Adrienne Rolon | Heart's Content Events and Design

I'm so thrilled to introduce to you Adrienne, my dear friend and wedding planner with Heart's Content Events and Design. She is a wedding planning, floral and event design boutique located in Hampton Roads, Virginia (but always available for travel) dedicated to uplifting marriages and meaningful relationships. I asked her to write a blog for me about planning the perfect fall wedding in Hampton Roads, and she has some amazing venue, floral, and unique suggestions for brides planning weddings in September, October, or November. Read on for some fun ideas!

There’s an amazing feeling in the air…the weather has cooled down, the sweaters have come out, the leaves are beginning to change to gorgeous bold colors, suddenly almost EVERYTHING in stores, and especially coffee shops, have something labeled as “Pumpkin” or “Pumpkin Spice,” and the overall feeling of coziness and relief from the oh so hot and humid Virginia summers. You guessed it! It’s Fall, y’all! And it’s the perfect time for weddings, engagement sessions, and proposals! There’s a reason “Virginia is for Lovers” is the tourism and travel slogan for our great state--it’s nothing short of true! Virginia weather, history, venues, and even the nature around us lends itself to gorgeous weddings all year long, and especially in the Fall! It’s one of my favorite seasons (only second best to Spring), and I’m so excited to chat about my favorite Fall Wedding ideas and details!

There are some really stunning venues in Hampton Roads that really lend themselves well to Fall scenery! It’s always my goal on the designing side of my business to to use the venue and natural scenery provided as inspiration for any details and embellishments used in a wedding. These three venues are only a few of my favorites that are the perfect canvas for any Fall wedding:

· The Hermitage Museum and Gardens is located in Norfolk and is an absolutely stunning venue! The museum holds a valuable piece of Virginia history in that this early 20th century location was once home to William and Florence Sloane and was opened to the public as an art museum in the 1940’s. The museum overlooks the Lafayette River and is surrounded by beautifully curated gardens such as the Rose Garden and East Garden, and even features an almost century-old Magnolia Tree, which is gorgeous year round, even when not in bloom.

· The Williamsburg Winery in Williamsburg is known for their vineyards, delicious wines, and informational tours and wine tastings, but also their gorgeous wedding venues. The courtyard is often used as a ceremony space that looks out to a forest of trees, and truly embraces the nature that surrounds the space. The Wessex Hall has been newly renovated recently and features historic architecture, beautiful wood flooring, and fire places on each side of the room that promotes a warm, cozy and intimate feel for your wedding.

How to Plan a Fall Wedding in Hampton Roads

· The Inn at Warner Hall is a charming plantation located in Gloucester and known for its rich history with the forefathers of the United States! There are several outdoor locations on the property that are beautiful for both ceremony and reception spaces. And the open landscaping beautifully highlights the elegance and coziness of Fall. And don’t even get me started about those lake front views! GORGEOUS!!

These venues and so many others are such stunning backdrops to Fall scenery! But should you desire some embellishment for your Fall wedding, consider these ideas!

· Embrace the leaves. Let’s talk about the Fall leaves in Virginia. So beautiful!! Ask your florist and event designers to add them as a part of your décor. Try sprinkling some on your reception tables. Hire a calligrapher to write your guests’ names’ on each leaf in gold ink and use them as place cards. Maybe you can add them to your centerpieces, boutonnieres, and bouquets. Or how about this…have a bridal bouquet solely of fall leaves! Whatever it is, use them! Those leaves may be dying, but using them in your wedding is a perfect way to liven up the décor and embrace the beautiful change of seasons your wedding day.

· Experiment with bold color and neutrals. Red, burgundy, yellow, orange, purple, and so many other hues of sheer gorgeousness fit so well in Fall Weddings, but are used so often. The lovely thing about the Fall season is that the color palette is so vast that there is always room for new bold colors to use. Pantone’s color of the year, Marsala, is a perfect example of a new bold color that lends itself well for use in all seasons, especially the Fall. Rose Gold is also a different but beautiful color that can be used in your Fall wedding. The subtle hints of pink in this metallic hue really adds a bit of sophistication and softness to the traditional Gold and is a new and unexpected touch to your wedding. Whatever color you use, experiment with different combinations and try something that you haven’t seen very often. There’s enough colors in the Fall palette to make every wedding unique!

· Get cozy. I love sweaters and blankets and getting cozy with my sweet hubby, Josh, and cooler weather in the Fall means I get to do just that! Encourage your wedding guests to do the same! Book a venue with a fireplace that can be lit throughout the night and enjoy dinner by candlelight and the warmth of the fire. Ask your bartender to serve warm libations like Pumpkin Spiked Apple Cider with pumpkin spice, a hint of rum, and garnished with a cinnamon stick. Light a bonfire at the end of the wedding reception and set up a S’mores bar for guests to enjoy. They may get a little cold during the night so gift blankets wrapped in ribbon to each couple with a tag that says something cheeky like “To have and to hold in case you two get cold.” Welcome the cooler weather by encouraging your guests to get up close and personal, thus, promoting a more intimate and cozy feeling throughout your wedding. After all, we have to cuddle for warmth!

I hope you enjoyed a few of my tips and tricks for a beautiful Fall wedding in Hampton Roads! If you’d like a few more tips or need help planning your Fall wedding, feel free to contact me or Maria! Hopefully we can convince you to love Fall just as much as we do. Happy planning everyone!

View more from the Wedding Planning Series:
Planning a Winter Wedding
Planning a Summer Wedding
Planning a Spring Wedding