Plan a Fall Wedding

Looking for fall wedding inspiration? Here are fall wedding ideas to get you started towards planning a autumn themed celebration…

Advice for Fall Weddings

Back to school

This means Friday night football games and scores of other after-school activities - all which may affect the ability of some guests with kids to attend. 

Variable weather

Fall weather can be unpredictable: what starts as a sunny warm morning can turn into a brisk chilly evening.  Be prepared for both extremes.  Have portable heaters available if you’re planning an outdoor fall wedding, and dress the bridal party in layers. 

Fall Wedding Ideas & Details

Fall Wedding Invitations & Stationery

• Add a fall motif - such as an acorn, maple leaf, or tree silhouette - to your stationery suite
• Consider color - use paper or inks in traditional fall hues – brown, gold, rust, deep reds, and orange or non-traditional fall wedding colors that speak to the season like eggplant, mustard, gray, and green.
• An added touch - insert a sprinkling of silk fall leaves into each envelope

Fall Wedding Location Tips

• Outside splendor – the season seems to call for an outdoor, rustic setting affording prime leaf peeping views.  Some ideas: parks, orchards, vineyards, farms, ranches, barns, mills, or the grounds of an historic inn or mansion.
• Room with a view – if an outdoor setting isn’t an option, find a venue boasting a clear view of the fall foliage or countryside. 

Fall Wedding Décor

• Back to nature – use simple fall items throughout the décor to subtly enhance the season’s natural bounty; think purple cabbage, gourds, pumpkins, squash, fall leaves dipped in gold, bales of hay, and jugs of cider. 
• Go fall glam – you’re not confined to rustic and casual in the fall. Create a posh autumn ambiance, and drape lush velvet (a traditional fall/winter fabric) in a rich chocolate brown or eggplant throughout your reception space and accent the scene with gold branches, crystal candelabras, and antique stemware. 

Fall Wedding Colors

• Adhere to mother nature’s palette – but without being too obvious. Orange, mustard, and deep red are great but pair them with unexpected colors, like gray, coral, and eggplant for a unique look.
• Jewel tones – these rich, interesting twist to the traditional autumn color scheme
• Mix in metallics – gold, copper, bronze – for added pizzazz

Fall Wedding Flowers

• Seasonal blooms – popular fall flowers include anemone, thistle, hypericum, scabiosa, privet berry, mums, sunflowers, garden roses, and seeded eucalyptus. Consult our complete list of fall wedding flowers
• Autumn harvest  - add pears, apples, or cranberries to your fall centerpieces
• Natural texture – incorporate leaves, acorns, and wheat
• Creative containers – hollow out pumpkins or use stained wooden boxes, vintage cream cheese boxes, terra cotta pots, or rustic lanterns
• Tossing alternative - have your flower girl toss leaves or acorns or maple leaves instead of flower petals

Fall Wedding Menu

• Traditional favorites – you can’t go wrong with seasonal standbys: turkey, red potatoes, corn bread dressing, green beans, and honey glazed carrots.
• Family style – re-create a traditional thanksgiving feast by incorporating your family recipes into your wedding menu and serving the meal family style (if your guest list is small).
• Hearty proteins - Choose a hearty meat that will pair with heavier side dishes – turkey, roasted quail, rib roast
• Keep it elegant – you can serve traditional fare in sophisticated, creative ways – present soup or veggie puree in mini shot classes or hallowed out gourds, or warm apple cider in glass mugs with cinnamon sticks.

Fall Wedding Cakes

• Go pumpkin – round out a fall feast with a pumpkin cake or even a tiered pumpkin pie
• Consider chocolate – serve a hearty, rich flourless chocolate cake covered in a dark chocolate ganache
• Hearty dessert – the texture of carrot cake is reminiscent of the season

Fall Wedding Attire

• For the Bride
• Off white – cream, off-white, or even beige wedding gowns accent a richer color palette
• Lace up – antique or vintage lace adds texture to a rustic setting

• For the ‘maids – think jewel tones. your bridesmaids will look stunning in deep purple, mustard, or jade green gowns made of rich fabrics like lace or velvet
• Keep them comfortable – be prepared for chilly or warm temps. Strapless dresses should include wraps, capelets, or stoles

Fall Wedding Favors

• Make it – homemade goodies like candy apples, sugar cookies, fudge, or jams presented in festive packaging always go over well
• Bag it – fill mini burlap bags with candy, herbs, bulbs, or any treat you desire. Tie them off with ribbon or baker’s twine, and a label with your monogram
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• Pour it – miniature bottles of maple syrup are a sweet treat
• Fill it – miniature wood crates lined with straw and filled with goodies are a rustic touch

Fall Wedding Exit

• Hay ride – ride off into the sunset on the back of a hay wagon, or invite the whole group to take a hay ride back to the hotel
• Horseback – make sure you practice!
• Vintage Truck – ‘cause you’re a down home couple at heart