Gothic Wedding Theme: How to Nail This Growing Trend
Pop punk and black nails are back, so dust off those combat boots and studded belts. Between this cultural phenomenon's comeback and the popularity of the dark academia aesthetic, it's no surprise the Gothic Wedding theme is trending. What better time to get dark and moody than October?
A few years ago, Lily and Joe Amberg won our Win Your Wedding Flowers Contest. Their Gothic Wedding theme was to die for. They used unique decor to achieve their dark and opulent day. We used their wedding as inspiration to help you nail the Gothic Wedding theme or a Halloween wedding. Just remember, the devil is in the details. Lily and Joe went for a more whimsical approach to this trend, so there's room to get even darker and moodier if that's your style.
The Love Story
Lily and Joe tied the knot on October 13th at the Vandiver Inn in Havre De Grace, Maryland — its gorgeous Victorian architecture perfectly complements the autumn weather.
"I looked up a lot of October and Halloween wedding pins on Pinterest and pulled elements from those to mix with traditional wedding elements. We didn't want anything too dark or kitschy, so we knew our flowers and decor would play a huge part in translating our vision," Lily said.
Lily opted for a beautiful celestial-inspired gown rather than the traditional white dress. She finished the look with custom-made jewelry from Brass Dragon. "My dress was midnight blue with some sheer black tulle and shimmering celestial embroidery. I wanted to make sure I had a hint of blue in the decor, so I went with the blue thistles, which symbolize unity, victory, and endurance, which I thought was fitting," she said.
The color palette consisted of deep red, burgundy, and plum. The bride also incorporated light colors like blush, lavender, and ivory to lighten the color palette.
FiftyFlowers to the Rescue!
Wedding planning got stressful when the florist Lily had booked initially went out of business. As a result, that fall-through was a blessing in disguise because it led her to FiftyFlowers.com. "I stumbled upon FiftyFlowers and immediately felt relieved. I worked with Violet (a member of the FiftyFlowers customer service team), and she is an absolute lifesaver!"
With the help of her now-husband, they were able to create gorgeous gothic floral arrangements using FiftyFlower's wholesale flowers. "Joe was literally my bouquet model. He held his hands together and stood still while I added more and more stems at different angles. I think the fact that we created the arrangements together also helped our vision become a reality. We work well as a team," Lily said.
Here's exactly what Lily ordered to create stunning DIY gothic bouquets and arrangements for her Gothic Wedding theme!
Lily's Flower Order
- 100 stems of Snapdragon Burgundy
- 50 stems of scabiosa pods
- 100 stems of 50 shades of early grey roses
- large eucalyptus wedding DIY Greenery Box
- 50 stems of blue thistle
- medium delicate garden DIY combo pack
- 10 bunches of red hanging amaranthus
- 20 stems of protea
- 10 bunches of good night bahlia
- 50 stems of black magic roses
- 150 stems of burgundy carnations
1. Gothic Bridal Bouquet
This dreamy gothic wedding theme bouquet features blue thistle, dahlias, protea, scabiosa, and hanging amaranthus. Various eucalyptus greeneries added the perfect amount of fullness and texture.
2. Maid of Honor Bouquet
The maid of honor bouquet was just as lavish! The maid of honor's greenery-filled bouquet featured a fall color palette, perfect for any fall wedding.
3. Floral Centerpieces
These lush arrangements filled with cascading greenery and delicate flowers added color, life, and whimsy to the table.
4. Ceremony Decor
5. Aisle Arrangements
This October wedding wasn't complete without clusters of pumpkins embellished with fresh flowers.
6. Ceremony Aisle Chair Arrangements
Every other chair featured a gorgeous small arrangement made up of greenery and protea.
7. Seating Chart Table Arrangement
Lily kept things simple yet elegant with her seating chart. The venue's Victorian style and dark colors added moodiness.
8. Guest Book Table Arrangement
The bride enhanced her guest book table with a small arrangement of statement flowers like protea and roses. Flowers like thistle, scabiosa, and greenery provided the perfect amount of texture and interest.
9. Skulls Embellished with Fresh Flowers
Scattered throughout the venue were these dramatic skulls embellished with fresh flowers—a beautiful reminder of the cycle of life.
10. Victorian-Inspired Wedding Cake
A gorgeous three-tier wedding cake with gold details fit in perfectly with the bride's elegant gothic wedding theme!
At its core, the Gothic Wedding theme is about celebrating the beauty in the dark and moody, the magnificence in the macabre. This look thrives in the cohesive details. As long as you go all out and stay consistent, you will nail it. When it comes to the Gothic Wedding theme, bigger is better. Dramatic is in. Just stay true to yourself and your love story. Design your special day how you and your partner want to and it will be amazing, skulls and all.
Read More Like This:
- 8 Fall Boutonniere Looks with Bonus DIY Tutorial
- 4 Wild & Whimsical Flowers and Greens
- Budget Saving Tips: Multiple Uses for Wedding Flowers
Credit:
Originally written by Thalia Basulto
Photographer: Black, White and Raw Photography, Dress Designer: Tadashi Shoji, Venue: Vandiver Inn, Hair and Makeup: Jenn Haines of Gloss Philly, Floral: The Bride, Lily of Witch's Way Crafts
