Autumn is probably the second-most popular season to get married in – the intense heat of the summer has receded but the temperatures are still mostly comfortable and there’s still quite a bit of daylight.
Not only is the climate a bit more forgiving, but there’s some interesting and varied seasonal elements that you can incorporate into your ceremony and the reception. True, there’s some precautions you need to take to keep things running along smoothly, but it’s all good fun.
Eyes down for an autumnal wedding checklist…
Give your flower girls pumpkins
This doesn’t mean they’ll be pumpkin girls instead! Carve and scoop out some pumpkins, create two holes in the sides and thread ribbons through to create baskets – then fill them with flowers!
Make sure your bridesmaids stay warm
Sometimes autumn nights can feel a little chilly, so why not give your bridesmaids a pashmina each as one of your gifts to them? The look gorgeous and serve a practical function as well.
Bring in the space heaters
It’s tempting to have an open-air ceremony and reception in autumn as the night skies can be very clear. Clear skies can mean chilly air, though, so have an area that’s warmed by space heaters for people to gather.
Have a dramatic colour scheme
Autumn is a great excuse for an intense palette. You can team up reds, oranges and yellows with rich dark purples, burgundies and even black.
Try amber or cream-coloured candles
White candles are more suited to summer weddings, whereas cream, golden yellow or amber candles give off a warmer, gentler glow.
You can also use pumpkins as table centrepieces
They can be left relatively natural or you can carve designs into them (not Halloween-themed, though…) to reflect the day. Try your initials and the date, for example.
Strew tables and aisles with fallen leaves
Instead of summer flower petals, you can adorn tables and pathways with classically autumnal red and orange leaves.