Whether you’re a full time all-out goth or just someone who enjoys dressing up every now and again, it’s hard to deny the appeal of Halloween. There’s something very liberating about an occasion that so unashamedly embraces every type of costume. It’s hardly surprising, then, that Halloween weddings have exploded in popularity in recent years. If you’re tempted to have a Halloween wedding but not sure how to do it, this article brings you a host of Halloween wedding ideas to help you find the Halloween wedding that will work for you.
When thinking about how to plan your Halloween wedding, there are a number of ways you can express the theme, from the subtle to the extravagant. Here are some suggestions:
A Subtle Victorian Undertone
From Bram Stoker’s Dracula to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victorian Gothic literature spawned the most memorable icons of Halloween. Consequently, Victorian costume regularly features in movie and theatrical productions of horror and hauntings. If you would like your Halloween wedding to evoke a subtle spooky vibe whilst still retaining more traditionally bridal colours, this is the way to go.
Bridal Victoriana can be most effectively incorporated into your Halloween wedding through your outfit choices.
The Mimosa dress from Pronovias is a lovely example of a wedding dress fit for the modern day but evocative of the Victorian era because of its lace material, long sleeves and high neckline.
Finally, don’t forget your feet! These ‘Josephine’ lace ankle boots from House Of Elliot were inspired in their design by an original half boot from the Victorian era.
If this just isn’t dramatic enough for your Halloween wedding aesthetic then you can go in a more theatrical direction:
Theatrical Vampy Styling
No real vampire costume is complete without some red velvet or satin. You probably want to skip the fake teeth (!) but you can certainly embrace the rich jewel tones and regal fabrics of those dark romantic sanguinarians!
Red and other vibrant colours are now more widely available in wedding gowns and can look magnificent.
Photography: Sharma Shari Black hair vine available here. Gothic embellished belt available here.
You can even consider using a couture dress-maker like the incredibly talented Felicity Westmacott for something truly unique. This dip-dyed jeweltone gown is perfection for a Halloween castle wedding:
Photographer: Andrew Wilkinson Photography Gown: Felicity Westmacott Purple Tiara available here.
You should also ensure your accessories add to the opulence. A jewelled bridal belt like this gothic one can make all the difference.
Statement hair accessories are also a must. Each of these is the epitome of theatrical dark romance:
To finish off your dramatic Halloween wedding look, consider some serious statement footwear like House of Elliot’s red lace ‘Goodnight Sweetheart’ over the knee boots.
If the theatrical look is simply not dark enough for your vision of a Halloween wedding , perhaps you need to go one step further.
All Black Gothic Bride
Not for the faint-hearted, a full black gothic wedding certainly won’t be forgotten. It’s bold but what should people expect from a Halloween wedding?!
The obvious starting point is a black dress and there are some stunning examples out there:
You can go for a glamorous satin ball gown like this ‘Mikado’ stunning example from Pronovias.
Or consider a more ethereal creation like this beautiful tulle gown from Mywony Bridal.
An obvious addition for a true dark gothic bridal look is a black veil like this one, shown here with one of my black hair bands and my black cameo hair pin.
Photography: Baylie Krutchik
And speaking of black hair accessories, I always have a good selection of pieces for alternative brides that work beautifully for Halloween weddings:
Left to Right: Gothic Marcasite Crown here. Black Victorian Gothic Hair Comb here (photo by Maria Madison). Black Rose Statement Hair Pins here (photo by Manda Marie). Black Gothic Hair vine here.
Finish your look with some truly gothic footwear like these ‘Goodnight Sweetheart’ black lace over the knee boots from House Of Elliot. These are an ideal choice for anyone with a love for alternative, gothic and steampunk styles.
Finally, if none of those options is quite ‘extra’ enough for your Halloween wedding dreams, there’s nothing for it but an…
All-Out Spooky Halloween Full Costume Wedding
Invest in a good make-up artist as a priority - you want to look like a fabulous Halloween costume bride, not a budget trick-or-treater! This bridal look was created for the traditionally Mexican festival of The Day Of The Dead, celebrated on November 2nd, but it could equally work for an over-the-top Halloween wedding:
Photography: Victoria Crocker Make-Up Artist: Kate Mitchell Irridescent Metal Rose Hair Comb available here.
If this is the route for you, the sky’s the limit - no need for subtlety!
Put (ethical or faux) taxidermy in your bouquet like this fabulous creation from Imágemária Studio.
Incorporate a spooky edge into your invitations like these stunning ones from Uniquely Inviting.
And make sure your wedding cake is full Halloween too, like this incredible one created by Cake Innovations.
However you choose to design your Halloween wedding, I’m sure you’ll have an occasion to remember!