You really autumn know about these rustic ideas for your country celebration.
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Did you know that, according to The Knot, the most popular wedding date of 2023 is September 3rd? And did you also know that October is the most popular month overall for weddings? That means there will be a whole lot of autumn nuptials this year, and we couldn’t be more excited.
If you’re one of the lucky couples planning such a celebration (Congrats!), you’re probably on the hunt for one—or a ton!—of festive fall wedding ideas to add to your celebration. Well, you’ve come to the right place. From wedding cakes to fall color schemes of burgundy, orange, and marigold, there are simply oh-so-many ways to up the autumn ante of your celebration.
You could go for rustic decor like blanket displays and wooden welcome signs, or focus on a delightful array of fall appetizers and crisp-weather cocktails to add to your dinner spread. (Top things off with a collection of stunning fall centerpieces and you’ll be good to go!) Then, of course, there’s dessert—and by dessert, we mean plenty of pies and apple-flavored treats.
Another great aspect of fall weddings is the fact that the weather is not too hot and hot too cold. You’ll be hitting perfect temperatures for an outdoor celebration, and for that you’ll need a few seasonal outdoor wedding ideas. Well, we’ve got you covered on that front, too, with blanket baskets, apple toss games, hard cider stations, and fall outdoor wedding attire ideas such as tweed suits and velvet bridesmaid dresses. Seriously, we’ve thought of pretty much everything!
Served with apple and pear pieces and sliced baguette, cheese fondue makes for a hearty (and interactive!) group appetizer at the start of dinner.
Clove-adorned apple place cards are such a seasonally appropriate way to welcome guests to their seat. (Added bonus: they smell great!) To create, draw your letter on paper, cut out, and tape to an apple. Using a straight pin, lightly prick along the outside of the letter, “tracing” the outline onto the apple. Remove the paper, and push cloves into the apple, staying within the outline.
This pretty neutral strikes a sophisticated, textured feel for fall weddings. Try it in a pair of welcoming wreaths at the entrance to your ceremony or reception.
A display of old family photos is the perfect decorative compliment to your wedding guest book table. For an antique vibe, use vintage flower frogs to hold photos upright, then place beneath glass cloches and bell jars.
Honor Oktoberfest with a late-night snack display of soft pretzels. Pro tip: pair with an assortment of German mustards (try Löwensenf and Alstertor) for a bout of tangy taste-testing.
A spiked apple cider cocktail is the perfect way to cap off your event. Pair with apple cider donuts or pear fritters for a sweet send-off!
Layers of melted white chocolate is the secret to these multilayered drippy candle cakes, which will add just the right touch of spookiness to a late October wedding. Birthday candles—inserted almost flush with the tops of the cakes—mimic the candle look.
Chippy furniture, apple crates, and rustic ladders are the perfect pieces for setting a rustic tone for your fall wedding reception. Use the antique finds as furniture in the decor focal points of your evening, such as a dessert or drink display.
To make, poke a small hole in the top of a two-inch square red gift box and insert a small stick. Cut an apple leaf from green kraft paper, then use an X-Acto knife to decorate edges and a bone folder tool to create veins. Glue the leaf where the stick meets the box.
In search of something unique to add to your wedding dessert bar? Try our totally scrumptious Apple Cider Donut Bundt Cake, which tastes just like a giant apple cider donut. Yum!
As the evening starts to cool, encourage guests to help themselves to wool blankets scattered throughout the reception space. (This will be especially appreciated if you're celebrating outdoors!) Show off your love of of all things vintage by nestling the blankets in antique picnic baskets.
For an autumnal cocktail hour activity, set up an apple toss game on the lawn. Gather an assortment of vintage produce baskets in various sizes and designate different point values for each vessel. For game pieces, set out a few ready-to-be-tossed pieces of produce in two different shades (red and green, naturally) so that it's easy to keep track of points.
Rich materials such as fur, velvet, and leather are the perfect materials to incorporate into a cocktail lounge at a fall wedding. Designed by Shannon Wellington, this sweet set-up includes florals by Fresh Designs Florist and furniture courtesy of Maggpie.
Not feeling a fall wedding cake? Serve up delicious slices of pie for dessert instead.
RELATED: The Best Pie Recipes You'll Ever Bake
Floral arches always make for a romantic setting for a wedding ceremony. Make yours especially festive with the addition of seasonal leaves and branches.
Plaid is the perfect pattern motif for a cozy fall wedding. Add in touches of the pattern on your tablescapes and in paper details, such as your invitations and escort cards.
Stems of leaves turning with the season are the perfect accent for your fall wedding centerpieces. This beautiful arrangement was created by Southern Blooms.
The rich texture and subtle sheen of velvet bridesmaid dresses make them a great way to celebrate fall in your wedding fashion choices—especially when you opt for a seasonally-inspired hue such as copper or taupe.
Your wedding seating chart is the perfect opportunity for a major decor moment because all of your guests will interact with it. For a fall wedding, adorn it with an explosion of blooms in autumn hues, as Fresh Designs Florist did here.
If you're marrying on a farm, why not take advantage of the equipment? A tractor-driven hay ride is ultimate country way for you and your bridesmaids to arrive at the ceremony site.
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