Everything You Need To Know About Getting Married On Prince Edward Island In Autumn
Let’s be honest — deciding where to have your special day is always one of the biggest choices you as a couple have to make! Getting married on Prince Edward Island in autumn is truly stunning, taking advantage of the gorgeous autumn colors that make your whole wedding pop!
Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to shoot weddings in an absolutely beautiful, remarkable, jaw-droppingly photographic place in the world (at least, in my humble opinion) — Prince Edward Island.
If you’ve had the chance to look through my blog, you’ve probably seen a few pieces dedicated to Prince Edward Island weddings. I’ve broken down all of the reasons that make this place so special and in this blog, we’ll be taking a look at the ins and outs of planning autumn weddings in PEI!
Getting Married On Prince Edward Island In Autumn: The Low Down
There are SO many good things about Prince Edward Island no matter what time of year you decide to visit, but seemingly nothing compares to the kind of spectacular views, sunsets, and bursts of color that you can capture when spending time on PEI in the autumn.
The trees are seemingly exploding with color as they change from the end of summer to the peak of fall, to winter as it draws near. Combining the colors the trees naturally provide with the natural light of golden hour means your autumn wedding photography in PEI will be ablaze with life.
Golden hour, in case you haven’t heard the term, is this sliver of time that happens 1 hour before sunset, and one hour before sunrise, where the lighting of the sun casts an ethereal glow over everything it touches. Best part? No fancy lighting required. No special camera lenses or filters needed. Mother nature provides it all for us at no cost — and who doesn’t love a good freebie?!
As if the colors of the trees and skies weren’t enough, Prince Edward Island is fairly infamous for the red dirt roads that interweave throughout the region. Science tells us that the roads of PEI are such a deep color because of the high copper content in the soil — but what that science translates to in photography is nothing short of magic.
PEI Autumn Weddings: What To Consider
That isn’t to say that everything in autumn on PEI is perfect — there are most certainly things to consider. Autumn is considered one of the rainy seasons, especially the closer to the winter it gets, so it’s good for us to be prepared for that ahead of time. A little rain never hurts anyone – and honestly, it can make for some cinematic wedding photos — but we need to be prepared! I like to suggest getting those cute, bubble style clear umbrellas because they offer fairly full coverage, but also look absolutely adorable in photos.
Speaking of adorable? Prince Edward Island has such a cozy, inviting, romantic energy to it! It’s yet another reason that I recommend PEI as a location for an ideal wedding. The surroundings, the venues, and the people all manage to give off this kind of vibe that makes you feel like you should have been there your whole life. It’s a kind of energy you can’t plan for but when you find it, you know how important it is. Once you find it? You know what your dream wedding plans must include.
When it comes to how to plan an autumn wedding on PEI, the first thing you need to know is how absolutely special PEI is during the autumn season. It’s almost indescribable, but throughout this blog, I will do my best to cover all of the aspects you need to think about when it comes to getting married on Prince Edward Island in autumn. From the kind of weather to expect, to the venues you should look into, to the PEI wedding photographer you should hire.
Oh wait, that’s me! I guess that part is technically out of the way. LOL. Still, the rest holds true so for the next few moments, let’s dive in together and take a look at this comprehensive guide to autumn weddings on PEI.
How To Plan An Autumn Wedding On PEI
The fact that you’re here trying to figure out how to plan the ideal wedding leads me to believe that you’ve already thought about your dream wedding. From the color schemes you want your wedding party to wear to the flowers you’ve envisioned adorning the ceremony, to what the perfect meal for your guests looks like. Which means you’re already a step ahead!
Keep that dream in the back of your mind. Picture it. The music lilts through your perfectly chosen wedding venue as you or your partner is walking down the aisle. The natural glow of the sunlight (or sunset, whatever you’re into) casts a gorgeous sheen over everyone who is there to witness your big day.
Are you picturing it? Good! Now quick, where is this dream wedding taking place?
That’s the first question we’ll be looking at in our PEI autumn wedding guide. Where some of the best places are to get married on the island. When it comes to helping you choose your PEI autumn wedding venue, and more importantly choosing the best autumn wedding venues on PEI, there are a few factors that I considered when making the selection.
- Does it give you those warm autumn feels?
- Is it versatile for both big and small parties?
- How freaking awesome is it, on a scale of 1-10?
The Best Autumn Wedding Venues On PEI
One thing I’ve learned about PEI? It is so hard to pick your favorite wedding venue because all of them are absolutely epic! Just know that the list of venues I’m about to give you are all top-notch in their own ways and that I absolutely adore them.
Cymbria Lions Club
The Cymbria Lions Club is a gorgeous space that provides indoor and outdoor spaces for your ceremony or reception, and it sits right along the water giving you a gorgeous backdrop for your wedding pictures.
Carriage House
Rustic, warm, inviting. All adjectives that describe the Carriage House wedding venue in PEI. Trees surround the property and bounce all the natural sunlight in a million different directions. Heavenly.
Centre Goeland
I love the Centre Goeland for the sort of laid-back energy that this venue provides. There are beautiful cliffs and ocean views for an outdoor wedding, and the indoor reception area is nothing but windows, making it perfect for an indoor wedding with a gorgeous view.
Mill River
This gorgeous venue offers cottages for your bridal parties to get ready, and they are filled with natural light which is perfect for some of the more candid shots we might want to capture. On top of that, the entire venue is surrounded by a forest of trees so it’s perfect for an autumn wedding.
Clinton Hills
Clinton Hills venue has such a charm to it. It captures this sort of youthful whimsy that reminds you of all the great days at summer camp, with cabins, trees, and big skies around you. It’s an amazing outdoor wedding space.
The Grand Victorian
The name of the venue says it all because this place is absolutely grand, and because it’s by the sea during the slow season for tourism, you might get lucky and have a whole beachfront wedding practically to yourselves.
Well, we’ve talked about the island itself along with some of the amazing venues that PEI provides, and as you can see they are plentiful! Now let’s take a look at a few more things to consider when planning your PEI autumn wedding.
Weather
The weather on Prince Edward Island can be a bit fickle in the autumn, but it’s nothing that we can’t handle. As I’d mentioned a bit earlier, autumn in PEI might have the chances of rain and a bit of wind but let’s face it, that just makes the pictures we take far more cinematic!
Making sure to be prepared for it is key! Clear bubble umbrellas, a little extra hairspray and some clever location choices and just like that, your wedding pictures look like a Vogue editorial.
Timing
As the autumnal days shorten, the nights grow long which means we have to make sure to plan out our shoots to ensure that we have the best kind of natural light. Golden hour tends to be in the early afternoon during autumn, so we’ll just make sure that we are ready to work around its ever-fluctuating schedule.
Vendors, Artists, Dresses, And More
This is where all the short but sweet choices come in! Things like makeup, flowers, sweets and treats, and music. These are all the components that come together to make a special day truly special. I’ve compiled a fairly comprehensive list of vendors throughout the PEI area, all of whom will make sure that your special day turns out perfect. Take a look!
PEI Wedding Planners
These are the magical humans who somehow manage to keep track of everything and anything, so you don’t have to worry about things as the day arrives!
- Kara // @polishedweddingspei
- Kristina // @elysianwedvents
PEI Makeup Artists
This list gives you a wide range of artists who work in different aesthetics — from the ethereal to the glamorous, to the natural glow.
- Jacki // @jackipeters.MUA
- Kalyn Bernard | @Kalynbernardmua
- Emily Anne | @emily.maxfield
- Enepher // @aboutface.af
- Emma Mackionnon / @emma.mackinnon.9
- Clancey // @makeupbyclancey
- Mary / @zoza.faces
- Jessica / @faces.by.jess
- Kaitlin // @makeupartistkaitlin
- Lauren // @islandendlessbeauty
- Jessica / @jessicagallantbeauty
- Maria // @mariakaysmakeup
Hair Stylists
Finding a person that can get your hair just right for the big day is one of the biggest choices because your hairstyle is front and center in every picture. Here’s a list of awesome stylists in PEI.
- Cristy Acorn // @cristy.harrisacorn
- Marybeth Perry // @marybeth.perry.3
- Rachel // @rachnoonan1096
- Jennie // @hair_by_jennie_elizabeth
- Spice // @spicey518
- Monique // @stylingyourbeauty
- Brittany // @brittb.hair
- Falon // @falon.rodgerson
- Julia // @juliashair25297
PEI Florists
These florists know how to set the tone when it comes to ensuring all the flora and foliage for your wedding is just right.
- Alisha // @sakurahsflowerstudio
- Hearts and Flowers // @heartsandflowerspei
- Vee // @wildandvow
Wedding Officiants On PEI
These are some of the best in the business. They’ve made it their life mission to bring people who love each other together, and you can’t go wrong with any of them!
- Marsha Weeks // @marshaweeksofficiant.pei
- J.J // @fiddlingfisherman
- Melissa // @withloveweddingspei
Where To Shop For Wedding Dresses On PEI
All budgets, all styles, all kinds of vibes. These dress shops are fun, have amazing staff, beautiful choices, and attentive care. Highly recommended!
- Once Upon A Wedding // @ouawpei
- Caseley’s Bridal Boutique // @caseleysbridal
- The Wedding Place // @weddingplacecanada
- Dream Bridal // @dream__bridal
- The Perfect Pear // @perfectpearbridal
DJs
I love this DJ so much that he’s consistently the DJ I let my wedding couples know about. Dexter is the best at setting whatever mood you’re looking for:
- Dexter // Dekzmusic
The Best Desserts & Wedding Cakes On PEI
The centerpiece of all centerpieces is the cake — whether you decide to smash it in your partner’s face is completely up to you, but each of these artisans will create a unique masterpiece for you:
- Ellies // @elliebakescakes.pei
- Whitney Smith // @whitsmith.baking
- Revilo Cakes // @revilocakes
- Get Caked Donuts // @getcakeddonuts
- Dough // @for.realdough
- Kels // @kgjbakeshop
Wedding Videographers On PEI
Photographs are forever, but I absolutely think it’s important to capture video of your wedding as well — to be able to look back on and reminisce, and eavesdrop on conversations you had years earlier! My recommended videographers are:
- Shane // @powerbuttonmedia
- Alex // @alexcorbettphotography
There it is! Your ultimate guide to getting married on Prince Edward Island in autumn to make sure your wedding is everything you want it to be. We’ve talked about where to go, where to shop, what to bring, and how to make your photos pop!
The last step? To secure the photographer that will make sure those popping photos are everything you want them to be. Oh wait, that’s me! Reach out to me today so we can start planning!
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