Autumn Weddings IE: Colours, Dresses & Décor Inspiration

Is there a more beautiful time to get married than autumn? We think not. Autumn weddings can be truly magical, with picture-perfect lighting, an abundance of glorious colours and often plenty of lovely weather, too.

Why Autumn Is Perfect for Your IE Wedding

There are also lots of practical reasons to marry at this time of year. A date outside the peak summer months means you won’t be competing with lots of other weddings or your guests’ holidays, suppliers may be less busy and you might even be able to find the odd reduced rate. Also, whatever time of year you marry in the IE, you can never really guarantee the weather. Autumn is no different, but hopefully you won’t need to worry about a heatwave and there’s a good chance it will still be warm enough to spend some of the day outside. Fingers crossed!

So, if that sounds good to you, read on for some top seasonal tips and stunning autumn weddings from our brilliant wed2b brides…

Venue Ideas for Autumn Weddings in the IE

Indoor & Outdoor Flexibility

For autumn weddings, venues needs to be versatile, with options for both indoor and outdoor settings to suit the changeable weather. Cosy interiors are also great for the darker evenings, so you can light candles, switch on the fairy lights or even have a roaring fire.

Rustic Venues & Tree‑Filled Grounds

Rustic barns are the perfect choice and often come with beautiful tree-filled grounds, so you can really appreciate the changing colours. Sarah and Jack’s 17th Century barn venue in Essex, filled with wooden beams and surround by private gardens, was ideal for their October do. 

“I knew someone who went to a wedding there 16 years ago,” says Sarah. “When I saw the pictures online I thought, 'If I get married one day, I want it to be at that venue’ and it was!” They lined the aisle with candles, petals and a few pumpkins to suit the seasonal feel.

Alternatively, Sarah and Gregg’s brightly coloured, quirky venue was also perfect for the time of year. “We married at Kent Life, a farm and wedding venue in Maidstone,” says Sarah. 

“We hired the pink chapel, the wagon store for our wedding breakfast and the village hall for our reception. It was very unique. We had autumn wedding colours, including lots of rich reds and oranges, and we lined the aisle with pumpkins.”

Autumn Wedding Colour Schemes

Classic Reds & Oranges

Well, the obvious choice is the colours of the season, think a mix of deep oranges, rich reds, lush browns and bold greens. But, within this colour palette there are plenty of choices to be made, depending on whether you want to be quirky, classic or add a touch of gothic darkness to your look.

Rebekah and Philip mixed an industrial backdrop with strong reds, oranges and yellows. “Our colour scheme was autumnal oranges and we spent a lot of time making lots of personal touches, including confetti hand-cut from leaves and centrepieces made from covered books with the spine stamped with our names and the wedding date,” says Rebekah. “We also hand picked and dried posies for the tables and various displays, plus there were over 300 baby pumpkins grown by my wonderful father-in-law!”

Annabelle and Charles also went for reds and oranges and added beautiful seasonal scent to their decor, too. “We had both colours for our bridesmaids with orange ties and socks for the groomsmen,” says Annabelle. “Charles wore dark red socks and tie to match my platform heels. I then changed into white and dark red Converse to dance the night away.”

"We also had little velvet pumpkins, log slices, aromatic orange and star anise candles, pine cones, orange slices, clear/brown bottles and foliage, such as eucalyptus and bunny tails.”

Chic Navy & Green Alternatives

However, there’s no need to stick to purely ‘autumnal’ reds and oranges. Lori-Dee and Daniel mixed modern navy with orange and softer peach flowers for their stylish wedding at Normanton Church overlooking Rutland water. “We also had lots of dried floral pampas arrangements with tables dressed in white linen,” says Lori-Dee. 

Alternatively, Chloe and Simon went for striking emerald green bridesmaids dresses and decor, alongside burnt orange floral displays, which were the perfect complement to Chloe's fiery red hair.

Dress & Accessories for Autumn Weddings

Wedding dresses featured: Blakely and Katania by Aaliyah Quinn

Long‑Sleeved & layered wedding dresses

As ever, with a dress you’ve been dreaming about all your life, there are no rules. However, for autumn weddings we love it when brides channel something a bit more gothic and romantic like this showstopping style in midnight black by Aaliyah Quinn. You might also want to consider a design with sleeves, for a little more coverage for the cooler days. Or try adding a faux fur jacket or a cute lace bolero instead.

Katie chose Ellwood, a fitted crepe sheath with full sleeves and a beautiful illusion back. “Our late October wedding meant a long sleeve wedding dress was a must,” she says. “It flattered my body shape, while being classy and comfortable.”

Accessories featured: Juliette veil and Marika sleeves

Accessories (faux fur jacket, detachable sleeves)

However, if you’ve found a sleeveless style you love, that’s no problem. Simply add detachable sleeves and then create a second evening look when you remove them. Also, a full-length veil, decorated with beautiful tumbling leaves and flowers, is the perfect nod to the natural beauty all around you. 

Bridesmaids & Fabrics for Autumn Weddings

Rich jewel tones like purples, greens, rusty reds and deep burnt oranges will all look amazing on your maids. Elegant black is also a winner for this time of year. And, if you can’t choose, why not mix ’n’ match them?

Also, consider different fabrics like our new satin styles, which have a richer, more luxurious seasonal feel to them. Try them with a  matching belt too, for a hint of sparkle.

Bridesmaids dresses featured: Laila and Haven in Deep Burgundy and Reece in Burnt Orange

Flowers & Décor in Autumn

You lucky autumn brides will be spoilt for choice for flowers, with everything from chrysanthemums, dahlias, sunflowers, cosmos and asters in bloom. You can mix in plenty of foliage and other delights too, like berries, dried grasses or scented lavender.

wed2b couple, Olivia and Alex, went for all dried flowers in shades of burgundy and dusty pink to complement their rustic barn setting. Michelle and James also had burgundy and blush flowers with plenty of winter berries and foliage.

Food & Cake Ideas for Autumn Weddings

Warm drinks like mulled cider or wine will go down a treat if the weather’s cooling down. For the wedding breakfast, hearty roasts, pies and extras like baked brie with plenty of fresh bread for dipping, are also great. "We had pie and mash for our wedding breakfast with wine from our favourite small Italian winemaker,” says Polly. For sweet treats, Michelle and James gave guests smores while Rebekah and Philip served sweets in pumpkin-shaped containers.

For the evening do, why not serve cones of fish ’n’ chips or slices of wood-fired pizza, followed by toffee apples or toasted marshmallows? A DIY whisky bar will also help to keep everyone feeling toasty. For entertainment, you could even set up apple bobbing and conkers for the little ones. And, of course, it’s the perfect time of year for that dramatic a sparkler send off!

When it comes to the cake, make the most of the abundant foliage and fruits and berries on offer at this time of year to decorate a simple tiered style. A cake piled high with fruits and berries has a lovely autumnal feel. For something more contemporary, we also love Gina and Elliot's modern burnt orange cake below.

Wrap‑Up: Make it your way

Lastly, there's no one way to have an autumn wedding, as Hannah and Peter's October wedding at Kilchurn Castle, near Oban, shows. “We decided very early on to elope, because we wanted to celebrate just the two of us,” says Hannah.

“Afterwards we spent the day in Glencoe taking the most incredible photos. The colour scheme was very autumnal. We walked a lot, which we love, had a picnic and spent time enjoying each other's company and Glencoe, which is beautiful. Getting the photos back was such a highlight. I really think we have the best wedding photos I've ever seen.”

Extra Tips for an Autumn Wedding Day

• Have umbrellas or shawls ready for guests (they also look cute in photos!).
• Plan your timeline around earlier sunsets – you’ll want photos before it gets dark.
• Use blankets or heaters for outdoor evening drinks.

Discover more real-life autumn brides in our Real Weddings

FAQs: Autumn Wedding Planning in the IE

• What makes autumn a good time to get married?

Venues are often more affordable, suppliers have better availability, and the natural backdrop is stunning.

• What are the best colours for an autumn wedding?

Rich tones like burgundy, burnt orange, forest green and navy always work beautifully.

• How do I choose the right dress for autumn?

Opt for heavier fabrics or long-sleeved designs. Add layers like a shawl or cape to stay warm and stylish.

Ready to Plan Your Perfect Autumn Wedding?

Well, we hope you've been inspired by our autumn weddings. For more great ideas and inspo, check out our brilliant real life brides here. And, if you need advice on what to wear for your autumn wedding, then our bridal experts (both online and instore) really do have the perfect dress (and accessories) to suit any season! Venue Ideas for Autumn Weddings in the IE.

Click here for lots more ideas for autumn weddings from our brilliant real life brides. Also, for more inspiration, check out our Instagram, Facebook or TikTok accounts