A Colourful October Wedding at Tinakilly Country House Wicklow
There’s something about an October wedding in Wicklow that is just magic.
The changing leaves, the richness of the season, those deep warm colours — and when Laura told us she wanted to fully embrace an autumnal palette for her wedding to John at Tinakilly Country House, I was delighted.
I have to admit, autumn might just be my favourite season to flower a wedding. The colours are incredible, the textures are abundant and you can be that little bit braver with your palette.
And Laura absolutely went for it.
Autumn Wedding Flowers in Burnt Orange & Burgundy
For Laura & John’s wedding flowers, we created a rich seasonal palette filled with burnt oranges, deep burgundies, warm caramel, red, soft cream and touches of fresh green.
Rather than making everything perfectly uniform, we layered different tones and textures throughout the designs — giving the flowers that wild, romantic and slightly undone feeling that is very Anna May.
Dahlias brought those incredible pops of autumn red, while warm-toned roses, orchids and delicate textural flowers added softness and depth.
Laura’s bridal bouquet brought everything together beautifully.
Rich and colourful without becoming heavy, it was filled with movement and seasonal texture. Against her elegant ivory dress, the autumn colours looked absolutely gorgeous.
October at Tinakilly Country House
And then there was Tinakilly itself.
If ever there was a venue made for an October wedding, this might be it.
The house was surrounded by the most incredible autumn foliage, with the ivy turning shades of fiery red and orange. It became part of the colour story without us having to do a thing.
Inside, the dark woods, antique furniture, rich fabrics and views into the gardens gave us the perfect backdrop for Laura & John’s flowers.
Instead of fighting against the character of the venue, we designed everything to feel as though it belonged there.
Statement Flowers for the Ceremony
One of my favourite pieces from the entire wedding was the large floral installation we created on Tinakilly’s beautiful antique table.
And this is where we really got to play.
We created an abundant, garden-inspired arrangement filled with dahlias, roses, orchids, seasonal foliage and textural stems in those gorgeous burnt oranges, burgundies, reds and warm golden tones.
Tall stems gave the design height and movement, while flowers spilled naturally across the table below.
Against the old wood, red velvet chairs and autumn garden beyond, it was a bit of a moment.
Exactly the kind of wedding flowers we love creating at Anna May.
An Autumnal Wedding Reception
For the wedding reception, we carried Laura’s autumn colour palette through in a more relaxed way.
Long tables were styled with loose eucalyptus foliage and individual bud vases, each holding carefully selected seasonal flowers.
Rather than filling every inch of the tables with flowers, we let individual blooms have their moment — warm roses, rich red dahlias and autumnal textures dotted between the glassware.
It kept the tables feeling elegant and intimate while still bringing that beautiful October colour into the room.
A Floral Moment for the Top Table
The top table deserved something a little more special.
At the base, we created a generous floral meadow installation, filled with flowers from Laura & John’s palette.
Dahlias, roses, orchids, seasonal textures and foliage created a low, abundant sweep of colour across the black-and-white floor.
The table itself was kept beautifully simple with eucalyptus, bud vases and candlelight.
It meant the statement flowers could do the talking without blocking that gorgeous view across the Tinakilly gardens.
Buttonholes & Those Little Details
The autumn palette continued through the personal flowers too.
John and his wedding party wore beautifully textured buttonholes with warm caramel roses and seasonal details, finished simply so they felt natural rather than overly formal.
We also added fresh floral details to the wedding cake, picking up those burnt orange and deep burgundy tones once again.
They're small touches individually, but together they make the whole wedding feel considered.
Nothing needs to perfectly match.
It just needs to belong.
Behind the Scenes With Anna May
And naturally, Mr Anna May himself was on duty with me for this one.
Wedding setups are probably the side of floristry people don't see enough of — vans packed to the roof, flowers everywhere, installations being built on site and a small army quietly making everything happen before the guests arrive.
Once the room is finished, we disappear and the flowers simply look as though they were always meant to be there.
That's the magic bit.
Standing back at Tinakilly after we'd finished this setup, surrounded by all those gorgeous October colours, was definitely one of those God, I love my job moments.
Planning an Autumn Wedding at Tinakilly Country House?
If you're planning an October or autumn wedding at Tinakilly Country House in Wicklow, embrace the season.
Burnt oranges. Burgundy. Caramel. Deep reds. Dahlias. Textural foliage.
Autumn wedding flowers don't have to feel rustic or traditional. Done beautifully, they can feel rich, romantic, contemporary and incredibly luxurious.
From bridal bouquets and buttonholes to ceremony flowers, reception styling and large-scale floral installations, our bespoke wedding flowers are created around your venue, your season and — most importantly — you.
Based in Rathgar Village, Dublin, Anna May Floristry creates bespoke wedding flowers throughout Dublin, Wicklow and across Ireland.
Wild, romantic & unmistakably Anna May.
For Life's Moments...
Create an account