How to Plan a Fall Wedding at Bedford Village Inn
New Hampshire brings some of the prettiest wedding venues and some of the prettiest autumns, which means a fall wedding at Bedford Village Inn is a dream. Fall weddings have their own kind of charm: rich colors, a slight chill in the air, and a cozy atmosphere. And as a destination wedding photographer, Bedford Village Inn is one of my favorite wedding venues to experience that feeling at. If you’re already dreaming of New Hampshire autumn days, I’m right there with you. See my simple guide to planning a fall wedding at Bedford Village Inn with gorgeous inspiration and tips that are actually helpful!
Bedford Village Inn: An Overview of the New Hampshire Wedding Venue
Okay, Bedford Village Inn? She’s classy. But not the kind of classy that makes you nervous to touch anything. It’s the kind where everything feels thoughtful and polished, but you can still fully be yourselves. Laugh loud. Cry hard. Hug everyone twice. It’s gorgeous without feeling performative, and I love that for you.
See everything you need to know about the venue:
The maximum guest capacity is 210, which means you get to be surrounded by all of your favorite people without ever feeling overwhelmed.
The venue is available for weddings year-round so that you have plenty of options (but as you can see, I’m partial to fall weddings here!)
All-inclusive package options are available here that cover everything from coordinating to catering, which can save you a ton of stress.
There are accommodations on-site, meaning you don’t have to worry about transportation or finding a place to stay for you, your partner, or your wedding party! You also get to use any rooms you booked as getting-ready spaces that will hold your excitement all morning long.
The Venues at Bedford Village Inn
The 10-acre New Hampshire wedding venue is home to many gorgeous venue sites. Each one has its own character, so the one you choose will fully depend on how you want the atmosphere to feel. As a destination wedding photographer who has captured weddings here, I’ve seen how choosing the right one shapes the way that your day unfolds.
The Great Hall
Okay. If you’re picturing that moment when you walk into your reception space and it just feels like your party is about to happen… This is it.
The Great Hall has that open, airy, chandelier glow that makes first dances feel cinematic without feeling staged. You can seat up to 210 of your favorite people here, and it still doesn’t feel overwhelming. It feels full, in the best way. Like hugs in every direction. Like your dad giving a toast that makes everyone laugh and cry in the same sentence. Like you two sneaking a look at each other across the room thinking, “Wait… this is actually our wedding.”
And selfishly? I love photographing in this space. The natural light mixed with the chandeliers gives me room to document everything as it’s actually unfolding: the squeeze of your hands during speeches, your friends absolutely losing it on the dance floor, your grandma watching you two from across the room with that look on her face. I’m not pulling you away constantly. I’m letting you live it, stepping in when needed, hyping you up when it’s time, and then stepping back again.
It gives ballroom energy, but without that stiff, overly formal vibe. You can be barefoot by the end of the night if you want to. And honestly? I love that for you.
The Grand Charolais Room
If you’re leaning toward a winter wedding (which I fully support, by the way), the Grand Charolais Room in front of the stone fireplace is such a moment.
Picture this: it’s chilly outside, your people are bundled up walking in, and you’re standing in front of that fireplace saying your vows while everything feels warm and still. It holds up to 80 guests, which makes it perfect for a smaller, more intimate ceremony where you can actually see everyone’s faces when you say “I do.”
And from a photography perspective? Smaller spaces like this are magic for candid emotion. I can catch the tear rolling down your mom’s cheek without being intrusive. I can see your best friend mouthing “I love you” from the front row. It’s quiet enough to feel personal, but open enough that I can move gently around you and document the in-between moments that end up meaning the most later.
I’ve also seen couples use this room for cocktail hour or a cozy reception setup, and that’s one thing I genuinely appreciate about this venue: it adapts to you. It’s not rigid. You don’t have to force your vision into a box. It gives you options, and I’m always here helping you think through them so it actually feels calm and intentional.
The Courtyard Gardens
And then there’s the courtyard gardens.
If you’re the kind of couple who wants to feel the air, hear the subtle hum of your guests settling in, and walk down the aisle surrounded by greenery and soft string lights… this is your spot.
The gardens feel romantic without being overdone. There’s an architectural fountain, polished landscaping, and in the fall? The foliage frames everything in that deep New England color palette that just hits differently.
I can already see it: you taking a deep breath before walking out. Your partner trying not to cry (and failing a little). The way the light settles in as the ceremony begins.
Outdoor spaces like this are my favorite for documentary-style photography because there’s room to move. You can hug your people without worrying about where to stand. You can laugh, spin, hold hands, cry… And I’ll be right there catching it all. The wind in your veil, the way your hands shake slightly before vows, the spontaneous cheering when you’re pronounced married. Those are the things that last.
It feels grounded. Intentional. Not performative, just real. And that’s always what I want for you.
Why Bedford Village Inn Thrives in the Fall
As you can probably tell, Bedford Village Inn is stunning year-round… But there’s just something about autumn here that makes sense. If you’re searching for a New Hampshire fall wedding venue and you keep coming back to this one… that’s not random. The way the leaves shift into those deep, golden tones against the property? It feels intentional, even though it’s not. It just works in a way that doesn’t feel forced or over-styled. It feels like New England showing off a little, in the best way.
And more than how it looks, I care about how it feels.
Fall weddings here have this steady, grounded energy. The air is crisp. Guests linger a little longer during cocktail hour. You’re not overheating. You’re not rushing. You’re just… there. Holding hands. Talking to your people. Taking it all in.
I’ve noticed couples breathe deeper in the fall here. The timeline flows naturally. We step outside for portraits and the light is soft and flattering without us having to chase it. You get those candid, in-between moments: your partner brushing leaves off your dress, your dad pulling you in for a quiet hug before the reception, your friends wrapped up in shawls laughing under the string lights.
It doesn’t feel chaotic. It feels settled.
And if you’re the kind of couple who cares more about staying present than performing for the camera, fall at Bedford Village Inn gives you space to do exactly that. You don’t have to force the vibe. It’s already there.
Trust me, you’ll feel the difference.
My Top Tips for Planning a Fall Wedding at Bedford Village Inn
Bedford Village Inn truly makes your day easy to plan, which is one of the reasons I love it so much as a destination wedding photographer. When my couples are planning weddings here, though, there are a few questions they always ask me, so I know you probably have the same ones! Here are a few things that I’m sure will help ease your mind:
The Best Timeline for a Fall Wedding at Bedford Village Inn
Your timeline should be specific to what you want out of your day, but here’s a general one that always works well for my couples. Note that this timeline reflects a sunset time before Daylight Saving Time ends, so if you’re getting married after that, be sure to adjust, because a fall wedding timeline at Bedford Village Inn works best when it prioritizes light, breathing room, and intentional pauses.
9:00 am: Getting ready – mimosas, friendship, and tons of excitement!
2:00 pm: Your private first look and vows – always the most romantic, heartfelt moment of the day. It brings a tear to my eye every time.
2:30 pm: Couple portraits – we’ll go all around the property to some of my favorite spots (like the silos, the gardens, and the dreamy indoor backdrops… swoon).
3:00 pm: Photos with your besties – grab the whole wedding party for some group pictures.
3:30 pm: Hide away to prepare to walk down the aisle, so that no guests see you until your big moment. Let yourself feel all the excitement here!
4:00 pm: Ceremony time in the gardens – Say “I do!” and celebrate with your first kiss!
4:30 pm: Take a moment together, just the two of you, after the ceremony. This is a time to be intentional, present, and grounded with one another.
5:00 pm: Family photos + any extra photos you want (or a time to take photos together if you didn’t do a first look!) while your guests enjoy cocktail hour.
5:30 pm: Enter the reception (in the Grand Room) as a married couple and let the celebration flow!
This is a plan that lets you have fun, never feel rushed, and actually have time to stay intentionally present, which is what the best kind of wedding day should feel like.
Fall Wedding Colors
Fall weddings feel most cohesive when you let nature guide the color palette. Burgundy, shades of orange, and neutral colors will never be wrong for a wedding in the fall.
Fall Wedding Dresses
Autumn in New Hampshire can get chilly, so wedding dresses with sleeves are a great option. Here are a few stunning fall wedding dresses I love that would fit right in at Bedford Village Inn:
Fall Wedding Florals
Finding flowers that not only fit your color palette but also thrive in the fall can be tricky. A few I always love in bridal bouquets are dahlias, chrysanthemums, and strawflowers. They’re all absolutely beautiful, and they’re easy to find in the fall!
Hannah and Andrew’s Fall Bedford Village Inn Wedding
Hannah and Andrew’s wedding day was deeply personal. Every choice felt intentional, not because it was trendy or overthought, but because it meant something to them. And that’s my favorite kind of wedding to walk into.
From the second I arrived, they were just… present. Not worried about timelines. Not micromanaging details. Just soaking it in. Laughing with their people. Holding hands a little tighter. Taking those quiet little pauses together that most people don’t even realize are happening. Bedford Village Inn (with those unreal fall colors everywhere) created the perfect backdrop for that kind of energy. It felt calm. It felt steady. It felt like them.
What I loved most about their fall wedding at Bedford Village Inn wasn’t even the color palette, although, yes, the foliage was absolutely showing off. It was how grounded and connected they stayed all day long. They weren’t rushing through it. They weren’t distracted. They were fully in it.
And truly? They were just so fun to work with. The kind of couple who trusts you completely and then just lives their day. Hannah would grab Andrew’s face and laugh mid-sentence. Andrew kept sneaking glances at her like he couldn’t believe this was real. Their friends were hyping them up nonstop. The dance floor was packed. It was one of those nights where nobody wanted it to end.
The cozy candlelit reception, the fall air outside, the way their people circled around them during speeches… It all just felt easy and meaningful at the same time. And getting to document a day like that? It’s the biggest honor.
If I could re-live that one over and over, I honestly would.
Ashley Olafsson | Destination Wedding Photographer
I’m a photographer who’s there to help you every step of the way, whether it’s offering my opinion on what centerpieces to choose or being your biggest hype girl on the actual day. My main goal is to let you savor the real moments and to never feel like you’re performing at your wedding, which is why my approach is to step back, let the day unfold naturally, and know exactly when to step in and guide you. The result? A gallery that feels honest, natural, and fully like you.
If that’s the support you need with you on your wedding day, I’d love to connect. You can inquire here!
Xoxo,
Ashley
Client love: “We did our engagement shoot with Ashley earlier this month and WHAT a great experience. She made a cozy in-home session even cozier, and it felt like a very best friend stopping by for coffee (or in her case, tea!). Not only was the turnaround time for the final photos so quick, but they are more than we could've ever asked for. What a special thing to document this season of life and share it with a personable, kind, and VERY talented person like Ashley. Can't wait for the wedding!!”
See more wedding inspiration that I can’t get enough of:
The Ultimate Cape Cod Wedding Venue Guide (From a Cape Cod Wedding Photographer)
Planning a Wedding at Willowdale Estate: A Massachusetts Wedding Photographer’s Guide
A Boston Wedding Photographer’s Guide to Planning a Wedding at Garage B
