Pumpkins are perfect for fall parties, but somewhat unexpected at a wedding. You can carve them, paint them, glitter them, cook them, or give pumpkin candies or seasoned pumpkin seeds for favors. They can be Halloween-y, or not, depending on how you use them, but they are always a sign of fall.
{Photo credits} Top row: monogrammed pumpkins and gold pumpkin place card both from Martha Stewart, jack-o-lantern figurine photo by Holland Photo Arts. Middle row: pumpkin soup photo by Kirsten Strecker, white pumpkin centerpieces from Martha Stewart, pumpkin cake topper photo by Adrienne Page. Bottom row: pumpkin "vase" from Martha Stewart, pumpkin candies, pumpkin votive from Country Living
Love the top left pic! What a great idea for a fall wedding!
Posted by: Abbie | September 15, 2008 at 03:34 PM
I am also really into pumpkins - but I think my mother doubts how elegant they will look - I am e-mailing her this link now!
Posted by: TeaWithPaloma | September 15, 2008 at 03:56 PM
great fall ideas! my fiance and i are planning a sept 2009 wedding, and will definitely use some of these ideas!! thanks!
Posted by: Molly | September 15, 2008 at 04:12 PM
Love the pumpkin idea! I bet someone could find a talented pumpkin carver to carve their monogram!
Posted by: Starry-Eyed Barefoot Bride | September 15, 2008 at 04:18 PM
what a great, creative and unique idea with all of this!! thanks!
Posted by: annaliza | September 15, 2008 at 04:31 PM
Gorgeous! You could even punch small shapes into those pumpkins. DIY table lantern!
Posted by: kari michelle | September 15, 2008 at 04:47 PM
I love fall. We are using wheat as a unifying floral theme throughout our wedding. It will be part of the bouquets and arrangements.
Posted by: Le | September 15, 2008 at 04:52 PM
Pumpkins are great! You can use them at the church and then move them to the ceremony site. My sister used mini-pumpkins to hold table numbers.
Posted by: Erica Blonde | September 15, 2008 at 05:07 PM
I have always loved pumpkins- they're the quintessential symbol for fall! I think the gold painted mini ones are a lovely touch- seems like they'd be a bit garish, but actually come out classy and beautiful. Great ideas!
Posted by: Erin | September 15, 2008 at 05:08 PM
Love this! I've always loved fall and pumpkins are always something I look forward to!
Posted by: Heidi @ Zenadia | September 15, 2008 at 06:22 PM
We're thinking of using the miniature white pumpkins as seating cards.
Posted by: Kristina McLean | September 15, 2008 at 06:56 PM
My favorite is the top middle photo, with the gold mini pumpkins (gourds?). I also love the baby white ones!
Posted by: Emily A | September 15, 2008 at 07:03 PM
I love the pumpkin centerpiece with florals!
Posted by: LW | September 15, 2008 at 07:51 PM
i love pumpkins
plus i love autumn
i was born in september so it is my favorite season.
Posted by: Marie P | September 15, 2008 at 07:53 PM
Admission: Pumpkins in my wedding make me cringe. EVERYONE keeps asking me if I will use them. Until this post I was never tempted. But the carved, mongrammed pumpkins are soooo elegant.
Posted by: Amy | September 15, 2008 at 07:58 PM
Oh I love pumpkins and the various ways they can be used! If I were having a late fall wedding, I'd so be there with using them as centerpieces!
Posted by: Kelly | September 15, 2008 at 08:34 PM
I imagine spiced pumpkin votive candles for a Fall wedding - a burnt orange color and oh so fragrant!
Posted by: Jennifer Gaskin | September 15, 2008 at 08:44 PM
the pumpkin candy has the best flavor and are my favorites!
Posted by: Rebecca Gomes | September 15, 2008 at 08:52 PM
I love these ideas! I've been trying to think of a nice way to incorporate pumpkins in my November 2009 wedding without making it too "halloween." Those mini pumpkins that are being used as votives are adorable!
Posted by: Eureka143 | September 15, 2008 at 10:18 PM
The pumpkin centerpiece is adorable! I had a fall wedding in 2006 and some of these ideas would have been perfect!
Posted by: Le'Trice @Le'Penn Designs | September 16, 2008 at 12:06 AM
In my eyes pumpkins are a most in a fall wedding. In fact, we had our wedding in early October and I cut out the tops of mini pumpkins and stuck tea candles in them. Everyone loved them so much, that by the end of the night they were all gone.
Posted by: Meghan | September 16, 2008 at 12:13 AM
pumpkin seeds straight from the pumpkin are my favorite fall snack! i would give pumpkin seeds in cute little sachets out as favors for a fall wedding.
Posted by: Jenn Feinberg | September 16, 2008 at 01:27 AM
The monogrammed pumpkins are incredible! I love new and creative ways to display "light." A pumpkin is a classic way, but for a wedding...it is a new and great idea!
Posted by: Bekba | September 16, 2008 at 02:10 AM
Ooh! Pumpkins! I love the idea of having non-Halloweeny pumpkins. I am having pumpkin ravioli at my wedding as part of my entree choice. In the fall, I love anything pumpkin flavored: coffee, muffins, pasta, yummmmm.
Posted by: DomestiGal Jen | September 16, 2008 at 04:52 AM
I've wanted a fall wedding for ages--and pumpkins are part of the reason why! I just love the way they look, and they're almost a "two-for-one" sort of thing. You get the seeds for favors and the gourd for a centerpiece, all at the same time!
Posted by: Courtney | September 16, 2008 at 08:21 AM
I normally don't like pumpkins, but I LOVE the white and gold centerpieces! Might have to reconsider my position now...
Posted by: Leika | September 16, 2008 at 08:54 AM
This look is perfect for any crisp fall wedding! I adore the pumpkin votives, they are truly adorable! Those pumpkins with the carved initials are magnificent and would be a perfect accent to any fall wedding!
Posted by: Madelyn @ Southern Weddings | September 16, 2008 at 08:59 AM
Beautiful blog, and gorgeous pictures! I love the pumpkins and love orange.
Posted by: Mary Loves | September 16, 2008 at 10:13 AM
OOO, we're getting married next fall and there will definitely be WHITE pumpkins as part of the scheme!
Posted by: Amanda | September 16, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Love the monogrammed pumpkins! Alternatively, you could paint the pumpkins white (including the stem) before carving (so they aren't SO orange if that's not your thing). Only a little orange light would then glow from the inside - really dramatic!
Posted by: Caitlin | September 16, 2008 at 11:29 AM
I love love love pumpkins -- thats why i decided to get married in the fall its my favorite time of year!
Posted by: Jill | September 16, 2008 at 11:39 AM
LOVE the green heirloom pumpkins! a nice touch of fall without feeling like halloween. I actually grew a bunch this summer to use for our late october wedding!
Posted by: kristina@lovelymorning | September 16, 2008 at 01:38 PM
I have been using pumpkins as vases forever! They are so cute. And how can you go wrong with pumpkin soup at the reception!
Would be super cute to carve the table numbers in them too, or to use the mini's as escort cards
Posted by: Kristen | September 16, 2008 at 01:45 PM
I absolutely love the white pumpkins! I was thinking of using them as centerpieces for the reception, but have not seen a picture of them being used in that way. I'm getting married in November, so I am scurrying to get all of the decorations figured out!! Thanks for the great ideas!
Posted by: Shelly Whitehead | September 16, 2008 at 05:12 PM
Pumpkin candies are such a great idea for the season!
Posted by: Andi | September 16, 2008 at 06:14 PM
I love fall because of the great colors, pumpkins, apples!!!
Posted by: Emma | September 16, 2008 at 07:26 PM
Pumpkin pie would be a great fall option instead of wedding cake! I think we are having cherry pie instead for out August wedding :)
Posted by: Mollie | September 16, 2008 at 10:06 PM
We are incorporating pumpkin as a flavor in in one layer of our cake!
Posted by: Jessica | September 17, 2008 at 09:39 AM
Love the ghost pumpkins. They are a vintage twist on the theme.
Posted by: Le | September 17, 2008 at 03:33 PM
I LOVE pumpkins for a fall wedding. We're having a small post-wedding reception at the in-laws house a few weeks after the wedding and the theme will be pumpkins!
Posted by: Mary Williams | September 17, 2008 at 03:47 PM
i was originally dead set against a fall wedding but i love pumpkins so much i may change my mind!
Posted by: lauren | September 17, 2008 at 10:05 PM
i love this board. halloween is my favorite!
Posted by: Meghan | September 18, 2008 at 10:35 AM
Pumpkins, pumpkin pies, and little sugar pumpkin candies. Quintessential fall. Yum!
Posted by: Bethany | September 18, 2008 at 07:09 PM
There's so much you can do with pumpkins!!
Posted by: Inspired Events By Nycia | September 18, 2008 at 07:30 PM
The initials on the pumpkins are just beautiful!
Posted by: Bliss Weddings Market | September 18, 2008 at 08:49 PM
Love the feature on pumpkins! I'll be using some in my Oct. 12 (2008!)wedding, and maybe I can convince the groom to carve our initials in a few for the outside entrance.
Posted by: hadola | September 19, 2008 at 01:32 PM
I heart the white and monogrammed pumpkins. So chic!
Posted by: Chelsey | September 19, 2008 at 01:37 PM
I especially love the idea of white pumpkins. Their unusual enough to be completely unexpected, and so easy to decorate with, even when your colors dont include orange. What wedding pallet would suffer from a big or organic white?
Posted by: Teri B | September 19, 2008 at 02:32 PM
LOVE LOVE LOVE PUMPKINS! Not only could you use them as decorations with candels in them, but they also make great center pieces with a vase full of fall flowers! Of course you could always use the inside of the pumpkins to make mini pumpkin pies for guests as favors!!! It just isn't fall unless you have pumpkins to carve and pumpkin pie to eat!
Posted by: katie | September 19, 2008 at 02:44 PM
Pumpkins as a vase is the best idea!
Posted by: Naomi | September 19, 2008 at 02:47 PM