Ceremonies Old West Style

You don’t have to be a cowboy (or cowgirl) or even live way out West to hanker for a good, old-fashioned Western wedding. Western theme weddings are becoming more and more popular every year and, if done right, can be a bit less stressful and more laid back than a traditional wedding.

Start with old-fashioned card stock and an old-west type face for your wedding invitations.

If you want to add a little down-home flavor to your wedding ceremony there’s plenty you can do. Start by having your wedding invitations printed on heavy Victorian card stock. It might even help to spray the invitations with tea so the tannic acid will give your invites that old country look. An old fashioned script type face will keep your invites looking 1890s.

Period costumes are often simple to find or to make and the cost is often less than traditional wedding attire – and a lot more fun.

Of course you’ll want to encourage everyone to come dressed in period clothes as much as possible. That doesn’t mean old and raggedy. Blue jeans and checked shirts should be clean and pressed, with string ties and shined up cowboy boots. And don’t forget the vest for that truly dressed-up look! The ladies should wear gingham dresses or other period frocks with laced-up white boots. Men’s hair could be plastered back flat against their heads and the women should wear their hair up in the proper style.

An old barn or just a beautiful outdoor location decorated with hay bales and you’re good to go.

Next, find a non-traditional location. A barn or other building that you can decorate with a barn motif would be appropriate. If a barn or barn-like structure isn’t available then a simple outdoor wedding may be enough. An outdoor location could be someone’s yard or a state park or almost any rural setting. If you wish to use a state park be sure to check with the authorities first in case another wedding is planned for the same time in the same location.

Finding a few period antiques and an old cow bell or triangle shouldn’t be too difficult or expensive.

If possible decorate with antiques or period relics. At the very least put a few hay bales around for people to sit on or simply for atmosphere. Think of it as if you were dressing a movie set for a western epic.

Have an old-fashioned cow bell or triangle to ring whenever there is an announcement to be made or a toast given, and, if possible, the bride, groom, and other members of the wedding party should arrive on horse-drawn wagons or carts.

You’ll want to set up an open-pit Bar-B-Q with plenty of mesquite or hickory wood for that old-fashion flavor.

Food should be Bar-B-Q. Let the hickory smoke and the flavors of the cooking food fill the air. Ribs, steak, chicken and even burgers make fine eats for a good old down-home meal. Sides should be period favorites such as beans, or slaw or potato salad along with Bar-B-Qed corn on the cob and whole potatoes.

Some down-home music and line dancing and you’re ready to party hearty after the wedding.

You’ll want to round things off with some down-home music and some fast and fun line dancing. Have someone who can teach a few simple line dance steps so everyone feels confident enough to join in and have a good ‘ol time!

Remember, there is a lot of good Gospel and Country Ballad music that is be perfect for a Western ceremony, and the bride and groom are sure to want to include their own vows.

Don’t forget the alter itself. Old wood and lattice work make for a good, country-style alter. Don’t forget that wheat woven into the alter not only looks western, but it is an ancient symbol of fertility.

Your Western wedding should be a good time for one and all!

Most of all you and your guests should have fun. Part of the charm of a simple Western wedding is to take away some of the stress and the strain of planning and executing a more formal and stylized wedding. Let your hair down, kick off your boots and make yourself at home, ya’ hear?