Fall is an ideal season for a wedding. The weather is pleasant, and the natural colors of the season can suggest a beautiful wedding color palate. What are the best color schemes to choose for an autumn wedding, and how can those colors be incorporated into the wedding fashions and décor?
Choosing Fall Wedding Colors
The natural colors of the season – shades of yellow, orange, red, purple and brown – can inspire a beautiful color palate.
Shades of yellow include canary, champagne and buttercream, and can have hints of gold. Shades of orange include ginger, tangerine and saffron. Shades of red include apple, ruby, wine (and various kinds of wine like Bordeaux, cabernet, merlot, etc), and burgundy. Shades of purple include eggplant and aubergine. Shades of brown include chocolate, cocoa, coffee, mocha, latte, cognac and truffle.
Lovely color combinations for a fall wedding include:
- a bright, bold shade of yellow or orange with a dark neutral (brown)
- a darker bold color, such as purple with a light neutral (cream or champagne)
- going bold with a dark color, such as purple, with a bright shade of yellow or orange
- combining all the natural colors of fall into a fall “rainbow” palate of colors – to keep things looking polished, stick to one shade of each color
Another option is to go with a saturated color that is not natural to the season, such as navy or sage green. A bridesmaid dress in either color would make a lovely backdrop to a bright fall-themed bouquet.
Incorporate Fall Colors into a Wedding
Once the color palate is selected, there are many ways to incorporate the colors into everything from the invitations, to the wedding fashions, to the décor – centerpieces, flowers, etc.
To set the tone, the colors of the wedding can be used in save-the-date magnets. Use the colors in the background, border or for the wording.
For the invitations, choose a neutral color for the paper – white or cream – accented with one of the wedding colors. The color can be printed on the paper for the wording, or a border or design element, or used in a ribbon adorned to the invitation, or on the envelope or inner lining of the envelopes.
For the wedding fashions, from the wedding color palate, choose a flattering color for the bridesmaid dresses. Remember, bright orange fall flowers might look lovely, but imagine the photos if the bridesmaids for the wedding are wearing bright orange. A dark, saturated color, such a wine, aubergine, or chocolate, or a lighter, subtler color like sage, would be more flattering and also allow the bridesmaids’ bouquets to pop in photos.
The bride could consider incorporating one of the wedding colors into her fashion, through a sash with her dress, or by choosing a bold color for her shoe. Additionally, she could also incorporate the colors through her wedding jewelry.
For the wedding cake, talk to the baker about incorporating the color into the frosting of the cake. This could be done by dying the color of the frosting that will cover the entire cake, or using white or cream frosted decorated with touches of color frosting. Additionally, the cake topper could include fall colors or a fall theme.
Fall Wedding Flowers
Using the natural colors of autumn can make a wedding bouquet very beautiful. Focus on shades of yellow, orange, red and purple for a spectacular bouquet that will really stand out in photos. Dahlia and chrysanthemum (mums) bloom in the fall, but talk to a florist about what other flowers are good for fall weddings – selecting in-season blooms can lead to more affordable bouquets.
As any bride and groom will discover, a fall wedding can be very beautiful when the natural colors of the season are incorporated into the décor of the wedding. Whether the colors chosen match or compliment the natural autumn shades, the beautiful memories and photos that result are sure to be cherished.
Maggie Wolff - Maggie has over seven years of experience in public relations and marketing in the fields of healthcare, performing arts, and professional ...
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