The fall can be a lovely time to host your wedding ceremony: The air is crisp but not yet cold, the leaves are turning brilliant shades of red, yellow and orange, and people have settled in after returning to school.

Many fall weddings, however, fall into the trap of taking the season painfully literally. In response, you can see lots of pumpkins, orange decor and foliage inspired designs. This can end up making your wedding look more like a neighborhood Halloween party than the beautiful, memorable event it should be.

To avoid some of the more humdrum aspects of fall wedding designs, consider these unique and inspired themes:

Autumn harvest
Rather than skewing toward Halloween with bright oranges and dried leaves, why not soften your color scheme with more earthy tones and wheat and moss centerpieces? Try a theme that is loosely inspired by a Thanksgiving family gathering, emphasizing a harvest bounty – and thus implying that your union will be bountiful as well.

While pumpkins are a traditional part of a harvest spread, don’t feel limited to them. Squash, candles, straw, wheat and sunflowers are all features of the season and will look at home spilling out of cornucopia centerpiece. Wheat, in particular, can give your design a rustic and seasonal chic, while adding decorative sprig to your place settings can be a cost-effective way to bring sophistication. Consider having a customized backdrop for photos placed behind a beautiful ivy frame.

A lovely ivy covered backdrop can be a beautiful reminder of the season.

Back to school

A whimsical and nostalgic design concept that takes advantage of the season, a back to school theme can be accomplished by integrating apples, your favorite books and other school-age accouterments into your decorations. When feeding your guests, try a buffet of sandwiches and finger foods wrapped in wax paper to evoke that “lunch pail” sensation.

Apples can act as table numbers or photo holders, small chalkboards used to designate seating arrangements, and stacks of books tied up with ribbon can be positioned as centerpieces. These chalkboards can also be used to write best wishes and humorous captions for guests to hold up when having their pictures taken in front of the backdrop.

Fall foliage
While this is often a feature of more traditional, less-inspired wedding themes, using the color scheme of fall in unique ways can prove extremely flexible. Rather than just gathering red and orange leaves and leaving them scattered all around, spray paint dried leaves gold or bronze and hang them as DIY mobile, faux chandelier or place them on tables as setting decoration.

Additionally, if you want to use the color scheme of fall without it seeming like you just raked up your yard, try using peachy orange colored flour wreathes or Delilah centerpieces. These flowers evoke the feeling of autumn while still being vibrant and lively since they are in season. The same is true of chrysanthemums and asters.

Furthermore, you can take fall foliage in unexpected ways. Instead of traditional orange pumpkins, try white pumpkins wrapped in berries. Integrate maplewood into your designs. Still, if you are using natural touches in your decorating, be mindful of your guests’ possible allergies.

Your wedding should be a unique expression of your love and joy. Whatever you choose for your theme, Sign Art Etc. can design a beautiful backdrop to ensure that your photos become cherished memories.