Unexpected Leather Wedding Ideas We Love

When you think of wedding textiles, rich satins, textured cottons, and airy silks come to mind. We want you to add one more medium to that list: Leather. It's an unexpected but versatile big-day option—especially since it comes in multiple neutral colors (and looks beautiful when dyed, if you're looking for a colorful iteration!). Best of all, you can use the textile in a number of different ways across most of your event's key elements. From escort cards, signs, and placemats to menus and bouquet wraps, leather brings an earthy, organic touch to your wedding décor, whatever its theme or overarching style.

Though leather adds a unique layer of dimension to just about every wedding detail, the textile feels even fresher when utilized in an unexpected way. Think beyond the material's more common big-day uses, like reception seating and place cards, and choose a leather moment your guests won't see coming. A leather envelope will not only surprise your attendees, but it will elude to your earthy, relaxed event to come. The textile also makes for a meaningful bridal party gift or favor, since it's so easy to customize. These guests, for example, were sent home with leather trays engraved with their names and heartfelt messages from the couple. The keepsakes were both thoughtful and practical—many celebrants actually displayed their tray in their own homes.

Whether you're looking to add rustic flair to your event or simply work in more textured, natural décor accents, leather is the way to do it. Need some inspiration? You're in luck. Ahead, we've rounded up our favorite leather wedding ideas to inform your own.

Tie your bouquet—this one was created by New Creations Flowers—into your wedding's mid-century modern aesthetic with a patent leather wrap.

When designing a rustic reception, consider layering natural materials to add texture to your tabletops. This leather menu by A Fine Press was presented over wood to enhance the event's earthy style.

On the big day (and beyond!), keep your vows safe in an engraved suede case, like this one by Paper Birch Designs. Post-wedding, this display serves as a personal big-day keepsake.

Make like Aerialist Letterpress and create boho-chic escort cards by combining jewel-toned stones with engraved leather tags for a natural, but still-luxe look.

Hosting a barn wedding? Add leather to farm equipment for a rustic setup that speaks to your venue and serves a purpose. These calligraphed tags by Hush Lettering were displayed on an iron wagon wheel seating chart—they nodded to the rustic setting, but still looked refined.

Use dark leather to add a dose of bold color to an otherwise soft palette. Laurie Arons Special Events did just that by styling this banquet table with cognac leather chairs, which contrasted the tabletop's peach-hued décor.

Take a hint from Aaron Hartselle and modernize your vintage-inspired tablescape with leather menus. This square iteration by Amber Moon of Pitbulls and Posies featured clean lines, which complemented the table's ornate dishes and candlesticks as well as structured goblets.

Add some texture to Lucite wedding invitations by sliding them into a leather sleeve, like Clayton and Crume did here.

Looking for a statement-making sign for your bohemian celebration? Emulate this leather iteration by Shimmer and Stain that was cut to look like an animal hide.

Give your wedding invitations a one-of-a-kind look with a hand-crafted element. This couple did just that by mailing their stationery in leather envelopes by J.RoCro arts + letters.

Add dimension to your monochromatic tabletop with a textural element, like this leather napkin ring by Curlicue Designs Calligraphy. Its calligraphy's metallic hue complemented this tonal place setting, which featured a gold napkin and rose gold silverware.

Create a bohemian wedding sign—this one was by Type and Title—with rough-edged leather. The unfinished look will enhance the material's natural vibe.

A leather wedding accent doesn't have to be brown or calico—we suggest dying the material to fit your color palette. Laura Armendariz of Fawn Events used this pink sign by Four Things Paper to complement the bright table runner and Best Day Ever Floral Design's colorful centerpieces.

These calligraphed napkin rings by The Fancy Cat Studio prove that leather place cards can add a masculine flair to a feminine tablescape. Their brown hue and textured finish balanced out the look of this pink napkin and table runner.

Take notes from Lisa Vorce Co., who added texture and color to this glass jar by wrapping it in a leather table marker by Anne Robin Calligraphy.

Use leather accents to nod to your big-day locale. Thanks to its natural asymmetry, this leather placemat resembled an animal hide and referenced the event's barn setting, which was designed by Katie Pritchard and Goodheart Design.

Add warmth to a wood-and-metal drink station with a leather banner sign, like this one by Mason Dixon Designs. Its orange-and-white colors brightened this bar cart's overall look, as did its accompanying feminine floral arrangements by Meristem Floral.

Give your bridal look some edge with a leather jacket that displays your new last name, like this one by The Native Bride.

Displaying leather furniture in contemporary silhouettes—like Wild Sky Events did here with a tufted couch and poufs—is an easy way to create a modern look throughout your reception's lounge.