring rustic styling into your wedding. Here are some examples and ideas:
- Flowers – popular choices include sunflowers, eucalyptus, baby’s breath and dried lavender
- Furniture – wooden trestle tables and benches, or mix-and-match chairs
- Decorative touches – chalkboard signage, jam/mason jar centrepieces and hessian table runners.
- Suit ideas – earthy tones such as deep green, tweed brown or warm grey, and three-piece suits with textured fabrics.
As for the venue, somewhere with high ceilings, timber beams, heritage detailing and in a countryside setting would work perfectly with the rustic theme.
What Is A Boho Wedding Theme?
Boho shares many of the same elements as rustic, especially when it comes to natural materials, florals and a love of nature.
However, boho weddings tend to be more creative, artistic and free-spirited. They can be eclectic and highly personal, with a relaxed yet stylish atmosphere.
Design elements typically found in boho weddings include:
- A colour palette of soft neutrals, pastels or occasionally jewel tones (best used sparingly as highlight colours)
- Textures such as macramé, lace, crochet, woven rugs and pampas grass
- Whimsical décor touches such as dreamcatchers, mismatched furniture, vintage rugs or extravagant floral installations.
Examples of Boho Styling
While the boho theme often comes down to personal taste and creative expression, here are some ideas and examples of boho styling to start you thinking along the right lines:
- Flowers – pampas grass, wildflowers, proteas (sugarbushes) and trailing greenery
- Furniture – peacock chairs, mismatched vintage seating, floor cushions and low tables
- Decorative touches – macramé backdrops, layered rugs for ceremony aisles, fairy lights, hand-painted signs and hanging lanterns.
- Suit ideas – relaxed, unstructured wedding suits in light fabrics such as cotton or linen. Colours which work well include sand, dusty rose or a soft blue. Add a patterned silk tie or floral shirt for a touch of boho flair.
Outdoor venues are tailor-made for boho weddings. They’re often held in gardens or festival-style marquees, although boutique hotels and venues with rooftop terraces often host this kind of wedding.
How To Choose The Venue For Your Style
If you’ve decided on either boho or rustic, or perhaps your own unique theme combining elements of both, then the next step is to find the perfect venue to match your theme.
Outdoor venues tend to work well for both kinds of weddings, although you may potentially want to be indoors to capture the warm, homely cosiness of the rustic theme.
When searching for venues, a top tip is to make sure you visit at the same time of year as your planned wedding date. This enables you to check out the natural light, seasonal flowers in the grounds and general decor potential, to ensure it’ll work well for your theme.
To get you started on your search, here are some Liverpool and North West venue ideas to add to your list.
For rustic weddings:
- The Barn at Yew Tree Farm in Halewood – a spacious venue boasting timber beams and a stunning countryside setting
- Meols Hall Tithe Barn in Southport – a historic stone barn with bags of candlelit charm
- Croxteth Hall in Liverpool – a Grade II listed building offering rustic elegance in a heritage setting
- The Wellbeing Farm in Bolton – a quirky, fun and eco-friendly wedding venue
- Delamere Manor in Cheshire – an award-winning manor house wedding venue set in more than 100 acres of beautiful rolling countryside.
For boho weddings:
- The Palm House in Sefton Park – a unique glasshouse filled with exotic plants and flowers
- Oh Me Oh My in Liverpool city centre – a former bank with polished wooden floors and a stunning rooftop terrace boasting city and river views
- Hidden River Barn in Carlisle, Cumbria – a charming barn venue ideal for smaller weddings, in a nature-rich setting
- Formby Hall – an elegant, classic venue with lots of outdoor ceremony potential, thanks to its beautiful and extensive grounds
- Camp and Furnace in Liverpool – a live events venue in the heart of the city, perfect for weddings with an industrial boho twist.
