Wedding Locations
September 17, 2020

12 Unique Ideas for Rustic Wedding Venues in Maryland

Great ways to spruce up rustic wedding venues in Maryland for your big day

minute read

Whether you’ve found your perfect rustic wedding venue in Maryland or not, you should take the time to figure out what decor and food selections you’ll make to ensure your wedding aligns with your style. Need a place to start planning your rustic wedding? Start with these tips from the Smokehouse Grill -- a wedding caterer in Maryland.

Finding the perfect rustic wedding venue in Maryland

Maryland has no shortage of rustic wedding venues. Whether you want a barn venue, something by the bayside, or a historic venue, rest assured that you’ll find something that fits your style and your needs for your big day. 

Perfect barn venue: Blackwall Barn & Lodge

photo via barnandlounge.com, place settings of Blackwall Barn & Lounge

The overall design of the Blackwall Barn & Lodge -- from the furniture to the fixtures -- lends itself well to a rustic barn wedding. With many different rooms to accommodate the size of your wedding, Blackwall Barn & Lounge is sure to have the perfect space for your big day. 

By the bay: Wylder Hotel Tilghman Island

photo via WylderHotels.com, Ceremony space at Wylder Hotel Tilghman Island

Wylder Hotel provides an escape by the bay -- a perfect wedding venue. A huge 2,200 sq ft ballroom overlooking the water could be the perfect place to have your bayside event. Make it a full weekend getaway with kayaking, bonfires, pool time, and more. 

Historic venue: William Paca House and Garden

Photo via SmithsonianMagazine.com, William Paca House and Garden

William Paca House and Garden has florals, ponds, and bridges to produce breathtaking views perfect for a wedding. Both the inside and outside of the William Paca House and Garden lend themselves to host the ceremony of your dreams. 

Ideas for Decorating Your Rustic Wedding Venue  

Wedding decor is where you can let your personality shine through and really make the details special to you and your significant other. 

Build a ceremonial arch complimented with dramatic greenery to compliment your wedding venue

photo via hearthandmade.co.uk. Ceremonial wedding arch

A ceremonial arch creates the perfect backdrop for your day. It will frame you and your significant other perfectly throughout the ceremony. Natural wood paired with your choice of wedding flower will surely evoke a rustic feel. 

Create a space for a backdrop with a neon light for a perfect photo spot at your wedding venue

via PolkaDotBride.com, A couple sitting on a couch in front of a backdrop with a neon light

Neon lights are a fun new trend, and you can customize your sign to fit you. Whether it be your last names or a special phrase you say to each other, customize a neon sign and create a space for the perfect pictures at your wedding. Plus, you can use it as decor in your home after your big day!

Design beautiful centerpieces

photo via weddingforward.com, Rustic wedding centerpiece

Centerpieces can be as simple or complex as you choose. The perfect combination of elements for a rustic centerpiece are natural wood, candles, and beautiful greenery. Add in some mason jars or milk jugs to bring everything together and space out at different visual levels. 

And don’t forget the hanging decor to complete the look at your wedding venue

photo via countryliving.com, lanterns hanging above guest tables

Whether it’s more greenery, rustic lights, or hanging lanterns, hanging decor will set your rustic wedding apart from others. While you may want to put as many decorations on guest tables as you can, sometimes less is more. Hang decorations from the ceiling to create an airy feeling while still using the decorations you want. 

Pick bridesmaid dresses that flow with your color scheme

photo via RusticWeddingChic.com, bridesmaids in green dresses posing with bride

With more of a chill in the air, bridesmaid dresses in deeper colors will become much more popular. Whether it be emerald green or deep burgundy, the deep colors will be sure to compliment the change of the colors on the leaves of the trees to provide the rustic feel. Switch things up a bit by picking different shades or styles of your bridesmaid dresses. 

Give a wedding favor your guests will use

photo via UnitedWithLove.com, plant stand with succulents with a sign that reads "Let Love Grow"

Gone are the days of giving out useless wedding favors. Instead, thank your guests with something they’ll actually use. A great way to do this is give them something such as a succulent, plant seeds, or some type of food like honey. This way, your guests will be more likely to take the favors home and you won’t be left over with wasted favors.

Impress your guests with dining options

Smokehouse Grill's BBQ Package 1

Whether your wedding needs some upscale food options or you need something contact-free, we can work to accommodate your needs at Smokehouse Grill. With something for everyone, our catering service will pair well with your rustic wedding venue. 

Safe, Contact-Free Catering

Safety is our number one priority. At Smokehouse Grill, we can offer you a completely contact-free drop-off experience when ordering through us for catering. While we know restrictions may have been lifted, we still understand and respect any decisions to be more cautious when it comes to interactions with vendors. 

Small Guest Size Catering

If you had to take down the size of your guest list, or just didn’t want to have a large wedding at all, we can still accommodate your needs. We have pre-set packages from 25 guests and up. When cooked on site, we offer 2 hours of unlimited staff serving stations to make sure you don’t have to worry about someone to serve the food on your special day. 

Upscale Dining Options

At Smokehouse Grill, we also offer four different pre-set upscale dining options. Whether it be filet mignon or marinated chicken breasts, we have a package that will suit your needs. Order from Smokehouse Grill and know that we will buy local any time we can. We use fresh Maryland crabs and oysters right from the docks here on Kent Island and choose locally grown produce from Maryland’s eastern shore. 

Barbecue Dining Options

From smokehouse pulled pork to jerk chicken and coleslaw to mac & cheese, a barbecue food package is sure to be a hit with you and your wedding guests. We cook pulled pork, pit beef, BBQ chicken, and more fresh on site. At Smokehouse Grill, we offer many different packages and options to ensure your guests are well-fed. 


Food is one of the experiences at your wedding that your guests will remember the most. You’ve found the perfect wedding venue, now find the perfect caterer. Get an online quote for Smokehouse Grill catering today!

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