Decorating for a fall-themed bridal shower is easy when you take advantage of fall's bountiful harvest. You can find lots of ideas and accessories for decorating at your local farmer's market, area craft stores, discount stores and even in the woods nearby.
Head To The Farmer's Market
Believe it or not, your local farmer's market has many of the makings for impressive fall-themed bridal shower decorations. Purchase tall corn stalks, a bunch of pumpkins in various sizes, squash and gourds, fresh autumn-colored flowers, ripe apples, colorful bunches of Indian corn and bales of straw if they have them.
Next Stop: Craft and Discount Stores
Your next stop should be to craft and discount stores or even some of the thrift stores in town. Here you will find and want to purchase rolls of wide ribbon in autumn colors and prints, yards of tulle and some narrow autumn-colored ribbon and inexpensive autumn-print fabric available by the yard, which you can use to cover the tables. Purchase also silk autumn leaf garlands, white lights, wicker baskets and cornucopias, bushel-type baskets, small scarecrows, grapevine wreaths, pumpkin-shaped candy dishes and other small items that will work well for shower favors and treats.
Also purchase autumn-themed candy, like candy corn and candy corn-mixed bags, small candy pumpkins and other fall treats. Also get a few bags of Hershey's hugs and kisses, which you should be able to find at your local discount store.
Take A Walk In the Woods and Borrow A Few Things From the Barn or Shed
Go for a walk in the woods or your area park, and collect pine cones and acorns that have fallen from the trees. You can even collect real colored autumn leaves if you wish. If you have access to a barn and were not able to purchase bales of straw at the farmer's market, borrow a few from the barn for the shower. (You can return them later.) Borrow a wheelbarrow or two from the barn or shed, as well, and clean them up as necessary for use at the bridal shower.
Tables and Centerpieces
As mentioned, yards of inexpensive autumn-print fabrics make fast, easy, festive fall table coverings, so cut the fabric to the right length and use it to cover the tables in lieu of tablecloths. Set out small candy dishes filled with candy corn and candy pumpkins on the tables.
Then take medium sized pumpkins (about 7-8 inches in diameter, using one or two for each table, depending on the length of the tables, and some for the buffet, cake and gift tables), cut out the top/stem as if you were going to make a jack-o-lantern, and hollow out the insides. Pour a cup or two of water into the hollowed out pumpkins, and, using them as vases, arrange the fresh flowers in the pumpkin shells. These make the perfect centerpieces for your fall bridal shower.
Scatter some artificial or real autumn leaves in the center of the tables, and place your pumpkin/fresh flower centerpieces on top.
Set the Scene In the Room
Using the bales of straw, corn stalks, scarecrows and pumpkins, set up an autumn scene with several focal points in the room. For instance, you can tie the corn stalks together in a bunch and lean them in the corners, stack a few bales of straw in front of them, stand a scarecrow up by the corn stalks in some places and set the scarecrow on the straw bales in others, and stack pumpkins on and around the straw bales, as well.
Add a wicker cornucopia or two with squash and gourds and tiny pumpkins spilling out from inside of them to the main tables or on accent tables. Place apples in the bushel baskets, and use them as part of the d#xE9;cor. Or place a basket heaped with apples on the buffet tables for snacking.
Put some bows and ribbons on the wheelbarrow handles, add some fall leaves, acorns and pine cones inside, and place the wheelbarrows up near the front in lieu of a guest table. Guests can put their gifts right inside.
String white lights across the room, crisscross the ceiling, or use them to create ornate swags on the edge of the cake table, and drape them in yards of tulle so the lights are inside. Wrap autumn leaf garlands around them, and plug the lights in.
Accessorize
Make bows with the autumn ribbon, and tie them around pumpkins, on the backs of the chairs for the bride and bridesmaids or around the corn stalks. Tie bows to bunches of Indian corn and hang them on the wall. Scatter the acorns, pine cones and real autumn leaves anywhere around the room where you need to add a little extra accent. This could be between dishes of food on the buffet table, on the tables where guests will eat or play games, on the gift table or anywhere else they seem appropriate.
Tie large bows to the grapevine wreaths and hang them on the wall. Hang a framed portrait of the bride inside each grapevine wreath. Use photos from throughout the bride's childhood going up into her adult years. Over the main or cake table, use a framed photo of the bride and groom together.
Cut the remaining tulle into small squares, wrap two or three Hershey's kisses and/or hugs in the tulle, and tie shut with a narrow piece of autumn colored ribbon for the perfect bridal shower party favors. Place them at each place setting, or have them spilling out of a wicker cornucopia on one of the head tables.
For the bride who loves autumn and also has a sense of humor, you can create a funny scarecrow couple dressed as a bride and groom to stand in one corner. Give the bride scarecrow a veil and a bouquet and the groom scarecrow a bow tie, a vest or suit coat from a thrift store and a boutonniere.
Tags: fall, themed, bridal, shower, decorations, corn stalks, bales straw, autumn leaves, bridal shower, farmer market, pine cones
