The sounds of fall weddings: cha-ching

Fall wedding season is upon us. Before you know it, the air will cool down and the leaves will start changing, which is why it’s a picturesque time of year to tie the knot. If you’ll be watching a friend or loved one exchange vows soon, I have a few ideas for rocking a fall wedding in style, and without spending much.

Attire

Fall is the best time to pull the jewel tones out of the back of your closet. Deep navy blues, ruby reds and forest or olive greens are perfect. If you’re bringing a date, keep it simple and coordinate with a matching tie.

That’s usually the only thing I purchase. They’re cheap and as a guest, there’s no need to buy a new outfit. I simply repurpose and layer something I already have.

Even though the weather is cooler, you’ll still feel warm if there’s a crowd or you decide to hit the dance floor. That’s why I always tote along an easily removable shawl for cool evenings, and extra sandals for dancing.

Gifts

I suggest that you stick to the registry. If the couple registered, it’s because there’s a long list of things they need to create their home. That said, I look for opportunities to get a little creative with the registry items.

For example, assemble requested serve ware and cooking utensils into a “your first holiday” package. This could be a turkey pan, baster, seasoning kit, etc. They will be able to use it in just a few months! This makes your gift extra thoughtful, but also gives the newlyweds something useful they already want.

Create an experience

A trend for traveling wedding guests is to turn the occasion into a mini vacation. Often times, the wedding hosts will provide a list of recommended hotels, attractions and restaurants for out-of-town guests.

I like to extend that same idea to weddings right here at home. Take advantage of lodging and other discounts offered by the wedding party to plan a staycation.

An overnight stay at a hotel with sitters can go a long way toward your enjoyment of the festivities, and you don’t have to worry about driving around late at night.

Take it from me, I’ve attended my fair share of weddings, and you can’t go wrong with any of these ideas. If you can celebrate those you love, have fun and save money in the process, that’s a win/win/win.

This story was originally published September 5, 2017 at 3:45 PM with the headline "The sounds of fall weddings: cha-ching."