Love is in the Autumn Air
Fall weddings are beautiful events, rich in theme and design. However, what many wedding planners fail to do (particularly those who take on the role of coordinator for their own wedding) is think about alternative options. The biggest myth of fall weddings is the idea that only one scheme is viable - heavy fabrics for outfits, indoor locations and a theme that relies heavily on fall designs, with leaves and seasonal aspects taking center stage. It doesn't have to be such a rigid structure, fall weddings can have many options open, particularly the reduced costs when hiring a venue and the larger availability of venue dates.
Say fall wedding to many people and it will instantly conjure up thoughts of warm reds and burnt orange tones, mixed in with fallen leaves, chestnuts, pumpkins and acorns. In effect, fall wedding becomes nothing more than any other fall event and since a wedding should be something special, it is more than reasonable to expect that you will want something different to the norm. If you want spring and summer designs, that is entirely up to you. However, there are lesser used yet perfectly acceptable fall wedding themes in existence. Rather than the typical earthy tones with fiery highlights, fall colors can consist of other elegant matches - plum or navy blue and cream, blues and golds or black, cream and red. Royal colors complement fall weddings just as much as the traditional autumn choices do.
Fall outfits can also be a source of debate; many traditional suggestions indicate that black tie is the way to go for men and the women in the bridal party - i.e. the bride and bridesmaids - are often found swathed in heavy silk and satin dresses. Even though it is later in the season, men can lose the jackets and just maintain the buttoned down shirts and perhaps even a lighter choice in suit color - khaki instead of black, although this is entirely at the discretion of the planners. While the primary concern for the bride is mainly to look the best, lighter fabric dresses are a viable option for both her and the bridesmaids. A pashmina or silk shawl will provide a warm wraparound that will look effortless.
Many couples planning a dream wedding will have hopes for it outside but after deciding on a fall date they expect that the entire wedding will have to remain indoors. Fortunately, this is not the case. Fall weddings can easily be located outside, for any combination of the ceremony, drinks and reception periods. Dependent on venue choice, it is also a possibility that the wedding can blend seamlessly between indoors and outdoors, where guests can alternate between the two areas. For venues next to the beach or in the countryside, formal activities can be staged indoors while guests will be able to wander outside to appreciate the view. Elderly guests are likely to be most grateful for this, as the fall chill may be too much and they may prefer to sit inside at times.
Regardless of the fall season and cooler months, this is still meant to be a dream wedding and something that will usually only happen once. If you want to have it outdoors, go ahead - just know that it might take more planning and compromising with some aspects. Similarly, any other aspect of the wedding can be negotiated and all that may be required is more effort and commitment to make it happen how you want. A fall wedding is not tied to a certain regime but is free to adapt to the specific circumstances of the bride and groom.
