There's something so cozy about saying "I do" during the fall. The season's florals make for decadent color palettes, and earth-inspired accents, like dried foliage and wood introduce, a rustic charm. Elements blazing fire pits and warm candlelight, meanwhile, make for a welcoming ambience.
(It makes sense then why it's such a popular time to get married .) If you're planning a fall wedding and don't know where to start, we spoke to two renowned wedding planners who gave us plenty of fall wedding ideas for invitations, color palettes, flowers, cakes, and more. Soak in all the inspiration ahead before you get started on planning (and budgeting for ) your cozy celebration.
Tara Fay is an event planner and the founder of Tara Fay Events. Lisa Lafferty is an event producer and the founder of Lisa Lafferty Events. Fall Wedding Ideas Fall Wedding Invitations For your guests, the wedding invitation, or the save the date card, is the first impression of what's to come.
You can give your guests an idea of what to expect at your fall wedding by incorporating rustic touches within your invitation design. Wedding planner Tara Fay suggests adding in textures, like natural fibers for the paper or binding, if you're sending physical invitations. Digital invitations are convenient and cost-effective, especially if you plan on having a larger wedding.
To bring the fall charm, Fay says to consider the background of the invite or the accompanying wedding website, as these are great areas to bring in the fall aesthetic. "Fall colors are so recognizable that a little color goes a long way — think burnt orange, plum, deep burgundy, or any rich tone of your favorite color," she adds. Fall Wedding Cake Ideas The wedding cake is an element of decor just as much as it is dessert.
Fay recommends topping it with seasonal fruits as well as edible seasonal flowers, like Nasturtium, to add a little more color to the fruit. "Also, think about having spices in your cake to make it even more autumnal," she says, adding that you can serve a fall-flavored cocktail to accompany the cake. "If budget permits, an abundant woodland cake is a great way to accentuate your design process and color palette," says Fay.
Ask your cake artist for a textured buttercream finish to mimic the look of tree bark. Or, dress up a naked cake with fall-colored florals. You can even have something as simple as a large wooden base to create that woodland-style look.
Fall Wedding Flowers To add a modern twist to a fall-inspired wedding, make like Lisa Lafferty of Lisa Lafferty Events, who for one wedding chose to line the aisle with fall-colored shrubs , foliage, and plants in lieu of florals. "At the right lighting of the evening, the black glossy aisle was reminiscent of a lake," she says. "We wanted the couple to feel they were walking through a fall forest, so we curved the walkway to create this illusion.
" While faux foliage can be used, Lafferty recommends opting for the real stuff when available and when in season, especially in an instance where the guests will be sitting right next to it. Nature-inspired accents can add an organic touch to your fall wedding. Play around with using dried flowers versus fresh (think lavender, pampas grass, and wheat) for an earthy aesthetic.
Also, wooden elements like crates, tables, and branches make for a cozy, rustic vibe. One wedding, Lafferty did incorporate Japanese Maple , which she calls a perfect representation of fall. Fall Wedding Color Palettes A traditional fall wedding means having a classic fall color palette, and as Fay says, you only have to look to nature to think up some ideas.
"Greens, burnt oranges, browns, yellow, and red are all wonderful choices to evoke that cozy fall feeling at a wedding," she says. For one wedding she planned , Lafferty's approach was to make the couple and guests feel as if they were strolling along a wooden walkway during the autumn season, creating the illusion of entering a fall forest or garden. "The hue of the wooden plank aisle and natural woven chairs gives it a rustic yet elegant feel.
The florals, plants, and foliage nod to the season and also contribute to the harvest-inspired aesthetic, incorporating unique elements such as fruits and vegetables requested by the couple," she says. A fall color palette with plum and berry tones can add a richness and moodiness to your event. "The colors complement florals so well that florists are always excited to work with this combination," says Fay.
"It's romantic and ethereal, especially with candlelight, and it goes great in a more wild setting — like a rustic backdrop or field or anything natural with greens or browns all around." Fall Wedding Food Fall-inspired canapés are a great way to tap into your guest's taste sensory. Lafferty says to try to combine seasonal fall ingredients with familiar fall flavors, such as warm spices (like cinnamon, ginger, and cloves), butternut squash with sweet maple and brown butter, pumpkin and sage, and fresh pomegranate and figs.
A crowd favorite, harvest grazing tables are delicious and attractive — especially when elements of fall are brought in. "I always use a bountiful mix of fresh seasonal fruits, including figs, pomegranates, grapes, apples, and pears, along with spiced nuts or caramelized walnuts, rustic breads and crackers, and an assortment of domestic and exotic premium cheeses," says Lafferty. "I also like to include small canapés, such as stuffed artichoke bottoms and bacon-wrapped stuffed dates, for a comforting touch that complements the fall harvest theme.
" 10 Backyard Wedding Ideas for an Elevated At-Home Ceremony Michelle Rostamian is a Los Angeles-based beauty and wellness contributor with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She began her career as a publicist, content writer, and social media manager, representing beauty brands and industry professionals. Currently, she is a writer and editor on all things makeup, beauty, skincare, and lifestyle.
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