Why Fall is the Underdog for Weddings
Fall? You're talking about fall in San Diego? I know, I know. We don't really "get" seasons in America's Finest City. However, the time of year that the rest of the country experiences, otherwise known as fall, has to be my favorite season. As someone who loves living in San Diego but prefers chillier weather, I'm a bit at odds with how I feel about preferring fall over any other season. However, working many weddings in the last year and a half, I've learned that fall weddings are some of the most beautiful weddings there are. Why?
First, let's talk about the lighting. After the bright, sunny days of summer, where the lighting for your wedding photos can sometimes be a little too harsh, the sun starts to set earlier once that pumpkin-inspired season comes around. The light is glowy, soft, radiant, and lovely. It's a photographer's dream! In addition, the naturally beautiful
light can give you the most beautiful backdrops for your photos. You have deep, rich colors accented by the changing of the leaves. And, okay, I don't mean to get all "sciency," but the earth is tilted in a different position during this time of year, making the sun hit the earth in a completely different way than the summer time. Can you say whimsical?
In addition to the backdrop and setting, fall decor and foliage also makes the atmosphere more magical. Reds and oranges look GREAT next to white, and will definitely make any setting pop. A drop in temperature means a drop of color in your palette. Meaning, those jewel tones, like emerald greens, dark pinks, sunflower yellow, deep amber, or navy blue ALL work together to intensify your harvesty holy matrimony.
Further, a wedding hosted during a cooler time means you can afford to make your whole day "warmer." For the bride and groom, fall weddings mean you can experiment with wearing heavier or thicker materials. Brides can experiment with their style by wearing a long-sleeved dress (a la Kate Middleton), capes, faux fur shrugs, birdcage veils, and multiple layers. You can't do that in the San Diego summer without feeling like you're going to pass out from the heat! For grooms, they can experiment with thicker cardigans and tweed jackets, (heck, any jacket material since you won't feel like you're burning up!).
Finally, fall rushes in that obsession that many people seem to have with pumpkin, cinnamon, apples, nutmeg, etc. If you have your wedding in the fall, you're able to serve warm drinks and holiday-inspired entrees or pies. Spiced rum apple cider, mulled wine, cinnamon horchata, even hot toddies can all be served at whatever time of the reception. And foods and flavors like cranberries, carrots, caramel, parsnips, butterscotch, candied walnuts, ginger, and nutmeg all help intensify your wedding menu. Remember, fall doesn't officially end until December 21, so even though we tend to go a little overboard with the holiday/winter anticipation, you can still serve these fallish drinks at your December wedding!
Oh, maybe one other thing that may help with your decision to have a fall wedding. Living in San Diego also means sharing it with tourists. Once August and September arrive, out-of-state visitors will have returned to their home states, children and young adults will be back and school, which means you won't have to deal with the congestion of some prime San Diego wedding venues and there will be less traffic in any wedding pictures you take.
The pumpkin latte season has been somewhat of an underrated season recently, but fall weddings are becoming the biggest trend right now. What do you think?
