Fall's crowning glory--the sunflower--suits equally well a whimsical or more elegant wedding decor, and with the season in full bloom, it's a natural choice for eco-friendly weddings.

Combine sunflowers with other rich autumn hues to create gorgeous floral arrangements, whether it's the bride's bouquet, or the centerpieces.

Images: Orchard Cove Photography

Image: California Organic Flowers

Image: Jonathan Canlas Photography

I am sooo excited about using fresh herbs within the décor at our wedding! I actually have asked a few of the farmers I am interested in working with if they would be willing to rent me whole trees and plants. which I can return to them afterward for future use. Not only would they be such beautiful decor pieces, but they also spread beautiful aromatics throughout a space and will help evoke the feeling Brad and I want to share with our friends and family. Basil, thyme. Rosemary, lavender: I can picture wooden wine crates full of them. Smaller versions on the tables will wind up going home with our guests, I'm sure.  Our caterer has some more great ideas to incorporate food into the decor and I just did an interview on that exact topic. What a great way to be sustainable. 

The stunning brights of summer have now adopted warmer and more golden hues, providing a natural color palette for an elegant fall wedding. In addition to the complex array of tones that autumn provides, it also gives us a versatile accent piece for décor: the apple, signature fruit of the fall. With many lovely, eco-chic options, now is the time to take advantage of fall's favorite harvest. 

Apples mirror the colorful diversity of autumn leaves, so options for wedding décor are unlimited!  Yellow, green and red apples can be combined together, or paired with other colors to make gorgeous centerpieces.

Image: Orchard Cove Photography

Image: Kate Parker Events

We went out to the winery, Wolffer Estate Vineyards, this past weekend. Brad had not been out there since early June, and since we have started scoping out our rentals for the reception, we wanted to take a closer look. We went to Classic Party Rentals to check out their tables, chairs, flat wear, etc. They actually have a whole green line, too. They had everything we will need, and now the hard part will be narrowing it down.

At Wolffer, all the vines were in bloom as the crush is quickly approaching. It is BREATHTAKING!!! Lush and green, with this beautiful villa sitting on top of a hill.

This romantic little gazebo hides out in the midst of the grapes a small distance away, and that’s where we will have the ceremony. It's truly a fairytale spot.

As the summer winds down, we're starting to think about rich oranges and deep reds. All the stores have already stocked their Halloween candy, school is starting, and the summer wedding styles are giving way to autumn's hues. But before we go there, how about one last summery, delicious, bright decor entry? There's nothing like a citrus-y colored wedding, complete with bold fruit accents, to make it an endless summer.

Images, clockwise from top left: Jonathan Canlas Photography, Rebecca Thuss, Real Green Weddings: Lovely Calla Lilies, One Love Photo

Use organic lemons or limes as part of your centerpieces, or as simple, crisp, and colorful seating card holders. They add brightness to your decor, and then spruce up a meal or drink the next day. No waste! Incorporating citrus fruits can also significantly cut down on your florals, as well (and that saves money, to boot!)

As Kate says in the green wedding tip of the week, flower petals are a beautiful, budget-conscious, and eco-friendly alternative to disposable aisle runners, and they can suit many different wedding styles. Have adorable flower girls sprinkle petals along the aisle during the ceremony for a romantic touch, or create a lush, gorgeous aisle with a heavy layer of petals.

Image: Stehlik Photography

Image: Rebecca Thuss

The elegant glass vases pictured above, filled with candles and petals floating in water, would also make lovely reception centerpieces.

Sprinkling petals around candles and flower-filled votives is another way to create centerpieces that look pretty, but cut down on flower usage (and cost).

Tin pails bursting with flowers are all around this season's weddings. They are another one of those perfectly versatile decor pieces that you can find used or borrow, and then return, repurpose, or donate back after the big day. Take a look at just of few of the possibilities.

Unadorned tin pails filled with seasonal blooms create a simple, understated look.

Image: Kate Parker

Add some ribbon, and you can easily create a beautiful decor piece. We love the way this couple used the pails to frame their ceremony.

Image: Orchard Cove Photography

Decorate a smaller pail to coordinate with your theme and colors, and you'll have a lovely centerpiece.

In this week's Real Green Wedding, Anna and Chris set their 1920's-fab-meets-downhome-farm wedding on a friend's farm, with beautiful results. They worked hard with their friends to prepare the farm for their wedding, which ultimately made them feel more connected to the place they were wed. This kind of effort and commitment is a special way to start your life together. If you love the fresh, simple, rustic feel of a farm wedding as much as we do, but don't want to do quite as much prep work as Anna and Chris, you're still in luck. Many farmers are responding to this new wedding trend by offering their farms as wedding venues.

The natural charm of a farm setting requires little additional decor, cutting down your budget, and the amount of waste your wedding produces. It also makes for some beautiful photo opportunities.

Image: Orchard Cove Photography

It could be a meaningful piece of fabric--from the favorite dress of a beloved grandmother, perhaps--or just a print that caught your eye while you were hunting up some mason jars at the thrift store. However that gorgeous vintage fabric found its way into your heart, you can use it to add charm and beauty to your wedding decor.

If you're having a rustic farm-style wedding, use your vintage fabric to cover up hay bales for seating for your guests.

Image: W. Scott Chester Photography

Vintage fabric, suspended and then draped like a canopy, can make a dramatic backdrop for your cake or dessert table.

Image: Rebecca Thuss