PartySlate’s 2024 Fall Hot List: 12 Trending Fall Wedding & Event Ideas

Oh how we love fall — and we know you do, too. In fact, fall has overtaken summer as the most popular season for weddings, with October as the most popular month of all. In addition to more weddings, fall brings a rise in dinner parties, holiday gatherings, and birthday celebrations that come as the weather cools down. (Did you know September is the most common birthday month?)

Needless to say, with fall means more than football, pumpkin spice lattes, cider mill trips, and Gilmore Girls reruns. The season brings a rise in epic events of all types, and a set of brand new trends to spot with them. This year, we’re prepared to see disco saddles, “haute” chocolate, and snackable centerpieces. Intrigued? Keep scrolling. 

1. Frontier Flair

Meet the event aesthetic of the moment: frontier flair. More glam than gothic Western, more country than modern glam, this trending wedding and event style is evoking the most imaginative designs. Think country-core — if it was married to flashy metalics and glimmering disco balls.

2. Rugged Leather Menus

Durable and decorative, faux leather menus are going to be everywhere this season. There’s a reason leather is a fall fashion staple — the texture and color lends itself perfectly to crisp days and cozy nights. Weddings and events are following fashion’s suit — but instead of dressing guests, leather will be dressing bars and tabletops in the form of memorable menus and stylish signage.

3. Golden Palm Palettes

As we make the transition from warm to cool weather, we’ll inversely transition from cool to warm yellows. If you’re not quite ready to let go of spring and summer’s “it” color — the beloved butter yellow — take it’s cousin, golden palm, for a spin. The shade offers the beauty of a crisp fall leaf with the radiance of an early autumn sunset, and can stand completely on its own or act as an exciting accent color.

4. Symmetric Seating

Ditch the table rounds. All of them. Sleek square and rectangle tables are going to fill this fall’s floor plans — and create a perfectly symmetrical event design that’s oh so satisfying. Choosing one exclusive table shape brings a modern feel to roomscapes and outdoor spaces, which can easily be transformed for formal fall evenings or designed for more casual autumn events like an outdoor rehearsal dinner. Not to mention, they photograph perfectly. 

5. Glitzy Fall Foliage

Sure, fall foliage isn’t a new concept this time of year — but this isn’t your average leaf-filled display. In the coming months, we’re going to see earthy arrangements mixed with modern metallics, reflective objects, and glitzy lighting to create a fresh look out of a classic fall décor element. Think fall branches made out of gold material, metallic orbs mixed with lush leaves, and natural bushels lit by shimmering lights.

6. Animal Prints

Animal prints — specifically leopard prints — are the perfect décor trend for eclectic couples and party hosts to run with this season. Animal print can add texture, color, dimension, and lots of interest to otherwise mundane event elements like place setting napkins or simple dinner plates. Take it a step further and cover your dance floor in leopard spots, or add the pattern to your entertainment ensembles for an even wilder display.

7. Fern Forest Palettes

After a lime green “Brat” summer, comes a softer, more earthy shade. Fern is the perfect medium tone green, complementing both light and dark palettes with ease. The effortless hue brings natural moments to fall weddings and events, and is the perfect accent color on lounges, entrances, and atop place settings.

8. Haute Chocolate Nightcaps

Chocolate is having a moment in the fashion world — and the catering world. A cozy cup of hot chocolate is the perfect offering for cool nights, especially at outdoor weddings and in open air tents. But of course, it wouldn’t be a trend on our list without a clever spin. This season’s hot chocolate is being served with personalized detail — from monogrammed marshmallows to initial-topped foam. Perfect for weddings, of course, but easily convertible to branding for company events and holiday parties.

9. Muted Ombré Florals

Ombré has weaved in and out of trending floral aesthetics for years, and this season, we’re witnessing a serene and subtle comeback. In true ombré fashion, the color of floral arrangements are managed by shade, moving from light to dark, but unlike the ombré of the past, there’s a bit less order within each arrangement. With muted shades, varying shapes, and less obvious direction, this year’s take on ombré is sure to intrigue.

10. Dark Brown Details

Have you heard? Brown is the new black — and in events, that means it’s stepping in as a timeless but trendy accent color. Deep brown details are enriching fall wedding and event aesthetics, and can be found across all party elements — from bouquets to furniture. Don’t be surprised if your guests show up in rich shades of brown that perfectly complement these elements, as dark brown hues are also trending in fall fashion. 

11. In-Season Centerpieces

A well-rounded centerpiece is one you can… eat. Grapes come into season at the end of August and peak through late fall, making them the perfect edible arrangement for dinner tables and cocktail high boys. Whether you intend for guests to snack on them or not, they will undoubtedly offer a delicious treat for the eyes. Choose from ruby red vines, golden greens, or a combination of both. Not to mention, they’re a biodegradable décor option for eco-conscious party hosts. No sour grapes here, indeed.

12. Layered Draping

Cover up, it’s layering season — and yes, that applies to events, too. Neutral shades of beige, creams, and brown drapes are covering walls in elegantly overlapped layers and warm velvet textures. Nothing can transform an indoor venue into a cozy oasis like billowing fabric that encases an entire space, or textile archways that frame wow-worthy entrances.

13. Ikebana-Inspired Cakes

Simple and stunning. Ikebana arrangements are Japanese-style floral designs that emphasize odd numbers, unpredictable placements, and asymmetrical blooms. According to Pinterest, searches for Japanese fashion and home design are rising, which is no surprise given the recent popularity of Ikebana-style cakes at events.