Weddings/Events

Top Tips For Planning A Fall Wedding

A Romantic Fall Wedding at Maravilla Gardens, wedding party portrait shots
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Advice For Any Couple Getting Married In The Fall + Our Favorite Autumn Celebrations At Feathered Arrow!

Spring used to be considered peak “wedding season”, but over the past few years, I have noticed a drastic shift. There isn’t one specific “season” that couples choose to get married, however I have noticed that planning a Fall wedding is extremely popular. And I can totally see why!  There is something truly magical about autumn. If you’re planning a Fall wedding, here are a few tips (and also my favorite Feathered Arrow Fall weddings!)

Plan for any + all weather

The trickiest part of planning a fall wedding is the unpredictable weather. It’s hard to know it will be warm, cold, rainy or sunny. There are parts of the country right now that are having snowstorms! Keep a close eye on the weather up to two weeks before the big day to see if you need to rent anything additional to make your guests comfortable. For example, heat lamps for a chilly night, or potentially a tent if it rains. Lean on your planner for any last minute additions to ensure you have everything you need.

Photos by: Jenny Quicksall

Carly + Ryan’s wedding at Maravilla Gardens was a personal challenge as their original venue was evacuated due to a wildfire. However, within a matter of days, we managed to move the entire wedding to a new venue seamlessly! It was such a beautiful day and a reminder about the importance of love conquering all.

Don’t shy away from “off season” colors

Elegant fall wedding at Triunfo Creek Vineyards, green and white bouquets, bridesmaid in blue dresses

Jewel tones tend to rock the fall season but I love it when couples embrace a different tone and theme for their big day! There’s no rule that says you have to incorporate darker colors when September rolls around. I always tell my couples that they should choose whatever is the best representation of who they are. It’s your day! 

Photos by: Hitched Photo

Tessa + Loren’s Fall wedding at Triunfo Creek vineyards proved that keeping things classic + simple are always in style, no matter the season.

Embrace Fall Treats

There’s something about fall that always reminds me of really delicious desserts. It could be because of the holiday season right around the corner but, if you’re planning a fall wedding, use the opportunity to dine on fall treats! Think apple cider donuts, pies and cookies with cinnamon and nutmeg. A hot chocolate bar is also a popular option to consider. Treat your guests to something special! 

Photos by: Palms & Pines Photography

When Jessica + Brian were planning a Fall wedding, they not only created the largest donut wall I have ever seen, but they designed one of my favorite ceremony arrangements. A mix of florals and pampas grass looked as though it was growing out of the ground, instead of in vases. It was so cool!

Build your timeline wisely

A Joshua Tree wedding ceremony at Tumbleweed Sanctuary

I touched on this more in my post about planning an outdoor wedding, but because the sun sets sooner later in the year, you’ll want to take that into consideration when planning a fall wedding. If you have your heart set on sunset photos, try to have an earlier ceremony time. Even if your wedding is indoors, if you want to take any group photos outside, ask your photographer and planner to work those group photos in the daylight hours. 

Photos by: Chuy Photography

Kimberly + Jonathan’s wedding was so special to me because it was my first time planning a wedding at Tumbleweed Sanctuary. But it was important for us to stay on schedule because there wasn’t a lot of daylight left after the ceremony for photos which meant we had to do a lot beforehand!

Every season has it’s challenges but as long as you’re marrying the love of your life, there is no wrong time to get married and really no challenge that can’t be solved. I hope this list was helpful and gave you some things to keep in mind! Be sure to check out my list of tips to planning a summer wedding as well.

Feathered Arrow Signature Kari Dirksen

LATTE OBSESSED, CHRONIC OVERACHIEVER, OUTDOOR GIRL, SUCKER FOR LIVE MUSIC, DONUT FANATIC, LIFE LONG GREY'S ANATOMY FAN + DOG MOM. 

Expert Party Planner, Podcaster, and Creative Entrepreneur.

I'm a creative entrepreneur at heart and have been running my business for over 10 years and have planned and executed over 150+ weddings. I'm an expert in this industry and care deeply about my clients and making sure they have the best experience. I just launched a podcast with my work wife, Gabby Pinkerton of Cause We Can Events, called Just Another Biz Podcast! Go check it out!

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