In this article we try to clarify what is meant by a “rustic venue”. This kind of setting is characterized by a very strong bond with nature. It is often a matter of historic homes tied to rural life, agriculture or livestock farming: farmhouses, country houses, agritourisms and proper farms, generally located near some village or in any case relatively far from the city.
These properties do not necessarily have to be old. They can in fact be very recent but consistent with the philosophy.
For obvious reasons, this type of choice is recommended during the warm season, when all the outdoor spaces can be made the most of.
What we want to explain, first of all, is that not all venues connected to nature should be considered rustic; there are historic residences such as Cascina Boscaccio, which we talked about some time ago, that despite being in a rural setting are not rustic. On the contrary, it is an important and refinedly elegant environment.
Another example of a nature-linked setting could be Jardin à Vivre in Castelletto Ticino, an old renovated greenhouse set within a marvelous garden. A setting tied to nature, therefore, but not very rustic at all. On the contrary, it has a distinctly shabby and very, very chic atmosphere.
A very well-known rustic venue in our area, on the other hand, is Cascina Caremma, a real working farm in the Ticino Valley, deeply tied to the culture of the land. Here we are truly within a rural setting where farming activities and animals become part of the scenery of the event.
Let us therefore return to our ‘common thread’, the one that starts from the venue but that must then be carried through in the style of the bride’s dress: let us begin by saying that the right dress for a rustic setting should respect the canons of naturalness and simplicity. It is therefore better to use “clean” fabrics, without too many embroideries and frills. Light organzas or ones with thicker finishes (the so-called double and triple organzas), or linen in all its variants, and other fabrics with rougher but super natural weaves. Today there are plenty of yarns made sustainably from hemp, nettle and bamboo, and the result is truly surprising.
Taffeta can also be suitable for those who want something more structured, as long as it is matte. Shiny fabrics are in fact not recommended, and even less any kind of rhinestones, sequins, stones and shimmer of any sort. Banned!
Lace deserves a separate mention: some types can be very suitable, for example Sangallo or Crochet lace. But be careful to dose it well. It is better to use it as a refined detail that does not weigh down the dress too much. You are still in a rural setting, remember that.
You can also vary slightly in the color of the fabric, as long as it is always tied to nature: beige, ecru, sand. Avoid optical white or pearl. You can also use accessories and details that are a little more colorful if they are in tune with the setting. For example, you could choose nuances tied to green or to flowers chosen for the event.
As for the style of the dress, yes to soft lines with medium fullness, yes to flowing and simple dresses. Avoid the mermaid style, too sophisticated and out of place for a rustic venue.
With accessories too, given the simplicity required, it is best to be very careful. Allow yourself flowers and small stylish details, but do not overdo it. Stay soft with makeup and hairstyle as well. Nothing too elaborate. With these precautions you will be in perfect harmony with nature!