Ideas for Creating an Unforgettable Outdoor Fall Wedding

Fall is an enchanting season for an outdoor wedding. A crisp outdoor climate, changing leaves, and golden afternoon lighting create an ideal backdrop for a perfect day. Beautiful outdoor scenery — and the contrast of a white wedding dress against red, orange, and yellow shades — make for a magical wedding experience.

The fall motif works well with nearly every aspect of an outdoor wedding. Integrate decor like leaves, apples, and decorative pumpkins into table centerpieces. Decorate with lanterns, pinecones, and seasonal flowers like sunflowers and dahlias. Beverages like cider, lattes, and mulled wine pair well with fall-themed attire to create an unforgettable outdoor wedding scene.

Fall is a season that allows for creative wedding attire. The season’s deep colors and cozy feeling create opportunities for clothing that might be considered non-traditional in other seasons. Long coats, leather boots, patterned sweaters, and high-waisted pants are all wardrobe possibilities for fall wedding attendance — whether you’re the bride, groom, or a guest.

Fall weddings allow for a combination of many wardrobe options, but they also require flexibility. Depending on your wedding location, the temperature can vary widely on the day of your marriage. Plan ahead with shawls, coats, and layers you can wear or discard based on how the weather unfolds.

Fall Bridal Attire

If you opt for more of a traditional bridal approach, pattern accessories around your dress. On a colder day, that might mean leaning on layered clothing options. Detachable skirts create volume during the ceremony and a thinner, dance-ready look during your reception. Overlays like lace, tulle, or sequins provide an added dimension to your dress and pair well with fall colors.

Cooler fall temperatures might require you to cover up during your outdoor wedding. Consider a velvet shawl or wrap to accent your dress while keeping your shoulders warm. A heavy silk scarf can help you achieve the same effect. Longer sleeves and a high neckline can also help you keep warm, depending on the weather you expect.

Fall Groom Attire

Cool autumn temperatures create the chance for a groom to blend comfort, style, and warmth in their attire.

Here are a few fabric options:

• • Wool: Wool suits provide a greater degree of warmth without too much weight.

  • Tweed: Tweed makes for the quintessential fall suit. It allows for style and function, particularly if your outdoor fall wedding takes place in the countryside.

  • Herringbone: Herringbone adds depth to your suit through its recognizable V-shaped vertical pattern. Its heavier weight makes it an ideal option for cooler temperatures.

  • Flannel: Flannel is soft and warm. Its fuzzy texture and patchwork design pairs well with an overcoat and neutrally colored pants.

Layer your wedding attire with a snug-fitted vest, one that either matches or contrasts with your coat color. For more of a laid-back look, pair a button-down shirt with a cardigan or tasteful sweater.

You can transform any outdoor setting into an outdoor wedding venue with the right fall decorations. Start by decorating the venue’s more noticeable fixtures, like the aisle or wedding arch, before adding details to chairs and other items.

Here are some ways to add fall colors and themes to your outdoor wedding venue:

• • Altar: Decorate the surface with candles and colorful leaves that highlight fall’s best yellow, red, and orange shades.

  • Flowers: Distribute flowers throughout the wedding venue. Make sure to place your most impressive floral arrangements near the front of the venue for inclusion in pictures.

  • Drapes: Use deeply colored curtains or fabrics as dividers or pillars that frame the front of the ceremony.

  • Place settings: Use gold, silver, or other precious metal coloring for plates, cutlery, and napkins. Decorate name cards with simple handwriting and ornate, leafy edges.

Well-placed signs can help wedding guests understand where to park, where to sit, where to leave gifts, and where a reception might take place after the ceremony. You can also use pumpkins or other fall-themed decorations to line footpaths.

Fall is the season of warm beverages. If your wedding reception offers warm drinks to keep guests warm, customized drinkware make excellent party favors. Guests can arrive at the wedding reception, find their seats, and put their new wedding favors to immediate use.

Unlike common party favor options like plants or handmade items — which guests can’t use until they return home — a mug or cup has immediate use. It’s the perfect way to keep hot cocoa, cider, or other hot beverages warm throughout the day.

Fall is the season of warm beverages. If your wedding reception offers warm drinks to keep guests warm, customized drinkware make excellent party favors. Guests can arrive at the wedding reception, find their seats, and put their new wedding favors to immediate use.

Unlike common party favor options like plants or handmade items — which guests can’t use until they return home — a mug or cup has immediate use. It’s the perfect way to keep hot cocoa, cider, or other hot beverages warm throughout the day.

Staying warm is easier said than done at some outdoor weddings. As temperatures drop, prioritize decorative venue elements that also add heat to the environment.

Instead of traditional metal or wood chairs, consider using hay bales to seat your guests. Extra blankets on top of the hay bales will add to the fall aesthetic while providing guests with warmth and comfort. You can also place heat lamps around your venue where guests are most likely to stand, sit, or gather.

One of the fastest ways to warm your guests is through a hot beverage. Depending on the time of day, you could serve coffee, hot tea, hot cider, or hot cocoa to help people stay warm. Providing hot drinks also allows guests to warm their hands on their cups between sips.

Choose your drinking vessels based on the type of beverages you plan to serve. If you want to include coffee or tea, use travel mugs that guests can carry with them. If you’re particularly concerned about the cold, use thermal bottles that provide an extra layer of insulation.

No matter where you’re hosting a wedding reception, fall is a great excuse to break out the colors. From the refreshments to the drinks to the decorations and lighting, there are so many ways to feature the essence of the autumn season.

Refreshments

Fall is a season rich with its own smells and flavors. Many of these traditions translate well into refreshments for a wedding reception. This typically means highlighting fall ingredients like pumpkins, cranberries, apples, and sweet potatoes. Use these food items as a base to inspire your selection of refreshments.

Make sure to provide a range of refreshments that satisfy guests’ preferences and dietary restrictions. Some guests will likely prefer sweet snacks like pumpkin cookies or miniature pumpkin pies. Others will opt for a savory treat like maple bacon skewers, pear and prosciutto wraps, or spiced nuts.

Drinks

Wedding receptions typically feature a selection of signature cocktails. Consider autumn-themed drinks like a spiced pear cocktail or an Old Fashioned with a cinnamon stick garnish. Be sure to offer non-alcoholic options like mulled cranberry juice or a spiced chai for adults and young children.If you’re hosting a DIY wedding and reception, it’s important to use the right barware. Prepare stirrers, strainers, and garnishes before the event begins. Make sure you have enough drinking vessels — particularly glasses like whiskey tumblers for specialty drinks — for all guests in attendance.