How can I have a western wedding theme without being tacky, using my favorite colors?

So many things seem "Spaghetti western." I'm looking for "fits my lifestyle" western. No cowboy hats, but I do wear boots. My FH is a farmhand, and also a pilot, which makes for a nice play on words- he's the cowboy this cowgirl always wanted.

Anyway, I love teal and orange. Gerbera daisies are my favorite flowers. I'd like to use these in a western theme, but I've got no idea how. I'm also a shepherdess, if that gives anyone any ideas.

I know we'll go with BBQ for the reception, but how do we do decorations? Western-style tux or regular? Boots w/ tux? I'm stuck on what I should wear-I hate poofy, lacy, western-style dresses, but everything I like is very modern. Should I go with a dress I like but wear boots under it? What about for Bridesmaids? I'm lost. I've got a lot of ideas but no idea how to pull it all together. I want to embrace my ranch heritage, not ensure everyone that I'm a complete redneck!



P.S. I'm painfully allergic to hay, straw, and horses.
How can I have a western wedding theme without being tacky, using my favorite colors?
I resent the "redneck" reference as well. Obviously that writer hasn't been around a Cattle Baron's Ball, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo parties, or any number of other places where the city society "gors western." But....enough of that.......



We attended a lovely outdoor wedding at a small ranch. It was a bit of a walk up a small hill from the parking area to the actual ceremony site. There were golf carts to drive people who needed assistance. When it was time for the wedding to begin, the groom arrived on a horse. The bridesmaids were carried up the road by carriage. The bride and her father followed in another carriage.



The reception was at the ranch as well. Tables were set up back at the bottom of the hill and buffet lines were used to served food like you are thinking of. It was an awesome wedding, and probably one of the weddings that I remember the most because it was so unique.



And the bride raised her dress for her groom to remove her garter. There were the cowboys boots. ;-)



(Decorations for the wedding were simple, because of possibility of the wind destroying flower arrangements. White chairs were arranged around a white gazebo, which served as the altar. There were simple garlands of flowers draped around the sides of the gazebo. The floral centerpieces for the reception were low as well because of the wind.



Tuxes were regular tuxes. The bride's dress was traditional, yet with simple lines that wouldn't cause a problem if the wind became an issue.)



It can work, and should be absolutely beautiful when you put your special touch on the plans. Best of luck!



P.S. If you're anywhere around Dallas, you might want to check out Southfork Ranch for ideas. They can pull off a western theme with class. www.southfork.com
Reply:It might be kind of cute to have the groom/groomsmen where tux shirts but jeans and boots. I see no problem with you wearing boots, the shoes rarely show on a long dress and you can have some cute photos with you hiking up your dress next to the groomsmen.



I had gerbera daisies in red and orange, with sunflowers. The bridesmaids had raffia tied around their bouquets and the vases in the church windows did too. This was so of country looking (even though I wasn't going for that theme). The florist told me some people use canning jars to make it more country-looking if they are going for that. You could put a sheep's pelt or whatever they call it under the main big flower arrangement in the front if you want to tie in the sheperdess thing.



How about some sort of traditional centerpieces at the reception, but with rope tied around them to subtly bring in the western/farmhand thing? If you want to go a little more western, you could use cowboy hats or boots for the centerpieces. It might be nice to have a few things on the sides of the room to tie in the farmhand thing. You could put a saddle and other farm type things in the corner and one of those branding irons could be brought out as a joke at the garter toss.



Try doing a search for "country" or "western" weddings, you may get lots of ideas that way. Here is one site I found.
Reply:My niece's wedding was western without being super-"themey" or tacky. She had it outdoors at a guest ranch, and the bridal party was brought to the location by stagecoach! She had a modern-looking dress (just simple lines, really). I wouldn't wear boots (maybe the groom could though), just keep the western theme in the decorations. You could have your bridesmaid wear teal and have orange gerbera daisies in the bouquets, and use teal ribbons and orange gerbera daisies in the decorations (my niece used gerbera daisies too! only hers were hot pink)
Reply:Hi and congratulations!



Well, you have a lot going on. It really depends on what you want and how "themey" you want to get. Is the wedding and reception going to be outdoors? Or, is the wedding in a church and reception outdoors? Or, is the wedding in a church and reception at a hall?



Personally, I would get a simple gown. If you like the modern ones, go for one with clean simple lines. For the guys...whatever kind of tux you want...western or regular.



The way to incorporate your "theme" is possibly in your invites, cake, etc. I will give you a link at the bottom of this message. It has all sorts of ideas and provides more links to go to ..... everything from gowns to cake (western theme, of course)!



Definitely use the colors YOU like. Teal dresses for the girls incorporating some orange gerbera daisies into their bouquets (and yours!) You could have simple vases with gerberas in them for the reception centerpieces. One word of caution about gerberas.....they DO NOT hold up well for a boutonniere....don't use them for a bout! I was at a wedding this summer and by the time the reception rolled around all the bouts were drooping! Use another flower for the boutonnieres.



Here is the link:

http://www.askginka.com/themes/country_w...



Good luck!
Reply:go more with a mint green and peach color theme it will help and you can do a terra cotta type thing with little terra pot with cacti in them of center pieces or favors.
Reply:As I read your question, all I could think of was the Ralph Lauren Romance campaign of 1998. One ad in particular had the couple standing in a field of tall grass, the man holding the woman up with her legs wrapped around his waist, their foreheads pressed together. Her long dress was lifted by the breeze, and you could see her boots. It was very western yet very elegant. I wish I could have found the ad to show you. I think you could definitely pull off a western theme and keep the elgance. Think "sepia" or "black and white" as your background colours with punches of teal and orange here and there. Avoid any tacky materials like tulle, raffia, or anything that screams "my cousin did this 5 minutes before the ceremony". Wear a "destination" gown - maybe with lace detailing? and somewhat flowy? - and definitely go for the boots as long as they don't take away from the dress (ie brown would be ok). Carry a bouquet of wildflowers. Have the bridesmaids wear solid coloured, empire waist dresses with square necklines and rouching around the bust area (white or brown with a teal ribbon under the bust?). Chocolate brown table cloths with a large short vase holding teal or orange gerbera daisies. Have your man wear a more casual suit so he doesn't look uptight or out of place.



I think it will be lovely.
Reply:teal and orange ... I think those could be nice accent colors when put together, lower the brightness of the orange and the teal... and mix it in with a cream color. and have little accents of those colors around.



I think boots with tux is cool , they make some damn nice cowboy boots these days.



go for a modern dress, and maybe wear a horse shoe necklace.



Bridesmaides i would think country fair type dresses( sun dresses with the flared shirts .. I am not sure if you seen the stepford wifes with nichole kidman .... but those were some nice fitting dresses those ladies had on with the hats.



you could do horse shoe , or bucket centerpieces with daisies , and red and white checked table clothes



if you are having it at someone house you can offer games for you guest to play... while you are busy taking pictures with family



like rope the bride and groom( and make little statues of your self.... .........horse shoes... .....checkers ........offer homemade lemonaid. and ice cream.
Reply:I'm afraid you are a redneck and just accept and embrace who you are and show this in your wedding with your plans. You will never ever get a sophisticated western wedding so there is no point trying. Just do what you want regardless of how people will see it.
riding boots