13 GREAT IDEAS FOR AN ELEGANT HALLOWEEN WEDDING

Luke Thompson
- Creative Director -

It should take 7 spooky minutes to read this article

Halloween weddings don't have to be tacky affairs full of plastic vampire bats and spray-on cobwebs…

They can be elegant. Rich with the kind of Gothic symbolism that would have Bram Stoker’s ghost nodding in appreciation.

Here are a few great ideas to help you plan your perfect elegant Halloween wedding.

1. BOOK A GOTHIC WEDDING VENUE

Haunted mansions. Ancient ruins. Underground caverns and castles hidden away in the cold, forbidding mountains. All these are marvellous locations for a Halloween wedding!

The venues available to you will depend on where you are, how much you have to spend, and how far you’re willing to travel.

For the ultimate Halloween wedding, Bran Castle in Romania is top of the pile. But you don’t have to go that far.

Most places will have a local venue that, with a bit of tweaking, will serve as the perfect place for a Halloween wedding.

Check out our list of the best Gothic wedding venues in the UK for some inspiration.

2. LET THERE BE CANDLELIGHT

Nothing says dark elegant romance like the warm flicker of candlelight. With a few candles and candelabras you can transform any venue into something Gothic and mysterious.

But don't pick up just any old candle. You'll want odourless and smokeless church candles in bone white or ox-blood red.

Of course, if there’s a particular fragrance you’re looking for, you could always scatter a few bowls around with scented oils inside. But bear in mind that some guests may be vulnerable to the strong smells.

3. FALL FOR OCTOBER

Halloween means pumpkins, but that doesn't mean your only decorative options are plump jack o' lanterns.

Pop down to the greengrocers and see what they've got available. It's amazing what a creative mind can do with butternut squashes, Japanese pumpkins, chestnuts and other October delights.

October produce will tie your Halloween wedding to the pagan side of the festival, and give it that authentic, earthy touch.

4. GET AN ORGANIST

Straight out of classic horror, the church organ does more to set the right Gothic atmosphere than anything else. Bonus points if you can convince the organist to wear a black Victorian tailcoat and white mask.

It doesn't have to be a grand church organ either. If your venue can't support a multi-piped behemoth, a simple portable electric organ can evoke the same Gothic atmosphere.

5. ...OR A CHURCH CHOIR

Make your day even more epic by hiring a choir to serenade you down the aisle.

Nothing sounds more Gothic than a group of harmonised choristers, their voices echoing around the vaulted ceiling of your rented church or castle as you walk through a sea of flickering candlelight.

And you may not know this, but there are many different types of choir too.

If you'd prefer something deeper and more Nordic than high-pitched choirboys, a Gregorian choir may be the way to go.

Just steer clear of barbershop quartets.

6. WEAR A GOTHIC WEDDING DRESS

A genuine Gothic bride wouldn't be seen dead in white. And that goes doubly so when your wedding takes place on Halloween…

Buck the trend by walking down the aisle in a red wedding dress. Or go full Gothic with a beautiful black gown, such as the one designed by us at Ivory Black.

Of course, dresses like these require a bit of confidence on the bride’s behalf. But if you can pull it off, you’ll look drop dead gorgeous, and will make an impression that’s sure to keep people talking about your unique wedding long after the event.

Still not convinced?

We’ve even got a Gothic wedding dress inspired by Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula. You can’t get more perfect than that.

7. VEIL YOURSELF IN BLACK OR RED

Match your dark wedding gown with an equally dark veil to complete the Gothic look. Worn correctly, a two-tier veil or cathedral veil can look stunning.

Just make sure you're guided down the aisle if you choose a veil that covers your face. Otherwise you might stumble and disturb your crafted elegance.

8. EXCHANGE GOTHIC WEDDING RINGS

Simple silver and gold bands won't cut it for a Halloween wedding. You need to go beyond the pale, and choose a set of rings that'll really make a lasting impact.

Exquisite carvings, sculptured detailing, and an element of Gothic beauty should be your guides when choosing rings for a Halloween wedding.

And do we have the recommendation for you…

Our top recommendation for an elegant Gothic wedding ring is Alessandro Dari, a Florence-based sculptor, jeweller, and artist. That’s his handiwork above. Ideal for a Dark Souls wedding, or one that’s delightfully vampiric, we’re sure you agree.

9. AVOID TACKY DECORATIONS

When people think Halloween wedding, they might expect tacky decorations like large rubber spiders and amusing inflatable skeletons. Shatter their expectations by avoiding anything that might be considered 'cheesy', and keeping things refined.

A Halloween wedding doesn't have to be awash in tat. Keep it simple, dark, and elegant. If you're looking for inspiration, Kat Von D's Gothic wedding is an excellent source.

10. SET A DRESS THEME FOR YOUR GUESTS

You can't have a true elegant Halloween wedding without costumes. But we're not talking cheap and tacky 'spooky' costumes from some dodgy eBay store. We’re talking true Gothic elegance.

Of course, you may need to help your guests a little to visualise exactly what you’re getting at…

Create a mood board of Gothic imagery for your guests to follow, and send them a few recommendations to make sure that everyone looks the part. Maybe a few photos from Golden Age horror movies would work well, like Bela Lugosi's Dracula or Karloff's Frankenstein.

11. MAKE YOUR BEST MAN AN ANIMAL

For a touch of the truly unusual, get an animal to deliver your wedding rings.

Many falconers have birds of prey (such as owls) that they've trained for this very situation. Imagine standing beside your life partner, watching a hawk swoop down the aisle towards you with a little black box clutched in its talons. What could be more thrilling?

Or if you know someone with a dog that looks a bit like a wolf (such as a husky), you could ask them to carry your rings in a small pouch tied around its collar. If you want that Game of Thrones wedding feel, this is the perfect solution.

12. CARRY A BLACK AND RED BOUQUET

Add a Gothic spin to this traditional practice by switching out the standard bouquet for one made from black and red roses.

Of course, you don't have to go black and red. Any suitably Gothic colours will do (we think bone white and dark gold is another great combo). But it’s definitely worth matching your bouquet to your dress to tie the whole colour scheme together.

13. STIR UP SOME GOTHIC WEDDING COCKTAILS

Indulge in that most debauched of pleasures by providing your guests with a Gothic cocktail or two. We've gathered two of our favourite recipes to help inspire your cocktail selection.

The Black Devil Martini

- 2 ounces of dark rum
- 1/2 ounce of dry vermouth
- Black olive or blackberries for the garnish
- Red sugar

Start by pouring the red sugar onto a plate. Run a cut lime along the edge of a cocktail glass to make it sticky, then press the glass rim onto the sugar. Pour the rum and vermouth into the glass and garnish with either a black olive or a blackberry.

Sleepy Hollow

- Half an ounce of absinthe
- 2 ounces of mezcal
- 2 dashes of angostura bitters
- 1 ounce of Saint Elizabeth allspice dram
- Rosemary sprig for the garnish

Start by pouring the absinthe into a short glass. Swirl it around until it coats the bottom half, then tip it out. Next fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add everything except the rosemary sprig. Strain the mix into the glass over three ice cubes, then put the rosemary into the glass and set it alight with a match.

STILL LOOKING FOR A HALLOWEEN WEDDING DRESS?

At Ivory Black we have a fine selection of Halloween wedding gowns that are perfect for a Gothic bride. Each dress is made by hand to your measurements, and is created from scratch in our British studio by our masterful British designers.

GOT YOUR OWN HALLOWEEN WEDDING TIPS?

Share your knowledge, ideas, and experiences in the comments below! You might make a bride-to-be very happy.