Top 10 Fall Wedding Do's and Don’ts

Bride and Groom Standing in Front of a Puddle: Hochzeitsportal24, Tented Wedding Reception in the Grass: Brides, Couple Standing in Fall Foliage: Adam Rotter

The fall can be the perfect season to have your wedding. The mild temperatures and beautiful foliage are alluring to many brides and grooms, but that doesn’t mean your upcoming fall wedding is guaranteed to be perfect.

No matter when you plan your wedding, there are plenty of things that could go wrong. If you’re in the midst of planning your wedding this fall, make sure you are aware of these wedding do’s and don’ts.

      1.  Do Avoid Big Sports Weekends

One of the top wedding do’s and don’ts for the bride is to pick your wedding date with big sports events in mind.

Even if you don’t care about football or the baseball playoffs, you can bet more than one of your guests will care. If you plan your big day when your Dad’s favorite football team plays their rival or the groom’s family is crazy for baseball, you can expect that your guests will spend more time watching the game than being present at your wedding. Consider the sports and teams that are most popular among your guests and avoid choosing a date on game day.

      2.  Don’t Let Dirt Ruin Your Day

There are a lot of great fall wedding venues out there, but don’t forget to look down when you’re touring outdoor spaces. If there are many dirt paths, especially down the aisle or surrounding the reception space, you may want to choose another venue. All that dirt can quickly turn to mud, making your dress and your guests’ shoes dirty.

If you’ve fallen in love with a venue that has dirt paths, create a plan to address possible messes with aisle runners and drop cloths that will provide you and your guests with a clean walking surface.

      3.  Do Have a Plan B for Outdoor Celebrations

You probably won’t have to worry about extreme heat or cold, which is why an outdoor fall wedding reception is popular with couples. However, that doesn’t mean things can’t get a little too chilly or wet.

Make sure you have a plan B for your outdoor wedding ceremony or reception. That might mean renting tents with heaters or choosing a venue that has a shelter you can use, should it start raining.

      4.  Don’t Forget to Take Pictures Outside Even If Your Wedding Is Indoors

You may want to avoid the potential mess and weather events that come with outdoor weddings by choosing an indoor ceremony and reception instead. It’s a great way to control the outcome of your big day, but that doesn’t mean you should stay indoors the entire time.

Don’t forget to venture outside with your photographer to take advantage of the fall foliage. You’ll be glad you documented the season as part of your big day with fall wedding pictures.

      5.  Do Make Sure You Choose a Dress You Love

There are a lot of tips out there on what kind of dress you should or shouldn’t wear in the fall. You might find dresses with long sleeves or three quarter sleeves, and you may think you have to avoid wearing white after Labor Day. You should buy a dress you love, regardless of the advice.

Choose a white dress, or choose a sleeveless, slinky style, if that’s what you love. You can always choose a stylish shawl, fall wedding jacket, or closed-toed shoes to keep yourself warm when the sun goes down.

Fall Wedding Bouquet: Fab Mood, Mini Pies on a Dessert Table: Southern Weddings, Blanket Wedding Gifts: Feathered Arrow Events

      6.  Don’t Forget to Make a Plan for Leaves

The many colorful leaves hanging from the trees and blowing in the breeze will create a beautiful backdrop for your wedding this fall, but those leaves can also be a nuisance. Don’t let them ruin your fall outdoor wedding!

Wet leaves can be slippery, so make sure you have a plan to take care of them to prevent falls. Sweep away wet leaves the morning of your wedding, and make sure candles are sheltered in tall hurricane vases so wind and leaves don’t create a fire hazard.

      7.  Do Choose Flowers That Are in Season

There are a lot of beautiful fall blooms to choose from. Take advantage of them! Fall wedding flowers include dahlias, calla lilies, and gerbera daisies. Dried florals, like pampas grass and eucalyptus, can also be great choices for a fall bouquet.

Not only will you save money by choosing flowers that are in season, they won’t look out of place. Although lily of the valley and peonies are beautiful, because they are associated with spring, they will look a bit strange surrounded by colorful fall foliage.

      8.  Don’t Be Afraid to Embrace Fall Favorites

You don’t want your wedding to look like everyone else’s, but that doesn’t mean you should avoid fall favorites. There are plenty of ways to make the season all your own.

Browse popular fall wedding colors and choose a combination of hues that speak to you and your future spouse. There are plenty of interesting and uncommon combinations to choose from!

Let fall wedding food ideas inspire your menu. Don’t be afraid to include pumpkin pie on the dessert table, if you love it, and apple cider is a favorite among kids and adults at fall weddings.

      9.  Do Have a Plan for Keeping Guests Warm

Guests are likely to choose fall wedding attire that’s a bit warmer than what they would wear to a summer wedding, but dress clothes are anything but warm. Make sure you have a plan to keep guests who are wearing thin dresses, open toed shoes, and short sleeved shirts warm.

Keeping everyone warm might include serving mulled wine and tea. Consider renting heaters for an outdoor event, give someone the job of starting a few fire pits when the sun goes down, and consider handing out cozy wedding gifts, like scarves and small throw blankets.

      10.  Don’t Host Your Ceremony Too Late

The best time to have a fall wedding is not too late. You can’t take advantage of the beauty of the season if it’s dark, and it gets dark earlier and earlier as winter approaches!

A 3pm fall wedding is a great time to plan your ceremony to take advantage of daylight and warmer temperatures. If you’re worried about your wedding feeling long, add in extra activities, like a cocktail hour, or hire live entertainment to ensure everyone sticks around late into the evening