17 Unique Western Wedding Ideas For The Big Day

If you are looking to host a non-traditional wedding then how about honoring your Western roots? A Western wedding has a lot of potential for a theme; from cowboy boots under the dress to a countryside rustic wedding venue, it’s a fun idea that still leaves plenty of room for traditional elegance. So let Peerspace give you a hand with a few unique Western wedding ideas for your big day!

1. Send Western-themed invitations

Invitations that match your wedding theme should be at the top of every wedding planner’s list! When your family and friends receive Western-themed invites they’ll be thrilled to know they are invited to a ceremony that’s way different from the usual ceremony. We recommend browsing places like Etsy for creative Western-themed invitations with cow print, horseshoes, bucket hats, and other decorative touches.

2. Choose a rustic wedding venue

Western weddings demand a venue that fits the theme. Showing up with cowboy boots and a hat will be way more impressive if you have a rustic barn, farmhouse, pasture, or other space to get hitched at! Fortunately, it’s easier than ever to book a rustic wedding venue with Peerspace! We have wedding venues near you that include beautiful rustic touches like this rustic mountain lodge in Sautee Nacoochee, GA, with ample indoor and outdoor space for a micro-wedding of up to 50 guests!

3. Use a ranch welcome arch

You can recreate the feeling of driving up to a country ranch with a welcome arch! Wooden welcome arches are a fixture of country properties; use wood as the base and paint on a short but sweet greeting for your guests. Arches that look like a pair of open barn doors are an alternative to a welcome arch that serves the same purpose! 

4. Create a desert oasis venue

If you want to play up the Western environment, then how about transforming the venue into a desert oasis? This theme is perfect for weddings held in Utah, Arizona, and other states where patches of rocky desert are easy to book as event venues. Flaming red rocks and desert sunsets create the perfect backdrop for the ceremony. Add desert elements like sage bundles and cactus centerpieces, and serve a menu featuring Southwestern cuisine like enchiladas and prickly pear margaritas!

Learn what’s like an Airbnb for weddings in Southern California in case your idea of desert includes Joshua trees and oases!

5. Build a bonfire

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Western wedding ideas usually take place partly or entirely outdoors. So why not make use of all that open space by building a bonfire to enjoy as night begins to fall? A bonfire can be as tame or as grand as you like so long as the venue allows you to make a giant fire. You can even make the bonfire part of a unity ceremony, a small ritual that symbolizes your marriage. The bride and groom can take two flaming sticks and add them to the primed bonfire wood pile. The wood bursting into flame symbolizes the strength of your love, providing warmth and light for everyone attending!

6. Have a saloon-themed bar

Western wedding ideas are a lot of fun because they transport everyone to a bygone era. How about this saloon-themed bar for your wedding? Guests can order drinks that are Western-themed, like whiskey lemonades or cowboy cocktails. A saloon bar should feature a lot of wood in the design with signs in Western font listing the drinks alongside a few “Wanted” posters! 

7. Give out horseshoe wedding favors

Party favors are an important part of the wedding reception. So let guests know how much you appreciate them attending with some horseshoe-shaped party gifts! You can buy horseshoes with custom messages stamped on each one or have a more general thank-you note placed under each one!

8. Get married at a countryside wedding venue

Country and rustic weddings have a lot in common but there are a few differences. A rustic wedding venue doesn’t actually have to be in the countryside. A rooftop lounge with mountain views and country decor elements is still a rustic venue, even if it’s in the middle of a major city. A country venue, on the other hand, is going to be a rural wedding space with much of the same design elements.

Peerspace has countrywide wedding venues to match the Western theme you should check out if you really want an authentic rural experience. One of our favorites is this event barn in Platte City, MO, located on a picturesque countryside estate! 

9. Build a natural altar

One of the best things about Western wedding ideas is how creatively they make use of natural elements. A natural arch or altar made of wood, steer horns, and other Western natural elements is a great way to reinforce the theme! The cowhide blanket is another wonderful touch as it gives the newlyweds and wedding officiant a place to stand while going through the ceremony.

10. Arrive and depart on horseback

Are you and your fiance decent at riding a horse? How about ditching the getaway car and departing your wedding on horseback? A horseback ride also gives you a chance to show off those awesome boots you’re wearing as well! You might want to ride on the same horse as your partner if one of you isn’t so good at riding. Or each of you can ride your own horse – it’s your wedding so do as you like! 

11. Throw a square dancing party

Square dancing is a rural favorite that you can make space for at any countryside venue! Be sure to find a way to teach anyone who doesn’t already know how to square dance with some basic instructions. An hour of square dancing before the meal is served is a fun way to honor your Western heritage!

12. Celebrate with country music

The music is as important as the decorations when it comes to planning a Western wedding. So pick some old-time Western or modern country music to play. Do you enjoy banjo music? Have a live band show up to play some country or bluegrass during the reception!

Check out these Western-themed party ideas for more suggestions to help you plan your dream wedding.

13. Include sunflower wedding elements

Sunflowers are both plains and Western blossoms that are a good match to the Western theme! A sunflower bouquet, table centerpieces, and sunflowers added to the wedding arch are decorative touches that nicely play up the Western idea. Close friends and family might even wear sunflower corsages.

14. Have a wedding cake with Western decor

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Don’t forget about the cake when putting together your Western wedding ideas! If you want to keep things simple, a cake topper with cowboy boots or a running horse is one way to do this theme. Otherwise, you can get really creative and involved with frosting depicting desert sunsets, steer horns, cacti, sunflowers, and more.

15. Hold a Western-themed welcome party

One of the best things about a Western wedding is that you can dress up in beautiful country clothes. Why not invite your guests to put on their best turquoise belt and cowboy hat as well? A welcome party where your family and friends meet each other and take in each other’s outfits is a great start to a Western wedding. People can enjoy some snacks and drinks and get comfortable before the ceremony takes place! 

16. Rent a mechanical bull ride

An actual bull is a little too risky for most weddings but a mechanical bull? What a fun way to celebrate a Western wedding! Mechanical bulls can be rented for most special events, including weddings. Each one is surrounded by padding so no matter how green the rider, no one will be hurt. Be sure your wedding photographer is nearby to snap some hilarious images of guests doing their best to hang on.

17. Take wedding portraits with the horses

Once the wedding ceremony is over, it’s time to pose for a few portraits with your wedding photographer. Why not include the horses for some uniquely Western wedding portraits? You can take some individually and as a couple, posing with the horses before mounting up and riding off into the sunset together! This is one of those wedding ideas you really want to discuss with your photographer beforehand; how to best pose with the horses, the location you’ll be shooting at, and so on. 

Western wedding ideas: conclusion

From horseback riding to square dancing around a bonfire, Western weddings offer endless potential for fun! We hope you’ll use a few of our favorite Western wedding ideas for your upcoming ceremony. And if you haven’t already, take a look at a few of Peerspace’s wedding venues near you! We have countryside and rustic venues that are ideal for an amazing Western wedding!

Find unique rustic wedding venues for your Western theme on Peerspace