GETTING MARRIED IN AUTUMN: IT'S THE PERFECT PLAN!

Whether you've always dreamed of getting married in the fall or had to postpone your wedding, know that this season has nothing to envy from other times of the year! Indeed, while summer and spring remain the favorite seasons for organizing a wedding, autumn and its colorful beauty are increasingly captivating the hearts of future spouses due to the cozy atmosphere, availability of vendors, and the opportunity to reduce the budget. Follow me for a brief overview of the various advantages of organizing a wedding in this season!

AUTUMNAL WEATHER: OUTWIT THE UNPREDICTABLE!

If there is one concern expressed by many of my future married couples... it's the uncertainty about the weather, which is indeed more unpredictable at this time of year, especially in our beautiful region of Hauts-de-France. How to handle the unpredictability of the weather if you are organizing your wedding in autumn?

When choosing your reception venue, prioritize a place that you like both outdoors and indoors. Since you will only have certainty about the weather a few days before your wedding, choose a place that can serve as a Plan B in your reception venue where you can organize your cocktail hour or your secular ceremony if the rain decides to play spoilsport. If you don't have this option, a large marquee can also do the trick! 

This place can be unique and can provide an atmosphere for your theme: a barn for a rustic theme, a room with a fireplace and exposed beams for a vintage theme, etc. For original themes like the fair or the circus, you can even consider renting a marquee to dazzle your guests on D-Day... and avoid the rain! Guaranteed atmosphere!

Nice weather but cold? It will be difficult to have a cocktail hour outside because your guests may suffer from the cold. However, you can absolutely keep your secular ceremony outside by providing a distribution of brightly colored blankets at the entrance so that your guests can shed their little tears all wrapped up!

AUTUMN: THE IDEAL SEASON TO ENHANCE YOUR WEDDING DECOR!

From September, the landscapes of France are adorned with warm colors like yellow, orange, and red. The warmth and variety of colors naturally brought by autumn allow for natural brightness that your photographer will exploit to provide you with artistic shots. 

More than just colors, autumn is also the ideal season for themes focused on nature, wine, or, for the more daring, Halloween! Atypical and perfect for this warm and radiant season, you will have plenty of choice to enhance your wedding decor with natural and free things:

• Add autumn-colored flowers to your bouquets on the tables at the reception venue and why not in your own bouquet and boutonniere for the groom!

• Place some chestnuts, berries, pine cones, or even gourds on your table runners to recall your theme and its colors

• Position Jack O'Lanterns at the entrance of your reception venue to announce the entrance to your venue

MORE AVAILABLE VENDORS AT YEAR-END

I am well aware that it is difficult to find available vendors on the date you want and even more so within the budget you have planned for your D-Day. The most important advantage of autumn is right there: savings!

The peak wedding season being in spring and summer, weddings celebrated from mid-September are considered "off-season". Vendors (caterers, photographers, DJs, hairdressers, makeup artists, etc.) being less solicited between September and early March, you will have a better chance of getting availability from your vendors than during the peak season.

Pssst... this is often also the case for reception venues!

The same applies to town halls and churches, which are less in demand and therefore often process your file much more quickly than usual. You will also have much more chances of having your dream date available if you want to organize your wedding on a very specific date. 

AUTUMN MENU: BANK ON SEASONAL PRODUCTS!

Autumn is generally a season when we start dreaming of hearty, warm dishes! Whether it's appetizers or drinks during the meal, you can definitely favor hot dishes that will warm the hearts and bodies of your guests. Yes, but it's also the perfect season for cooking squashes, chestnuts, and mushrooms...all these vegetables that bring a rustic touch to the plate.

Pumpkin puree, sautéed chestnuts and cranberries, or mushroom flan, caterers are ingenious when it comes to enhancing meats and/or fish to tantalize our taste buds! Personally, it already makes my mouth water!

AUTUMN BRIDE LOOK: EMBRACE ORIGINALITY!

Unlike spring and summer, future autumn brides will have to cover up a little more because you're not safe from chilly weather or occasional showers. You'll have to think "warmth," "comfort," and dress warmly:

• Your dress is very low-cut, backless, or you're simply afraid of being cold during your wedding? Wool or fur vests, denim jacket, biker jacket, cape... You can certainly find what you're looking for in a thrift store if you want to give a vintage touch to your outfit or search on sites like Vinted to further reduce your budget and please your wallet. 

• High heels and wet grass don't mix well, you may sink and not have the stylish and assured walk you desired for that day. What if you opt for flat shoes? No risk of sore feet and your little feet will thank you for taking care of them when they hit the dance floor!

• And if it rains? Like Mary Poppins and her famous umbrella, enhance your outfit with a pretty umbrella to look charming even if it rains! In lace, transparent, or patterned, I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for and it will make you happy if it does rain on your autumn wedding day.

All these little accessories have only one goal: to protect you from the cold, rain, or wind while giving you that special "Je ne sais quoi" that will bring all the originality to your outfit!

Who said getting married in autumn had to be sad and dull?