Sustainable Autumnal Wedding Decoration Ideas

The Great Barn is set on 250 acres of mixed arable and woodland. Holding your wedding in a barn means that going down the sustainable, natural decoration route can beautifully highlight the 2 foot thick stone walls and exposed beams, as well as being environmentally friendly. Autumn in the UK produces some great produce and lush foliage that can be used to create beautiful, natural decorations for the venue. We have come up with some sustainable autumnal wedding decoration ideas to incorporate into your barn wedding.

Dried florals and fronds

Dried florals and fronds create a rustic, earthy look which lends itself perfectly to the barn setting. The richer tones of dried foliage also compliments the autumnal light and natural colour palette of the season. Additional perks of choosing dried over fresh blooms is that you won’t have to worry about them dying throughout the day; plus, you will be able to keep your arrangements or give them as wedding keepsakes as they are bound to last longer.

Natural materials: wood & feathers

Using natural materials such as wood and feathers can add extra dimension to your wedding decor. These materials work particularly well for table decorations; for example, wood slices can be used as pillars to elevate your floral arrangements and candles, whilst feathers can be added into floral arrangements, table settings and even boutonnières’. Other natural seasonal materials to add to your wedding decorations are seed heads and berries.

Fresh fruit

Autumn is the harvest season so there is no better time to incorporate fresh fruit in a number of different ways. Tablescapes can incorporate in-season autumn fruits such as figs, plums, apples and pears, or you can opt for a ‘naked’ cake topped with figs and blackberries. Seasonal fruits could be the star of your place settings to really highlight a venue’s natural setting.

Pumpkins

Although pumpkins can be a seasonal cliché, when used subtly alongside gourds, foliage and candles, pumpkins can help to create some stunning decorative pieces. As mentioned above, using wood slices and creating different heights for these elements can bring the wow factor. Using different shapes, sizes and colours can add to the rustic, seasonal feel of your wedding decorations.

Bunting

Bunting is a gorgeous, rustic wedding decoration which looks fabulous strung up around the barn. Bunting is a great sustainable decoration option as you can reuse it after your big day. Whether you are creating your own with old pieces of fabric or buying cotton bunting, the beauty is that you can use it for anniversary celebrations or parties and you will have a great memory of your special day.

Flower arches

A floral arch is arguably one of the main focal points of a wedding, if you choose to have one. Creating a floral wedding arch using seasonal flowers and greenery is a stunning decorative piece for the barn, or can be used to frame your ceremony. Creating a floral arch as a couple is also a fun activity to do prior to the wedding, and you could even include foliage from your garden alongside florals from your florist to add an extra personal touch.

DIY leaf place settings

Place settings add charm to your wedding table. If you want to keep your table decoration, using leaves as place settings is a great option for you. Ask your florist for some foliage with decent sized leaves and buy some metallic permanent paint marker pens and you’re almost ready to go. Simply pluck off the leaves, make sure they lie flat on a table and you’re ready to start writing your guests names on their placeholder. We think that gold markers look the best against the green leaves.