Bringing That Fall Vibe into Your Special Day

Everything about Fall wedding celebrations elicits feelings of coziness, warmth, community. So many couples choose their special date so they can enjoy an Autumn-themed ceremony... and why not?? Gathering together just seems natural at the turn of the season.

Enhance your ceremony plans with a few of our favorite seasonal ideas, buildling on the gifts of Autumn!

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Gratitude - Tis the season of Thanksgiving! Build on the inherent theme through readings, program mentions, your vows and toasts, favors, decor & more!

*expressing thankfulness to family & friends

*honoring your soulmate, the love you share and the relationship you're building together

*celebrating heroes of the LGBTQ+ community

*interactive keepsake station - invite your guests to jot a word or phrase about gratitude on a stone, scroll or in a memory book - a keepsake for you and your new spouse to treasure for years to come!

Creating the Coziness - Finding ways to enhance your reception venue with intimate & inviting cornerspaces, and including various elements & decor that evoke a sense of nostalgia will prompt your guests to not only celebrate Your Special Day, but also to relax and feel at home. Make the most of all the season offers!

*choose comfy seating as much as possible, and arrange in small groups to encourage cozy conversations.  Remember the fluffy pillows, esp those with seasonal imagery & sayings!

*drape quilts over some of the reception chairs, or place blanket racks conveniently nearby
(thrift shops can be a great place to find gently used crocheted quilts!)

*over-sized games - add the lawn-size Jenga or Connect 4 into some of the cornerspaces of your venue... Chalkboards or craft stations for creating interactive wedding favors or keepsakes are also an easy way to bring people together!

*remember the other games too! Randomly placed decks of cards, sets like pick-up sticks or jacks, checkers and even chess are another way to draw guests together.

*hay bales, pumpkins, flannel - accent the corner spaces to add to the mood!

*polaroid or disposable cameras - setting cameras throughout the reception venue, and in the cozy cornerspaces, invites your guests to capture those special moments together. Smart phone pics and hashtags are convenient and wonderful too... but going old-school with cameras can inspire playfulness and a unique vibe

*incorporating the vintage - antique tableware or decoratives evoke a sense of nostalgia: one more way to build that sense of coziness and connection. It's the season of gathering & community - make the most of it!

Those pumpkins, gourds & warming spices! -Yes, please: bring on the capuccino bar, the spiked apple cider, the slivers of freshly baked dessert pies!

*using gourds and pumpkins as serving dishes and decor accents

*aromatic decor also sets an inviting mood, and pleasing scents actually help make your event that much more memorable!

*interactive hot beverage stations, and/or offerings at the bar for coffee drinks & seasonal faves. Remember the mocktails such as cranberry spritzer or warm spiced cider or punch!

*dessert beyond traditional wedding cake: a variety of pies, homemade cookies, cream-swirled cake rolls, even Fall-flavored ice cream such as pumpkin/chocolate chip, maple walnut, or ginger molasses... S'mores stations or chocolate fountains with s'mores fixins...

*savory is delicious too: squashes and other seasonal veggies provide a delectable base for creating savory pies, soups, sides and sauces as part of your catered dinner selections

*consider local sources for your culinary offerings - supporting local farmers is another meaningful tradition of the harvest season!

That Rich Palette of Colors - Make the most of blooms from the garden, as well as hues in your culinary selections, and your decor... to spotlight the palette of the season!

*contrasting colors such as deep plum, organic olive green and lively sunflower yellow bring out the drama, magic and romance of Autumn

*textures, as well as colors, evoke a sense of the season: remember branches, bark, stones, seasoned wood, dried gourds and other related elements as you create tabletop decor and accent pieces throughout your venue. Mix and match the colors of each element to add artistic flair and charm.

The Metaphor of Light - As the season of Fall settles in, we all notice the changing hours of daylight... Some of us lean into that cradling sensation of the darkness that surrounds; some of us mindfully hold onto light as a beacon for the days leading back to springtime. -It's a natural basis for thematic elements to include throughout Your Special Day.

*twinkle or theme-shaped strands of hanging lights throughout your ceremony and reception venue

*lanterns and candles - faux candles are long-lasting and a safe alternative! Consider adding burlap, kerchiefs or flannel as fabric accents

*bubble machines - even during hours of dusk or darkness, strategically placed bubble machines can send little beacons of scintillating light throughout your venue space. That iridescent nature of bubbles is captivating, engaging and brings a delightful vibe to the moment!

*mixing elements: adding decorative pumpkins, hay bales, baskets of apples, branches and other items along with lighting accents builds on the seasonal theme

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The gifts of Autumn are plentiful, sensual and diverse. Enjoy imagining different ways to incorporate varied elements into your celebration, allowing the season to provide a backdrop to all Your Special Day represents! Best Wishes!