Happy fall y’all! Did you know that fall has replaced summer as the most popular wedding season? If you are having a hard time deciding on a wedding date, fall is one of the most beautiful times of year to get married. Fall weather is ideal for outdoor ceremonies due to the mild climate and the gorgeous natural foliage outside. That is why September and October are now the most popular months to tie the knot.
Not only is the fall weather a plus, the other upside to autumn weddings is the excess of unique themes and wedding décor that is available. Forget a cookie cutter wedding, the fall season gives you the opportunity to experiment with unique decorations and wedding themes.
20 Fabulous Fall Wedding Ideas
Looking for fall wedding inspiration? We have you covered with our favorite autumn wedding décor and planning ideas.
1. Cozy Cocktail Lounge
One of our favorite fall wedding ideas is to create a cozy seating arrangement with unique furniture. Encourage your wedding attendees to mingle with comfortable lounge chairs, couches, and coffee tables. Depending on your color scheme, you may choose an array of gorgeous and inviting colored accent furniture to decorate your venue.
2. Pies for Dessert
Who says you need a traditional wedding cake? Choose a wedding cake alternative like festive fall pies for your dessert table. Whether you choose pumpkin, pecan, or apple, your guests will love the seasonal and delicious dessert option!
3. Fall Foliage
The traditional color palette of fall is dictated by nature. Embrace the falling leaves and use them as inspiration for your special day. Even if you are celebrating your wedding day indoors, you can use pieces of fresh foliage to decorate your centerpieces, wedding arch, or invitation suite.
4. Autumn Scenery
If you are really looking to embrace the season and get married in a fantastic fall venue, there are many options. Apple orchards or sunflower fields can offer an irreplaceable display of natural seasonal beauty.
5. Rustic Wedding Theme
Many brides love a rustic wedding theme. This includes homemade wooden signs, birch vases, mason jars and barn wedding venues. What better season to have your rustic barnyard wedding than during fall?
6. Bridal Layers
If you choose to have an outdoor ceremony, you may end up getting chilly in your sleeveless wedding dress. Wear a fur or jean jacket over your wedding dress for some added protection against the seasonal temperatures.
7. Back-to-School Theme
One fall wedding idea is a back-to-school theme. If you and your partner are teachers, this is a perfect way to tie in a piece of your personal life into your special day. Decorate with apples as escort cards, chalkboard table numbers, or centerpieces completed with a stack of books.
8. Fall Bridesmaid Dresses
Opt for bridesmaid dresses at your fall wedding that are suitable for the season. You can even choose for your dresses to be in an unconventional fall shade like burgundy or burnt orange, in styles with longer sleeves or thicker fabric. This gives your bridal party a unique look and your bridesmaids will thank you if your wedding night turns out to be a chilly fall evening.
9. Unique Fall Transportation
Think out of the box for your getaway ride at your fall wedding. If you are getting married at a farm, opt for a tractor ride or vintage truck. If you are getting married in the city, Philadelphia Trolley Works adds some vintage charm to your special day. Guests will appreciate the fun, fall wedding idea and it makes for a fantastic photo op!
10. Apple Cider Station
Who doesn’t love a cup of apple cider during the fall season? Apple cider has a lot of versatility, whether you serve it hot or cold, spiked or non-alcoholic, guests will love to sip on the spiced beverage all night long.
11. Grazing Table
You may be wondering, what exactly is a grazing table? They are basically the cheese board of your dreams! Grazing tables are elaborate displays of charcuterie, antipasti and cheeses… or whatever your heart desires! Spice up your seasonal grazing table with fall foliage or miniature pumpkins.
12. Spooky Season Theme
If you are getting married in late October, you may want to consider having a Halloween wedding theme. If your favorite part of the season is dressing up in crazy costumes and watching scary movies, you may be the perfect candidate for a spooky wedding theme.
13. Naked Wedding Cake
You can’t have a rustic fall wedding without a gorgeous naked wedding cake. A naked wedding cake is when the cake decorator scrapes the excess frosting off the edges of the cake to leave a rustic, exposed look to your cake. This is a very popular new wedding trend, with many brides decorating their simple cakes with gorgeous greenery or their wedding flowers.
14. Woodsy Signs
Give your wedding a rustic feel with custom wooden signs. Guests will appreciate the signs telling them where the reception space is, or which way to go for the photo booth or dessert bar.
15. Pumpkin Accents
What better way to say hello to fall than to decorate with multi-colored pumpkins! This is an opportunity to really let your creativity loose and experiment with painted designs or custom centerpieces.
16. Deep, Moody Hues
Instead of going with the traditional fall colors like yellow, orange, and red, opt for more dark hues like burgundy, dark green, and even black. This unique color palette can add a little moodiness to your fall wedding.
17. Pampas Grass or Dried Flowers
A new trend in wedding florals is to incorporate dried flowers and grasses into your centerpieces or bouquets for a rustic touch. Not to mention, when you opt for preserved flowers they are usually less expensive than fresh blooms.
18. Candle Lit Sweetheart Table
Candles are the ultimate romantic decoration. They add a sense of coziness and warmth, so they are the perfect autumn decoration for your fall nuptials.
19. Seasonal Cocktails
Brides and grooms love to offer custom cocktails at their wedding. Add some seasonal flair to your custom cocktails by adding touches of autumn in each drink. For example, we love this recipe for an Apple Cider Mimosa.
20. Fall Décor for Your Wedding Band
If you choose to book one of our award winning live bands, such as Jellyroll who is featured in the image above, decorate the dance floor area with fall décor. Whether it’s a gorgeous floral arrangement above the dance floor, or magical string lights draped over the reception space, create a party atmosphere that is inviting for guests to pack the dance floor.
Final Thoughts
Overall, we are inspired to start celebrating this special time of year and excited to be a part of peak wedding season! If you are interested in booking one of our fabulous Philadelphia live bands, DJs, or specialty acts make sure you contact us today.
Blog Contributed by: Caroline Kinsey
Kurt Titchenell
Guided by his experience as the bandleader of Philadelphia’s top band, Jellyroll, and President of BVTLive!, Kurt Titchenell has kept dance floors packed and created unforgettable memories for thousands of events nationwide! Widely acclaimed as an entertainment expert, Kurt and BVTLive! have earned the most prestigious accolades in the industry. Most notably were two Jellyroll performances at The White House. Kurt's dedication to the success of every event is evident through his passion for creating the ultimate party experience. As President of BVTLive!, Kurt is committed to making your event a success.