Melissa Bradford King considers herself the outdoorsy kind, having grown up on a farm on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. So when it came time to select a venue for her wedding to Ryan King, originally of Wilmington, she knew she wanted a rustic, country setting near the Delaware beaches, where she and Ryan spend a great deal of time. Make My Day Event Planning of Rehoboth Beach found just the spot for the couple’s Sept. 29, 2012, wedding: Good Earth Market and Organic Farm in Clarksville.

The country look was infused throughout the wedding, from the dark brown cowboy boots that Melissa wore to the hay bales that served as seating during the reception. Tables at the outdoor reception were covered in burlap and gingham, and flowers were arranged in rustic watering cans and porcelain vases.

“I didn’t want the typical ballroom kind of wedding,” Melissa King says. “I wanted something casual yet chic, something that reflected our personalities, and it worked out great. People are still talking about our wedding.”

Wedding beauty means more than just the bride’s hair and makeup. It extends to the look and attire of the entire wedding party and through to the reception, with beauty trends influencing everything from the bride’s choice of gown to the reception centerpieces and guest favors. Today those trends include outdoorsy touches, personalized accents and a more liberal use of color and texture.