It's fall, which means it's officially time for me to go crazy over pumpkins. And boy do I love 'em-  pumpkin lattes, pumpkin donuts, pumpkin ravioli, pumpkin pie, pumpkin cupcakes... yum. But besides my slight obsession with all pumpkin foods, pumpkins can be an affordable way to decorate for a fall wedding and reception.

Buy them directly from a local farm if possible (I recently saw medium-sized pumpkins for only $2 each at a nearby farm!) or hit a grocery store sale to get the sizes of pumpkins you need for the lowest prices (my Safeway, for example, recently had pumpkins on sale for buy one get one free). Depending on the sizes you need, you should be able to score a pumpkin for less than $5, which is often cheaper than a vase!

The great thing about pumpkins is that there are so many ways you can use them- you can carve them and use them as vases, make them into luminaries, have them hold place cards, paint them,  etc. Use pumpkins to bring that warm, harvesty feel to your event through centerpieces, lining the aisle, or other details throughout your venue. Customize, of course, to the feel of your wedding and your budget! Here are favorite examples for inspiration:

I love this centerpiece: it fits in so well with a fall wedding without going overboard and the effect is stunning. You can have a florist make the flower arrangements in the pumpkins (to save money, buy them and carve them yourself and then deliver them to the florist) or make the arrangements yourself if you are feeling crafty.

Use the pumpkins to spell out a special message or highlight your monogram. This creates such a stunning effect. Love it!

Elegant pumpkins! Something about the way these are carved is just...pretty. Use pumpkins with candles in them to line the aisle in your ceremony or to light up your reception. Gorgeous!