Every season lends itself to beautiful weddings, but fall weddings have a certain romance that other seasons don’t offer. And thanks to its rustic nature, planning an autumn wedding on a budget is totally doable! We’ve come up with some lovely fall wedding ideas that leave room for a fabulous honeymoon.
Fall Wedding Decorations and Flowers
The wonderful thing about having a wedding in the fall is how simple the decorating can be while still achieving a breathtaking ceremony. Whether you’re indoors or outdoors, the rich hues of red, orange, yellow, green, and brown capture the beauty of nature for your big day. If you prefer a more muted color palette, try creamy white, soft green, and mauve for romantic fall wedding decorations.
Make the bouquets
Most-loved fall flowers for wedding bouquets include mums, dahlias, anemones, zinnias, and roses. Include muted hues like peach, mauve, burnt orange, gold, and fuschia, depending on your color scheme. Add fillers like eucalyptus leaves, ferns, and baby’s breath to build out the bouquet. Bridesmaid flowers can be a smaller version of yours, while groomsmen flowers can be simple corsages.
Fall wedding flower bouquets don’t have to be elaborate. As with other parts of a rustic wedding, you can stick with a modest design and still make an impact without the extra cost. Flowers can be the most expensive part of a wedding, so it’s a great place to save a bit of money.
💰 Learn more: How Much Does a Florist Cost for a Wedding?
Create pumpkin centerpieces
Who knew gourds could look so lovely? Use pumpkins as centerpieces for a thrifty and natural look for your fall wedding. Fill them with flowers or arrange them in groups of different sizes to create festive decor for your reception tables, ceremony aisle, and guest book or buffet setups.
Use mason jars
You can’t go wrong with mason jars for an inexpensive solution to fall wedding centerpieces. Wrap them in burlap and ribbon, then fill them with flowers like mums, roses, carnations, and greenery for simple sophistication. Jars are easy to spray paint, too, if you prefer a solid, frosted, or glittered look.
Mason jars can also serve as lovely luminaries for evening or nighttime wedding receptions. With a bit of hodge-podge and leaves from your backyard (or faux leaves from a craft store), you can create a subtle glow for your tables.
🌻 You might also like: How to Plan the Perfect Rustic Wedding
Try a layered look
The key to making inexpensive things look high-end is layering. Start with a budget-friendly base like a slice of wood, charger, or table runner. Add a few elements of varying heights to create visual interest, such as a vase of flowers, candles, picture frames, pumpkins, or pinecones. You can use these groupings as table centerpieces or for places where a little extra decor is needed.
Set the stage
Create the backdrop for your ceremony and pictures with a beautiful fall wedding arch. It can be simple and inexpensively built with a few pieces of wood (and paint or stain, if you prefer). You can even use tree branches for a more natural look. Next, drape it with a cozy fabric like faux velvet or heavy chiffon. Include bunches of coordinating flowers and build up the edges with colorful pumpkins or tree stumps with candles and more flowers.
Fall Wedding Cakes
When you’re gathering fall wedding ideas on a budget, the cake is one of the easy ones! You can certainly choose something very elaborate, but we say embrace autumn’s natural vibe and go with something more rustic. Naked cakes continue to be a great choice for free-spirited brides, and you can easily dress up simple grocery store cakes with fall foliage and flowers.
As an alternative, cupcakes are simple to make yourself, and guests can self-serve rather than worrying about cutting up a cake. Dessert towers of macarons in fall colors are a sophisticated option, too. If you’re looking for a charming choice, try mini pies, pie pops, or even mini caramel apples. These tiny treats can even double as wedding favors.
Reception Refreshments
Buffet-style receptions with small portions are growing in popularity and for good reason! They add a casual vibe and allow guests to grab a few “bites” while mingling, sipping cocktails, and dancing. Snack bars are also much easier on your fall wedding budget. Try setting up a bar with simple foods like popcorn, s’mores, or donuts.
Drinks like apple cider, lemonade, and tea are great non-alcoholic choices for your guests. Save money on alcohol by offering bottled beer or hard ciders in aluminum tubs. If you prefer to hire a bartender, you can provide wine or beer in bulk from discount warehouse stores like Sam’s Club or Costco for easy serving.
Fall Wedding Entertainment
Your fall wedding ideas should include a budget for entertainment to create a truly memorable day. Booking a cellist for your ceremony or hiring an acoustic band for your reception can elevate the experience for you and your guests.
Smaller budget
If you want to keep the cost low for music and entertainment options, stick with solo performers over bands or groups. You can create a beautiful atmosphere for your fall wedding without breaking the bank. Consider these options for less than $300 an hour:
Bigger budget
If you saved a bunch of money on your DIY decor and simple cake and refreshment options, then splurge a little on the entertainment. Go with a live band for your reception or even some unique performers for a themed celebration.
👉 You might also like: Wedding Entertainment Ideas for Any Budget
Planning a fall wedding on a budget means lots of crafty DIY projects, but in the end, you’ll create a beautiful experience for both you and your guests. 🧡
Megan is the Director of Customer Experience at GigSalad and has gained 9+ years of insight on what makes a great event on both sides of the booking process. Her favorite things include books, true crime podcasts, coffee, hiking, puns, and making people laugh.