12 Modern Ideas to Plan the Ultimate Fall Wedding

If you’re looking for fall wedding ideas that aren’t so heavy on the pumpkins + maple leaves, you’re in the right place. There are lots of ways to channel fall without going the obvious route! Infusing the most perfect season into the wedding day means incorporating feelings of coziness, warm colors, and unique details to bring it all alive. Below, we’ve got 11 modern ideas for a celebration as dreamy and romantic as fall itself!

{top image | photo: Sarah Kate Photo floral design: Ashley Fox Designs}

1. Look for Invitations with Fall Motifs

Fall can come through in specific colors (or lack thereof), in images of trees or florals, and even certain font choices. You don’t have to go overly crazy with pumpkins and maple leaves if you don’t want to! A good place to get ideas is Minted’s seasonal fall invitation category.

2. Choose Bridesmaids Dresses in Fall Colors

We love this modern take on a fall bridesmaid lineup! These particular Lovely Bridesmaids Dresses come in an assortment of colors. Tip: order fabric swatches to mix and match before you make any decisions! It helps to see the colors in real life as opposed to photos—and you’ll rest easier in the final call.

Here’s a little more inspiration for you…this color lineup is a popular favorite! All those mustard and rust and neutral tones—SO good.

as seen in: These are the Fall Wedding Colors We’re LOVING Right Now
photo: Kemp Collective

3. Call on Autumnal Tones in Makeup + Accessories

Fall colors are fantastic for makeup! Post-summer, the colors grow a bit richer and move toward orange + brown undertones. Paint a copper nail and go for some drama around the eyes. A floral fall crown would absolutely top it off. Spend time discussing ideas with your hair + makeup artist to make your beauty look to match the season!

as seen in this Industrial Fall Wedding Inspiration
photo: Rebecca Carpenter Photography hair and makeup artist: Storme Makeup and Hair flower crown: Folky Dokey

4. Get Inspired by Fall Bridal Fashion

Chances are you’re thinking about white…but what if you stepped outside the box?! If not in color, think about rich, warm textures like velvet, and how you can incorporate them into your bridal look.

photo: Sarah Lotus Photo dress: Reclamation dress rental Traveling Reclamation Dresses

5. Think a Suit with Fall Colors

If you are planning to stick with a white dress, let your partner have some fun with color! We love a burgundy suit for a fall wedding…

photography: Jenny Haas | suit: Topman as seen in this Fall Equestrian-Inspired Wedding

6. Create a Fall-Themed “Love Path” to the Altar

Did your jaw just drop? This magical path is almost too dreamy to take in! But how perfect are those colors?! Proof that a fall wedding can absolutely be labeled as LUSH—and you don’t even need any traditional fall decorations to make it feel seasonal.

designer and planner: Strawberries and Champagne photo: DAZL Production flowers: Roni Bassil furniture Ghorayeb Technotel

7. Go ALL IN with an Autumnal Wedding Backdrop

We love a brilliant centerpiece and this circular ombré fall arch by Olena is everything. Literally! Nestled in the pampas grass is all kinds of fruits and vegetables—a real celebration of the harvest season.

A moody monochrome red arch also makes a similar WOW impact! And the cool lake backdrop doesn’t hurt, either.

design + planning: Jove Meyer venue: Cedar Lakes Estates officiant: Once Upon a Vow – Daniela VillaRamos photography: Light and Found Photography – Sam Guilbeaux florist: Mimosa Floral

8. Take Advantage of Autumnal Wedding Portraits

Fall gives golden hour a whole new meaning! Get in front of those changing leaves, wade through the brittle grass, cozy up—and perhaps even through a little confetti in the air!

photo: Kayla Sprint venue: Wallowa River Camp Resort florals: Hey You Flowers bridal: The White Dress PDX // Eddy K Bridal with custom sleeves

9. Think “Cozy” for the Reception

We didn’t mention it yet, but a venue that lends itself to a fall setting is SUCH a bonus. It does the ambiance work for you so that when you put up a dreamy safari tent to house your lounge, magic like THIS happens!

as seen in this Folky Fall Wedding in the White Mountains
photo: Jessie Casey venue: The Toad Hill Farm design: The Prism House florals: The Prism House wedding dress: Rue de Seine

10. Deck Out a Mobile Cocktail Cart with Fall Florals

Mobile bars are such a fun trend and most of them are designed to be designed—aka, custom decor and flowers can be added to make the cart uniquely yours for a day!

photog: Katelyn Mallett Photo mobile bar: The Roaming Speakeasy Co. design: Cause We Can Events florals: Bad Rabbit Flowers Dress: Rue de Seine Bridal

If you want to find a mobile bar in your area start with this list!

mobile bar: Sip & Steer photo: Mackenzie Alexa Photography florals: Thistle and Lace Florals

11. Pumpkins, But Make it Rad

There IS definitely a place for pumpkins at a fall wedding! But it doesn’t have to stop at classic orange. Bring in all the fairy tale pumpkins and gourds for a chic display.