by Glynis Smy

Created on: September 16, 2010   Last Updated: September 17, 2010

Coordinating a fall wedding can be as simple or as adventurous as you like. The vibrant and soft hues of fall offer a cascade of colors to choose from.

Burnt sienna's, greens in every shade, golds and claret's are just a few from nature's catalogue.

Rich gold and claret reflects a majestic feel to a ceremony.  A bridal gown, Groom waistcoat in gold with claret trimmings or the same colors in reverse complement each other. Goblets and gold plates, lengths of ivy draped across ivory clad tables introduce a medieval theme.

Browns and creams can be dressed up with minute touches of copper, orange or ochre. If you are on a budget, collect leaves of various shades and use them for table confetti and aisle edging. should you not want real leaves, buy a craft punch and use textured papers. Decorate a cake with them and entwine them into the bridesmaids hair. Thread some together for a button hole for the groomsmen. It is amazing how a few items of the right shade can look elegant and classic.

Cinnamon sticks tied with contrasting ribbons, or string and feather ties, make simple fragrant table decorations and cake toppers.

Terracotta planters and dishes are great for supporting candles. Cuttings from conifer/ cypress trees can be tied and hung as chair backs, again adding pine to the fragrance of a room. If there are no young children around, go for orange berries threaded on fishing wire and drape around the edges of tables. This looks like a bead effect. Make chains of them to drape around wine glasses and bottles.

Small pine cones make ideal place name holders, or try small shards of bark hanging from a large flower (sunflower), with the names written on, then attach to the back of the chairs.

Hot punch alcoholic or non is another way to decorate a table. Glass jugs filled with rich reds and golden ladles fulfil two roles, decorative and thirst quenching. Wicker baskets add a rustic feel to any table. Use them to house rolls, napkins and such like.

A wheelbarrow can be decorated with ivy, leaves, herbs (for fragrance) and flowers and used as a gift collection point, wine cooler or cake stand.

Consider something different for a wedding cake theme. Maybe an autumn sheaf  shaped like thanks giving breads. Sit it on a bed of rustic colored leaves. Cupcakes laid out as a leaf shape or wrapped in coordinating colored fabrics, hanging from a bare branched tree  in a wooden barrel can be very effective. 

Hog roast venues are ideal to consider for a fall wedding. Choose red brick buildings and parks where leaves have fallen as backdrops for your photographs.

Unless your wedding is near Christmas, try and avoid the red and green Christmas effect. Use orange shades instead. Organize a pre-wedding leaf collection party. Make the preparations a fun event.

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