Believe it or not, it's claimed autumn or fall is the second most popular time of year to get married. Think of storybook settings such as inns, 18th century churches and meeting houses, old mills and even barns. A fall wedding can be casual yet elegant set in a beautiful old barn. You might also look at an apple orchard, a vineyard, or any place that will have a view of autumn foliage. If you live in a climate where the leaves don’t change, look for a venue with lots of rich dark wood and warmth such as a gentleman’s club or university club. A fireplace is an extra special touch.
Set the tone for your fall wedding as soon as your guests enter with sheaths of wheat or corn at the entrance. Choose either rich jewel tones to decorate the room, or a traditional fall color scheme such as reds, oranges, browns and yellows. A modern fall color scheme uses only
chocolate brown with light-blue accents. Fill the room with the bounty of the season - pumpkins, cornucopias, acorns, and gourds. Make jack-o-lanterns with decorative patterns rather than scary faces, or use paper bag luminaria for a similar effect.An ultra-formal wedding can easily have elements of a fall/autumn theme without sacrifing the formality of the event. One of the ways in which this can be done is through your choice of colors. A few color combinations that can be considered both formal and autumnal are: burgundy & hunter, and wine & navy. By using these color combinations (as well as many others) you can maintain a formal air to your event while still maintaining your theme. These colors can be apparent in your decor, your flowers and even the attire for your wedding party.
A casual or informal affair is just as simple to create. Again, setting the tone is the key. In this case, color combinations such as rust/brick & kelly green or buttercup & light orange/dark peach can be used. Another way to set the tone of an informal fall wedding is by using decorations that reflect the casual atmosphere. In light of the fact that autumn is such a varied season, your only limit is your imagination. You can use any of the elements that you enjoy, and your wedding and reception will refle
ct those things you enjoy about the season.There are many ways in which you can incorporate the fall theme into your wedding. For the most part, these ideas are very simple to execute. One of the easiest ways to incorporate the theme into your ceremony is by adding small touches that reflect fall/autumn. One idea is to use a pew bow comprised of printed ribbon with fall themes instead of the traditional white/ivory. This can range from prints of leaves to prints of pumpkins. For a more formal event, wide burgundy or hunter ribbon edged in gold can be used. Fall colors can be used in floral arrangements and a variety of fall flowers can be used as well.
Grapevine wreaths can be used on wall spaces at the ceremony or reception site. You can also use the items used for the ceremony as decorations for the reception. Pew bows can be tied to terra-cotta pots and filled with mini-pumpkins or colored leaves for centerpieces. You can also use swags of silk flowers or autumn leaves to decorate. There are numerous silk flower color choices (and fall flower choices) that are sold in the stores for fall decorating purposes and you can browse until you find choices that will reflect the formality and tone of your wedding and reception.
When it comes to flowers, generally you can find Mums, roses, daisies, yarrow, fall leaves, tallow berries and both natural and dried wheat for inexpensive prices during the fall. A spray of wheat or a mum accented with a pheasant feather makes an elegant boutonnière. Consider hollowing out pumpkins for your centerpiece containers – if you don’t have the time, many craft and home stores now sell realistic fake pumpkins. But if you go with the real thing, consider white or blue natural pumpkins for an elegant and unique touch.Dress wise the autumn bride look can be cream and off-white dresses with gold beading and accents. Bridesmaids look wonderful in jeweltone dresses; matching the groomsmen’s vests to their dresses. Look at rich fabrics such as brocades and velvets for a luxurious touch. Remember that weather in the fall can be tricky – it may be hard to know in advance whether your wedding day will be warm or chilly - so maybe the bride and bridesmaids could wear strapless dresses with capelets, stoles or wraps and on a warm day, the overlayer can be easily removed.
The most traditional autumnal dinner is a roasted turkey with pumpkin pie for dessert in the States, but there are so many other options for a wedding menu. From roasted quail to standing rib roast, choose a hearty meat that will pair well with heavier side dishes such as squash and mashed potatoes. A mushroom ragout evokes the season and
provides a nice entrée for your vegetarian guests. You might start the meal with a hearty soup accompanied by whole grain rolls. Serve warm apple cider in glass mugs with a cinnamon stick stirrer, and offer an alternative to wedding cake with a baked apple dessert. You can give favors in keeping with the season too, such as a beautiful apple tied with a gold ribbon, or a bottle of maple syrup. If you have a sweet tooth, give guests caramel apples wrapped in cellophane, or give a DIY kit of a caramel apple recipe with all the ingredients they’ll need - a perfect apple, some caramels, and a Popsicle stick. Help your guests decorate for the season by giving them mini pumpkins, or an ear of ornamental corn tied with some wheat and a pretty fall ribbon. Marzipan fruit is also a wonderful fall wedding favor. Or, if you’re crafty, the idea of giving each guest a jar of homemade preserves as they leave is lovely.
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