I’d love to share with you how to plan your dream fall wedding with the ten steps below from a photographer’s perspective. A little bit about how my favorite shoot ever came together. This fall elopement inspiration shoot was straight out of a dream. We drove up the local San Diego mountains with a rental car full of Witty Rentals, a beautiful ring from Trumpet + Horn, a Rue De Siene dress from The Dress Theory. Our team truly had no idea we would walk into a winter wonderland and epic adventure. We got in a minor car accident, got our truck un-stuck from the mud, survived the chilly temperatures and un-planned snow and created a shoot I will be proud of for years to come. Kate + Brandon are complete naturals in front of the camera and aren’t afraid to be adventurous + intimate even when I got up right in their faces. I was so inspired by Kate’s gorgeous red hair mixed with the bohemian dress. Even more than that, I was inspired by the way they held each other in the cold fog and embraced adventure. This day was one I’ll NEVER forget. Check out my steps below to plan your own dream fall wedding!

1. Donuts, always donuts. Donuts are a great way to treat your guests to something EVERYBODY loves on a budget! They also photograph super well with their bright colors and cute designs.

2. Invest in florals that will make your pictures pop. I recommend hints of fall colors mixed with muted green tones and overflowing blooms. You don’t always have to have florals for every part of your wedding day, you can use the same pieces over and over again. Use your ceremony arch piece to go along your sweetheart table or use your bouquet to re-purpose for table decor. Your bridal bouquet is one of the most photographed pieces throughout your wedding day, so be sure not to skimp on this piece. You can always DIY table florals and florals on other parts of your day!

3. Have a ring box for your photographer so they can make take gorgeous ring shots! You can get ring boxes on both Etsy, or my favorite The Mrs. Box . You can find ring boxes in all different colors, they’re the perfect compliment to a gold or silver engagement ring. 

I love the way that Kate’s face lights up when she looks at Brandon. I’ll forever be inspired by real love stories and faces that melt when they’re in the presence of the love of their life.

4. Re-purpose vintage furniture for your guests to hang out in or for you and your spouse to lounge in for some photos. These gorgeous pieces are from Witty Rentals and provide the perfect backdrop for dreamy couple portraits.

5. Wear a dress with texture/pops of color or sequins like this one. Textures/sequins like the ones on this Rue De Seine dress photograph super well against fall colors and provide dreamy texture against darker backdrops. If you’re on a tight dress budget, there are sites where you can purchase used dresses or be sure to check out trunk shows! The Dress Theory often has trunk shows of my favorite designers. Make sure that your dress moves well too so that any movement between the two of you will be highlighted. Movement in dresses is a photographer’s dream.

6. Don’t be afraid to cuddle! Photos that are up close and intimate are some of my favorites. On cold + foggy fall days, cuddling is a lot easier than in the heat of summer. Feel free to bring your favorite blanket or maybe even a fall coat to cuddle in.

Kind of hard to work when I’m dreaming of The Donut Bar San Diego. Seriously the BIGGEST donuts I’ve ever seen.

7. Plan some time to enjoy your favorite beverage on your wedding day. For this shoot, we wanted to do breakfast so we got some breakfast smoothies from Trader Joe’s. I highly recommend though getting some latte’s from your favorite coffee shop or maybe your favorite cinnamon cocktail!

8. Buy a great fitting suit that you’re able to move around in comfortably and dance on the dance floor in! I’ve seen so many suits that are either WAYYY too tight or too baggy. Baggy/too tight clothes do not photograph well and can quickly make a gorgeous photo look unprofessional. You might want to invest in a great tailor to make sure the suit fits well. Bonus: You can keep the suit for a long time and know it will always give you the best fit!

9. Find a venue that offers open space and gorgeous backdrops for your photos. If your venue doesn’t offer this, you might want to check in with your photographer to see what they recommend. I’d be happy to share with you some of my favorite fall locations in Southern California + beyond!

 

10. Hire a great photographer! If you’re looking for someone to capture your dreamy fall wedding, I’d be so happy to get in touch with you. You can contact me on the link below.

This shoot would not have been possible/cool/anything at all with these epic vendors below:

Venue: Mt. Laguna San Diego

Florist: Gabi of

Dress: Rue De Siene, from the Dress Theory San Diego

Makeup Artist: Ellie Botts

Hair: Elle Botts

Furniture Rentals: Witty Rentals

Table Rentals: Madmade Designs

Ring: Trumpet + Horn 

Ring Box: The Mrs. Box

Donuts: The Donut Bar San Diego 

Smoothies: Trader Joes

Coordination: Brenna Travis/Lillywhite Photography