A Cornucopia of Choices for Fall Wedding Dresses

For some reason, there is something about a fall wedding that lends a sense of playfulness to the entire affair. This is not to say that fall weddings cannot be elegant, as they most certainly can and often are, just that the almost sensual lushness of the color palette for fall wedding creates many opportunities for trying something new. Fall weddings are perhaps the most likely ones for brides to try out a gown in a less traditional cut, color, or style. 

One example of this is the current preponderance of dresses which include vividly colored sash or trim to set off the paleness of the gown itself. It is no coincidence that the most popular color by far for these colored trims is a vibrant apple red, creating a gown with a trim that is beautiful enough to compete with the changing fall foliage. There are many other styles of dresses which are, while not exclusive to fall weddings, seem to fit fall weddings better than any other type of wedding.

One aspect of fall wedding gowns which is significantly different that that of other types of wedding gowns is the level of detail and intricacy. While some brides certainly do opt for a sleek style in order to counterbalance the overall lushness of the colors and textures of a fall themed wedding, many other brides find that this precise lushness allows for dresses whose complexity would be overwhelming at a standard spring or summer wedding. One such type of gown is the fishtail gown, where the dress follows sleek lines throughout the body and then blossoms out into a full skirt at a point just below the knees. 

As previously mentioned, brides who choose fall weddings often opt for dresses in cream or ivory tones, and it is not uncommon to see dresses which are accented in rich chocolates, reds, teals, and even oranges. These accents can be an integrated part of the dress itself, or can be a removable accent such as a ribbon or a sash. The long trailing lines of ribbons and sashes, as well as less well defined skirt hems, can be a beautiful aspect of a fall wedding gown, as long as it is not overdone. Additionally, brides often choose these rich colors, or jewel tones such as amethyst, sapphire, emerald, or ruby, for their bridesmaid’s dresses. These gorgeous colors are a breath of fresh air next to the much more common pastel pink, sky blue, and sea foam green that are so often used on bridesmaids, and work much better for fall as they avoid washing out any bridesmaids who have lost their summer tan. 

The abundance of beautiful colors and textures of a typical fall wedding also lends itself well to intricate details such as crystals and beading, as well as textures which would overwhelm a bride in a quieter, simpler reception setting. Some brides opt for crystals and beading in a clear color or a color which matches their dress, in order to avoid total overkill. Other brides use the beading on their dresses to add the splash of color that they desire for their gown, often choosing turquoise and dark wooden beads on the bodice or another small area of their gown to add contrast. Another extremely popular option for is to use flowers as the decoration or source of accent color on the wedding gown. 

The flowers chosen to be represented on a wedding gown for a fall wedding are not the pale daisies and delicate calla lilies which are so prominent at weddings taking place during other times of the year, but bold, robust flowers. Some brides have rich red roses embroidered or appliquéd on their cream satin dresses, whereas others have fuller, three dimensional silk or satin flowers which are placed carefully at the hip or neckline of the dress, or across one shoulder. Such large flowers can make a very bold statement, and should be used carefully as accents to avoid having the bride look like she is drowning in a sea of flowers. The beautiful thing about fall weddings is that the options are so truly wide open that every bride can have the wedding of her dreams.