Give Your Fall Wedding a Contemporary Twist (with Sarah Lusardi)
Autumn weddings. They bring to mind all kinds of happy paradoxes: rustic elegance. Unstaged abundance.An autumn wedding capitalizes on the glorious peep show going on outdoors ... and the not-too-hot weather, and photo ops against curtains of oak or maple leaves the size of a man's hand. Celebration is an instinct in the fall.
But what if you want a fall wedding with a little twist on the usual palette of reds, oranges and golds? What if, in fact, you don't plan to plunk down a single pumpkin anywhere, or jot "cornstalks" on your shopping list?
You're covered — we've drawn on two of the country's popular wedding planners for their ideas on putting a chic, urban spin on the traditional fall wedding, or simply on having a reception that goes the extra mile toward being uniquely your own. First up is Sarah Lusardi of NY Engagements and Style Networks' "Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?", who leads us down the littered path with grace.
Sarah Lusardi on Fall Weddings with a Fresh Face
"It's true, a lot of people are looking to inject some contemporary style into an autumn wedding and go beyond the pumpkins and apples we've seen before," agrees Lusardi. "They want to make it a little more city chic ... or country chic."
Doing so doesn't require an actual revolution, though, she points out — just reframing.
"For example," she says, "the rose petals you often see lining each side of the aisle? Switch those out with autumn leaves, but instead of the usual welter of brights, get leaves that are just one color ... monochromatic. Simply narrowing that palette makes it more contemporary."
Some more of Lusardi's ideas for autumn splendor with an uptown slant:
Colors. "Even if you want to get away from red and brown, you have a lot of options," says Lusardi. Go green, she suggests — a sizzlingly contemporary color. "Go with green grapes, green eucalyptus, green willow. Wrap your napkins in green kiwi branches.
"You don't have to focus on forest green, either," she points out. "Do something different: mossy green, or sage. Going for unusual shades of the usual colors can make a big impact." She suggests trying burgundy in lieu of bright red, and "maybe adding a teeny tiny hint of Muscari blue — it looks gorgeous with these colors." Or combine mossy green with creams for a cool yet totally autumn palette.
Another trick for going green? Acorns. "Acorns look fresh and modern when you use the young, green acorns with the stems still attached. "These look beautiful tied to guest cards," she says. Want to add even more pop? Take those green acorns and paint a line of bright color (or metallic) around the nut.
Centerpieces. Combine the contemporary with the rustic for a striking, fresh look. "Mingle calla lilies with pussy willows or curly willow," she says. Or place florals in square glass vases wrapped with silk ribbon in a modern color scheme, like chocolate brown or latte.
Guestbooks. Have a shutterbug on hand? Snap some gorgeous shots of your venue ahead of time, focusing on fall foliage, gorgeous oak trees, sunsets, draft horses, siding. "Design a retro white border around the images, and make them sepia-toned," she says. Print them out post-card size, leave the backs blank, and have your guests sign these for a far more personal guestbook you'll love to look at later.
Or, she says, create a tree out of curly willow in a tall glass cylinder. "Cut out leaf shapes using textured, handmade paper," she says, with satin ribbons attached so guests can hang their well-wishes.
Reminiscence. "Think of the festivals or carnivals you went to as a kid. Think of the different feelings, smells, food that's evoked. Try to bring that into your celebration: maybe you remember roasted nuts, or a prize-winning blackberry pie." Was there a booth you returned to year after year? A chili cookoff? A pony ride? Fireworks?
Favors. "Gourmet candy apples with gourmet toppings," enthuses Lusardi. "They're so beautiful, they're part of the décor." She suggests this urbane twist: "tie them off with a quality, contemporary ribbon. For example, tie a bow on each stem with a gorgeous Midori ribbon in an apple-green plaid."
Lusardi also suggests handing out brown paper cones filled with natural (air-popped) popcorn for tossing, instead of the typical white rice. "Brown paper cones are a great, rustic-looking way to pass out popcorn or mixed nuts to your guests during cocktail hour, too."
Go Local. Most rural locations are host to some kind of harvest or wine festival, points out Lusardi. If your reception's taking place in a vineyard, line up half bottles or splits of the house wine to tuck in a welcome basket, or stack on the favor table. Or draw on that year's prize-winning maple sugar confections or apricot jams.
The Kindest Color. "Green items are a leading topic at just about every wedding seminar or awards ceremony you could mention," says Lusardi. "Environmental invitations are very important now. And you can not only get the invites in those deep fall colors, you can also get the envelopes in luscious chocolate browns — recycled."
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autumn wedding, fall wedding
Hi Stacey,
So we changed our wedding date now to April 2011 instead of October that I wrote about earlier. My girls are still going to wearthe Latte color but I think I will have a pistachio belt instead of the plum color. I will add two girls to my bridal party and have then wear short dresses (same style only shorter) in the pistachio color. II loved the suite idea you suggested and found a store near us that has them. I am going to do apple themed centerpieces and was wondering if you have any cheap ideas to decorate the tables. They are the long tables. My favors are going to be candied apples. I would appreciate any help.
Thanks again!
Oh, what color flowers would you recommend for the girls and my bouquets?
Mercy,
Oh that sounds wonderful!! I love that your keeping the candies apples for the favors. I think a mix of green and white florals would work the best. I love the floating green apple centerpieces, they look so good, can be done in a matter of minutes, and is cheap on the pocketbook.
* aren’t these great!!!
*more pics
* using a combo of black, taupe, white, green
* more apple weddings
* this is stunning!!!
Mercy,
* just ran across this colin cowie wedding shower. This is beautiful and the colors are perfect for your wedding date. Not to mention, local seasonal flowers would be heaven on the $$$.
My sister is getting married in November. She wants her colors to be pistachio green (lime color) and champagne. I’m having a hard time coming up with ideas for both the wedding and reception. HELP
Jessica,
* some pics
* pistachio and gold( gold pulls up more results)
* real wedding
I am getting married October 16 2010, we both love fall everything about it. It is a simple wedding of our close friends and family. We have been together for 12 yrs and have 5 kids. I want some ideas for decor that not everyone uses. The ceremony is taking place at a Mansion that dates back to the civil war era, the ceremony will take place outside. The reception will be at my MIL house, she has a nice yard with a good size deck. I don’t want to use halloween decorations or colors. I love the orange of fall leaves. Any suggestions would be great!!
Also I am not a big fan of balloons and lots of flowers. I plan on using mums for some floral decor!
Katrina,
Can I see the link or pic to the venue? Also what colors do you like? If you are getting married at this venue it would be best to stick with something to compliment the mansion. Modern would look out of place in a mansion setting. You were sayin different type ideas. What style were you thinking?
Katrina,
Would you consider foilage centerpieces? just greenery and having the mums for the bouquets etc.
Stacey,
Here is the link to the site. I am thinking the ceremony we are going to use mostly the natural beauty of the mansion and nature. The reception is going to be at my inlaws home.
As to colors my favorites are pastels which don’t tie in very well lol my fav is pink. I looked at a few dresses for my girls and I like apple and wine.
Our style is more simple than elegant. I have a nice dress which I will send you a picture of a typical wedding dress. But we are more casual and laid back. I want something that expresses us. We are fun, casual, simple, country folk. But I don’t want the normal country wedding that eveyone else has.
Hope that helps
Katrina,
Thanks!!
Could you repost the link, it didn’t show up.
Can you send me an email? I’m getting married around October 16, 2011 (one year from you) and would be interested in possibly buying some of your left over decorations. I don’t like balloons or loads of flowers. I was thinking about having a scare crow themed wedding (with the bridesmaids and groomsmen dressed like scarecrows) but then I began to rethink that.
oh yeah, I forgot to put my email in. kalizoomba@hotmail.com
I’d also love to see pictures!
I will def. send you an email and send you some pics. We are not having anything fancy as we are paying for everything on our own and we have 5 kids but I will be in contact!
I am planning a November wedding, my colors are going to be dark purple, chocolate, gold & cream. I am having trouble putting everything together in terms of decorations, and getting the colors layered and blended properly. Anyone have any suggestions on how I should decorate tables, incorporate flowers etc. Really need to see pics of these colors put together to give me ideas.
Pamela,
Can I see your venue so I will know the right ideas to give?
I have attached a pic of the venue decorated in a different color, but it may be of help to you. Thanks!
Pamela,
* here is one idea
Pamela,
* something like this would be amazing inthis venue with purple lighting
* here is another part of same wedding
Pamela,
* this is so gorgeous
Pamela,
* this would be super nice
Pamela,
* this would really work. Use chocolate linens with light cream overlays, change the pink flowers to ranges of purples, cream napkins with chocolate napkin ties
Pamela,
* wow! use gold chargers instead of silver, brown linens
Pamela,
weddingwire.com click photos then fall/purple/receptions
It wouldnt let me post the link. your gonna love this site.
Hello – Our wedding is October 9, 2010 and we are looking for help as what we should do for Favors and Center Pieces. We are on a tight budget so need some creatvie ideas. Our colors are Sage Green, White and Silver. So far we have a white candle in a tall container – not sure what do do to bring in the green. Our table clothes are going to be white with white napkins (they didn’t have the right green so we opt for the white). Now we need to bring in some color.
Nina,
I personally think it would look amazing with some fall foilage surrounding candles or green leaves( maybe with a tinge of color) and green berries or even surround it with green apples.
* like the berries here
* here is another great idea
Nina,
* here is how it can look
What does your candle centerpiece look like? If it is a cylinder you can put green gems in bottom of container, fill with water and float candle.
Nina,
* like the ones here
Thank you Stacey! These are great!
Go to dollar tree on line; and purchase the tall cylinder vases for $1. each. go to AC Moore or Michaels and buy some bunches of fall flower….cut the flowers apart and put in the vase, submerge in water and top with a floating candle; again you can buy them for almost no money…………they are gorgeous. I did my whole reunion with them and they were a huge hit. It cost me about 40 dollars for the whole venue……and that was 300 people. You will be shocked, the silk flowers look real when submerged in water….and if you have the extra money; you could do two or three sizes of the cylinder vases (they have them at Dollar Tree Direct) you can also put them on top of a round or hexagonal mirror (also available at dollar tree) and the candle will relflect. I would post pics; however, my computer crashed that have the pics in them. Sorry!
hi, planning a wedding on Oct 2, and didnt want the traditional fall colors either. was thinking of navy (midnight)blue and grey (or silver). Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions on themes and decorations that wouldnt look totally out of place in fall (new england)
Felicia,
Navy and grey are very nice. It will fit in very nicely.
* here are some pics
Could I get a look at your venue link or pic?
Hi Stacey, Thanks for the link, I will look threw those pics. Just stuck on a theme. We are planning at a hotel so everything can be done at the same place and then we have some rooms for our friends and family. Holiday Inn
Felicia,
With this setting, you could go with a era theme. vintage? Marie Antoinette? since you are using navy and grey and the setting is more traditional,using vintage would be amazing.
Hi. I”m getting married in August. Would it be to early to use Fall colors?
Mia,
Not at all! August is one of those in between months late summer or early fall.
hi my wedding is in september and i am doing my centerpieces with apples, some kind of flower arrangement and big fat/cylinder vases. how would you suggest arranging all of it together and what kind of flowers?
megan,
* some ideas/pics
fill the cylinder vases with real apples and top with mums or a floating candle. Mix red and green apples for more of an effect.
I’m having a Fall wedding in 2010 It will be at a Lighthouse but I want to use fall colors to decorate this includes the outside walkway and the reception……would this look all right if done by a Lighthouse
not getting married inside the lighthouse ……
Christine,
I am sure it it will be beautiful to use fall colors. If you want I can take a look at the lighthouse grounds and the reception hall to see which fall colors would work well. Where is it located?
Hi we are having an October wedding and are completely stuck on favors. We don’t want something that they will just take and forget about 5 minutes later but we also are having about 300 people and would like to do something cheap. Our centerpieces are large hurricane vases filled with water and small white and orange pumpkins. there will be floating candles on top and tealights on the table for add. lighting. Table cloths are cream with brown and amber napkins. Our colors are amber, burnt orange and mahogany. Anyone have any ideas?
:shrug:
maria,
caramel apples, you could also have spice cupcakes in great lil’ boxes. just think about your fave things or foods during this time and offer a edible treat!! guests will love it! also another option, which is becoming a fast trend, is cookies and milk or smore kits.
same here so what did you decide with?
I’m going to have a November wedding (the 21st) and I’ve always loved the thought of having the reception outdoors… if it’s in Northern California, do you think the weather will cooperate? Will it be too chilly? Should I just plan on keeping it indoors?
My wedding date is not set but we will be having a fall wedding. Around the end of september. I thought maybe if I wrote what we were doing for our wedding it might help some “other stuck” planners. Our wedding will be the traditional fall wedding with a rustic country feel because we are both country to the core (we farm and hunt got a turkey the other day in fact
). Anyways, the colors are burgundy, mocha and chocolate, and maple orange, with some cream/ivory and metallic accents. The flowers will be Mini callas, chrysanthemums, burgundy roses, and dahlias with some hypericum berries and maple leaves tucked in. They will have long ribbons to add a romantic feel. My dress is ivory and the cake will actually be different kinds of cheese cake. We are using cornstalks that were gettin from a farmers market for the posts and doors. Min gourds and pumpkins for paths and steps with some leaves as well insted of the normal petals. we are going to use woodne boxes that we are staining ourselves for flower vases and for the candles we are using mason jars with a ribbon tied to the top. We’re using warm vanilla and brown sugar cinnamon candles to add a light scent. Our flower girls will be dropping leaves instead of flowers and for table runners we will be using leaves. Our favors are going to be home made salsa in mason jars with some added ribbon and monogram tag. Our food will be simple down home food. Green Beans, Bakes Potatoes, Turkey and Deer Meat, Corn, and my favorite.. CornBread. Also my future MIL makes a wonderful punch that we will be drinking. The men will be wearing Chocolate Tuxes with Ivory under shirts and we havent decided on the vests and ties yet… if anyone has and opinion on those i would love to hear it.. as well as any improvements or ideas about the details ive provided. Thanks a million!! Any idea at all on how to cheapen it up a little would be GREAT!!!!
heather, lovin’ what your doing! wouldnt change a thing!! maple or fall leaf branches ( which can be free if live in right area) in urns can give out a beautiful fall feel, so romantic!! with this i would consider having just chocolate ties and a ivory pocket hankie instead of a boutonniere. classy!
do you think an acorn them wedding in june is a good idea
As long as you bring trees (like small trees as favors, branches into your centerpieces, etc.) and leaves into your decorating . . . it would be very pretty!
We are doing a fall wedding also
Monogramed pumpkins they can be orange or paint them white/silver/gold add glitter.
Heather, that all sounds awesome! We are getting married in October and you gave me some great ideas, Thank You! (Scary, our wedding ideas sound SO alike!)
HEATHER, Sounds wonderful. We are also having a fall wedding. My dress is champagne colored. A reproduction of the dress Jenny wore in Forrest Gump. Everyone else is wearing blue jeans including the groom as this is a second marriage for both of us and like you we are super country and casual. Getting married in our backyard with county “throwdown” to follow. We will be hollowing out pumpkins to put ice in and cold drinks. Smaller gourd pumpkins will be hollowed out to put tea lights in. No fancy flowers just mums. Like you the flower girl will drop fall leaves instead of flowers. Also she will be wearing a denim jumper and the ring bearer denim overalls. We have horses in the pasture next to our backyard and we will have apples for them so they will be part of the backdrop. The cake is spice pumpkin pecan!! YUM!! Fall leaves cascading down the tiers of the cake with a champagne colored ribbon following. Hay bales will be out for people to sit on and since it is an afternoon/eve wedding we will put our fire rings to be warmed by.
Jayme,
Were you the bride considering sunflowers? I would just do simple arrangements of those in pails or rustic containers. Youcould also find old wood crates or boxes that ” look like ammo boxes” and use sunflowers.
I’m doing a fall wedding but have decided against fall colors because my fiances brothers wedding was last year around the same time and they went for a fall theme. My colors are fuschia (hot pink) and orange. Please help with centerpiece suggestions. I was also thinking about cupcakes instead of wedding cake 50-75 people will attend. It’s also an outdoor wedding.
jc, hi! this 1st pic is gorgeous! how different! yes i love the cupcake idea. why not have them as your centerpieces?
this is so much better than flowers! yum! i actually love this idea and your guests will too! cake and centerpiece in one! just buy platters(depending on #of guests at table) or cupcake tier tree ( at walmart). it can look elegant also. youcan also buy simple frosted cakes set on a cake plate and put flowers around base, instant chic!
*Danielle & Brandon’s June Wedding ( i love the orange slices, this would be beautiful with hot pink roses)
*Wedding Wednesday: Maroon, Yellow, Pink and Orange Floral Bridal Shower
*Lake of Isles Wedding–Hot Pink and Orange!
hey i am getting maried nov 7th and dont really want to do the whole fall theme… i would like to have chocolate and blueish aqua… any suggestions.. ha i am new to all of this and would love some help …please?
krista,
hope these help!! some of the colors may be a little off, but adjust them to your colors!!
* Oh Baby! Turquoise & Brown Baby Shower
* Turquoise with ??
* Teal & chocolate board (scroll down)
* Inspiration in our colors
(WOW)
* Inspiration Board: Teal Blue + Chocolate Brown
My niece is having a fall wedding in Sept. her colors are Fern(green) and Champagne. Any ideas for decorations, and Floral arrangments.
diana,
* Green & Champagne Wedding
* Board #187: Budget Friendly #4, Champagne & Dessert
( i know this is a little off course, but great ideas here!!)
* Spring Green Inspiration Board ( just beautiful)
* Forum: Brown and green ideas?
( the bouquet is absolutely stunning! champagne roses and green hydrangea with pops of color)
* Summer Table Settings: Impress your party guests with these colorful and creative summer table settings
(#7 pic, absolutely gorgeous!!)
Howdy! I am planning a fall wedding scheduled for Nov.22, 2009. I am struggling with colors as well as centerpieces. I really want fresh flowers, but it is getting a little pricey. Please offer any suggestions.
If you have to have the traditional flowing bridal bouquet you can cut costs elsewhere by being creative with your table setting flowers or having ur bridesmaids just carry one flower and a ribbon tied around them to tie in your colors.
Also putting the flowers together urself is really quite simple and much cheaper than having a florist do it. If you goof on the taping or ribbon dont sweat because no one ever pays close attention to ur flowers their eyes will be on you.
directions:
Buy a dozen roses. Cut the stems leaving about 8 inches of stem from the flower heads. Hold the stems in your hand tightly bunched. Wrap the stems with a rubber band and then cover the rubber band with a satin ribbon. This technique works with carnations, gerbera daisies or any sturdy stemmed large headed flowers. Tie a simple bow over the satin wrapping and leave the ends trailing. Place the bouquets in buckets of water with their stems resting in about three inches of water but the ribbon wrapping dry. Store in a cool, but not freezing, dark place.
I hope all this helps
daughter is getting married nov.7,2009, obviously a fall theme wedding we are looking for a unique card/money box for the reception. do not want typical or cake type box. maybe a wine barrell ??
Craft stores carry large “fake” pumpkins that look amazingly real and are able to be carved – That might make a nice card box. Also a large “horn-of-plenty” – wicker. Could be interesting.
Sometimes treasure type chests with a few autumn leaves or small pumpkins/gourds around it.
o and in the top lid cut a slit for the cards to be dropped into.. sorry forgot to add that. Oh and I painted a wooden letter from waltmart and added some sparkle and put it on the boxes as well.
Hi,
Im having a september wedding, and need HELP. lol I was never the type of little girl who dreamed of her wedding, so I had no ideas to go on once I was proposed to. Our colors are ivory, gold, and chocolate. We are funding our own wedding and would like any ideas on reasonably priced DIY centerpieces and bouquets. we want to stick with the colors we have chosen, but wouldnt mind throuwing a little bit of fall colors into the bouquets or centerpieces. Thanks a bunch.
Hello,
I am planning on October wedding in Tennessee! For table decorations I have found vases at the Dollar Store which have fall leaves, flowers, etc. with the base itself being of bark. So cute! We are scattering leaves (from Wal-Mart) on each table along with votices, which will be set in a ceramic leaf (from the Dollar Store).
I have found a way to have a very stylish reception for next to nothing. Check around, you may find the thing you like most at the least expensive store.
I am getting married October 20th and we planned to do just the simple pumpkins with rich fall coloured mums in it for centerpieces. Very cheap and pretty, we are scattering the tables with fall leaves as well. Our favors are cute little bags with pumpkin seeds in it tied with chocolate brown raffia and a leaf shaped tag with our initials on it. We are decorating the hall with barrels of apples, pumpins, gourds, hay bails ect. Everything is done fairly cheap and made by us. We are also making candy trees, expecially for the children. You get a ceramic pot and put a styrofoam ball in it, then you take a dowel and push it into the ball. You then get a cone shaped strofoan for the tree part and push the other end of the dowel into it so I resembles a tree. You then hot glue chocolate bars in wrappers all around the tree til its filled. After the cone shape is completly filled you put gum and suckers and what not into the pot so its filled and you cant see the ball styrofoam. It looks really cute. Saw it on Martha Stewart.
I can’t believe that everyone on this sight is going in detail down to that the type of pillow their ringbearer is going to bring up the aisle!! Is there anyone out there like me??? My fiance and I gave ourselves 7 weeks to plan for a wedding that would host 100 of our nearest and dearest. We’ve managed to secure a 5-star restaurant in the mountains just for us, with full wait staff throughout the afternoon in white gloves, trays of saliva-inducing hors d’oeuvres with garden walking trails, outdoor ceremony under the shade of Fall maples & champagne toast for all of our guests after the ceremony, a tent set up, etc. , to be followed with a 5 course dinner with wine pairings with each course… We’ve done all this for about $10,000, the food & wine being about $7,500 of the total. 5 weeks to go and about 3/4 of my ‘to do list’ is done…. I am starting to think that the more time you have, the more you tend to spend!! I am sooooo happy with our decision to keep things simple and beautiful.. I know we will enjoy the very special day but in the end, it’s just another day!! Wishing you all the best on your wedding days, and minimal stress!!!
7,500.00 for food!!! My whole wedding will cost less than 4,000.00!
MY WHOLE WEDDIND IS GOING TO COAST LESS THE 3.OOO.. AND I AM PLANNING A YEAR AND A HALD AWAY…
If you plan to do red as a color, bouquets look beautiful if you add red feathers to them. They look sophisticated and add that splash of color.
I am having an october wedding, we are doing three cylinders with glass stones in the bottom filled with water, fake flowers placed inside with a floating candle, on top of a mirror with two votives for underneath light. It looks really good. Our colors are chocolate and aqua, we are in Florida so seasons are pretty much always the same. We are doing regular favors jordan amonds in tulle circles.
IM HAVING A FALL WEDDING MY WEDDING DATE IS NOVEMBER 11TH BUT I DONT WANT ALL THE BROWN AND ORANGE ..OR ACORN’S PUMPKINS ECT..MY WEDDING COLOR’S ARE RED BLACK AND WHITE..I NEED SOME IDEA’S TO STILL GO WITH A FALL WEDDING
IVE SEEN CRANBERRIES IN A VASE WITH CARNATIONS YOU COULD DO IT W ROSES.ITS ACTUALLY REALLY PRETTY AND I THINK IT GO GOOD W APPLES.WHAT ARE U DOING W THE APPLES ?
I’m stuck on centerpieces – i wanted to do some red apples but with a little something – and not sure what? roses? acorns?
HELP!! :-?
I’m planning a fall wedding, and we are going with oil lamps and foliage for the center pieces….no pumpkins for me!
Hi everyone.. I am currently stuck on wedding colors for a Sept 20th wedding… I was thinking wine and ivory. I believe the reception sites tableclothes are white and burgandy (with the burgandy on top)… So I don’t know what to do with the centerpieces. I’m really not into the pumpkins and cornstalks….etc etc…
My friend had an autumn themed wedding and had lots of apple and acorn decor… it was a beautiful, rich combination of reds and browns. She opted for a stylish nontraditional ringbearer pillow and got this one:
http://www.brightandbold.com/red-apple-velvet-pillow.html
and it turned out so pretty. Lots of pretty ideas.
for the centerpiece our idea is to have pumpkins in the middle of the tables with a bride and groom carved in it, on both sides and have a candle in the middle. ads 1 idea