COLOUR INSPO FOR YOUR AUTUMN WEDDING FLOWERS
- Fi Passey
- Oct 2
- 5 min read
WHY I LOVE AUTUMN WEDDINGS
I simply love autumn! The back to school-new-pencil-case feeling, getting out warm socks and cosy jumpers, cooking vats of stews and crumbles, picking the last fruits from the garden and hedgerow - all part of my lifelong love affair with this season of the year. And it's a simply brilliant time of year to get married in the Cotswolds as the soft sunlight catches the honey stone of the walls and casts sublime shadows across the harvested fields. It's a tapestry of ochres, toffees and tobacco hues as the farmers prepare to sow the spring barley.
With so many gorgeous barn venues, autumn really is the pick of the year for a Cotswolds barn wedding so I thought I'd share one of my all time favourite places and floral colour stories to inspire brides and grooms to be planning their 2026 or 2027 autumn wedding.
STONE BARN NEAR CHELTENHAM
Set in rolling farmland, Stone Barn, part of the Cripps & Co stable of wedding venues, is a bucolic setting for your autumnal celebration. The barn has cosy fireplaces and lots of twinkling fairy lights to create ambience and the views from the reception space out across the harvested fields are magical. We've created weddings at Stone Barn in every season but this one has a special place in my heart.
A VENUE FOR YOUR AUTUMN WEDDING
American bride Colleen and fiancé Barry worked with wedding planner Gemma Elizabeth to plan their dream day. Colleen and her bridesmaids spent the morning getting ready in the elegant surroundings of Barnsley House, now The Pig in the Cotswolds. The make artist and hair stylist were the incredible double act of Katy Phieffer and Andrea Luella Hair. These two are simply the best - book them super early - at least 18 ahead of your wedding to secure them.
The tonal velvet bridesmaids dresses captured the elegant yet relaxed vibe of the day - and I blended the four colours into the bridal bouquet and the four bridesmaids bouquets. The designs were a rich textured recipe with dahlias, roses, berries and rudbeckia in shades of warm orange, ivory, dusky pinks,, apricots and golds. The stems were finished in pale peach silk ribbons that floated on the breeze.
BRIDAL BOUQUET FOR AUTUMN
GROOM AND GROOMSWOMAN FLORALS
The groom wore a teal suit and the boutonnières were an informal design of peach spray roses with fountain grass, eucalyptus and berry accents. The Groomswoman wore a floral wrist corsage with her rich blue velvet dress.
Wrist corsages are an excellent option for a Groomsman - more comfortable and stylish to wear than a buttonhole on a dress. We make these on silk ribbons with an intricate design of fresh flowers, grasses and foliage.
STONE BARN CEREMONY FLORALS FOR AUTUMN
The large vaulted main room at Stone Barn, with its iconic Cotswolds stone walls, makes a charming and dramatically rustic backdrop for an autumnal wedding celebration, especially with the comforting fire crackling in the massive fireplace.
The simple wooden chairs formed a natural aisle leading up to the large wooden table where the registrar conducted the ceremony. To anchor this vast space, we designed rich, grounded meadows overflowing with vibrant autumnal flowers and textural foliage along the aisle. These organic arrangements featured masses of Roses and Dahlias in ivory, rust, and copper, complemented by the trailing drama of Copper Beech leaves and delicate plumes of dried grasses. This asymmetrical, abundant design brought a luxurious sense of colour and texture directly onto the stone floor, echoing the fiery hues of the surrounding Cotswolds landscape.
After the ceremony, our team efficiently moved these stunning aisle meadows to form a magnificent, continuous floral frame for the front edge of the long wooden top table, seamlessly extending the ceremony’s autumnal beauty into the dinner reception.
On the wooden ceremony table itself, a low, opulent floral arrangement rested on a textural, scrunchy fabric runner in a warm terracotta hue. This design served as the intimate feature for the ceremony, blending muted peach roses, gold berries and intricate seed pods. This deliberate use of seasonal blooms and natural, rustic elements is key to achieving that perfect rustic-luxe Cotswolds barn wedding aesthetic, ensuring the setting felt both grand and wonderfully cozy.
FLORAL CHANDELIER SHOWSTOPPER
The showstopper feature of Stone Barn is the giant wreath ring that hangs from the central ceiling. We created a huge floral chandelier, full of coral amaranthus flowers trailing down and deep with roses and seasonal flowers in every shade of autumn. The wreath ring is a big factor in the appeal of Stone Barn, and clients love to make it the centrepiece of their ceremony flowers, enjoying dancing under the florals late into the night.
AUTUMN RECEPTION FLOWERS AND STYLING
After canapes in the gardens with views across the Cotswolds countryside, the couple enjoyed a feasting wedding breakfast in the adjacent barn. With a long top table set up in front of the mezzanine, the key styling details were terracotta runners and low floral compote bowl designs together with lots of candles. On the central pillars, we added swags of fresh foliage to dress the space and bring colour and freshness.
The guest tables were dressed with a combination of high floral designs on gold stands and low compote bowl florals. More fabric runners added a softness to the rustic wooden tables and cross back oak chairs. The candles were a mix of dusky pinks, pale greens and ochres to blend seamlessly with the floral styling and tableware from the Luxe Collection. Each guest had a personalised place setting from Paper Mill Calligraphy with wax embossed details together with a casually knotted napkin from the Knotted Napkin Company.
AUTUMN WEDDING CAKE INSPIRATION
The wedding cake was exceptional - created by baker Very Vanilla - it featured fresh figs, blackberries, mini apples, caramel drips and fresh flowers. It really was a stand-out piece and I can only imagine how it tasted!
As a final personal rouch, marshmallows and smores were served for guests to toast around the firepit as the night drew in and party began.
HOW TO PLAN YOUR PERFECT AUTUMN WEDDING
This whole wedding was skilfully designed by Gemma Elizabeth and pulled together a great team of suppliers who all bought in 100% to the vision of luxe rustic autumn for this delightful couple.In summary, for couples planning a rustic-luxe autumn wedding in the Cotswolds in 2026 or 2027, the key takeaways from this Stone Barn celebration are:
1. Embrace the Vibe: Leverage the venue's natural elements—the honey-coloured stone, harvested field views, and cozy fireplace—to create a magical, atmospheric backdrop.
2. Invest in Seasonal Texture: Opt for a rich floral palette featuring dahlias, roses, berries, and airy grasses, focusing on colours like toffee, dusky pinks and apricot.
3. Maximise Your Florals: Utilise grounded aisle meadows that can be cleverly repurposed as a stunning top table frame.
4. Create High-Impact Features: Commission a floral chandelierfor the venue's central feature (like Stone Barn's wreath ring) and use low compote bowl designs and abundant candlesfor guest tables to maintain a cozy yet luxurious feel.
5. Book Early: Essential suppliers like your wedding planner, florist and highly sought-after hair/makeup artists should be secured at least 18 months in advance to guarantee your dream team.
The team:
Planning by Weddings by Gemma Elizabeth
Photography by Honeydew Moments
Floristry by Corky and Prince
Tableware by The Luxe Collection
Knotted Napkin from the Knotted Napkin Company
Hair by Andrea Luella
MUA by Katy Phieffer
Venue at Stone Barn near Cheltenham
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