Will you be reaping the benefits of an Autumn wedding?
If you’ve just got engaged and you’re now wondering when (in the year) to book your wedding, you’re reading this blog at a good time as I’m about to make the case for an Autumn wedding.
From a photography perspective, there are three great reasons to book an Autumn wedding but of course, it’s not all about the photography so I’ll start with the more practical stuff. Except to say that all the photos in this blog were taken in the Autumn.
It’s easier for you and your guests to keep cool in the Autumn
If you’re apt to warm up when the nerves kick-in, an Autumn wedding could be a great option. On average, the autumn months in the UK are around 7°C cooler than the summer months.
In addition, if you think that a typical wedding dress weighs between 5-7kg, it’s going to be very difficult to stay comfortable if the ambient temperature goes above 25°C.
Mens’ wedding suits are not necessarily heavy but they do tend to be fairly dense in their construction thus also not ideal for high temperatures – with some exceptions of course.
An Autumn wedding may be cheaper
I say maybe because it really depends on when in the season you want to book your wedding. September to mid-October will probably be the same price as the summer but late October to the end of November could be a good time to start negotiating.
Greater availability of venues and other wedding suppliers
It’s probably true to say that this point is not mutually exclusive from the last; you will generally find more venues and wedding suppliers with availability for an Autumn wedding than you will for a summer one. Although as above, availability is likely to increase towards the end of the season.
So those were the non-photographic reasons for having an Autumn wedding and here’s why it’s also great for your wedding photography.
Richer, more vibrant and colourful wedding photographs
Any wedding venue with gardens and trees – unless they’re all evergreen – will bring the beautiful red, orange and yellow tones of autumn to your wedding photography during the day and crisp blue and pink skies at sunset.
Soft, warm flattering light all day long
During the Autumn months the sun’s elevation is closer to the horizon, providing ideal conditions for photography; that loosely translates into soft flattering light throughout your wedding day which means those portraits will be a knock-out.
Night photos without stretching the budget
Because the days are getting shorter at this time of year, an Autumn wedding can give everything from bridal prep through to sunset, first dance and night portraits without pushing the budget.
Great places to get married in the Autumn
Here are three of my favourite venues for an Autumn wedding:
Cosener’s House in Abingdon Oxfordshire
Cosener’s House is a beautiful 19th century hotel situated next to the River Thames in the centre of Abingdon. Built on the site of a medieval abbey, Cosener’s House is surrounded by lush secluded gardens and stunning ancient trees.
The venue is licenced for civil ceremonies with up to 150 wedding guests.
Hedsor House in Taplow, Buckinghamshire
Hedsor House is a magnificent Georgian country house next to the River Thames in Taplow in Buckinghamshire. This luxurious wedding venue sits in 100 acres of parkland featuring historic oak, beech, cedar and wellingtonia trees.
The venue is licenced for civil ceremonies with up to 150 guests; it can also accommodate up to 20 guests for an overnight stay.
Sheepdrove Organic Farm in Lambourn, Berkshire
Sheepdrove Organic Farm is a carbon neutral wedding venue in Lambourn Berkshire. Surrounded by two thousand acres of organic farmland, the grounds of Sheepdrove farm include many rare and exotic trees and plants, providing glorious year-round vistas for anyone getting married at the venue.
Couples hiring the farm have exclusive use of the venue, which can accommodate up to 150 wedding guests.
If you’d like more information on booking my photography services for your Autumn wedding, please use this link to check my availability for your date.
For more examples of my wedding photography, please visit my wedding gallery