DIY: A Very Rustic Romance

 
This is great news, not just for people’s pockets, but also for the planet. By recycling, reusing and upcycling items found around the home and in charity shops, or even at car boot sales and auctions, you can save money, save the planet, and add that all-important personal touch to your big day.
 
In addition to the practical benefits associated with making your own wedding decorations, there is also the added element of romance. Rustic-inspired handmade decorations look sweet, chic, and romantic, without being too over-the-top.
 
The materials and objects you are likely to find and use will be simple, but they will blend very well, in a shabby chic sort of way. If you make an extra effort to use natural materials and muted tones, you will find that you can create a rustic, romantic feel without too much hassle.
 
Here at littlecherry.co.uk, everything from our disposable tableware to our bunting lends itself to a rustic motif, thanks to the natural, sustainable materials and neutral tones used in our product ranges. Of course, compostable tableware and biodegradable balloons are great additions to a wedding reception, but what else can you do with your rustically romantic theme?
 
Well, we have come up with three sweet and simple decoration ideas that are just the right blend of rustic and romantic. What’s more is that they use a mixture of common items you can find or recycle, such as jam jars, and they incorporate our eco-friendly products. So as well as prettying your big day up, you are keeping everything planet and pocket-friendly.
 
Read on for our ideas.
 
Bring on the burlap and fall in love with lace
 
Burlap is better known as hessian in the UK, but there are a lot of Pinterest boards advocating “burlap” DIY projects for weddings. Hessian is a strong, natural, sack-like material that can be sewed, dyed, painted, and cut – you name it. You can fashion Mr & Mrs banners out of it, as well as various bows and embellishments. Combine hessian with pretty lace and some twine or ribbon, and you have a classic rustic feel.
 
For a table centrepiece, wrap half an old mason (jam) jar in burlap, trim it with lace, and tie a ribbon around the neck. This ribbon can have one of our seeded paper gift tags on, displaying your table numbers or names. To finish, pop a tea light or a little posy in there.
 
Fuss-free timber tableware
 
Weddings should be all about celebration and fun, so you want to steer clear of as much washing up and cleaning as possible. Our disposable palm leaf plates and wooden tableware are the perfect choice because they are not only sustainably sourced and completely biodegradable, but they are also the perfect colour and material to fit into your rustic theme. We have cups and cutlery too, so you can cater for the whole thing with green and easy tableware.
 
Make sure your place settings are designed with your rustic, romantic theme in mind. Don’t be afraid to play with shape and size to keep things interesting when using plates and bowls of the same material.
 
Have a large square plate as a placemat; pop a large round plate on top (mains), two smaller plates (starters and bread), a shallow bowl (dessert) and a soup bowl (well, for soup). You can swap one of the bowls for a heart-shaped dish instead if you want to mix things up a little. Top it off with a sprig of baby’s breath, tied around the middle with our biodegradable ribbon and a name tag.
 
Sticks and stones
 
Using materials like hessian, wood and lace is not the only way to add a little rustic romance to your day. Wood, slate and natural greenery all work a treat too. Slate is a particularly useful addition to a rustic-inspired wedding. You can write instructions on it, such as the running order of the day. You can put table numbers and menu options on it, or you can hang a few of our chalkboard slates around the room with sweet quotes and messages on.
 
As long as you have chalk and some imagination, you will be able to decorate your wedding with this natural material.
 
We suggest popping three slate chalkboards above the top table, spelling out “Mr & Mrs” above your seats. Alternatively, use one of our heart-shaped chalkboards and stand it on a miniature easel between your seats on the top table. You can write your initials in the heart, and the date of the wedding, adding a personal touch just for you.
 
These three decoration ideas are just the start; there is so much out there you can draw inspiration from. Blogs, magazines, Pinterest and Instagram, and your own creativity, are all great sources of inspiration too.
 
Depending on your theme, your preferences and the materials you have available, you can get as adventurous as you like. So put your crafting skills to the test and create a rustic romance that brings your wedding vision to life.
 
You can browse our site to see what eco-friendly rustic-inspired pieces we have to offer, and you even use our site for inspiration.
 
Make sure your wedding is an affair to remember and keep it simple, green and crafty; everyone loves a very rustic romance!