The Best October Wedding Colors

Light fixtures hanging above a wooden table with burgundy taper candles, glassware, flowers, and chairs — Photo by Stetten Wilson

Though most people associate wedding season with the summertime, in recent years October has emerged as one of the most popular months of the year to say "I do." It makes sense why couples continuously compete for weekend wedding dates during this glorious month: For one, most regions across the United States begin to experience brisk, clear weather during October, making it an ideal time to host outdoor festivities. Plus, this is the time when treetops everywhere transform into a medley of vibrant tones, creating a picturesque backdrop for ceremonies and receptions. And last but certainly not least, there's a cozy, festive atmosphere associated with this month, which helps reinforce the jovial mood at your party.

The brilliant hues seen outdoors during October often inform couples’ color palettes. Bright orange, deep red, and golden yellow hues match the seasonal foliage and look striking when painted across a wedding venue, while dark green mirrors the rolling hills of a vineyard. Regardless of where you plan to tie the knot, timeless color combinations like black and white will always work for an October wedding. If you’re at a loss for which shades to implement into your October soirée, planner Heather Balliet of Amorology suggests using your color palette to produce a feeling. “Does it evoke warmth, comfort, and coziness?” she poses. “If so, you’ve found a colorway that lends itself to the season and invites all of the intimacy that autumn months have to offer.” While it’s always important to keep the month in mind, Balliet also recommends exploring unexpected pairings that will make your big day one of a kind.

Meet the Expert

Heather Balliet is the lead planner, owner, and designer of Amorology, a full-service wedding planning company in San Diego.
Jung Lee is an event architect and founder of Fête, Jung Lee NY, and Slowdance.
Matilda Reuter Engle is a proprietor of Glenstone Gardens and The Red Fox Inn & Tavern in Middleburg, Virginia.

Planning an October wedding and need to choose your color palette? We're here to help. We asked wedding industry professionals to share the best color combinations that channel the season. Whether you’re getting married on a farm in Connecticut or a ranch in Oregon, here are the best color combinations to use when designing your October nuptials.

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Burgundy

Most regions in New England, the Pacific Northwest, and the Blue Ridge Mountains reach their peak fall color by the middle of October. If you’re tying the knot at any of the aforementioned places the first two weeks of the month, lean into the natural hues from the environment—especially bold red shades, like burgundy. Not only will this red-purplish shade coordinate with the season, but it will also imbue your affair with romance, according to wedding planner Jung Lee. Since burgundy is a bold color, it works best when paired with neutral hues, such as tan and gold, or complementary colors, like pink and red.

To start, permeate your attire with the dramatic shade. Brides can take their outfits to the next level with a pair of burgundy shoes or ruby jewelry; grooms can pair their ensembles with ties or pocket squares in the rich tone. Dressing your bridesmaids in burgundy gowns or your groomsmen in burgundy suits will also incorporate an electric wash of color. For the décor, Lee encourages you to adorn your space in ample burgundy-colored flowers and leaves. Add burgundy zinnias, dahlias, and oak leaves to your bridal bouquet, aisle arrangements, and centerpieces, for instance.

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Forest Green

emerald green wedding welcome sign and unplugged wedding signage — Photo by Pharris Photos + Films

Regardless of whether or not your venue’s trees have started to change colors, forest green is a suitable hue for October nuptials. Incorporating this deep shade into your palette is perfect for weddings with more of a botanical aesthetic, especially if your event is taking place in a garden or vineyard. Plus, forest green symbolizes growth, renewal, and balance, which makes the color a significant choice for a celebration of marriage. A combination of forest green and white is a strong design choice, but you can also add other autumnal hues, like gold and yellow, or jewel tones, like navy and plum.

There are plenty of ways to bring this dark hue to your big day. Again, attire is one of the best ways to make this green tone come to life, according to Lee. Go bold by wearing a forest green wedding dress or suit, or have your wedding party sport the shade. In terms of your decorations, greenery is a natural way to enact forest green. Carry a handheld arrangement of ferns and eucalyptus, trade vows in front of a greenery-clad arch, or line the center of each table with a garland of greens. From your welcome sign to your seating chart, stationing signage in forest green throughout your wedding will also add a pop to your affair.

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Black and White

Black and white is a classic pairing that couples can utilize all year long, but our experts agree that it makes a stunning background for an October wedding. It doesn’t matter when in the month you're getting hitched, either: It can be used at any time. Plus, this timeless palette is ideal for any aesthetic, whether you lean traditional, modern, or minimalist, and works just as well at a rooftop venue as it does in a warehouse or tented event space.

It's easy to add black and white tones to your wedding attire. The simplest route? A white wedding dress beside a black tuxedo or suit will look sharp and sophisticated, as will white floor-length gowns for your bridesmaids and black ensembles for your groomsmen, according to proprietor Matilda Reuter Engle of Glenstone Gardens and The Red Fox Inn & Tavern. You can also apply this pairing to your tablescape, whether it’s a black charger layered with white plates, linens, and flowers or white taper candles scattered across a black table with ghost chairs.

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Silver and White

place setting with white plates and a silver rim and silverware with white linens and flowers — Photo by Amanda Donaho

Like black and white, silver and white is another timeless color palette, but it elicits more of a glamorous feel. According to Engle, this twosome will exude “modern elegance” at any affair in October. Swanky ballrooms are a natural fit for this opulent pairing, but you can also use the hues to animate a blank canvas, such as a tent or backyard. Since silver represents prosperity and good fortune, using this hue in your wedding will welcome good energy into your marriage.

To introduce guests to your color scheme, design invitations on white cardstock with silver calligraphy. For your big day, Engle suggests sporting a wedding dress with silver embroidery and accessorizing with silver jewelry. The bulk of your décor will probably feature white, like your flowers and linens. Then, add silver accents through candle holders, vases, chargers, and utensils, Engle says.

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Pumpkin, Rose, Camel, Amber, and Persimmon

A hanging installation with tan light fixtures and colorful flowers and greenery over a table with taper candles and centerpieces in matching hues — Photo by Dear Lovers

If you’re looking for a robust color palette for your October wedding, Balliet suggests leaning on pumpkin, rose, camel, amber, and persimmon. These shades are deep saturated hues that simply scream fall, and they evoke warmth, positivity, and enthusiasm, according to the planner. Since these colors are strong and vibrant, they’ll make more of an impact in venues with clean, simple canvases.

At your ceremony, embellish your aisle and altar with seasonal flowers in pumpkin, rose, amber, and persimmon tones, and incorporate the camel color through rattan lanterns and tan chairs. For your reception, create a tablescape with rose taper candles, napkins, and glassware beneath a hanging installation of greenery, camel-colored light fixtures, and blooms in pumpkin, rose, amber, and persimmon.

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Caramel, Bone, Chocolate, Chestnut, and Mauve

A wooden banquet table with tan velvet chairs, mauve taper candles, and colorful floral centerpieces — Photo by Hello Blue

Caramel, bone, chocolate, chestnut, and mauve is a neutral color palette that grasps the warmth and richness of October. These earthy hues will complement any outdoor venue, from barns and ranches to vineyards and botanical gardens. This group of shades will fill your wedding with stability, honesty, comfort, and appreciation, according to Balliet.

Since these colors are subdued, you can rely on texture (like velvet, wood, silk, and wood) and patterns (such as tweed and plaid) as the focal point. For instance, have your bridesmaids wear satin gowns in caramel and your groomsmen don plaid ties in chocolate and bone. At your reception, tuck velvet chestnut chairs into wooden banquet tables. If you want to throw more eye-catching colors into the mix, arrange centerpieces with peach, orange, and yellow florals, which will complement the more organic hues.

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