Many brides look forward to autumn every year because it’s a romantic season to have your wedding. The natural autumnal colors provide a gorgeous backdrop to any wedding, which is why so many brides want to have their autumn weddings outdoors.
There are plenty of reasons to have your autumn wedding outside, but there are also some mistakes you should be aware of so you don’t repeat them on your wedding day.
Read on to learn some important do’s and don’ts of outdoor autumn weddings. You’ll learn what works and what doesn’t work, so your wedding will be a success no matter what.
Do: Watch the Calendar
The day you choose to have your wedding is so important. It has to be a day that’s special for you and your fiance, but it also has to be available for all your guests. Think about major events around this time of year like massive football games, marathons or other festivals in your area that cause a scheduling conflict for your guests.
You should also watch the calendar for autumn weather events – Early autumn counts as hurricane season, so you should be especially careful to watch for developing storms if you’re getting married in hurricane prone areas.
Don’t: Forget About Wet Leaves
Most of the time, autumn weddings will use the changing leaves as part of the decor. It’s an inexpensive way to embrace the season and decorate your venue, but sometimes it’s not so smart to keep leaves out on the floor.
If it rains the night before or the morning of your wedding, be prepared to sweep the wet leaves away. Wet leaves make it much easier for people to slip and fall, even on surfaces that are grassy. Your guests should be able to wear stylish wedding shoes without needing to watch where they walk. Avoid simple accidents by getting rid of any wet leaves and other debris from fall rainstorms before your guests arrive at your venue.
Do: Provide Cold Weather Backup
The perfect autumn weather is the kind where people can wear light sweaters and closed toed shoes, but at night, the temperature can dip into chilly and even cold weather.
Don’t forget that your guests will be hanging out at your wedding after the sun goes down. They’ll need a way to stay warm, especially if the forecast for the day predicts colder weather than you originally expected.
Think about setting up space heaters, piles of blankets, hot drinks and even a fire pit with s’mores supplies so no one is left uncomfortable.
Don’t: Avoid Seasonal Decor
You may wonder if it’s tacky to use traditional autumn decor in your wedding, but don’t worry about it! It’ll look especially classy in an outdoor wedding, when the natural elements are all around you.
Use decor like pumpkins, gourds and even garlands in autumn colors to really pull the season in and embrace the autumnal wedding theme. Make sure to get plastic fruits, so you don’t have to worry about anything rotting before your wedding.
Do: Enhance Your Menu
The same thing goes for your wedding menu–embrace the warm, autumna foods. Food like pumpkin soup, roasted turkey and cranberry sides will fit right in with the season. Just make sure to have some staple menu items available for younger picky eaters, like mac and cheese and salad.
Don’t: Book a Dirt Floor
When it rains in the autumn, the ground holds onto the water longer than in the summer. With no summer heat to dry things up, your venue could be a muddy mess if you book a place with a dirt floor.
Make sure your venue has an area outside with some kind of flooring installed so mud isn’t an issue. If you keep that in mind along with other helpful tips like watching the weather and thinking about seasonal decor, your outdoor autumn wedding will be a major success.
