Picturesque Fall Wedding Venue Ideas

Nothing says fall wedding quite like a rustic barn in the countryside. Think apple orchards, pumpkin patches, and the glorious colors of fall trees. Play up the rustic charm of a barn wedding with lots of natural decorations. Use hollowed out gourds and pumpkins as centerpiece vessels. Graceful stalks of wheat bundled with satin ribbon make simple but elegant decorations for guest book tables. The bride can wear a dress with a texture that suits the rustic flavor of a barn wedding, such as a slubby silk dupioni gown with handmade wedding jewelry. It is sure to be a wedding that captures all the beauty of autumn perfectly.

An historic inn is another great idea for a fall wedding venue. A charming country inn is a romantic spot to host a wedding ceremony and reception. Look for an inn with lots of personality, such as wide graceful porches, Adirondack chairs on the lawn, and colorful gardens. Line the porch steps with baskets of seasonal mums for a splash of color. Greet your guests with mulled cider, and serve an elegant meal of fresh fall foods like pumpkin risotto and butternut squash. Best of all, the country inn will make a wonderful place to honeymoon.

How about a fall wedding on the side of a mountain? This is a fantastic idea for an early autumn wedding before it gets too cold in the higher elevations. Pick an overlook with a sweeping view of the valley below for the ceremony. The photos will be truly breathtaking. It may get a bit chilly, so in addition to her gorgeous gown and handmade wedding jewelry, the bride will definitely want a cozy wrap for the reception. Plan the wedding to take place when the fall foliage will be at its peak to take advantage of the best that nature has to offer in the autumn. The location will be so stunning that you will need minimal decorations.

Another very picturesque site for an autumn wedding celebration is a vineyard. How beautiful to host a wedding surrounded by lush grapevines full of the fall harvest. Let your celebration include one of the special autumn vintages made by the vineyard. Long family style tables work beautifully for this rustic-chic location. You don’t have to head to Napa or Sonoma for a marvelous vineyard wedding, either. Many states have their own wine-growing regions, with little vineyards which would make ideal wedding venues.

Wedding Sites With Meaning

When you are seeking the perfect site for your wedding, begin by looking back in time. Did you grow up attending church with your family every Sunday? Even if it not the most convenient location, what could be more meaningful than exchanging your marriage vows in your family’s church? The nice thing about using your family’s house of worship for your wedding ceremony is that it will not only be special for you, but for your entire family.

What about planning a destination wedding to your favorite childhood vacation spot? Did you go to the same lake in Michigan every summer or rent the same rustic old cabin in Vermont each winter? If so, plan to have your wedding in that locale. It is nice to have a destination wedding in a location that is not just appealing in a general sense, but meaningful to you specifically. You will also have a built-in special place to return to on your wedding anniversary each year. And just think, one day when you have kids of your own, you can continue tradition by vacationing with them each year in the place where you were married.

In some families, there is a club that has been a long standing part of their lives. If you grew up spending weekends playing golf or tennis at the local country club, it would be an ideal choice for your wedding. You will be very comfortable having your reception in such familiar surroundings. The classic style of a country club wedding goes well with other wedding classics, like a band playing Frank Sinatra and pearl bridal jewelry. If the pearl bridal jewelry belongs to your mother, it can also count as your “something borrowed”, which is a nice perk.

Many brides and grooms have places which hold special memories and meaning. Perhaps your fiance proposed to you in a beautiful park overlooking a lazy river. Why not celebrate your union by having your wedding there? If there is a favorite restaurant that you have cherished as your best spot for romantic dates, see if they will host your reception. (If it turns out that they cannot accommodate your guest list, maybe they could at least provide catering for your reception somewhere else.) It can be really fun to introduce your family and friends to the places that are meaningful to you and your fiance. By selecting a wedding site that is full of special memories and meaning, you will make your wedding more personal and heartfelt.

How Real Brides Save on Their Weddings

Take a look at these ideas that real brides have used to save money on their weddings…

Trim the Guest List: You do not have to invite your second cousin or your old college roommate whom you never see anymore. Even if they had you at their weddings, you are not obligated to invite distant relations or casual acquaintances to yours. The absolute best way to trim your wedding costs is to be ruthless about cutting down the guest list. You will save thousands on food, decorating the tables, invitations, favors, and more. Not only that, but the people who you do have at your wedding will be the ones who mean the most to you.

Seek Deals Online: Many times you can find significantly lower prices for your wedding essentials at online retailers. This is especially true when buying items which are specifically designed for weddings, like many favors, bridesmaid jewelry gifts, unity candles, and decorations. Bridal stores often have large mark ups on all of the little extras that brides need, and it can add up to be quite a large sum. The bridesmaid jewelry gifts which cost $75 each at your bridal salon might go for as much as 60% - 75% less at an online bridal jewelry store, so it really pays to shop around.

Choose Your Venue Wisely: Look at your reception venue selection as a business decision. Before signing on the dotted line, find out the details about what they provide and what they allow you to provide. If you can find a venue which permits you to bring in your own alcohol, you can save thousands of dollars just on that. Venues which include all of the basics like tables, chairs, and linens in their base price will also be far more cost effective than places which require you to rent each piece individually. All of the little ways in which you save money on your reception can really end up being a lot of money left in your pocket at the end of the day.

Fun Public Wedding Venues

There is a trend in weddings these days to get away from the expected and the traditional and instead to have more fun and be creative. A great way to achieve this is by having your wedding at a unique and fun venue, rather than the usual ballroom, club, or hall. These are some great ideas on the festive public places that you can consider for your wedding venue.

When you are having your wedding at a fun and unique place, you should definitely embrace the spirit of your site. For instance, there is no point trying to have a formal reception at a carnival or fair. Instead, get into the swing of it, by offering your guests cotton candy, candy apples, funnel cake, blooming onions, and other fair favorites. You can use your invitations to give your lucky guests a preview of your wedding. Design them to look like the admission ticket for a carnival by substituting your wedding details for the fair information, and blowing them up to a standard invitation size.

The wedding party attire should also fit in with the special venue. The bride can certainly still wear a white wedding gown (expect a massive dry cleaning bill afterwards!), but it should be lighthearted and whimsical, not serious or very traditional. Handcrafted bridal jewelry in pretty colors would make a nice alternative to the classic strand of pearls. You can have your bridal jewelry handcrafted to match the color of your bridesmaid dresses, or even go for a fun tutti-fruity mixture of colored crystals, would which suit a carnival or fair perfectly.

This is the type of wedding where hiring a really talented photographer is key, because you will have the opportunity to get some fantastic shots. Forget about posed group photos, and make your wedding album be all about capturing the enjoyable moments of your wedding reception. Take advantage of the special features of your reception site. For example, a Coney Island wedding would not be complete without some photos of the newlyweds on a wooden rollercoaster. The carnival offers many wonderful photographic backdrops, such as the ferris wheel, carousel, and even the strong man contest (maybe the groom can ring the bell and win a prize for his new bride!)

Your wedding is a time to have fun and celebrate. Choosing a unique and fun public place for your venue is one great idea to make your wedding a memorable and enjoyable time for your guests. As they say, let the good times roll!

Dividing a Venue into Ceremony and Reception

Your wedding is divided into two distinctive parts: the ceremony and the reception. Each half will have its own unique decorations and character, and this is achieved by the design of the spaces. If you have ever watched a wedding show, you know how important the big reveal is. When the guests arrive at your wedding ceremony, this is the first reveal. The grand entrance of the bride in her long white gown, flowing veil, and stunning bridal jewelry is another big moment. This is followed by the first time that the guests see the reception room, and finally by the newlywed’s big entrance, often made more dramatic by a change to a different bridal gown and set of jewelry.

Each of these moments is a highlight of the wedding, which is why it is important to keep the ceremony and reception feeling separate from one another. If your guests can see the reception space as they are sitting for the ceremony, you will lose much of the impact and drama, no matter how fabulous the decorations are at the reception.

There are a few ways in which you can deal with having your entire event in one room. In many cases, large bolts of fabric can be your best ally. It all depends on the layout of your space. When the guests must pass by the dinner tables on their way to the ceremony seating, pretty fabric can be hung to form a hallway and partition off the reception area from view. When the ceremony has concluded, the fabric panels can be moved to close off the seating for that portion of the wedding, creating the feeling of an entirely different space.

It is common in hotels for one ballroom to be used for the entire wedding. This can work quite well if the hotel has a separate area that you can use for your cocktail hour. Some possibilities include porches, atriums, gardens, or adjacent ballrooms. The guests will leave the room after the service, and the staff will quickly turn it over. In other words, the seating for the ceremony is whisked away and the dinner tables are rushed in to take their place. This works best if your table design is fairly easy to set up, as time will be at a premium. The extra effort will all be worth it when your guests get to be wowed, not once, but twice at your wedding.

The Right Reception Venue

There is a lot that goes into choosing the perfect venue for your wedding. It has to be in the right location, fit the size of your guest list and budget, and match your personal style. These are some of the things that you should keep in mind when searching for that ideal site for your wedding.

Before anything else, you need to have a good idea of the size of your guest list. You always want to pick a place that will accommodate your guests, not try to adapt your guest list to fit into the space. You do not want to have to leave anyone important out of your celebration because you booked a reception venue that is too small.

When you are determining if a particular venue and your guest list are a good match, you need to ask some pointed questions. It is not enough to find out what the fire marshall considers the maximum capacity of a room. You will want to take a walk through with the site coordinator and have her show you where you would fit all of the different elements of your reception, such as the band, the cake, and of course all of the dinner tables.

Having a space that is too large for your guest list is also to be avoided. Perhaps you and your fiance have decided to have a wedding for only your closest family and friends. The bride might be wearing a very simple wedding dress and jewelry, maybe without a veil. This type of small affair would feel intimate in a room designed to seat forty guests. On the other hand, if you put those same forty guests into an enormous ballroom, it would feel lonely and desolate. The right sized space is key to creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Because it will really set the tone for your wedding, the reception venue is key. If you keep those tips in mind, you will find it easier to find the ideal spot. When you find that perfect place, you will be able to have the reception of your dreams.

Selecting a Wedding Reception Venue

The place where you decide to host your wedding reception will really set the tone for the event. You want to find a place that is attractive, convenient, competent, and affordable. Finding one venue that meets all of those needs can be a bit challenging. Here are some things to consider when you visit possible reception sites…

The distance between the ceremony and reception sites. 20 minutes would be reasonable; an hour would not.

How many guests can the site accommodate? It is very important to have a realistic idea of your guest count. Even if you can technically cram everyone into a room, will there be enough space for a good flow, or will it feel cramped and overcrowded?

The style of the venue, because it will help determine the style for the wedding as a whole. If you imagine yourself in a satin ball gown with dazzling crystal bridal jewelry, then an elegant setting with chandeliers and rich draperies will be perfect for you. Look at ballrooms in swanky hotels, opera houses, and even art museums.

Obviously, the price is going to be a major factor. What is the facility rental fee? Do they allow you to bring in your own caterer or must you use theirs? Are service fees included in the quote, or are they additional?

The final step in selecting a venue is to make sure that they have a suitable date available. Popular locations will book up one to three years in advance, so it is a good idea to start your search as soon as that engagement ring is on your finger.

Distinctive Wedding Venues

Couples these days are searching for ways to make their weddings feel unique and personal. Each bride and groom has their own style. For some, a classic venue like a hotel or country club suits them perfectly. Other nearlyweds, though, would be much happier with a more singular location for their wedding.

Outdoor locations could include a park, a botanical garden, or an urban rooftop garden. These outdoor locations are certainly beautiful; it is hard to argue with the glory of nature. Each site will have its’ own distinct feeling. A botanical garden will be feminine and lush; a rooftop garden will feel like an urban oasis.

For art lovers, museums and galleries are inspired choices. Museum halls tend to be very large and opulent, so they are ideal for grand weddings with large guest lists. The high ceilings and wide open areas will necessitate that your floral arrangements, wedding cake, and other décor items are equally large and impressive, so keep that in mind when assessing the true cost of such a grand venue.

Galleries are smaller, making them perfect for intimate, sophisticated receptions. The spaces are generally more contemporary, and can be very chic. The bride should choose a wedding gown that suits the location, such as an elegant sheath dress accented with modern bridal jewelry made with Swarovksi crystal cubes.

The best way to select a location for your wedding is to choose a venue that is near and dear to your heart. Having a personal connection to the site will make your wedding even more meaningful and memorable.