Sometimes when the timing is right, it’s wrong. That unpredictable game of love can land you planning a fall or winter wedding when you really wanted a warmer-weather wonder.

But look on the sunny side! An off-season wedding can bring rays of warmth into cold and gloomy days, especially if you follow our 12 dos and don’ts.

Fall DOs

DO … embrace the landscape.

Autumn colors are striking, and what bride doesn’t want to be striking, too? Take advantage of changing-leaf landscapes in your wedding photos. Use reds, oranges, yellows and browns as wedding colors, incorporate wheat stalks and gourds, or (we love this one) give your flower girls fall foliage instead of petals.

DO … go nuts!

Using nuts is a fun way to tie in the warm, rich goodness of fall without being tied down to the fall color scheme. Make acorn centerpieces, serve mixed nuts as an appetizer, or offer pecan pies for dessert.

DO … mix in metallics.

Glam up a neutral color palette by adding shimmer. With a glittery finish, brown becomes bronze, gray becomes silver and yellow becomes gold. You’ll fall for the glamorous look of shiny blacks and coppers.

Fall DON’Ts

DON’T … feel stuck.

Just because you’re getting married in the middle of back-to-school, Halloween and Thanksgiving season doesn’t mean you’re stuck with those sources of inspiration. You can use jewel tones or pastels. Any color can work any time of year. You just have to sell it for your season.

DON’T … fail to prepare.

Autumn days in Utah are notorious for falling rapidly into wintery conditions. Make sure you’re ready with another stylish layer, a chic umbrella and gloves for those freezing in-between-photo moments. You want to wear something blue, not be blue.

DON’T… be disappointed.

Remember that fall is a busy time for everyone. In most cases, don’t expect a long honeymoon right after the wedding and expect some “with regret” absentees. Just know they love and support you wherever they are, and they will most likely still send a gift (love that).

Winter DOs

DO … think dead.

We know what you’re thinking, who wants to embrace dead landscapes at a lively event like a wedding, right? Trust us. Bare branches can be high style and high fashion. Try glitter or jewel-laden branches and pine cones in your bouquets, centerpieces and cakes.

DO … stay warm!

We love the pop of colored jackets and shawls against the whites and creams of wedding dresses. Try on a few feminine blazers and wraps in different wedding-color shades.

DO … keep cozy.

We dare you to find something more calming than comfort food when the weather outside is frightful. How do we like it? Warm and sweet. Chocolate fondue, waffles, pie and bread pudding. Or try fancied-up versions of your favorite comfy entrees — macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, chicken soup.

Winter DON’Ts

DON’T … act like it’s summer.

You can’t force it. While there’s a little more freedom on the color wheel, don’t wear flip-flops and serve ice cream. Look for something to love in your season.

DON’T … underestimate the power of neutrals.

Utah may not be the greenest place on earth, especially during winter months, but don’t fret. Neutral colors can be timeless. Experiment with blacks, tans, creams and grays. And if you need a little splash of color, try deep purples. They’re wintery in a wonderful, my-lips-match-my-flowers kind of way.

DON’T … rule out holiday flairs.

Kill two birds with one stone: deck the halls for the holidays and for the wedding. If done right, Christmas garlands, holly, lights and mistletoe (of course) can make for a beautiful reception. And don’t forget about the other winter holidays. A confetti-inspired New Year’s wedding or a classic red rose Valentine’s Day wedding could be just what Cupid ordered.

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Hannah Rhees Goodrich is no stereotype kind of girl. The creative bride always wanted something unique for her wedding — so Hannah in Wonderland was born.

“I wanted something funky and fun — the exact opposite of typical,” she says of her March 2009 wedding to Ryan Goodrich. “I had always loved ‘Alice in Wonderland’ growing up, and so it just seemed like the perfect fit.”

So with the help of her expert wedding planners, Design Elite, Hannah got her Alice on. Striped tights, felt flowers, whimsical invitations — you name it, Hannah had it. But she was careful to go for class rather than cheese.

“There’s a fine line between cool and cheesy,” Hannah says. “We didn’t want to look back 20 years later and be embarrassed, so we worked hard to make it perfect.”

Like Hannah, you, too, can have the wedding theme of your dreams. Here are 12 tips to help you along the way.

1. GO FOR IT
If you’re dying for a theme wedding, but you’re too timid to pull the trigger, just do it. First rule of wedding planning? No regrets.

2. GOOGLE AWAY
Once you pick your theme, go the way of the Google. There are countless ideas you won’t think of, so get your brain rolling on the World Wide Wed.

3. COMPROMISE YOUR HEART OUT
If you want a mix of the traditional AND the funky — do both!

“I knew I wanted to wear striped tights, but I wanted to wear them with a traditional wedding gown,” Hannah says. “That was one element of my wedding that needed to stay with tradition.”

4. WHEN IN ROME …
A successful wedding theme is determined by the commitment level. If you simply dabble in a theme, it’s hard for guests to make the connection, which leaves your reception more confusing — less epic.

5. IT’S IN THE DETAILS
The other component of a successful theme wedding comes down to the details. Your guests will remember that unique guest book or the I’ve-never-seen-that-before cake. Count on the little things.

6. LOOK INWARD
Theme weddings don’t always have to go the way of the funky. Try choosing an element that relates to you as a couple (such as a first date memory), and let the fun flow from there.

7. TAKE A MOMENT
In the midst of your theme planning, take a step back and evaluate your details a few times along the way. Like Hannah, you’ll want to go for the classy and avoid the cheese. So plan small “theme checks” along the way.

8. INVITING INVITATIONS
Start your wedding theme off right by incorporating it into the invitations (photo and all!). You’ll get guests a-talking and a-RSVPing.

9. MOTHER MAY I?
It’s absolutely your day, but it’s your mom’s day, too. So before you make any big theme decisions, be sure to talk it over with the mother. (Common courtesy, ladies.)

10. A PHOTO FINISH
No theme wedding is complete without the photographer. Be sure to communicate your vision to the photographer so it expertly runs from your head to the lens.

“Our photographer was so amazing,” Hannah says of her photographer, Terra Cooper of Magnifique Photography. “She was right there with us every step of the way.”

11. BE YOURSELVES
“Alice in Wonderland” may have been the perfect theme for Hannah and Ryan, but it’s important to stay true to who you are as a couple. Find a theme that’s in your comfort zone — or you’ll be unhappy and uncomfortable all the night long.

12. FUN, FUN, FUN
Most importantly? Have fun, fun and more fun. You deserve the theme of your dreams.

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The ceiling’s the limit
Ceiling treatments add warmth and intimacy to your space. They bring down those high industrial beams or completely make them disappear. Dropped ceilings vary from light strands with ball lanterns to a completely draped canopy with a hanging chandelier. The great thing about canopies is the unlimited choices. We have found complete ceiling treatments for under $1,000, and when grouped with other décor the price comes down even more.

Something old, something new
Great décor, whether it is traditional or funky, lets your style shine. Classic décor is a time honored tradition. Use simple elements in a new and different way. Instead of just an arch, how about adding hanging pomanders or cascading crystals? Layering décor is a new twist on wedding basics. Take your favorite element — such as wrought iron, flowers or candles — hang it vertically, and you’ve got something new. Add fabric and lights and turn off the fluorescents.

Bright ideas
Dramatic lighting changes your white arch to a contemporary design with a splash of color. Ambient light is the essence of a beautiful setting. It can transform a cultural hall into a backyard garden. In areas where real tapers can’t be used, battery-operated candles are a great solution.

Twist of fate
Why not consider covering a ballroom completely with sand, the inside of a hotel with snow or bringing a 100’ tent into a cultural hall. Design Elite loves to take a blank palette and create something never seen before. We are all about a new twist on the traditional. Anything can be done. The sky’s the limit.

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