Your Autumn Wedding Colour Theme
As the leaves begin to change from greens to gold, a bride’s thoughts naturally turn to autumn weddings. Adopting one of the many variations on an autumn colour theme presents wonderful opportunities to bring the outside indoors and celebrate the season’s colours.
A typical autumn palette would include shades of amber, ochre, marigold, mustard and chocolate. For contrast, elements of navy or plum and forest greens add vibrancy. The ever-popular purple injects a shot of brightness, for example for the bride’s silk shoes or the bridesmaids’ sashes and the ties of the groom’s party. Search for “Autumn Colour Palettes” on Pinterest for interesting combinations.
Your wedding invitations will give the first subtle hint about your autumn colour theme to your guests. It’s possible to combine the best of wedding traditions with your theme, so there’s no need to sacrifice the ivory of formal stationery. The secret is to keep the theme going with decorative touches, such as embossed or printed leaves, contrasting envelopes and envelope seals.
Don’t forget the details! Amy Box of Hold My Hand blends nail polishes to suit the seasons and she has created 'Feel the Auburn', a shade which shifts from bright orange to warm reds. She says, “Autumn weddings look stunning with the right blend of colours and you can tie lots of details in, even down to the colour of the bride’s and bridesmaids’ nail polish. I love the warmth of autumn colours, they remind me of home comforts, like getting cosy in front of the fire.”
Among the opportunities to explore your colour theme is the wedding cake itself – perhaps by representing the deep browns and vibrant orange of autumn in a magical three tiered chocolate cake, decorated with orangey kumquats and their glossy green leaves.
The colour of the wedding party’s sashes and ties can be continued to the chair covers and decorative bows to bring the theme together. Bronze flatware and charger plates add a mellow tone to the table and subtle lighting beautifully enhances these metallic touches. Candlelight is particularly appealing at this time of year, as the sun dips to the horizon and mist forms. You can opt for statement tapers or church candles in dramatic centrepieces, Perhaps using bronze or mustard coloured glass holders.
Texture can play a big part in uniting the theme and wood, leaves, stone, metallic lace and silk ribbon all make a contribution. There’s scope for incorporating these in the table decorations – surrounding the floral displays or as an alternative to tablemats. The table is where your guests will be enjoying the wedding breakfast and you can build anticipation of this by appealing to all of the senses. Of these, scent is the most memorable and evocative. By allowing the drifting aroma of the last of the roses, cinnamon & spices to perfume the room, you set the scene.
Wedding flowers can follow the autumn theme by including seasonal rose hips, hypericum berries, eucalyptus leaves and purple sage to add dramatic tones, texture and scent. Centrepieces could include novel seasonal items like pumpkins, teamed with the burnt oranges of gerbera or dahlias. Hand tied bouquets can be cost effective with alstroemeria or indulgent with highly scented, multi-layered David Austen roses.
On a grander scale, if you’ve chosen a venue like Clevedon Hall, with dramatic trees and shrubs in their autumn finery, you have a ready-made, fantastic backdrop for your wedding photographs. Autumn light also adds a magical touch to the reflecting lake. In this instance, nature does all the work for you and your theme is provided.