Not a pastel in sight.
May through September may be peak wedding season, but October is actually the most popular month to get married. We suspect that's not just because venues and caterers are cheaper in the off-season or the weather's less temperamental. It's because autumn is one of the most beautiful times of year for a special celebration. After you book a wedding venue, the next step is to nail down a color palette to help guide all of your other decor decisions, from invitations to party favors. If you prefer jewel tones to pastels and soft metallics, you set the right date. Fall wedding colors can have a richness and depth that's more difficult to pull off at other times of year.
With the abundance of vibrant hues in nature, fall wedding colors are often inspired by the season itself—but you don't have to stick to the autumn theme. If you're a fall bride, you don't have to feel limited by the seasonal color palette. Instead, think of it as a built-in color wheel. The most popular fall wedding colors include burgundy, gold, and forest green. You start seeing more wine reds and rusty oranges in later fall, into October and November. Many brides choose classic pairings like navy, gray, or plum to round out their fall wedding colors.
Your wedding color palette will inform everything about your wedding and reception, including the table settings and the flowers in your bouquets and arrangements. Choosing wedding colors you love makes planning all of these details easier. To help you find your signature combination, we're highlighting 16 of the best fall wedding colors to consider making a part of your big day.
1
White
Using white as a fall wedding color lets the venue, scenery, and natural color palette shine. This works especially well in an outdoor venue or one with an abundance of natural light and greenery.
2
Navy
For a late-fall wedding (late October through November), embrace the changing of the seasons by adding wintry navy touches to tan and orange foliage.
3
Lilac
Balance fall's warm hues with a splash of dusty purple. Lilac complements mostly pink and red florals without stealing the show.
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4
Gold
Brighten traditional wedding colors like white and green with some metallic flair. Gold adds classic glamour and drama to your big day. Metal accents also can help reflect light around smaller or darker venues.
5
Burgundy
Warmer than wine but not as purple as plum, burgundy is a great fall "neutral." Pair it with orange and yellow for a fully autumnal moment, or contrast it with green and blue for a seasonless palette.
6
Pink
Brighten up the fall foliage and scenery with a pop of pink. It creates a beautiful tonal moment when combined with red and orange leaves, and it adds some feminine flair to your decor.
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7
Caramel
Before you immediately say no to the idea of a brown bouquet, just look at how gorgeous its rich hues can be. Though it's obvious for a boho wedding, it's chic for a more traditional one too.
See more at Wedding Chicks.
More: The 10 Most Gorgeous Wedding Bouquets Of All Time
8
Wine
A vibrant wine-colored bouquet will really pop against your white dress. For contrast, add light pinks, creams, or even orange.
See more at 100 Layer Cake.
9
Wood Tones
Keep colors neutral—think whites and creams—and let reclaimed wood pieces stand out. They're perfectly rustic for an outdoor wedding and can easily be glammed up with tulle or satin accents.
See more at 100 Layer Cake.
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10
Forest Green
All the earthy tones for fall, please! This includes wood finishes, browns, and plenty of sage greens. Go light on flowers, but don't skimp on the greenery.
See more at 100 Layer Cake.
11
Golden Yellow
Channel the changing leaves with yellow flowers. To accent your centerpiece, add yellow glasses to your table as well.
See more at Style Me Pretty.
12
Burnt Sienna
Burnt sienna is not what you'd typically think of when you think of fall wedding colors, but it actually looks stunning next to classic whites. Add in some gold touches to make it feel more celebratory.
See more at 100 Layer Cake.
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13
Orange
Orange isn't going to turn your wedding into a Jack Skellington–inspired soirée. It can actually be chic and rustic when used sparingly—just look at these candles. Bright pinks, reds, and purples make the perfect contrast.
See more at 100 Layer Cake.
14
Mulberry
If you don't want rich berry tones taking over your wedding color palette, add it in pops. This single bloom on top of a white and gold cake draws attention without overpowering the intricate design.
See more at Wedding Chicks.
15
Terracotta
This clay hue is how you do pink as a fall wedding color. It pairs especially well with soft greens and creams, as seen here.
See more at 100 Layer Cake.
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16
Red & Orange
They're fall classics for a reason. Not only will your look complement the changing leaves, but if you add in some greenery you'll have the earthy wedding color palette of your dreams.
See more at 100 Layer Cake.
