Fall Weddings…
Autumn, what a romantic, wonderful time to get married! And fall right into love with a fall wedding.
Whether you want your autumn wedding to be formal, casual, or somewhere in between, you have an enormous variety of possibilities. The summer heat is gone, yet the days are still warm and sunny. The leaves are turning into an incredible array of colors and as they fall off the trees they create a lush, colorful carpet.
Picking a unique wedding location is half the battle in wedding planning. When you are planning a rustic fall wedding, look for a place that has both indoor and outdoor options. Fall temperature can swing anywhere between extremely hot and very cold. Barn wedding venues and vineyards and wineries work well since most offer both indoor and outdoor locations. Outdoor weddings are especially beautiful during autumn—an array of natural fall colors enhances the ambiance. Keep in mind that an outdoor wedding means more planning. It will involve bringing in chairs, tables, bathroom facilities, etc.
Start creating your autumn theme with your wedding stationery—after all, that’s what your guests will see first! It’s easy to integrate autumn into your stationery. Choose designs with motifs like leaves, trees, apples, and pinecones for a classic woodland feel. There are a multitude of autumn themed invitations out there, but if you want to make it more personal, you can create your own. Your local craft store can provide a wide variety of paper, stencils, and ribbons from which to choose. If you want to go subtle, use neutral colors such as cream and beige. These hues, along with natural materials like brown Kraft paper, make for a rustic yet beautiful invitation. If you want to be a bit more colorful, oranges, browns, and yellows are definitely the autumn colors to use.
When it comes to dressing your bridesmaids, you have loads of beautiful options! Choose dresses in rich, warm colors like blackberry, purple, deep red, or chocolate brown. If you’d prefer to dress your girls in lighter colors, then neutral shades like cream or gold look stunning with an autumnal theme. Choose dresses in heavier materials to keep the bridesmaids from catching a chill if the wedding is going to be mid- to late autumn. You can pass out autumn colored pashminas to each bridesmaid to keep warm during the reception.
Fall Wedding Dresses
How about your wedding gown? Your dream dress will depend on whether the wedding will be held inside or outside. Consider pairing a short jacket or shrug with your gown. There are endless choices of wedding dresses that have sleeves and some even have matching short jackets, all options you’ll love. If you are going for the rustic look, vintage is always a good choice. Once you find your vintage dress, you can make it your own by adding a fall-colored sash or belt.
Decorating for your fall wedding can be fun and creative. We all know that pumpkins come in orange, but there are also “Boo Pumpkins” which are all white and can be beautiful centerpieces when filled with fall leaves and/or flowers. A white pumpkin nestled in a wreath of twigs and used as a vase is a beautiful addition to your reception tables. You can use the small ones to create candle or place holders. If your venue is elegant, orange and cream-colored flowers are beautiful when paired with tall vases atop a table with gold place settings. Wheat bundles also make beautiful centerpieces. Wheat has great wedding symbolism because of its traditional representation of fruitfulness, and it was among the earliest grains to be ceremoniously showered on the bride and groom. In its earliest origins, the unmarried young women attending the wedding were expected to scramble for the grains to ensure their own betrothals, much as they do today for the bridal bouquet.
Getting married in a barn? Instead of bringing in chairs for seating why not consider hay bales? They will add to the rustic autumn atmosphere and are comfortable enough to sit on throughout the wedding ceremony. Some hay suppliers might even loan out the hay since it is only used for one day. Arranged in a certain way, perhaps with blankets thrown over in certain areas, will be a beautiful and creative way to seat your guests.
Autumn can bring lots of food choices at the reception. If the weather is going to be crisp and chilly, a tureen of butternut squash soup might be a good starter for the buffet table. Comfort foods like mac and cheese, risotto, and potato dishes can warm up any guest. A drink bar featuring hot and cold cider and hot chocolate is fun. Decorate with small containers of marshmallows and cinnamon sticks for guests to add to their beverage.
Need an autumn themed favor? Consider gifting guests a favor that reflects the season, like mini apple pies or pumpkin butter. Caramel apples are fun and different. This old-fashioned treat can be rolled in nuts, chocolate pieces, or whatever else you can think of. If you don’t want to do apples, set up an apple bar at the reception with apples on sticks. Provide nuts, candy, and caramel or chocolate in which to coat the apple. Guests can make their own! Autumn favors can also consist of candles, chocolate, or homemade jams. If you’re a novice in the kitchen, enlist the help of your caterer or a local bake shop. Make the favor yours by adding a personalized tag or custom packaging. Does your family have a secret recipe everyone loves? Whip up a batch of your famous oatmeal cookies, toffee, or caramel popcorn. Package the treat to reflect your wedding style, and if you’re feeling really hospitable, let your guests in on the recipe.
Your autumn wedding can reflect all of the beauty of the fall season. Incorporating fall colors into the festivities will bring it all together, creating the wedding you have always dreamed of!
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