Fall Reception Hot Spots

Mountainside Resort

Christine and Bryan took advantage of all the different features at The Little Nell in Aspen, Colo., for their September wedding. The couple married at this mountaintop wedding deck, at an altitude of 11,212 feet, then moved inside for their reception, which was completed with a gondola ride down the mountain. —Cari Wolfert

Campgrounds

Two hundred guests gathered at Camp Collins in Gresham, Ore., for Brooke and Tim’s wedding weekend. Late-afternoon hors d'oeuvres turned into dinner, which was followed by a sunset ceremony at the camp’s riverside bonfire pit. Guests then made their way to the camp’s rustic lodge for dessert and dancing.

City Rooftop

Amy and David utilized both the indoor and outdoor space of Ramscale, a Greenwich Village loft, for their New York City wedding. After their sun-draped ceremony and cocktail hour on the terrace, the couple moved their guests inside the art gallery for a three-course meal.

Estate Grounds

Brett and Lisa ventured to the groom’s aunt and uncle’s 1,000-acre estate in Sherman, Conn., for their wedding reception. The location not only boasts a lake, forest, waterfall and several ponds, it is also rich in family history. The groom visited the estate throughout his childhood, and 25 years before his wedding, his aunt and uncle tied the knot there too.

Historic Inn

"The inn feels pleasantly remote—it’s near the water, surrounded by gorgeous trees that turn brilliant colors in the fall," said Donna of her choice to hold her intimate autumn wedding to Barry at the Kent Manor Inn in Stevensville, Md. The deep orange and brown wedding palette complemented the colors of the season.

Ranch

After years of dating, Elizabeth and David decided to tie the knot at the Old Glory Ranch in Wimberley, Texas. The ceremony was held on the grounds’ Victorian-style chapel, followed by cocktails on a covered patio and a banquet-style dinner that was prepared alfresco.

Rustic Barn

Kate and Chris lucked out with beautiful weather at their November nuptials at Gedney Farm in New Marlborough, Mass., but they had no reservations about getting inside to enjoy the beautiful barn the location had to offer. To complement the rustic decor, the couple decided to keep trees that had been brought into the barn for a reception the previous week.

Vineyard

The beautiful natural surroundings and variety of locations make an expansive vineyard an ideal place to hold a fall wedding. Rebecca and David hosted their October wedding at the Firestone Vineyard in Santa Barbara, Calif. After their sunset ceremony under this oak tree, guests relaxed in an "outdoor living room" for the cocktail hour before moving into the property’s three-wall barn for the reception.

Lakeside

Why bother looking for a reception location when your parents live here? Lindsey and Robert held their lakeside reception at the bride’s parents’ home in Lake George, N.Y. The rustic background helped reflect their Adirondack theme, while elegant touches and customized details gave the home a special-day feel.

Garden

Brooklyn-based couple Norah and Derek stayed local for their wedding, marrying in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Their October ceremony was held outside and included bright fall colors and seasonal details. Later the party moved inside to the Palm House, a Victorian-style glass conservatory, in which a leaf motif honored the season.