When the average young girl thinks of a fall wedding, no doubt she usually thinks of a reception decorated with cornucopias, corn stalks, pumpkins, and fallen leaves. So is it any wonder that autumn weddings are less popular than spring and summer weddings where opportunity for variety in wedding themes abounds? Not that there is anything wrong with any of those things. They have their place. But unless that particular young girl loves cornucopias and everything that goes with them she often will choose another season for her wedding.

That's too bad.

It is indeed too bad because the autumn season is full of opportunities for special celebrations for your big day.

Masquerade Ball: The month of October is a natural time to turn your wedding reception into a formal masquerade ball. Create eye masks to be given to your guests as a fun project you can work on with your bridesmaids. Simply buy the basic eye mask at a craft or party store and glue a handle and decorations onto each one and give the masks to your guests as a wedding favor they can enjoy at your reception as well. Play classical music and keep the lights low, controlling the lighting carefully to maintain the illusion.

Halloween Themed Fall Wedding Celebration: Have your guests attend your wedding reception dressed in their favorite costume while you marry dressed as the Farm boy and Princess Buttercup from the movie the Princess Bride. Or maybe you are dressed as Cinderella and your man, Prince Charming - this would allow you the opportunity to integrate a touch of a fairytale wedding into your autumn wedding celebration.

Shrek Themed Fall Wedding Celebration: Ogres live in the swamp where things are dying and decaying. This simple fact makes this an ideal opportunity to have some fun with your autumn wedding reception.

Vineyard Theme: A vineyard is a natural place to host a wedding reception and with the changing of the seasons it becomes a great venue. And while it is usually a more expensive venue, it often needs less in decoration as their facility is often already dressed to impress the public. But even if your wedding reception is hosted in the multipurpose room of a church there is no reason you could not employ a vineyard decor for your wedding. Grape leaves and bunches of fresh grapes make a great alternative to the standard cornucopia while still maintaining the symbolism of gratitude for God's provision.

Barn Theme: Once again, this could be done upscale or downscale. Upscale, even set in an actual barn drapes off-white chiffon or organza fabric from the walls (including covering the doors - tied back of course) and accented with silver or crystal. You could arrive and leave the celebration in a white horse drawn carriage.

Downscale - well that is pretty easy to figure. What a great opportunity to have a harvest hoedown accented with pumpkins and hay bales - or some other version of a western wedding. Perhaps you and your groom could even ride off into the sunset on horseback.

So you see there is no reason that a fall wedding could not be as spectacular as any other wedding. And the very fact that autumn weddings are so over looked gives you an opportunity to mount a wedding celebration that people will be talking about for years to come.