The following text field filters the results that follow as you type.
Explore smart strategies for early-fall events, transitioning from summer to autumn with ease and style.
Published on August 13, 2025
3-minute read
As summer begins to wind down, it’s time to welcome cooler days, changing leaves and rich, autumnal colors. While summer evokes bright shades, garden gatherings, airy fabrics, refreshing drinks, fresh fruit and grilled fare, fall brings bold tones, cozy textures and harvest-inspired menus.
During this transitional time when it’s not quite summer but not fully fall, there’s an opportunity to blend the best of both seasons. A thoughtfully designed hybrid event can be just as captivating as one with a single seasonal theme. Try pairing summer flowers with autumn accents, mixing light and deep colors, and offering a combination of refreshing and comforting food and drinks. With the right lighting and outdoor heating, your event can feel just right, no matter the season.
To transition completely from summer to fall events, here are some seasonal elements to consider.
Outdoor fall events
Cooler weather offers a refreshing shift from the heat of summer, making it an appealing season for outdoor events. The changing foliage provides a stunning natural backdrop not just for photos, but also as scenery your clients’ guests can enjoy throughout the celebration.
When helping clients select a venue, consider locations that showcase the beauty of the season, such as vineyards, orchards, farms, barns or botanical gardens. Since the weather can be unpredictable this time of year, it’s smart to recommend venues with covered outdoor spaces or options for tented areas with heating. Suggest thoughtful details like offering blankets or wraps to keep guests comfortable once the temperature drops in the evening.
Colors
In fall, it’s all about bold colors and rich textures. When planning your color scheme think about including deep purple, burgundy, orange, chocolate brown, yellow, deep crimson, gold, black, cream and green. These colors are commonly associated with autumn and are warm and inviting.
Decor
There are plenty of creative ways to bring an autumnal touch to your clients’ events. Recommend incorporating seasonal elements like twigs, leaves, dried corn and faux fruits, such as apples, pumpkins and cranberries, into centerpieces for added texture and color. Other décor ideas include draped chairs, textured linens or table runners with leaf motifs. To enhance the atmosphere, suggest using amber or golden-hued candles in candelabras or lanterns to create a warm, inviting glow.
During this transitional time when it’s not quite summer but not fully fall, there’s an opportunity to blend the best of both seasons.
Flowers
Using flowers that are in season can be a great option. There are many beautiful fall flowers and plants to consider. Some commonly favored choices include hydrangeas, sunflowers, deep crimson calla lilies, dahlias, roses, purple Alstroemeria, chrysanthemums, marigolds and Gerber daisies.
Harvest-inspired menu
A harvest-inspired menu can provide a comforting element to a fall event. Foods that fall into this category are hearty and home-style such as creamy pumpkin soup, roasted turkey or duck, cranberry sauce, butternut squash, and wild rice. Consider a dessert bar with warm apple pie alamode, apple crisp, pumpkin pie, apple cider donuts and seasonal warm drinks like mulled apple cider, hot cocoa and pumpkin spice coffee.
Protect your clients
Now that you have some ideas to transition to fall events, it’s a great time to remind your clients about the importance of event insurance.
Markel offers event liability insurance to hosts and honorees, to help protect from incidents such as property damage to the venue or injury to a guest. Up to $2 million in event liability insurance can be purchased by your client from Markel any time at least 1 day before the event. Event Liability Policies start as low as $75.
By offering event insurance, it may help protect your clients, but it can also protect you by potentially decreasing your own business liability risk for accidents due to negligence of the event host or honoree. Markel's event liability insurance is an easy and affordable solution for your clients – a free event insurance quote takes only a few minutes online or on the phone – that may help protect your clients.
Free client materials! We can provide you with free brochures to help raise your clients' awareness of the benefits of event liability insurance.