How to Host a Halloween Wedding

Photograph by Lynne Anne Photography

Finding the right blend of spook and splendor for your Halloween wedding can be a frightening undertaking. Before you know it, you’re just a few cheesy Jack-O-Lanterns and drapes of fake cob-webbing away from a horror show.

But there’s a way to create a stunningly beautiful wedding that will haunt your guests’ memories for years to come.

“To achieve a Halloween-themed wedding without being too kitschy, you have to think out of the box,” says Michelle Neff of Dreaming Tree Events. It all begins with the right venue. Think somewhere Gothic-inspired like an old factory or a grand library. If the weather is just right, you might hold your celebration in a field at night to capture the fright night perfectly.

Remember to consider your lighting. Neff suggests it not be too harsh and should complement darker linens and drapery. Add in tons of lanterns, tall gold candles (faux flames if your venue won’t allow the real deal), and black chandeliers for opulent pops to the hauntingly romantic evening.

Then let your creativity shine. “Create a mysterious lounge area with an ominous backdrop where guests can take selfies with old Polaroid cameras with classic masquerade props,” she continues. “Or consider an alternative to ceremony or cocktail hour music by hiring someone to play an old classical organ.”

Photograph by Lynne Anne Photography

Think of handing out masquerade ball masks to guests as they enter your reception and are enveloped into the dark world of All Hallows Eve. Keep things glam with a sense of opulence and mystery through the use of hand-pleated black fabric ceiling, gold draped side panels, tarnished gold framed mirrors, and lots of twinkle lights for the illusion of a starry night.

Photograph by Lynne Anne Photography

Neff suggests keeping your color palette dark, with hues of charcoal, mahogany, and purple. “Rich earth tones and deep-blood red florals give an overgrown yet polished appearance to an alternative bridal bouquet, filled with dahlias, pheasant feathers, and scabiosa pods,” she says.

Photograph by Lynne Anne Photography

Lastly, a modern take on trick-or-treating could achieved be a candy/dessert bar with your favorite treats in custom paper bags or burlap sacks, and beverages for guests in a common cauldron or an old cast-iron tub, says Neff.

The take away—if you think masquerade rather than Michael Myers, hosting a Halloween wedding won’t seem so scary.

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