Ideas for a country chic vintage barn wedding?

RockerBride89

We fell in love with an old barn that is located in a German settlement in Eastern Iowa.  We love the laid back vibe and how time seems to have stood still in these colonies since the shops and homes were originally built in the mid-late 1800's.  I love the idea of not only having the reception in the barn, but actually having the ceremony itself there!  The wedding will be in October and my fiance and I hate the cliche fall colors so we are using plum and light blue.  Anyone have any decorating ideas they would like to share?

memSomerville

Oh, the vintage or vintage-inspired colored canning jars are perfect for that. Although blue is hugely popular--plum ones, or both, would be divine for that sort of situation.

And Nukke delivered the jar coloring instructions the other day. I'm sure they'll have a plum color too.

Sounds excellent on the venue.

Nukke

welcome!  The barn wedding sounds just lovely.  I think the only potential hiccup could be the space--if you want to use it both for the ceremony and reception, do you have enough space in there that you wouldn't have to "change over" the decor after the ceremony to set up?  If you would have to, would you have some place for your guests to mingle while they wait (maybe a separate location close by for a cocktail hour?).

For decor, your colours sound just lovely!  I got married in the fall, too, and didn't want to stick with the traditional fall colours either.  I chose violet, baby pink, grey, cream and copper.  It worked out just fine, so don't let anyone tell you your colours aren't "fall" enough.

I love the idea of these big flowing drapery where teh barn doors are:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_OCCt0nS5Jak/TOXXMmCEPdI/AAAAAAAABIo/UrmsnoWQw9g/s1600/barn.jpg

I think if you incorporate a few little vintage touches at your reception with lots of flowers, that would be so romantic:
http://www.trendsettingwedding.com/2009/06/vintage-rustic-wedding-floral-decor.html

http://www.brendasweddingblog.com/blogs/2009/5/12/real-wedding-alyssa-and-jeff-in-ca.html

love the bridesmaid's hats and simple decor of this rustic wedding:
http://greenweddingshoes.com/real-wedding-aimee-troys-red-barn-wedding/

Again, beautiful decor and OMG HER DRESS!
http://greenweddingshoes.com/real-wedding-summer-daniels-romantic-barn-wedding/

Magdala9

Wrap sheet moss around around chicken wire letters in your initials for two wreaths for the barn doors.  

Use long table with burlap runners with long length of ribbon down the runners.  Add mixed vases of mason jars and milk glass with a few blooms and candles. in sky blue and plum.   Birch vases are another idea. 

Set off the ceremony spot with two large logs topped with garden urns filled with your flowers. 

Your ideas all sound romantic and sweet.  What could be better for a country wedding?

RockerBride89

Thanks for the ideas! and Nukke, I'm pretty much in love with the barn weddings on Green Wedding Shoes!  That site is amazing .  Oh and the barn is HUGE so I'm thinking we can manage to have it set up for the ceremony as well as the reception.  They use the barn for the colonies Oktoberfest and Maifest celebrations.  If there does have to be some time to switch the set ups, there are several wineries along the street leading up to the barn, and the hotel we are blocking off is right across the street so I'm thinking we can set something up if needed.

AParkhouse

Someone in my home town had the ceremony outside all the guests sat on hay bails with a white linen laid over it it was so sweet and then the reception was inside the barn.


Andie