AUTUMN WEDDING INSPIRATION: BRIDAL HAIR, BRIDAL MAKEUP, DÉCOR, DRESS AND MORE!
An autumn wedding is always so magical. The crisp buzzing of the changing seasons in the air make everything even more exciting and that perfect blend of clear, sunny days and just the beginnings of a wintery chill allows for all your favourite aspects of summer and winter weddings combined. You can still get away with serving Pimms and a bright colour scheme, but at the same time a roaring fire, hot toddies and luxurious furry stole to top off your wedding dress in the evening is totally fitting.
Another wonderful thing about an autumn wedding is the choice of seasonal themes. You could tap into the spirit of harvest with huge sharing bowls of hearty food for your guests to tuck into and enjoy. You can bring the outside world in, and decorate with nature’s firey hues of reds, golds, oranges, hot pinks and earthy browns. Bonfire night is a lovely celebration to tie in and you could even give a nod to Halloween, with pumpkin displays and toffee apples in abundance!
There is so much to play with when planning an autumn wedding. If you’re searching for top tips and inspiration, look no further…
COLOUR SCHEMES
Nature offers such a rich and vibrant array of colours in the autumn months and so it only makes sense to take our cues from this. But if the orange, red and brown tones aren’t for you, don’t make the mistake in thinking you’re all out of autumnal options. There’s far more to it than this.
Pantone is the authority of what’s hot in terms of colour schemes for pretty much everything: fashion, interiors, hair colour and of course, weddings. 2018 was all about ultra-violet, but autumn/winter 2018 heading in 2019 is welcoming an incredible range of striking shades that offer so much scope for a bang on-trend wedding colour palette.
Seen on the fashion week runways all over the world, the new hot-to-trot colours have been described as zesty, vigorous and romantic. Sounds pretty perfect for a bride’s big day!
First up, ‘Red Pear’. This is a deep, wine toned red verging of burgundy which makes a wonderful grounding undertone to many colour schemes. Bright enough for a subtle pop, but subdued enough to create an accent without over-powering. ‘Valiant Poppy’ is the loud, red sister colour. An amazing lipstick shade too! Ideal for creating continuity between your look and your wedding décor. Feminine pinks and purples are all the rage too, for those of you wanting something really soft and girly instead.
Lending to the whole natural vibe ‘Martini Olive’ green is an amazing addition to many different palettes. Pair with peach, white and gold for something fresh; Deep purple, navy and gold for decadence or team up with a lighter sage, gold, ivory and rich brown for a combo that works year-round.
Yellow is another colour that is really coming into it’s own right now, particularly when put with an elegant grey or beige and a bold magenta.
AUTUMNAL BLOOMS
Just like food, seasonal is always best when it comes to wedding flowers, but of course everything is available! If you love the idea of crating floral displays that fit beautifully with the season, take a look at these gorgeous bouquet ideas from The Natural Wedding Company
Cosmos, blackberries and rosehips
Bright & fresh!
Zinnias, snapdragons and grasses
Vibrant purple hues
Leaves, scabious and cosmos
Delicate & girly
Delphiniums, ammi and verbena
Beautiful blues!
Dahlias, ammi and ivy
Elegant & ethereal
Japanese anemone, flowering mint and roses
Striking contrast
Amaranthus, dahlias and scabious
Explosive colours
Echinacea, acorns and rosehips
An alternative choice
Chocolate cosmos, grasses and dusty miller
Wild & leafy
Crab apples, autumn leaves and Chinese lantern
Seriously autumnal
Poppies, dahlias and lavender
Gorgeous & firey!
Feverfew, cosmos and lamb’s ear
Sweet & feminine
Mixed grasses, dahlias and golden amaranthus
Subdued & rustic
Delphiniums, scabious and eryngium thistle
Pops of colour
Elderberries, roses and dahlias
Muted pastels
Hydrangea, berries and old man’s beard
Mother nature’s bouquet
BRIDAL BEAUTY
When it comes to bridal makeup, an autumn wedding makes way for neutral smoky eyes, lightly bronzed contours, deeply coloured lips and a hint of gold! There are so many fun ways to play with makeup to tie in seasonally.
LIPS
During summer months we see a lot of fresh lip colours and barely there tints, but as we head into autumn and winter approaches, it’s time to start playing with some of those gorgeous deeper shades again!
A slightly sheer plum is a bridal favourite of A/W 18 going into 2019 and of course, the timeless Hollywood red pout always has its place. If you’ve got the right complexion for it (red heads and warm brunettes – this one’s for you!) play around with some orange undertones.
EYES
Autumn eyes tend to go one of two ways – smoky or nude! This year’s smoky grey and smoky beige eyes are a big hit for autumn brides, but if you’re going for a really strong lip you could always try going lighter on the eyes – a subtle gloss on the lid, a precise cat eye flick and sky-high lashes (with a bit of help from false individuals set in!).
CHEEKS
A healthy glow is a must! But whether you go for a fresh-faced pop or sculpted cheekbones (or maybe a bit of both) is up to you.
Pale skin looks fabulous kept really clear with a pink flush, just like on a brisk winter’s day. For warmer skin tones, it’s all about the bronzed contouring – but easy does it! We still want this looking quite natural, not overdone.
BROWS
Autumn begs for a strong brow to frame the face, but eyebrows are such a personal thing, so go with what you love. Whatever look you decide on though, well-groomed and defined is essential!
AMAZING PHOTOS
Autumn wedding photography has got to be some of the best out there and it’s all because of the natural light. Summer days can be so bright it’s hard to take a great photo. Winter can be a little grey. But autumn – autumn offers that exceptional, hazy, golden quality of light as the sun starts to set that is hard to beat. If you love those images of wedded couple in diffuse, warm light, you’ll be thrilled to read that you’re very likely to get that if your big day is during autumn months! Take a look at some expert tips on how to look amazing in your wedding photos on our blog, here.
AUTUMN WEDDING DRESS
When choosing your dress for your autumn wedding, remember that you’re likely going to need a little cover up on your arms for when it turns chilly. This doesn’t mean you have to go for a dress with sleeves (although this is the perfect opportunity to do that, if you find one you love!) – you can opt for an elegant stole, wrap or shrug to keep the cold at bay. Whatever you do, don’t only choose looks over comfort. You can have the best of both worlds and no brides wants to be shivering on her wedding day!
An autumn wedding also allows for wearing bigger, heavier dresses without running the risk of overheating, so if you love the idea of something really grand, go for it!
THE PERFECT VENUE
Most venues are able to be kitted out for all seasons, but it’s worth remembering that you might need to consider heating options if you’re going for an outdoor wedding or a really rustic castle. Old castles and churches can get very cold, so find out if you can get a roaring log fire going, adding warmth and ambiance or if there are other heating solutions available.
Don’t be put off a barn wedding. Although you might imagine this to be better suited to a summer wedding, barn venues can often be really toasty and cosy! You’ll probably be choosing your venue in a different season to your autumn wedding, so when visiting to check it out, remember to ask about heating and how it might feel on your date. Many venues can sort out a fire for you (some even offer fire pits outside) and there are other alternatives too, like heating lamps, if need be.
LITTLE EXTRAS
Get inspired by different cultures around the world! Autumn is an important season in Japan and so many of their traditional food, clothes and décor give a nod to this. A little autumnal Japanese addition you might like to include in your meal (or perhaps as an unusual wedding favour) is a delicious red maple leaf fried with sugar and salt. Yum!
Having some ‘plan B’ solutions to hand is a good idea for month’s that can be a bit rainy (so, pretty much all year round in the UK!). Make sure you have some wellies and umbrellas for really cute outside photos, whatever the weather.