How to Create a Seasonal Fall Menu

When we think of fall and food a few key words come to mind: rustic, savory, and warmth. The arrival of fall is a change of the season and rhythms. It is a transformation of many things, from the changes of the weather, to the transformations that occur in nature. As the leaves change from green to red, orange, or yellow, or taste buds anticipate fall. For caterers, falls signals many changes with produce and ingredients that are found at the market. The market offers many ingredients that are not found in other seasons or that have been waiting for an opportunity to shine. Autumn foods and catering are rich flavors, often farm to table, and play off the season. Fall is often tied in with food, from football Sunday appetizers, to Thanksgiving tables, fall is about food and celebrating. So, why should your wedding day be any different? 

Creating a fall reception menu should begin at what the season has to offer. We recommend that you sit down with caterers and select a caterer who’s values align to yours. This could mean finding ingredients that are locally sourced, or exploring organic options. Whatever your core wants with a caterer are, being the hunt there. Then, once you’ve found a caterer that aligns with your wants and needs, it’s time to talk fall. 

As you create your fall menu, start from the top to bottom. You want all aspects of your food to be cohesive. If you’re serving an appetizer at cocktail hour, work to create a cohesive menu from start to finish. You definitely don’t want to serve your guests food that doesn't align to your overall theme, and season. If you’re planning to serve a salad, ask your caterer to explore warm salads, such as potato leek. You can serve your fresh greens with a warm balsamic vinaigrette that has hints of maple or bourbon. Or, you can opt for a pumpkin or squash soup instead of a salad.

At the dinner hour, some of our favorites to see on the table are green brussel sprouts, root vegetables that are fresh from the garden, and all the herbs. I don’t know about you, but when I think of fall I think of the richness of flavors. Autumn flavors are savory. They are savory due to all the fresh herbs and spices. Select items for your main courses that feature bold herbs such as a braised chicken, or a warm roast or bourguignon. Do not be afraid to add rich flavors with spices and create dishes that will warm your guests in all the right ways. One of our favorite dishes to see at fall weddings is risotto. Risotto is the perfect, creamy, savory addition to any fall menu. 

Now, for dessert… Now even if you don’t plan on having a dessert table, you can still incorporate fall into your dessert. Ask your baker for fall flavors in your cake such as pumpkin spice, spice cake, vanilla bean, or chocolate. If you’re craving a dessert table or larger spread, explore all the options that dessert can offer. We’re talking about pies, cupcakes, or even s’mores. 

Your seasonal menu can make one final stop at your bar. Meet with your bartender to curate the perfect fall menu. Add hints of cinnamon, select savory choices like a whiskey or bourbon, and offer some hot drinks as well. Your guests are sure to have the full fall experience at your wedding. 

Now, we can’t finish a post about fall catering menus, without sharing a few of our favorites. So, here’s our TOP favorites from weddings in the past.

Appetizers: 

• Filo tarts filled with cheese and veggies

• Bacon wrapped dates

• Berry or apple brie bites

• Potato Bar or a sweet potato crisp

Dinner: 

• Grilled chicken, or cornish hen with fresh herbs 

• Pork Chops with a maple peach glaze 

• Roasted pork loin with apple slices

• Wild rice

• Root vegetables roasted or as a puree

• Mushroom risotto 

• Butternut squash in any form 

Dessert: 

• Mini hand pies 

• Caramel apple bar 

• S’mores

• Spiced cake

• Carrot cake 

• Pumpkin cheese cake

…& MORE. The options are endless, but when it comes to planning your perfect fall menu, think of what experience you want your guests to leave with. With a fall wedding, leave your guests feeling cozy, warm, and full of goodness. 

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Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Seattle Wedding Planner with over 19 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.

How to Execute the Perfect Fall Wedding

Fall - can you believe that fall is around the corner? Fall is known for its crisp air and the season that directly follows summer. In the pacific northwest, the temperatures can drop and the air becomes brisk. Fall is the perfect time for a wedding. It’s the start of football season, it’s a time to incorporate seasonal decor, and it’s the start of the holiday seasons. With fall comes many pros and cons to hosting your nuptials during this season. 

We love fall weddings for the: 

• Change in seasons and foliage 

• Seasonal blooms and decorative accents 

• Lower temperatures 

• Color pallets and seasonally inspire decor

One other perk for fall weddings, is depending on where you are located in the world, fall may not be a desired season – whether the temperature lows or lack of daily, fall may mean that rates are lower for vendors. 

With the arrival of fall, there are some disadvantages to selecting the season:

• With fall comes less daylight - bye daylight savings 

• Calendar conflicts 

• Weather may be unpredictable 

Even if the majority of your wedding guests are Cougar or Huskie fans with the occasional football Saturday, hosting your wedding in the fall can be absolutely breathtaking. So, let’s explore all the ways to execute the perfect fall wedding. 

#01: Choose your Timeline Wisely
As we say goodbye to daylight savings, you will need to consider your wedding timeline and align it with the right time of day. You will want to coordinate with your photographer about the predicted sunset to obtain the fall, golden hour photos, and plan on holding your ceremony slightly earlier in the day. We recommend 3PM or 4PM if you plan on saying “I do” before the sunsets. If you’re shooting for an evening wedding, 5PM or 6PM will be the perfect ambience for your evening fall wedding. 

#02: Explore the Autumn Color Palette
The BEST thing about fall are the colors. We’re all about coppers, burgundies, creams, dark blues, jewel tones, neturals, and of course - GLITTER. Fill your fall theme with warm tones that play on the beauty of fall. You’ll want to stay away from pastels or summer hues and embrace the coziness of fall. 

#03: Make the Season Work with You 
Fall has an abundance of seasonal items that can be opportunities for seasonal decor. We highly recommend buying what is in season, whether visiting the farmers market or local farm, utilize what is in season to keep your costs lower. We love the idea of farm to table and reducing waste. You can incorporate what is in season with seasonal decor, such as dahlias, sunflowers, pumpkins, and more. You can even work with your caterer to create a cozy dinner menu complete with vegetables that are in season such as turnips, squash and sweet potatoes. Or, you can even offer seasonal soup - such as butternut squash or chowder to keep your guests warm. And, let’s not forget about the seasonal fruit! Not only are fruit an excellent, vibrant menu addition but it can be a colorful decor. 

#04: Say Yes to Seasonal Blooms 
With the beauty of fall comes seasonal blooms. Over the decade, we’ve had so many brides use what nature has to offer. This includes picking up some bouquet from the local farmers market, like the beautiful Pike’s Place Market. Take a stroll down the market in the seasons and you’ll see vibrant and rich blooms fill the space. (This is seriously our favorite time to visit the market). You can find dahlias in deep, rich reds and oranges, garden roses in cream hues, and anemones with their gorgeous black centers. Don’t forget sunflowers – they are sure to brighten up any bouquet. So, don’t skip the autumn foliage. Say yes to what’s in season and make them a part of your bouquets and arrangement. Seasonal blooms are not only gorgeous but affordable. 

#05: Make it a Fall Affair 
At the end of the day, make it a fall affair. Don’t be afraid to bring autumn right to your guests. Fall flavors are so delicious, and it’s the perfect accent to add to your wedding day. Send your guests away with in season fruit, candied apples, fair donuts, scones, or even mini pies. Add an interactive fireplace with a s’mores station to set the mood. 

So if you’re planning a fall affair, don’t skip on the fall vibes. Plan according to the weather and time, use the autumn resources around you and make it a fall affair. You have the opportunity to give your guests a fall affair, so don’t skimp on it. Let fall seep through all the facets of your wedding day. Have fun and don’t forget to love fall. 

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Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Seattle Wedding Planner with over 19 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.

PNW Color Palettes You’ll Love

We are a proud company from the Pacific Northwest. We were created in the PNW and we are lucky enough to call it our home. There is SO much beauty the PNW has to offer and there is nowhere in the world quite like it. From the lush landscape of our rainforests, to the crisp cool air on the Snoqualmie pass. This location has so much to offer our clients. And depending on the season you choose to tie the knot in, there are so many options for theme and color palettes. We’ve selected some of our favorite places as inspiration to bring you four curated color palettes for any PNW bride or groom. So, grab yourself a cup of Pike’s Place Brew and let’s take a tour of this place we call home. 

PIKE’S PLACE MARKET

Our first stop is Pike’s Place Market. The market will forever be one of our favorite spaces. From the lively crowds, beautiful blooms, and creative arts – this place is truly one of a kind.

Our color inspiration that comes from the market can be summed up into one word: vibrance. The market is full of vibrance. No matter what time of day you arrive, or whether you’re there for a quick trip or all day, you’ll experience vibrant colors, food, and places. 

MOUNT RAINIER

On a clear day, you’ll be able to see majestic Mount Rainier. Mount Rainier is absolutely stunning and we still are in awe of its beauty year round. Whether it is covered in snow, or full of wildflowers just in time for a hike, it’s always on our list as one of our top favorite places in the PNW. 

This location is serene and majestic. Even though we often forget that it is a dormant volcano, our community sure does love this place. The colors we’ve selected to represent this magical place represent the beauty it has to offer and a piece of serenity. 

RAINFORESTS AND FORESTS

One of our favorite locations to visit or coordinate in are our temperate rainforests or dense forests.. Rainforests make up a large part of our peninsula and Washington is home to the beautiful Olympic National Park. One of our most memorable weddings was nestled in a dense forest in Kitsap. 

Whether you choose to hold your wedding at a venue in the lush landscape, or just want to incorporate some colors from these locations, its natural beauty will sure shine. 

VIEW FROM QUEEN ANNE

Whenever we have guests that are new to the PNW, we always have to take a tour of the city. One of my favorite spots is this outlook that truly shows off what Seattle has to offer. It’s nestled in the heart of Queen Anne and the views are stunning. It shows off the beauty of Seattle, from the sound, to the sounds of the bustling city. 

The skyline of Seattle is breathtaking and the colors in our last palette represent the modern and diverse culture that Seattle has to offer. This is perfect for our city, modern brides, who want their wedding day to truly dazzle. 

The PNW has evolved over the decades, but there is one thing that stays the same - its beauty. From the downtown skyline at night, to the lush forests. We love the PNW and the communities that it fosters. We’ve had the pleasure of serving this community in the wedding industry for over a decade. It inspires us and our couples on a daily basis. We hope you found some inspiration in our beautiful home, too! 

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Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Seattle Wedding Planner with over 18 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.