fall wedding colors

While the summer is typically peak wedding season, there's something so romantic and magical about marrying during the fall. From the cooler, milder temperatures to the bountiful produce harvests and rich color palettes, Mother Nature puts on a show in the fall and provides no shortage of wedding inspiration for your own nuptials. If you're planning to have your wedding in September, October, or November, look to the great outdoors for inspiration on your fall wedding colors. Be inspired by blazing reds, fiery oranges, golden yellows, deep greens, rich purples, and pops of metallic, like gold or rose gold. Below, we're sharing some of our favorite color palettes to choose for your fall wedding colors. And, if you're looking for more creative ideas on planning your autumnal celebration, be sure to read our comprehensive Guide to Planning a Fall Wedding.

Top Wedding Colors for Fall 2021

Colors: terra cotta + rust + dusk blue

Venue: desert hotel or private garden

Details: Reminiscent of a sunset in Morocco, this fall wedding color palette mixes earth tones like terra cotta and rust with a dusty, inky blue. Mail guests wedding invitations inspired by Moorish archways and then use the architectural detail to create a striking ceremony backdrop! Consider a trio of arches accented with flowers and dried grasses, all in that sunbaked color palette. Decorate your wedding or reception venue with plenty of Moroccan-style lanterns and candles, and direct guests to their reception seats with individual ceramic tiles, each calligraphed with guests' name and table numbers.

Colors: spruce + olive green + sepia

Shop green wedding invitations ▶︎

Venue: private villa or historic estate

Details: This autumn color palette draws its inspiration from the colors of the Italian countryside. Imaging verdant shades of green like spruce and olive, along with pops of sepia brown for a rustic touch. Incorporate olive branches wherever possible—in the bouquets and boutonnieres, on the dinner napkins at every place setting, and, of course, on your wedding cake. If you're able to dine outdoors, choose darker-toned linen to pop against the natural setting and be sure to string lots and lots of twinkling lights overhead.

Colors: lilac + plum + ivory

Shop purple wedding invitations ▶︎

Venue: farm or garden

Details: It doesn't get more romantic than a fall wedding with a color palette inspired by the lavender fields of Provence. Invite guests to the celebration with a stylish, lavender-hued invitation that hints at the elegant celebration to come. Choose bridesmaid dresses in shades of lilac and dusty blue and order simple bouquets of fragrant fresh lavender for them to carry down the aisle. At the reception, decorate dinner tables with gold flatware and glassware in shades of plum and smoke. And for dessert? A beautiful wedding cake frosted in buttercream and decorated with stems of lavender.

Colors: rosé + merlot

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Venue: winery or vineyard

Details: If you're envisioning a rustic, alfresco setting for your fall wedding, look into nearby wineries and vineyards for your nuptials. Choose fall wedding colors inspired by your vineyard venue like pink rosé and deep merlot. Continue to choose wedding details that complement those hues. Walk down the aisle carrying a bouquet of lush blooms in shades of blush and burgundy, serve your favorite pinot noir during cocktail hour, and add rich color to the dining space with wine-colored table linens.

Colors: burnt sienna + cactus green

Venue: ranch, nature preserve, or private estate

Details: For a fall wedding in the mountains, choose a color palette that reflects the scenery around you. Earth-inspired tones like burnt sienna, taupe, and cactus green complement a natural, arid landscape, and make for memorable fall wedding colors. Carry a sculptural king protea as your bouquet and have your bridesmaids choose their own outfit in a neutral color palette. Line the ceremony aisle with fluffy pampas grass stems, decorate reception tables with potted succulents that guests can bring home at the end of the night, and slice into your wedding cake that's decorated in colors inspired by the sunset.

Colors: ruby red + salmon pink + ivory + gold

Shop red wedding invitations ▶︎

Venue: orchard or barn

Details: This rustic fall wedding color palette is perfect for a relaxed September wedding, surrounded by natural textures and fall colors. Choose bridesmaid dresses in different shades of red and burgundy, and then decorate reception tables with simple yet elegant centerpieces casually arranged in mason jars. And, of course, apples are a must on your menu! Pass out mugs of hot apple cider, decorate your wedding cake with sliced apples with a caramel drizzle, and send guests home with piping-hot cider donuts for the car ride home.

Colors: orange + buttercup yellow + gold + cream

Venue: farmhouse or ballroom

Details: Pumpkins can make unexpectedly elegant wedding decor. Use them to decorate the welcome table and ceremony space or place mini pumpkins at each place setting, paired with the guest's printed place card. Mix in lots of magical candlelight, florals in festive orange tones, and pass out jars of locally harvested honey as a sweet wedding favor.

Colors: eggplant + plum + navy + blush pink

Venue: winery or orchard

Details: Deep plum and berry tones create a romantic and regal wedding look. Picture bouquets with dramatic, dark blooms, elegant candelabras, mugs of spicy mulled wine, and a delicious-looking wedding cake that is simply frosted in buttercream and covered in fresh berries.

Colors: plum + burgundy + carrot + taupe

Venue: winery, mountain resort, or wooded estate

Details: Let nature do the decorating for your fall wedding and choose a venue with a view of the changing autumnal leaves. Round out this fall wedding color palette with burgundy bridesmaid dresses, plum-toned linens for the reception tables, and fallen leaves at every place setting that have been calligraphed with each guest's name.

Colors: slate + taupe + silver

Shop silver wedding invitations ▶︎

Venue: airy event space, lodge, or library

Details: If getting cozy is your favorite part of fall, look to the weather for your wedding inspiration. A neutral palette with a silver lining will make you feel like you’re walking on a cloud. Ask your bridal party to each choose a floor-length dress to wear in different shades of silver, cream, and champagne. Together, all of the bridesmaids will look unique yet perfectly coordinated. Gift your wedding crew with cozy wraps or pashminas for them to wear in case the temperatures dip. Decorate the reception space with loads of candles in glass vases, and then top off the evening with a wedding cake inspired by your favorite thing to wear this time of the year—a cable-knit sweater.

Colors: lavender + blush + rose gold + apricot

Venue: lake house, ballroom, or garden courtyard

Details: We love this dreamy, sunset-inspired color palette for a late-summer/early-fall wedding in September. For your bouquet, choose romantic, lush blooms like garden roses paired with delicate sweet peas, and echo the same fall wedding colors throughout the reception centerpieces and table linens. Keep the flutes of champagne and rosé flowing throughout the night, and cap off the festivities with a roaring bonfire (complete with s'mores, of course!).