Excellent Ideas for an Outdoor Autumn Wedding Reception

When my cousin enlisted my help in planning her autumn wedding reception, I was both honored and elated. When she asked me if it could take place in my oversized backyard, I was a tad shocked, but very intrigued. Soon, the wheels were turning as ideas filled our heads during an intense brainstorming session.

While she had already taken care of the big plans like the tent, tables, and chairs, we focused on developing an imaginative and resourceful strategy to assemble the ultimate garden reception with a detailed autumn theme.

The Centerpieces:

We purchased medium sized white pumpkins from a local nursery and then wrapped green silk ivy around each one. We then place them on burgundy tablecloths and encircled them with sparkling tea light candles.

The Favors:

A table adorned with hearty orange mums greeted guests and presented them with precious favors. Continuing with the fall theme, each guest would take home a nature-inspired memento. Here's how we made them: we found several thick tree branches and cut one inch thick discs from them, measuring approximately three inches in diameter. We then used a wood burning tool to engrave the couple's initials on each one mimicking romantic carvings that you might see on an old park tree. Next, we drilled holes at the top of each disc and tied raffia ribbon through the holes so that the favors could later be used as Christmas ornaments.

The Place Cards:

A large nearby maple tree with golden leaves served duel purposes as a brilliant backdrop for photographs and an extraordinary holder for place cards. We wrapped the tree with thick brown wire and purchased tiny wooden clothespins from a craft store. We then clipped the cards to the wire in alphabetical order all around the lower portion of the tree trunk. Guests could easily pluck their card from the bark and find their table. The tables, in fact, were numbered with tan colored maple leaves cut from thick construction paper.

The Yard: