There’s a crisp, fresh chill in the air. The tree-lined streets are ablaze with red and yellow leaves. And across the country, Canadians are unboxing their scarves and sweaters for another gorgeous autumn.
While summer gets the lion’s share of attention from wedding planners and couples, fall can be an evocative choice for a marriage celebration. Venues are often (slightly) less busy in the fall months, and guests’ busy schedules tend to be more flexible.
If you’re planning a fall wedding in Canada, lean into it. Make autumn – with all its beauty, indoor warmth and coziness – an integrated feature in your wedding celebration. Here’s how.
Choose an Elegant, Collaborative, Easy-Going Venue
When planning a fall wedding, you’ll start where all wedding planning starts – with choosing the perfect venue.
For fall, you want something elegant yet modern – an indoor venue that you can decorate for the season, but with enough inherent character of its own. Importantly, the venue staff should take a collaborative approach to designing and planning the space, encouraging you to speak your mind about décor and proceedings. Lastly, the venue should make the event planning process comfortable and casual; work can be busy in the fall, so you want a venue that won’t exact too much of your time.
For a terrific example here in Canada, check out Le Treport banquet hall in Mississauga, a modern yet characterful venue with a highly experienced staff.
Work with the Venue Team to Decorate for Fall
Once you’ve chosen a venue, you can turn your attention toward decorating. Again, here’s where a collaborative venue comes in handy. Work with the event space staff to ideate and actualize your vision of the perfect autumn celebration.
Ideally, you’ll strike a balance between “classic wedding” décor and fall panache. You don’t want to go too over-the-top with fall decorations (i.e., no cornucopias and pumpkins). A few fall-forward table arrangements with foliage and branches, as well as rustic runners and table accents, should be enough to pay homage to the season.
Serve an Autumn-Inspired Menu
Whereas summer was all about bright flavours and leafy salads, autumn is a time for rich dishes, deep flavours and stick-to-your-ribs fare. A fall wedding menu should be comfortable, featuring long-braised dishes, roasts and hearty fall produce.
Work with your venue’s in-house catering to devise a fall menu. If you want an Italian flair on your menu, consider wine-braised short ribs, gooey polenta and rosemary roasted chicken. If you’re after something more traditionally western, consider a roast beef carving station, caramelized brussels sprouts and butter-basted carrots.
Arrange for Photographs in the Park
Fall in Canada is gorgeous. And while it’s certainly too chilly for outdoor festivities, that shouldn’t stop you from snapping some photos in the great outdoors.
Coordinate with your photographer on nearby locations. Parks and forest trails are great locations for wedding photos; if you go sometime in the mid-afternoon, you can typically beat the morning and evening crowds. For instance, if you’re planning a wedding in Mississauga, head to Centennial Park, Etobicoke Valley Park or even Port Credit to catch some autumnal photos between the ceremony and reception.
Craft the Perfect Fall Cocktail
As a final nod to fall, put a seasonally inspired cocktail on your menu. The possibilities are endless: Apple Manhattans, cranberry sangrias, Amaro mulled cider. Consult this list of fall cocktails to get inspired, then coordinate with your wedding venue to figure out service (i.e., will you do “punchbowl service” for cocktails or incorporate it in your regular bartending service).
With an elegant venue, an autumnal dinner menu, a photo shoot in the park, and a seasonal cocktail, you can make the most of your fall wedding.
