From pumpkin spice and cool temperatures to crunchy leaves and Halloween, there are a lot of things to love about the fall season. That is probably why more and more happy couples are choosing to say ‘I do’ in September, October, and November. At Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel, we’re gearing up for some beautiful fall weddings! Many of our wedding couples have told us they want to incorporate some seasonal flair into the wedding, without going over their budget. Weddings can be expensive…we totally get it. Choosing where to splurge, and where to cut back can be tricky! Luckily, there are many creative ways to save some money on various parts of your wedding so that you can make your budget go farther and allocate more money toward the pieces of your wedding that mean the most to you! Maybe you have the perfect venue in mind, but need to spend less on centerpieces to make it work. Or you’ve got the wedding dress of your dreams pinned to your Pinterest board, but need to cut back elsewhere to get it. Here are some of our favorite low-cost wedding ideas for autumn weddings that you’re sure to “fall” in love with.
Centerpieces & Decor
Detailed wedding centerpieces and decor can quickly add up in cost, while oftentimes going unnoticed and unappreciated by guests. To save money on centerpieces for a fall wedding, consider using pumpkins and leaves rather than pricey vases, candles, and floral arrangements.
Pumpkins are generally plentiful and economical during this time of year, and faux pumpkins can easily be made with inexpensive materials like styrofoam, wire, and felt. Add a little paint, glitter, and TLC, and pumpkins can match any wedding theme or color scheme. For your centerpieces, try filling hollowed out pumpkins with foliage or just a few of your favorite flowers, or carve it with some hearts or your new monogram. Simple, easy, and elegant!
Fall leaves, nuts, and twigs also make for a simple and beautiful decor for fall. Much like pumpkins, they’re usually found in abundance during autumn and can easily be made using low-cost materials, making them an inexpensive (or even free) wedding decor option. Rather than a pricey aisle runner or buying fresh rose petals, you can scatter leaves down the aisle or along tables instead. You can also write on leaves for seating cards, labels, etc. Real or artificial leaves can work and look beautiful in photographs!
Dessert
Did you know couples often spend between $300 and $700 on a wedding cake? If you don’t have a sweet tooth, a cake may be low on your wedding priority list. That’s OK! If you’d prefer to spend more on the main course or an open bar, fall is the perfect time to cut costs on a cake and still serve up something sweet for your guests. Rather than an expensive wedding cake, try these festive and seasonal options:
- Pumpkin pie, apple crisp, or pumpkin spice bars. They’re likely cheaper than a large decorated cake, but no less delicious. Guests will love the seasonal fall flavors, and you’ll save money at the bakery.
- Halloween candy buffet. Skip the bakery completely and opt for a candy buffet at the reception instead. It’s perfect for the Halloween season, and all you need are a few large bowls or jars and a variety of your favorite Halloween candies. Candy can be purchased in bulk, and you can find gorgeous containers at thrift shops, yard sales, and discount stores.
- Caramel apples. Fall is the best time to buy apples. They’re at their freshest, and lowest price point too! Rather than cake, you could do a build-your-own caramel apple bar with all the fixings for guests, or have packaged ones to send home as a tasty fall wedding favor.
Flowers
On average, couples spend between $700 and $2,500 on flowers for their weddings. If fresh flowers aren’t a must-have at your wedding, they are a great place to cut costs! Get creative with colorful fall leaves, sticks, succulents, and twigs in your floral arrangements instead. Don’t underestimate the beauty of fall foliage! Whether you use all leaves or mix them in with your favorite flowers, fall leaves make for colorful and elegant additions to bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages, and floral headpieces.
Since leaves can be found plentifully in nature this time of year, you may be able to create your own elegant and seasonal arrangements without utilizing a florist at all. Much like pumpkins, you can also use real or artificial leaves depending on your preferences and easily create your own using everyday craft objects. If you do work with a florist, arrangements with leaves, foliage, and sticks are oftentimes less expensive than ones full of flowers.
Photographer
The longer you have your photographer shooting the big day, the higher the price. While you may not want to skip on professional photos completely, you can limit the time they’re there or lower the number of prints you purchase by creating a fall-themed photo booth station. Photo booths are fun for the couple and guests and provide lasting photo memories of the big day at a low cost.
Grab some fun masks, costume pieces, and props at your local thrift shop or discount store for some great fall or Halloween-themed photos. Recruit a friend or family member to man the camera at the station or buy a tripod or selfie stick, and you’re all set! Personal prints are generally pretty budget-friendly, so you can even utilize the photo booth pictures in place of thank you cards, allowing you to cut costs on stationary while sharing the fun photos with family and friends.
Card box
Traditional decorative card boxes can be pricey, and they’re generally not something couples need or want keep after reading the cards inside. Why spend a ton of money on something you’re likely not going to use again? A large hollowed out pumpkin can make for a festive low-cost alternative to wooden or metal card boxes! All you have to do is cut a small slit for cards to go in and decorate the pumpkin as you see fit. We recommend using a craft pumpkin for this to avoid any moisture damaging the cards.
Plan your wedding with Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel
If you’re looking for a magical location for your fall wedding in Anaheim, CA look no further! With a variety of indoor and outdoor wedding venue spaces, our castle-themed hotel makes for the perfect wedding backdrop— no matter what the season!
