- The pinwheels and simple red and blue summer dresses are perfect for a casual Americana wedding. Credit: Tiny Water Photography.
With Flag Day right around the corner and the 4th of July less than a month away, this is the perfect time to think about an Americana wedding theme. Red, white, and blue can be tricky to pull off without making your wedding look like a July 4th barbeque. Get inspired by these wonderful Americana theme wedding ideas.
- I love the bench seating and old lace tablecloths; and check out the cool old truck! Credit: Delish.com
What makes Americana work as a theme is that it is a bit nostalgic and vintage, perhaps even a bit rustic. The red can be a bit dusty, the blue a bit faded – it is not the extremely bright and spangly red and blue of dollar store Independence Day decorations. Keeping this key point in mind is what will set your Americana theme wedding apart from a regular 4th of July party. You can actually find cool décor items to use at vintage stores, flea markets, and yard sales; everything will look best if it is an eclectic mix.
- Rustic barn wedding with American flag behind the cake. Credit: Azuree Wiitala via Ruffled Blog.
The right location is an important part of planning a wedding with a classic American theme. A backyard or park would certainly work well. You could also go rustic with a barn or a ranch setting. Avoid places that are too modern or fancy, as they will not enhance the spirit of the theme. Outdoors or indoor-outdoor (like a barn) is the best option. Americana is an inherently summery theme, so it fits nicely with the popularity of weddings held out in the sunshine during the summer months.
- Whimsical Americana inspiration in red, white, and blue at a backyard wedding. Credit: Tiny Water Photography.
- Red and blue bridesmaid dresses are the perfect complement to the dotted Swiss bridal gown. Credit: Kate Osbourne via Utah Bride Blog.
It is great fun to outfit the bridesmaids for this wedding theme. Their dresses should obviously be red, white, or blue. It can work nicely to have a combination of some red and some blue dresses, as well. Your maid of honor could be dressed in one color while the rest of the bridesmaids wear the other. Patterns like stripes and gingham tie in perfectly with this wedding concept, either on the dresses or as ribbons on the bouquets. Since this is a pretty casual theme, choose simple jewelry for bridesmaids, like a pearl pendant or a silver necklace. A great way for the bride to get in on the fun theme is with a retro pair of red shoes. Fabrics like lace, eyelet, organdy, and dotted Swiss are all fantastic options for the bridal gown.
- Charming Americana reception tablescape. Credit: Kate Osbourne via Utah Bride Blog.
Planning a menu with an Americana flair is easy. Stick to classic fare done well. Comfort foods like mac and cheese shooters, mini sliders, pulled pork sandwiches, fresh summer berries, and the like will be perfect. The food will suit the theme and your guests are sure to enjoy every bite of it. A simple wedding cake will finish off the reception perfectly. If you like, you might also have sweet treats like fresh fruit pies, strawberry shortcake, cake pops, or homemade ice cream sandwiches on the dessert table. When it all comes together, it is hard to go wrong with a nostalgic Americana theme for a wedding.
- This tableau captures the nostalgic flavor of classic Americana style perfectly. Credit: Tiny Water Photography.
