25 of Our Favorite Rustic Outdoor Wedding Ideas

Pair delicate lace details with décor inspired by nature for a rustic-elegant event.

If you're hoping to give your celebration a rustic-elegant feel, you'll love these wedding details and décor inspiration!

cliffside-decor-at-lauren-kitt-and-nick-carters-wedding
Photo: Kris Kan

In the past few years, we've seen our fair share of rustic outdoor weddings, and there are few details that always stand out. Whether you're gathering your family and friends at a seaside location on a grassy bluff, a charming lake house, or a forest filled with redwoods, incorporating the beautiful natural surroundings into your wedding décor sets a laid-back ambience for your event – even a formal affair. 

Earthy green and brown hues can be incorporated with your favorite wedding colors, or stand alone by themselves mixed with neutral shades of cream and ivory. Utlize natural tones in your paper materials accented with delicate lace, and present escort cards or seating charts on rustic materials such as old wooden frames or slabs from tree trunks. Adorn a raw-wood ceremony structure with elegant ivory blooms and verdure, and decorate linen-free wood reception tables with moss, birch bark, or twigs. An outdoor wedding venue really makes a rustic event incredible, but if you must have some sort of covering, hold your wedding reception in a barn wedding with open sides or beneath a beautiful tent. 

See 25 of our favorite rustic wedding details below, and click the link below each photo to see more from these stunning real weddings

Rustic invitation with white lace and twine

Photo by Next Exit Photography; From Real Wedding: Actress Melissa Claire Egan's Rustic-Chic Wedding in Santa Barbara

Rustic wedding invitation on kraft paper with white ink

Photo by Catherine Hall Studios; From Real Wedding: A Rustic, Classic Summer Wedding in Lake Tahoe, California

Rustic outdoor wedding ceremony in Bakersfield

Photo by Braedon Photography; Planning & Design by Melissa Torre for Mindy Weiss Party Consultants; From Real Wedding: Rustic-Elegant Celebration on a Ranch in Bakersfield, California

Forest wedding under large redwood trees

Photo by Chrisman Studios; From Real Wedding: A Facebook Executive's Rustic-Elegant Northern California Wedding

Rustic wedding bouquet with succulents

Photo by Vue Photography; From Real Wedding: Southern Lake House Wedding with Ivory-and-Green Color Palette

Rustic wedding boutonnieres for groomsmen

Photo by Laurie Bailey Photography; Planning & Design by Linda Howard Events; From Real Wedding: Shabby Chic Garden-Inspired Malibu, California Wedding

Rustic winter wedding flower plant headpiece

Photo by Catherine Hall Studios; From Real Wedding: A Rustic, Classic Summer Wedding in Lake Tahoe, California

Adrianna Costa Arizona wedding ceremony

Photo by Mi Belle Photographers; From Real Wedding: Entertainment Host Adrianna Costa's Desert Chic Wedding

Forest outdoor rustic wedding ceremony

Photo by Catherine Hall Studios; From Real Wedding: A Rustic, Classic Summer Wedding in Lake Tahoe, California

Bride and groom with parasol at outdoor rustic wedding

Photo by Jose Villa Photography; From Real Wedding: California Oceanside Wedding with Natural Elements

Hors d'oeuvres on rustic wood slab

Photo by Laurie Bailey Photography; Planning & Design by Linda Howard Events; From Real Wedding: Shabby Chic Garden-Inspired Malibu, California Wedding

Place cards on rustic wedding wood slab

Photo by Carrie Rodman Photography; From Real Wedding: HGTV Star John Colaneri's Rustic Newport Wedding

Seating chart on rustic window panels

Photo by Michael Segal Photography; From Real Wedding: Rustic-Elegant Wedding in Ojai Valley, California

Seating chart with rustic wood border

Photo by Jose Villa Photography; From Real Wedding: California Oceanside Wedding with Natural Elements

Melissa Egan rustic wedding reception

Photo by Next Exit Photography; From Real Wedding: Actress Melissa Claire Egan's Rustic-Chic Wedding in Santa Barbara

Rustic outdoor wedding sweetheart table idea

Photo by Lucky Love Photography; From Event: Rustic Inspirational Wedding Shoot in a Forest with Woodsy Details

Birch wrapped centerpiece at wedding

Photo by Jose Villa Photography; From Real Wedding: California Oceanside Wedding with Natural Elements

Rustic wedding with hydrangea table runner

Photo by Vue Photography; From Real Wedding: Southern Lake House Wedding with Ivory-and-Green Color Palette

Terracotta pot centerpiece with moss

Photo by Regina Hyman Photography; From Real Wedding: A Fairy Tale Outdoor Wedding in Florida Inspired by Tuscany

Rustic outdoor wedding table idea

Photo by Samuel Lippke Studios; From Real Wedding: Elegant Summer Beach Wedding in Southern California

Rustic outdoor wedding idea table number on wood

Photo by Lucky Love Photography; From Event: Rustic Inspirational Wedding Shoot in a Forest with Woodsy Details

Rustic wedding centerpiece wood box

Photo by Laurie Bailey Photography; Planning & Design by Linda Howard Events; From Real Wedding: Shabby Chic Garden-Inspired Malibu, California Wedding

White wedding cake on rustic wood slab trunk

Photo by Jose Villa Photography; From Real Wedding: California Oceanside Wedding with Natural Elements

Rustic wood grain cake at David Tutera wedding

Photo by Michael Segal Photography; From Real Wedding: Rustic-Elegant Wedding in Ojai Valley, California

For more rustic outdoor wedding ideas, browse some of our favorite rustic weddings or visit our Rustic Wedding Charm board on Pinterest. Also, be sure to set the tone for your rustic wedding with these rustic wedding invitations!

Opening photo by Kris Kan; From Real Wedding: Backstreet Boys Nick Carter's Santa Barbara, California Wedding