pics - Kasimira
As the daylight hours are shrinking and the streets are turning golden brown beneath our feet – we’re feeling inspired. If, like many other newly-engageds, you’re eschewing the over-done, over-priced summer wedding and opting for an autumnal ceremony, you’ll be taking tips from Mother Nature as we speak. To avoid some time-consuming PVA glue disasters we’ve turned to high-end wedding planners Kasimira for a dab hand’s take on embracing the season. Here’s their top 10 tips:
1. Plunder Nature's Bounty (above)
Autumn is harvest time so plan a seasonal menu and make the most of glorious local produce. Think apples, blackberries, squashes and figs, along with the first oysters since April, truffles wild mushrooms and venison. These ingredients will make your wedding breakfast sing with colour and flavour.
2. Get Inventive With Your Bouquet
pics - Kasimira
Get into the spirit of Autumn by using herbs and fruits to scent the scene instead of traditional flowers. Sprigs of fresh thyme or wild berry clippings make excellent decorations, and you can add these elements to your bouquet to continue the theme - or even add to a head garland for bridesmaids.
3. Seasonal Placecards
pics - Kasimira
Our favourite examples of autumnal decor include writing names on slate in chic calligraphy, or using wood, twigs, leaves and pinecones to present names.
4. Leaves, leaves, leaves.
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The quintessential autumn image, leaves can be used in just about any setting to create atmosphere – on a budget. Think about spray painting them in shades of gold, use in place of traditional confetti, scatter them down the aisle, or wrap leaves around tea lights. There’s no end to what you can use them for and they won’t cost a penny.
5. Fabulous Fruit
pics - Kasimira
Amp up your centerpieces by lining vases with layers of sliced seasonal fruit before filling with flowers. Oranges look fabulous at this time of year, so either use them whole or cut into slices. Another gorgeous idea is to make apple tea lights – just core the fruit and replace each void with a tea light, before suspending in water for charming, rustic detail.
6. Goodie Bags
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Personalised printed bags are both useful and a beautiful memento of your day. Use them to present favours for guests or sling them over chairs for an unusual take on place settings.
7. Get Cosy
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You never know what autumnal weather will bring, but it always gets cold at night. As the temperature drops, remember to offer guest something to keep them warm. Pashminas make pretty favours or just scatter throws and blankets around your chill out areas.
8. Choose Your Font Wisely
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Don’t overlook the details of your day. Even tiny touches like ensuring the font of your invites and placecards is in line with the theme will help bring the look together. We love this soft, artistic calligraphy for autumn.
9. Ace of Cakes
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Before you opt for the classic wedding cake, have a think about the other options. How about a pyramid of mini meringues and edible flowers, a stack of eclairs or profiteroles with scented cream fillings and lashings of salted caramel sauce? Or forgo sugar altogether and try a pie tower or a stack of your favourite cheeses.
10. Bespoke Cocktails
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Have some fun with seasonal themed cocktails. This delicious take on a Bramble has been designed by Sam, owner of The Rum Runner, especially for Grazia Daily:
50ml Gin
25ml Lemon
1/2 Fresh Fig
2 sprig Fresh Thyme
Small Squeeze Runny Honey
*shake these first 5 ingredients and finish with:
10ml float Creme de Mure (blackberry liqueur)
The glass should be served from a whisky tumbler with crushed ice.