Find inspiration in nature when planning an autumn wedding
Fall is the South's most vibrant and colorful season. The leaves are at their color peak and temperatures are just right for an outdoor event. So, forget football — or better yet, make it part of the party — and start your planning.
Few settings are as romantic as an outdoor wedding surrounded by Alabama's fall foliage. With nature as their inspiration, photographer Heather Durham; planner Courtney Wolf of Invision Events of Birmingham; and Lisa Smith Thorne of Thorne and Thistle, a home, wedding and floral design studio (along with other area vendors) created a rustic yet elegant fall wedding scene.
Whether you're planning a wedding or a family get-together, these ideas are sure to offer inspiration for any celebration this season.
ON THE HUNT
Durham knew when she first visited Sawtooth Plantation, tucked outside of Auburn, that it would be ideal for her vision of a rustic and elegant fall-themed wedding.
The hunting lodge, owned by Birmingham restaurateur John Cassimus, offers panoramic views of a lake and nature in its purest form. Glimpses of whitetail deer and wild turkey are commonplace, yet everyday amenities make the setting comfortable for a crowd.
"The moment I drove through the gates [of Sawtooth], I envisioned a bride and groom strolling throughout the property," Durham says "I immediately had ideas for an elegant and refined woodland wedding theme."
Breathtaking scenery coupled with adequate amenities are a must when planning a rustic outdoor event, Wolf says.
"A bride should always keep in mind the logistics and flow necessary to accommodate a wedding, as well as the resources needed to support it," she says.
Thorne played up on the hunting decor of Sawtooth's lodge to incorporate antlers and feathers into the table settings and accompanying decor.
"Using elements like this in more than one place tie and unify the florals from ceremony to reception," Thorne says.
LET NATURE TAKE THE LEAD
From the entry table to the guests' tables and bridal bouquets, this wedding scene was inspired by the natural surroundings of Sawtooth. An entry table played up the hunting theme with antlers and a dramatic floral centerpiece, as well as a framed message declaring "The Hunt is Over," by Laura McCarty of Marked, who also created the fall-inspired paper suite for the event, including the calligraphed menus with raffia ties.
Letting the lake set the scene for a private bride and groom's table, Thorne covered the table with a cowhide rug. Another large floral centerpiece is the real show stealer here, though. From the altar to the reception area, Thorne selected florals and greenery in softer shades to complement the bright fall foliage.
"I chose a softer peach Juliet rose as my orange shade in the bouquets for a softer, romantic look," Thorne says.
The guests tables were also topped with romantic floral centerpieces. As with those used in the ceremony, Thorne added texture with pheasant feathers, okra pods, and grasses and leaves—all odes to the season. Antlers and foliage surrounded the centerpieces, and leather ties around the napkins added a masculine touch to the rustic atmosphere.
The tableware from Bromberg's provided even more texture and depth to the table settings, as well as a touch of formality to the otherwise casual and comfortable space, Wolf noted.
For the wedding party, Thorne again took cues from nature. Feathers were added to rustic bouquets that were wrapped in ribbons that Thorne died a deep, dusty blue to complement the groomsmen's attire.
The bridesmaids and bride wore romantic flower crowns. "I love flower crowns for fall, and this style allows the flowers to be worn on the side, front or back," Thorne says.
MAKE IT MATTER
While Durham says she wanted the woodland-themed wedding to play upon the season, she also wanted to give couples ideas for incorporating meaningful touches. She added a few of her own personal elements to the staged event. "The pheasant feathers were from one of my husband's hunts in North Dakota," she says.
Although the welcome table used some pieces from Sawtooth, such as antique leather books, Thorne says it's appropriate to incorporate family heirlooms in your event.
She also suggests customized wedding gifts. She designed pheasant cufflinks and earrings and had them made by Barbara Birdsong of Auburn's Perch Jewelry Studio. The earrings were presented in a glass jewelry box, while the groom's cufflinks were packaged in a masculine leather box.
Bridal party gifts can also serve a purpose. Light blue cashmere throws from Restoration Hardware, coordinating with the wedding attire, were tied around bridesmaids' chairs, giving them something to cuddle up in later in the evening as temperatures dropped. It's also a piece they're sure to use long after the wedding day.
Wolf says what ultimately gives a wedding–or any event for that matter–the rustic yet elegant vibe so many desire are those personal touches that make guests feel at home, whether at a lodge for a wedding or nestled around a bonfire in the backyard.
"Gone are the days of burlap, lace, and mason jars," she says. "Rustic elegance is the process of combining something that is naturally beautiful with timeless and detailed touches."
QUICK TIPS FOR YOUR FALL FESTIVITIES
Be it a wedding or a family feast, our stylists offer these tips for your fall festivities:
1. Look for logistics as well as scenery. Make sure there are restrooms, power sources, and an adequate kitchen for caterers. "While many private residences can provide a beautiful backdrop around this part of the country, keep in mind you may need to source every last rental item, including, but not limited to tenting, tables, chairs, a stage and dance floor, catering equipment ... " Wolf says.
2. Give the fans their fix. Whether you're a fan or not, chances are many of your guests may be passionate (to say the least) about football. Don't let this prevent them from attending your fall event. Wolf advises setting up "viewing areas" for those who want to celebrate with you on game day. "We set up TVs, lounge furniture, and bars to accommodate a crowd away from the dance floor," she says.
3. Bring the indoors outside and vice versa. For example, Smith draped an Oushak rug from her home design collection on the altar for the fall-inspired wedding shoot. A hide-skin rug topped one table, and leather books from Sawtooth decorated the entry table.
4. Become a forager. Step outside and get your fall decor directly from the source — nature. Collect pine cones, acorns, branches, and more from right outside to give your decorations an organic fall feel.
5. When picking your tableware, look for hand-thrown pottery in shades of the season. Horn or metal handle utensils and service pieces add to the rustic setting.
