From The Straits Times    |
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Photo: Her World Brides September 2015, Pei Li & Symond’s wedding

When rustic, farmstyle weddings first emerged as a trend, brides were drawn to its easygoing nature, fuss-free style as opposed to the glamorous ‘dos as was the norm. 

Here, the things brides planning a rustic wedding should note:

1. It takes a lot of planning
Some brides may think rustic weddings are disorganised affairs simply peppered with their favourite things. Not true. It takes a lot of careful curating to bring all the elements together for a beautiful celebration to happen. For instance, while you want your guests to feel comfortable at a large party instead of a formal affair, you’ll still need to assign them to a place.

2. It’s also charming and tasteful
Rustic doesn’t mean broken, backward or anything of the sort. It can be elegant, upscale, and even glamorous. Think elegant wedding colours, as well as lush flowers as part of your decorations.

3. It’s also a challenge to plan!
Unlike hotel ballrooms or venues where you can get wedding packages to choose from, most rustic celebrations take place outdoors. This also means you have to plan almost everything to hand. For instance, the chairs, tables, wedding arch, lights, restrooms, food (you’ll need a fridge and other logistics for your chefs or caterers to do their work), cake and flowers (you don’t want them to wilt), and so on, can really take up a bit of your time.

4. It’s about getting the right venue and ambience
Venues can make or break your celebrations – it’s important that you choose the right one early on (after determining your budget and guest list), so you can start focusing on the rest of the details. That said, don’t just think of your favourite restaurants or parks to head to. For instance, your preferred venue – a sophisticated French restaurant – may not be the right place for a rustic celebration. Also, certain parks may require lots of paperwork to get permission and may not be worth your while to have your wedding at. See our list of rustic venues to consider.

5. It’s about the right dress code – for the couple and guests!
When it comes to rustic weddings, guests can get confused, as there’s no clear rule as to what works. If you want them to dress up, you have to state it clearly on your invitations. Likewise, if they can come in casual outfits, say so, too. But keep in mind their comfort if you’re opting for a formal do outdoors, as it can get hot in our climate.

6. It won’t necessarily cost less
Just because rustic weddings are less formal affairs, doesn’t mean they won’t cost as much. Venue rentals, flowers, your wedding dress, decorations will all add up. Plus, if you’re purchasing everything a la carte (i.e. no wedding package), you’ll also have to include catering fees, stationery, and table and chair rentals.

7. It’s about wet weather plans and more
Rustic weddings are mostly held outdoors, and, while planning for rain is a must, wind is also something you should prepare for. Think sturdy centrepieces that won’t fall over from heavy winds (this means no flimsy bases or tall arrangements), or fairylights that’ll sway alarmingly (or worse, fall off), or tent flaps that may be uprooted. 

Don’t forget too, that if you’re going au naturel with most things (like wood rings for your cake base or signs), look out for insects, which you don’t want crawling up your cake or signs (trust us, your frightened or horrified face is the last thing you’ll want in your pictures). Plus, if you’re celebrating your union with an outdoor lunch or dinner, prepare large fans or insect repellant scents to keep mozzies and rain flies away.