17 Unique October Wedding Ideas For The Big Day

One way to plan the theme of your wedding is by making it a seasonal affair…Since October is smack-dab in the middle of autumn, it makes sense to choose this month for a seasonal wedding. So what are some October wedding suggestions that are iconic without being unoriginal? Peerspace is one of the best resources wedding planners have and we’d love to share our favorite unique October wedding idea with you! 

1. Fall bouquets and flower decorations

You will want to begin planning an October wedding with the decorations and fall colored flowers are the way to go! Showy dahlia blooms paired with berries on twigs, decorative cabbage, and dried leaves are one suggestion. No matter the exact kind of flowers, leaves, and stems, look for red, gold, purple, and brown, the colors of autumn and October!

2. Have a blazing fire pit

A fire pit is the best place to ward away the chill as guests toast the couple, toast marshmallows, laugh, and dance outdoors. Many rustic and outdoor wedding venues specifically include a fire pit so you don’t have to take the ceremony indoors. Especially if you have a countryside venue where views of the night sky are much more beautiful than you’re used to in the city.

Peerspace has hundreds of wedding venues with a fire pit for an October wedding. For example, this farm wedding venue in Eatonville, WA, has a fire pit, along with a barn, antique furniture, and stunning views of Mount Rainier!

3. Use copper for metal decorations

Polished copper is the color of fall; use copper-colored cups, plates, candlestick holders, and other decorations instead of silver or gold. You can also include copper metallic touches to hair clips, mugs, shot glasses, the color of the ink used on signs, and even picture frames!

4. Add fall produce to the displays

One way to solidify the October theme is by using seasonal produce in the decorations. Cornucopias filled with pumpkins, squash, walnuts, sunflower blossoms, Indian corn, and apples are eye-catching pieces that are also easy to make. You can also place a few bundles of Indian corn, apples, and decorative squash strategically among the tables, entryways, the guest book, and other places where people are going to congregate.

Want to add a spooky vibe to your October nuptials? Then you need to check out these unique Halloween wedding ideas next!

5. Serve pumpkin wedding cake

If we had to choose one flavor as the taste of October it would be pumpkin. So when was the last time you saw a pumpkin-flavored wedding cake? It is a truly unusual October wedding idea that is as delicious as it is eye-catching, being an orange cake, and all. Use cream cheese frosting and have tasty bits like walnuts and raisins included for a truly unforgettable wedding cake!

6. Exit on a hayride

Cuddle up in a big blanket and leave the ceremony on a hayride rather than inside a limousine! It’s way more nostalgic and unique compared to how most weddings end. Plus you can dress up the wagon with fall decorations paired with wedding white ribbons and flowers as a beautiful experience for all to enjoy!

7. Make a seasonal snack bar

Autumn holidays have very specific snacks you can use as inspiration for your upcoming October wedding. The cooling days mean you can turn to warming drinks like hot chocolate and spiced apple cider. Eggnog is another seasonal beverage that you can even add some alcohol to. Cheese wheels, toffee apples, grapes, ham, pecan pie, turkey, pumpkin-flavored everything…There are so many choices to work with here!

8. Use autumn-colored glassware

Orange, red, gold, and tan are the colors of autumn. You can weave them into even the glassware. Serve wine in golden wine glasses and food on apple-red plates. Autumn-colored glassware also makes for a beautiful centerpiece as well. You can leave a few empty or fill them with cut flowers, twigs, produce, and other fall decorations.

9. Have a wedding photoshoot with fall foliage

Do you want to look back on your October wedding and be reminded of the seasonal nature of the occasion? Hire a wedding photographer and head out to have wedding portraits taken among the fall leaves. Most wedding and portrait photographers are going to have plenty of ideas where you can have some solitude amidst the gold and red leaves for memorable pictures. You can even have guests toss leaves instead of rice as you exit the ceremony space!

10. Plan a rustic-style wedding

If there is one wedding theme that perfectly embraces the autumn atmosphere of October, it is the rustic-style wedding. Decorative touches like straw, fall leaves, and autumnal produce are just the beginning. A rustic wedding is also typically held in a barn, loft, vineyard, or other space associated with country living! Rustic wedding venues like this farmhouse in East Windsor, CT, offer rolling pastures, a spacious kitchen, bonfire space, and other amenities for an intimate October celebration!

11. Wooden benches for guests

Here is an October wedding idea that’s sure to immediately impress your guests! Instead of the usual high-backed benches, use rustic wooden benches for the ceremony. These look great in an outdoor space and really play up the rustic charm of an October wedding with fall accents. Guests also feel more connected to Nature, which is important if the outdoors is a central theme of your wedding day!

12. Make a fall foliage arch for your vows

An arch of leaves and flowers is a traditional wedding idea but you can make it October-themed by using foliage of the right colors! Autumn leaves are an eye-catching shade of gold, red, and yellow that provide a backdrop for the ceremony that guests will remember for decades. You can also include autumn produce like decorative gourds and apples!

Check out these autumnal fall party themes to help you plan all aspects of your October wedding!

13. Use a wine or whiskey barrel as a wedding guestbook

You don’t have to use a book as a guestbook…For a truly unique October wedding idea, have a wine or whiskey barrel ready for guests to add well wishes to! You’ll want a paint pen or similar tool to ensure the writing sticks. The top of the wine or whiskey barrel you can remove as a keepsake that looks far more impressive than the usual guestbook! 

14. Serve beer and cider flights

Instead of wine, serve beer or cider flights for an October wedding! While wine is certainly autumnal, it’s not nearly as memorable and unique as these beverages. Local breweries delight in providing weddings with their latest creations. They likely have beers that are made specifically for special events so ask around!

15. Add warming blankets to the seats

Warming blankets are a nice way to welcome guests to the venue. They are also perfect if the wedding is outdoors and the weather is on the chilly side. You can use white monogrammed blankets, red woolen ones, or any other color that best matches the decor scheme. 

16. Have a forest ceremony

You don’t have to hold your wedding inside of a church or even a barn. Take your wedding into the great outdoors and have a forest ceremony. Wedding venues include spaces where there are acres of woodland where it is easy to set up an autumnal arch, some wooden benches, and have a ceremony. You’ll also be surrounded by fall leaves, bird song, perhaps a burbling stream, and the woodland smells of October. It is the perfect October wedding idea for couples in love with the outdoors!  

17. Serve wedding pies instead of cakes

A hot pie with flaky crust and rich filling…What could be better as a unique October wedding idea for the meal table? Pies can be savory as well as sweet so why not make chicken or turkey pot pies as the main course before cherry, pumpkin, pecan, and apple pies are served? Each pie should be serving-size, so hot mini pies are the way to go!

October wedding ideas: conclusion

From fall cornucopias packed with produce to cider flights in front of a roaring fire pit, October wedding ideas come in all manner of styles. We hope you’ve found an idea or three to incorporate into your autumn wedding. And if you haven’t yet seen what else Peerspace has to offer, check out our wedding venues near you for an October wedding with a fire pit, rustic barn, or other amenities!

Find unique event venues perfect for an October wedding on Peerspace