Choosing an aesthetic for your wedding day is integral to the vibe of the whole event. Aesthetics for weddings are often based on season, for example summer weddings tend to incorporate lots of florals and pastelly hues whilst a wedding near Christmas time is likely to be peppered with holly wreaths, twinkly lights and rich reds and greens. 

As one of the most naturally beautiful periods of the year and often less expensive than a wedding at the peak of summer, October is one of the most popular months for couples to get wed in the UK. 

Weddings near Halloween are also  the perfect season to opt for a lesser conventional and distinctive aesthetic -The Gothic Wedding. The Gothic theme is not only very unique and fun but is historically romantic; think Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre and Northanger Abbey. If you want a Heathcliffe and Kathy inspired wedding with a dark and moody flair, these aesthetic tips are for you.

Gothic Venues

One of the most obvious ways to set the Gothic theme at your wedding is to choose a beautiful, mysterious and romantic venue. The Gothic genre immediately brings to mind gorgeous old castles set far out in the countryside. The UK, France and Italy in particular are luckily teaming with options for gothic wedding venues, with stunning castles and churches dating back hundreds of years. Whether you are looking to host twenty or two hundred you won’t be far from a romantic gothic venue to tie the knot.

Black Dresses

If you are looking to take the gothic theme the whole way, the black dress is a huge nod to the gothic genre and perfect for the unconventional bride. The black gown is supremely chic feeling somewhat more knowing and sophisticated than the traditional white wedding dress. 

If the black wedding dress feels a bit too much or like it will upset your grandma black bridesmaids dresses are a fantastic way to incorporate a gothic aesthetic into your bridal party and wedding photos. Not only will your bridesmaids look super classy and cohesive as a group but black is universally flattering so you’ll get great friend points for not putting your favourite women in salmon pink or mint green. These colours seem to be reserved especially for bridesmaids, nobody wears salmon or mint in real life and it does seem quite unfair. Thus black is an all around excellent choice. 

Mood Lighting

Lighting is integral for creating ambience at a Wedding, changing through each stage of the day. For an autumn or winter gothic inspired wedding, it is likely that by the time your reception rolls around the night is already drawing in. Candles and fairylights are the perfect way to add a gorgeously romantic gothic look to your wedding day. 

A dimly lit room with chandeliers, hanging lanterns or pillar candles create a dark and ethereal atmosphere. Clusters of pillar candles or lanterns placed around your venue, especially if your reception is in a castle or an old country manor will give a distinctly gothic ambience.  Walkways lit with lanterns and candles are also key to creating a gothic and mysterious atmosphere.

Accents

The finer details are also key for creating a wedding aesthetic. Think fabrics, tones and table settings. For gothic table placements, draping with traditional white or ivory table cloths gives a vintage and dramatic look, especially if paired with lots of candles and wintery floral arrangements. Gothic florals include deep red roses, white buds twigs and foliage. 

Consider a trip to some antique stores or a delve into facebook market place to find some gothic inspired treasures to decorate your venue, such as old metal candle sticks, cutlery and goblet style wine glasses. For things like the order of service, name placements and menus consider using fountain pen calligraphy on thick vintage style card or parchment paper  to emulate victorian style love letters.

Gothic Inspired Cakes

One of the centre pieces of a wedding is the cake, it is also a classic photo opportunity for bride and groom to be cutting the cake together. You can get really creative wedding cakes and it can be a showstopping nod to your chosen gothic theme. 

A cake covered with black fondant would be the obvious choice for a gothic wedding, though if this doesn’t sound particularly appetising to you, try a dark ganache contrasting with floral embellishments, such as deep red roses and intricately piped borders. Bonus points for incorporating a dark theme into the flavour of your cake such as red velvet, black forest or dark chocolate.  To add to the gothic look, surround the cake with fruit and cheeses to give the look of a vintage style banquet to your centre piece.