Western weddings are a fun, unique theme that many couples love to embrace, especially if their planned wedding venue is on a ranch, a farm, or held in a rustic barn or building. Western weddings feature many of the intriguing traits of the Old West, giving reminiscent notes of cowboys and wide-open land ready for exploring.
Our article gives you stellar ideas on what to wear to a Western wedding, regardless if you are a guest or part of the bridal party.
What Is a Western Wedding Theme?
The Western wedding theme is one that incorporates elements from the Old West – think cowboys, salons, lots of denim and leather, and plenty of rustic decorations.
The Old West is often perceived as a romantic time, a sentiment encouraged by many Western romance books and movies. Many individuals enjoy the Western theme so much that they center their weddings around it.
Most Western weddings will take place on a ranch, in a barn, or around another rustic building. You can expect a more relaxed dress code, as Western weddings rarely call for black-tie or formal dress code. You can expect to see lots of cowboy boots and cowboy hats worn by all parties.
It’s important you check directly with the couple organizing the wedding if you have any questions or concerns about the Western wedding theme you are expected to accommodate.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Western Wedding Outfit
There are several items that you need to consider when choosing a Western wedding outfit, much like when choosing an outfit for a more traditional wedding theme. We list common factors you should be reviewing ahead of settling on your final Western wedding outfit choice.
Venue Setting
The venue and setting of a Western wedding are incredibly important to keep in mind. Knowing if you’ll be sitting outdoors or indoors or if there’ll be mud, grass, or hay that could get trapped into your shoes are vital things to keep in mind.
Additionally, knowing where the venue is and what it looks like can help give you a better sense of the Western theme that the happy couple is organizing. Daytime outdoor weddings at a ranch with a reception indoors calls for slightly different outfit choice than nighttime weddings inside a bar or another rustic Western-themed building.
Dress Code Formality
Western wedding themes are generally considered to be more relaxed and laid-back when it comes to the formality of the dress code. However, it’s still important to adhere to any special requests the couple organizing the wedding makes.
Most of the time, Western wedding themes will be semi-formal. This means that you should look nice, clean, and well-put together, but long formal dresses, suits, or high heels are likely not required.
A special thing to keep in mind about Western wedding themes is that denim, leather, suede, and flowy sundresses are generally encouraged, as are cowboy boots and cowboy hats. With a traditional wedding theme, many of these items are considered a fashion faux pas.
When attending a Western wedding, you can embrace your jeans and cowboy boots to your heart’s content, as long as they look clean, fitted, and presentable.
Season
The season that a Western wedding is held in is another essential consideration, as you will want to select your outfit to properly meet weather conditions.
Fall and winter Western-themed weddings might call for long-sleeved denim or fringe jackets. Spring and summer Western wedding outfits might feature short-sleeved sundresses, cowboy hats, and light, flowing shawls.
Color Schemes
Occasionally, the couple organizing the wedding will request that specific color schemes be met for both the bridal party and their guests. Most Western-themed weddings embrace more rustic and earthy colors, such as greens, blues, denim, tans, and browns, but there are many different options for Western wedding colors out there.
Make sure that you don’t wear anything too bold or too bright, and that patterns aren’t super busy and vivid. In addition to meeting most Western wedding colors, this is good wedding etiquette that allows the happy couple to be the main focus of the event, without the their guests distracting from them.
Accessory and Shoe Choice
As you start thinking about your Western wedding outfit, you should also consider which accessories and shoe choices you might want to accompany your choice.
Many Western wedding outfits put an emphasis on turquoise and silver jewelry, as these are key traits of the Old West or a general rustic Western theme. Men may wear bolo ties, and both men and women may embrace cowboy boots as their shoe choice.
Examples of Western Wedding Outfits
The following examples of Western wedding outfits will help give you an idea of what to wear to your next Western wedding. In addition, you’ll become more familiar with this unique wedding theme.
For the Guests: Dresses
Women attending a Western wedding are typically seen wearing a sundress with cowboy boots, fringe dresses, and accessories such as cowboy hats and simple jewelry.
In the spring and summer, floral patterns and pastel colors make a great choice, while darker browns, leather, suede, and dark denim are better options for fall and winter Western weddings.
Alternatively, you can pair a skirt (or nice pair of pants) with a dressy blouse and a denim jacket. Choose a fringe jacket for extra Western flair.
Even with a Western wedding theme, it’s important to stay away from the color white or any colors similar to white, unless explicitly given instructions by the bride.
For the Guests: Jeans
A nice pair of clean, well-fitted jeans are often acceptable to wear to Western wedding. You can wear a dress shirt on top and pair it with a jacket or a vest as the season calls for.
Be careful that you don’t choose a pair of old, worn, or stained jeans, as that takes away from your outfit and makes you look less than presentable.
If you aren’t interested in wearing jeans, a grey, black, or blue suit paired with a dress shirt and a cowboy hat works just as well.
Cowboy boots and cowboy hats are almost always appropriate accessories and shoe options for people attending a Western wedding whether you’re in jeans or a suit.
For the Bridal Party
Western wedding outfits for the bridal party vary based on the bride’s wishes and the color scheme or general theme of the wedding. However, you can expect cowboy boots, traditional bridesmaid dresses, and fun Western or rustic-themed accessories to accompany your wedding day outfit.
Make sure you consult with the bride if you have any questions about what the bridal party and bridesmaids are expected to wear during the wedding.
For the Groomsmen
Groomsmen and the groom at Western weddings are often dressed similarly. Jeans and dress shirts with vests, suits with bolo ties, and cowboy hats and cowboy boots make up the majority of these outfits.
Speak with the groom if you have any questions or concerns about the specific outfit you should be wearing on the day of the Western wedding.
FAQs About Western Wedding Outfits
The following questions about Western wedding outfits are commonly asked. We give you answers to help you understand this theme a little more easily.
Do I Need to Wear Cowboy Boots to a Western Wedding?
While you don’t need to wear cowboy boots to a Western wedding they are typically the easiest and most fun way to ensure you meet the Western wedding theme.
Cowboy boots fit any outfit and both men and women, so if you are invited to a Western wedding, adding these shoes to your outfit is a great way to blend in with the other guests.
What Are Fun Accessories for a Western Wedding?
Western weddings typically call for less traditional accessory items, such as cowboy hats, jewelry in Old West designs, denim and suede jackets, and lots of fringe on clothing items.
Browse pictures online of Old West themes and other Western weddings. Then, you can get a good idea of the types of accessories that you can pair with your own outfit to make your Western wedding look complete.
Are Leather and Suede Good Western Wedding Choices?
Leather and suede, while not the best fabric choices for traditional weddings, find their home at Western weddings. As long as your leather and suede choices are tasteful and you make sure to match the other theme and dress code formality of the Western wedding, you may be able to wear these fabrics.
Another common fabric at Western weddings is denim, and jeans or denim jackets are often embraced within Western weddings.
Where Can I Get More Details About Western Wedding Themes?
Western weddings aren’t the most common wedding theme around today, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth the effort.
If you are interested in learning more about Western wedding themes, browse online pictures of Western weddings. Websites such as Pinterest and Instagram can give you a good idea of the best Western wedding outfits and themes out there.
Embracing the Western Wedding Theme
Western weddings are a fun and unique way for a couple to celebrate their love, and there is nothing more exciting than choosing your wedding outfit to attend a Western wedding.
Review our tips above to help you figure out what exactly the Western wedding theme consists of and get started thinking about your perfect wedding outfit for the next Western wedding you attend.