How To Have A Dark And Dramatic Themed Wedding

Gothic bride in black dress with flowers, candles, and a stone wall backdrop

Elegant black high-heeled boots with ribbon lace on a decorative table white and silver wedding invitations with floral envelope insert Elegant wedding invitation on a silver tray with flowing ribbon detail Elegant engagement ring set in a floral background for wedding

The Inspiration

It’s a nice day for a Not-So-White Wedding In the age of Instagram and Pinterest, we’re able to see wedding trends all over the place. From gorgeous tablescapes of blush and burgundy to tips on the perfect dress for your shape, inspiration is everywhere. But sometimes, all those double taps and Pinterest boards become less inspiring and more monotonous. At least, that’s how myself and Tassie Grantham, of SassTass & The Pour Horse Mobile Bar Co., felt when working on wedding after wedding with the same look and feel.
We wanted to see something bold. That’s when the idea of a “Not-So-White Wedding” was born. Together, we began to think of ways to break the mold of what a traditional wedding looks like, without compromising class or elegance. No one wants the big day to look like a funeral.

The Location

Tassie, myself, and Ashley spotted some different areas at the beautiful Carriage Hills Ranch that would serve as the best backdrop. But with so many breathtaking views, it was impossible for us to limit ourselves to just one location, so we decided to embrace the space and used multiple locations to show off the versatility of the venue.

Gothic couple in love, dressed for a unique outdoor wedding ceremony

Elegant groom in black suit and floral boutonniere at a wedding Elegant couple in love holding hands at a stylish outdoor wedding

Gothic wedding couple with a black horse amidst ethereal blue smoke

Bride and bridesmaids with black and blue wedding dress in nature

Elegant woman with flowers posing near a rustic tree outdoors Elegant woman with blonde hair and flowers in natural light

Woman with a bouquet and stylish hairstyle posing outdoors in profile

The Colors

After the sites were chosen, a team of visionary vendors needed to be assembled to pull this off this unconventional theme. With Ultraviolet (the 2018 Pantone Color of the Year) on the brain, we set out to create a rich, moody vibe, pairing the saturated color with a classic black foundation. Our intent was to supplicate the viewers “fairy-tale” fantasy to an enigmatic, sultry romance.

The Style

Glam on Demand blew us away by pairing classy pulled back mohawk braids with smokey eyes for the ultra chic bride tribe, who were in pants and a pencil skirt with a matching floral print crop top. Christian, our groom, donned an all-black tux twist with a luxe crushed velvet jacket, to compliment his emboldened bride, Eden, who modeled a black bodysuit with lace details and (very) full black tulle skirt lined with grey and blue accents. Who knew comfortable could be so show-stopping?

Elegant couple in black wedding attire with a dark horse

Woman with red hair, jewelry, and a close-up view of face Romantic gothic wedding couple embracing in front of the castle Elegant floral display with candles in front of a stone wall Glass vases on stone shelf inside the stone wall reveal a landscape

Gothic couple posing on an altar surrounded by candles and smoke

wedding cake idea for you dramatic and dark themed wedding

Romantic wedding reception with candles and a decorated cake Romantic gothic couple kissing under a gazebo with smoke bombs

The Food

To complement the Cakes Couture masterpieces (which changed color in the light), Tassie mixed together a sultry Gin Spritzer that looked just as good as it tasted and complimented the black and purple hues of the desserts.

The Jewelry

Nicole Mera showcased her exquisite jewelry designs with an Asscher cut diamond set in custom platinum, paired with a matching platinum and diamond eternity band for the bride and a Cobalt Chrome and hammered zirconium band for the groom. She also brought along a pair of platinum and diamond studs, a black diamond rose cut, pear shape bypass ring, and a round black diamond rose cut slider pendant to complete the brides look.

Gothic wedding cake decorated with dark roses and leaves in detail

Elegant gothic wedding cake with flowers and candles candles and flowers for your dark dramatic wedding

Elegant gothic wedding decor with candles and chandeliers

Elegant black chandelier with lit candles in romantic setting Elegant candlelit room with dark decor, perfect for a gothic wedding Elegant wedding table setting with candles and floral centerpiece

Elegant table setting with burgundy bow and flower on plate

The Flowers

De Vinnie’s Paradise constructed a remarkable cascading bridal bouquet with bridesmaid bouquets and groom's boutonniere to match. She kept the cascading theme with various floral arrangements that overflowed from their vases, while the eclectic atmosphere was decorated with a variety of velvet benches, wooden tables, antique candlesticks, and silver trays from Rustic Romance Rentals.

The Photography

And, of course, the whole shoot wouldn’t have worked without the evocative eye of Ashley Medrano. She holds a knack for capturing light that encapsulated the romantic, clandestine feel of the shoot. Known for pushing boundaries and idiosyncratic editing, her precision radiates the essence each vendor was avidly working towards. Thanks to an amazing team of vendors we were able to pull off a shoot that will hopefully drive couples to push the status quo of what a wedding can be and embrace their dark side.

Hand holding a dark red cocktail garnished with three dark cherries

Romantic candlelit table decor with candles and a flower centerpiece Elegant black wedding cake with dark floral arrangement Romantic gothic wedding decor with elegant candelabras and flowers