Wedding photography blog

Fall is on its way here and we could not be more thrilled! There is a plethora of benefits to getting married in the fall. There is the gorgeous foliage, the frequently temperate weather, seasonally-inspired decor, and possible off-season discounts to take advantage of. It is the perfect time to tie the knot! Here are Grand Lens Photography's 5 fall wedding tips to consider while planning your special day!

​Autumn is known for being a bit brisker than the preceding summer months.  However, depending on where you live, you may experience weather that is warmer than normal. In the U.S., average autumn temperatures range from 72° in sunny Florida to a chilly 27° in Alaska. In New York, October is the ideal time of year to have an outdoor wedding. This time of year is not too hot or too cold. Whatever your wedding date may be, it is always a safe idea to keep an eye on weather predictions and inform your guests if they should bring a sweater, jacket, etc. Also, if your autumn wedding is going to be outdoors, have a contingency plan in place just in case it rains or if winter decides to arrive early. It is rather difficult to get swept up in the wedding magic while you're freezing, so you may want to consider providing heaters, blankets, or umbrellas if there's a chance the weather is going to be unruly. 

If you prefer a deeper and darker color scheme for the day, then fall is your season. Do a Google image search for "Fall Weddings" and you will notice an abundance of deep reds, oranges, and browns. Although this color palette mimics the changing of the leaves and provides natural warmth to any style of décor, do not be limited by the "fall foliage" feel. For a stronger modernized fall color palette, consider using gold or copper for extra glitz and glam, deep plum, and emerald green for elegance or neutral shades like champagne, cream, and slate grey. Nature and the color scheme will accent and complement each other remarkably well. Take advantage of fall's natural beauty by incorporating fall specific nature aspects into your big day. Consider using items like twigs, leaves, apples, fruits, cranberries, or even pine cones in your table centerpieces and bouquets. These things not only drive home the fall theme but also add loads of color and texture for little to no money! Who doesn't want to save money? 

​Another reason to love fall is it is the start of the holiday season! From Halloween to Thanksgiving, there is no shortage of reasons to celebrate during this time of year. Black Friday and Cyber Monday do not count as holidays. Sorry. Whether you host your wedding on a holiday weekend is up to you, but in general, it is a beneficial plan to steer clear of major holidays, such as Thanksgiving. With that said, it could be fun to have your wedding on Veteran's Day weekend when some of your guests may have the following Monday off work. Fall is also the start of football season, with NFL games on Sundays and college football on Saturdays. If you have a diehard Bills fan in your wedding party, they may be largely disappointed if your big day was the same day as the big game. 

When you purchase what is in season, you get food and flowers at the peak of their supply when costs are normally lower. Furthermore, when they are locally grown, they do not need to be shipped halfway around the world. Not only do you save money, you also reduce your carbon footprint, which is a win-win. The prominent trend in fall wedding food is comfort food -- Both sweet and savory. We have noticed that caterers become moderately creative with fall wedding menus. You can begin dinner with a creamy soup in a hollowed-out mini pumpkin. A harvest salad featuring roasted butternut squash, dried cranberries, and goat cheese would present an excellent next course. There have been full-on Thanksgivingesque wedding buffets with all the fixings such as turkey and stuffing with mashed potatoes and gravy. For dessert, you may want to consider a hot cocoa or coffee bar with cinnamon-sugar doughnuts, mulled apple cider with cinnamon stick stirrers, or a dessert table with seasonal fruit pies.

​Unlike the transition of the leaves, the sun remains forever predictable. Since the sun sets earlier in the fall, you will probably need to push forward all of your wedding events. For example, you may need to arrange your 5:30 PM ceremony to 4:30 PM instead.  Your day will start earlier, as well as your reception. Check with your photographer on what would be the best time to do a "golden hour" photo session since that will also likely be earlier than normal. If you are not keeping track of it, you could miss out on precious golden hour minutes. You can simply check on the internet to find out what time the sun will set and that should provide you with the information you need to keep the darkness from sneaking up on you.

Fall weddings have continued to pick up steam and autumn can officially be crowned ruler of the four seasons for weddings. Whether you are seeking lower rates or cooler weather, maybe everyone has finally had enough of wiping away their perspiration during the wedding vows, couples are planning for October and November to tie the knot. So prepare your social media feeds for tons of wedding photos with beautiful foliage in the background.

While we are extreme fanatics for first looks during a wedding day, we understand that some couples prefer to wait until the altar to see each other.  Nevertheless, there are various ways to connect pre-ceremony without having to break tradition!  There are a couple of reasons you might want to consider one of these first look alternatives.  First, your wedding day goes by faster than you can say “I do,” so any time you are able to spend alone becomes exceptionally cherished.  An alternative to a first look gives you the opportunity to take a deep breath and enjoy each other’s company, even if you are not seeing one another’s face. 

The second reason is in regards to your wedding photos.  Arranging a first look provides your photographer with a chance to capture more portraits of you together without interrupting a definite wedding day timeline.  Whether you decide to do a standard first look or one of these first look alternatives, those photos will truly become several of your all-time favorites due to the intimacy, emotion, and excitement you will come to appreciate every time you view them!  Without further ado, here are 3 of Grand Lens Photography's "first look" alternatives.

​A first look does not have to be with your soon-to-be spouse.  You can avoid “bad luck” and the superstition of the groom seeing the bride in her dress before the ceremony by allowing someone else to see you first in all of your bridal glory.  Some of the usual touching moments occur when a parent sees his or her daughter (or son, for that matter) in their wedding apparel for the first time.  You could also surprise a grandparent or your siblings, too— whomever you feel close to that you would like a little time with before the ceremony.

​You and your fiancé can be alone together without actually seeing each other.   One popular way to do this is to hold hands through a doorway, around walls, bookcases, shelves, or other corner spaces, or even around a staircase (depending on its design).  This is mainly nice for more religious or spiritual brides and grooms who want to share a moment of prayer together preceding the ceremony.  A similar way would be to be back to back.  You are standing back to back with each other rather than having a type of partition between you.  This involves strategic planning ahead of time.

​There are a few ways to navigate this first look alternative.  One possible scenario is that the groom’s buddies blindfold him and the bridesmaids bring him to the bride.   Another possible scenario is, the bride and groom are both blindfolded and brought to each other beforehand, wearing their getting-ready clothes other than their formal wear.  Do a test run with the blindfold you plan to use to ensure it is thick enough so you can't sneak a peek through the fabric—that would completely ruin the anticipation, surprise, and enjoyment of the moment, not to mention bring bad luck (if you believe in the superstition, of course).

​Planning a wedding is no simple or swift task.  It is full of numerous details and decisions.  One thing to remember is, this is your day.  It is the day you marry your best friend.  Your family and close friends will witness your two lives coming together to make the ultimate promise to one another.  Be sure to create a day that is a resemblance of the both of you as a couple.  Design it differently.  Make it unique but most importantly, ensure that you determine the day that is true and special to you.