In recent months, rustic weddings held in barns and at outdoor settings have been a popular choice, and the trend points to the importance of a floral designer’s or coordinator’s eagle-eye for design detail in a unique site. They take one look at a unique site’s existing architecture, high ceilings, exposed beams, finials on window treatments, fireplaces…and they sketch out masterpieces for brides and grooms on any budget to create a celebration that looks like a million bucks. Without the million bucks.

When you choose a unique location that already has phenomenal existing details, you only need to add a few more decor touches. That makes wise budget sense. And that magically turns into the impression that you spent a lot more.

The write-in site suggestions in the 2010 Ceremony and Reception Study provide a jaw-dropping collection of locales that could be home to your amazing wedding. Here are just a few that floored me for their design opportunities and guests’ Wow Factor: aquarium, art gallery, country B&B, and opera house. Several write-ins mentioned ranches for that rustic appeal, and I love the idea of renting out a family farm for your wedding’s setting.

Beyond the rustic appeal of a farm, you’d be doing a wonderful thing in helping to support the small farm community. I talked to a local farm family who beamed about recent weddings they hosted, how their teams helped set up tents in cleared, non-grazing fields, strung lights along their barns, and offered steep discounts on their own organic crops for the caterer’s use. Couples further supported them by offering the farm’s own organic honey pots as favors, and place setting cards were attached to farm-grown apples and pears.

If you wish to find a family farm, visit www.localharvest.org, and call or visit to ask about private events held on their grounds during the different seasons. Expect the farm to enforce rules about off-limits areas and their animal residents’ quiet confinement, but you’ll find these friendly folks to be quite accommodating about helping you plan your wedding in their wide open spaces and rustic places.

If you love the idea of unique settings like the farm, the art gallery or the museum, but not for your wedding…they could be the home to your engagement party, bridal shower or rehearsal dinner. Smaller-scale celebrations may be better for more intimate settings.

What are your ‘write-ins’ for unique wedding locales? We’d love to hear your ideas, or stories about your wedding.