What does rustic mean?

By definition it means country or simple, but I think it's really up to interpretation.

Rustic is like southern/country. So for a venue if you wanted rustic, you'd probably go with a barn and an open field rather than hotel ballroom. Popular decorations for rustic weddings are mason jars, wood slices, lanterns, burlap, barrels, twine, etc. A rustic wedding can definitely be elegant (that's the theme we're going for), but sometimes things are thrown together and called "rustic" when really it just looks tacky/sloppy in my opinion

I’m having a rustic wedding and I think of it as like a barn feel. Lots of wood features, outdoorsy, whiskey barrels, etc.

You also have the new rustic chic! Which is all your rustic components with a touch of class.... Gold tones, etc..

I agree with PPs! I’m having a rustic wedding, but it is all indoors. The venue is entirely exposed brick and lots and lots of wood. It’s not a barn or outdoors, but still has a rustic feel to it.

My wedding will be "rustic". It's in a barn type setting and will decorated elegantly with flares of "country". For example, the head table will have deer antlers intertwined with the garland. We both enjoy hunting but I'd say my style is a little more contemporary chic than rustic. He's very country. This is our way of incorporating both of our styles.

To me, rustic has more of a country or outdoorsy feel to it. I think of barn venues, burlap, sunflowers, mason jars, and exposed wood.

With all due respect, if I ever hear the word rustic again after my wedding tomorrow, it will be to soon!!

View Quoted Comment Congratulations on your wedding day! And I won't say the r-word. :-)

Thanks you guys for your answers! And I wish you all wonderful weddings!

Rustic means country, but I think of it as more ranch country or backcountry versus just having a barn or outdoors theme. Lots of exposed wood showing the grain, burlap, twine, mason jars, exposed bulbs, etc. We are having a wedding on a farm and our reception will be in a barn, but it's very a modern building and aesthetic (poured concrete floor, white painted walls, modern lighting, contemporary furniture, etc). Rustic is not a word I'm using to describe our wedding to anyone.

Rustic can be beautiful and elegant (think old money southern plantation) but it can also look unfinished (think backcountry hunting cabin). Regardless all rustic has exposed wood, outdoorsy materials and elements, and functional props as common elements.

That sounds lovely