Plan a Fall Wedding

Looking for autumn-spiration?  Here are theme weddings ideas to get you started towards planning a wedding with a fall twist.

Fall Weddings - Things to Consider

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 your wedding will take place outside), and dress the wedding party in layers. 

All in the Details – Fall Wedding Ideas

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

Location

• 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 Decorations

• Color palette –
• - For fall wedding colors, adhere to mother nature’s palette but without being too obvious, orange, mustard, and deep red look amazing when paired with unexpected colors, like gray and eggplant.
  - Jewel tones are a rich, interesting twist to the traditional autumn color scheme
  - Mix in metallics – gold, copper, bronze – for added pizzazz
  
• Back to nature – use simple décor to subtly enhance the season’s natural bounty. Use the autumn harvest for inspiration; think gourds, pumpkins, squash, gold dipped fall leaves, bales of hay, jugs of cider…you get the idea. 
• 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 gold throughout your reception space.  Accent the scene with antique broaches, crystal candelabras and stemware. 

Fall Wedding Flowers

• Seasonal blooms – popular fall flowers include montbretia, hypericum, mums, sunflowers, roses, and daisies. Consult our complete list of fall wedding flowers
• Autumn harvest - add pears, apples, cranberries to your arrangements
• Natural texture – incorporate leaves, acorns, sprays of wheat
• Creative containers – hollow out pumpkins or realistic fake ones, or use stained wooden boxes, terra cotta pots, or rustic lanterns
• Tossing alternative - have your flower girl toss leaves or acorns instead of flower petals

Menu

• Traditional favorites – you cannot 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
• Go chocolate - serve a hearty chocolate cake covered in dark chocolate fondant and decorated with fresh or marzipan fruits and berries

Fall Wedding Gowns & Attire

• For the bride
• - off white - cream or off-white wedding gowns accent a richer color palette - lace up - antique or vintage lace adds texture to a rustic setting
• For the ‘maids
• - Select jewel tone bridesmaids dresses in rich fabrics such as brocade or velvet
• Stay comfortable – be prepared for chilly or warm temps. Strapless dresses with wraps, capelets or stoles are a safe bet

Fall Wedding Favors

• Make it – homemade goodies like fudge, candy apples, or jams presented in festive packaging always go over well
• Bag it – fill mini burlap bags with coffee beans, bulbs, or any treat you desire, and tie a label with your monogram or wedding date to the top
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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

Getaway

• 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! 
• Flatbed Truck – ‘cause you’re a down home couple at heart