HOLD ON TO SUMMER WITH THIS TROPICAL BOHEMIAN BEACH HOUSE LOOK!
HAUNTING HALLOWEEN INSPIRATION WITH BLACK LACE, GOLD PUMPKINS & A TOUCH OF DRAMA
EEK! Happy Halloween and hello to one hell of an awesome styled shoot to celebrate! Whenever the collective of amazing suppliers called the Coocouture get together me and Emily are always so excited to see the outcome! They always manage to take a theme and go beautifully extravagant with it and this Halloween shoot was no exception! It ties together pretty elements of Autumn while avoiding all the cheesy cliches. Cue the subtle fall tones and the drama!
WORDS FROM THE COOCOUTURIERS…
As a collective, we’re all about embracing alternative themes and giving them our unique spin. We’ve explored Steampunk, Harajuku, Historical and Fantasy genres, concentrating perhaps a bit more of the ‘coo-coo’ side of things. Now, as our respective businesses have grown towards something of a ‘rustic chic’/‘boho-luxe’ aesthetic, we’re embracing more of the ‘couture’ angle. So here’s our interpretation of a Halloween themed wedding, shot at the incredibly beautiful Elmley Nature Reserve. The aim was for it to be subtle in tone and an allusion to the season, but not lacking in drama – we hope you love it as much as we do!
THE FLOWERS…
Not a fresh or an artificial flower in sight! Instead, I was drawn to dried and preserved materials, including pinecones, cotton, lagurus ovatus (bunny tail grass), cortaderia, scabies stellata, wheat, poppy heads and twigs, all in suitably Autumnal tones. From these I created a statement bouquet and bottle arrangements for the table, providing an alternative to the conventional floral look, yet still natural, earthy and attractive.
THE PHOTOGRAPHY…
With this shoot being more of a couture Halloween style than the typical fancy dress look, the colours were much more muted blacks and browns, so I aimed to reflect that in the editing, with a clean palette that wasn’t too bright or warm. Again, to stress the couture look, we decided on high fashion, editorial poses that were quite dramatic, with nothing to cute or typically “wedding pretty” – which Kirsty pulled off beautifully!
THE FASHION…
I wanted to make this interpretation of our Halloween elegant yet sensual and chose a beautiful black lace with a champagne satin base to give the impression of semi nakedness. A fitted, draped v-neck bodice with a full skirt and layers of net and another variation of my best selling Carrie veil completes the outfit. A new style for the spooky queen of darkness!
THE HAIR & MAKEUP…
Samhain gave me the inspiration to create a Pagan Priestess. The multi-textured hair and asymmetrical braiding is bohemian, yet elegant enough for a wedding. The orange and golden eye makeup is warm and glowing against her alabaster skin, which gives her an otherworldly appearance.
THE SHOES…
The structure of the ankle boots are made from a beautifully soft nude leather. The black lace has been hand stitched to allow the scallop edging to create a lovely design feature down the front. With the lace coming over the peep toe of the boots to create a subtle transparency. With black patent eding down the back for the ribbon lacing to thread through that leads into a dramatic gloss black patent high heel.
THE STATIONERY…
Feeling completely uninspired by other Halloween wedding inspiration out there, this shoot really gave me the chance to put a more fashionable spin on the eerie time of year. We were in agreement that the stationery needed to avoid the cliche pumpkins, skulls, skeletons that you see floating around Pinterest at the moment. I wanted like minded brides to feel just because it was Halloween they didn’t fully need to go full on seasonal, but instead mix colours and ideas with the boho trends that are looking so gorgeous at the moment.
The stationery still had a nod to the dark side using a watercolour stag skull but mixed with autumnal florals. I backed this onto black card to really bring the theme together.
The set styling included a mix of brown bottles used for florals and candles, intertwined with pine cones and skeleton leaves. Of course we had to use pumpkins but sprayed golden and bronze tones to sit with the rest of the table.
The tableware was a selection of vintage Amber glass plates and hand blown Amber wine glasses. With ornate gold charger plates and black place settings to really give a gothic contrast.
THE CAKES…
The cake table matched the colours and overall theme of the shoot. We went for natural wood mixed with brown, beige and white elements as well as black lace and golden pumpkins adding a Halloween feel to it.
THE FILM…
We wanted to create a dark, unnerving film in the spirit of Halloween, so we took inspiration from gothic horror and horror film subgenres. We used a series of jump cuts and flash transitions to evoke an unsettled, jarring feel and created a dark colour grade with a dark vignette to give the film an eerie look.
SUPER SUPPLIERS
Flowers: Gwenda of The Vintage Floral Design Co. // Photography: Kat Forsyth Photography // Cakes: Lau of Frenchmade // Hair & Makeup: Anneke of Retromorphosist // Shoes: Marsha of Marsha Hall Handmade Shoes // Dress & Veil: Karen of Karen Dornellie // Video: Katie & Steve of Skinny Boy Weddings // Stationery: Lou of Beyond Vintage // Venue: Elmley Nature Reserve //
Tips for Getting That Halloween Inspiration for your BIG Day
If you’re a bride or groom who’s drawn to the dark, mysterious, and slightly eerie side of life, planning a Halloween-inspired wedding might just be your dream come true. But where do you even start gathering Halloween Inspiration for your big day without falling into the trap of tacky plastic pumpkins and over-the-top fake cobwebs? The goal is to balance elegance with the thrill of Halloween, and yes, it’s entirely possible.
Start by thinking about what truly fascinates you about Halloween. Is it the rich color palette of deep oranges, blacks, and purples? Or maybe the iconic spooky symbols like ravens, skeletons, or flickering candlelit jack-o’-lanterns? Personally, I’ve always been intrigued by the gothic romance side of Halloween—think Dracula’s lavish ball, not the local haunted house down the road. When I was a creative consultant for a Halloween-themed wedding styled shoot last year, we worked on transforming a historical venue into something that could have easily hosted a masquerade in a Victorian horror novel. And that’s where it gets fun: Halloween weddings can go in so many different directions!
A big source of Halloween Inspiration can come from classic literature and films. Imagine taking a page from Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride or Sleepy Hollow. You’re not just limited to black lace and skulls—those stories are filled with romance, magic, and unexpected elegance. If you’re not afraid to play with symbolism, black roses could represent eternal love, or a raven might stand for loyalty through dark times. Some couples even opt for full-on masquerades where each guest is dressed in elaborate costumes that fit the theme—mystery adds a touch of excitement, don’t you think?
But don’t just stick to the obvious. As much as I love a good jack-o’-lantern centerpiece, subtlety can be key. My advice? Focus on the small details. Incorporate Halloween in sophisticated ways. Candlelit tables with dark, moody florals set the tone beautifully. One bride I worked with even had a bouquet of black calla lilies and crimson roses—it was eerie and romantic at the same time. And if you’re into DIY, you could create an enchanted forest feel with a few strategic decorations: fairy lights, gothic candelabras, and a mist machine (just enough to give the atmosphere a ghostly touch, not so much that it feels like a concert fog machine gone wild).
Another fun idea? Themed food and drinks. For one wedding, we had a blood-red cocktail with dry ice creating a fog effect—guests loved it! It was an unexpected but clever way to slip Halloween into the reception without going overboard. A dessert table decked out in mini pumpkin pies and dark chocolate skulls can be both stylish and delicious. Keep the theme alive in a way that adds to the experience but doesn’t steal the show.
And finally, take your Halloween Inspiration all the way to the aisle. Dark wedding dresses or even just a black lace veil can add an element of surprise. One bride I know went all in with a velvet black cape—channeling her inner Morticia Addams—and it was stunning. It wasn’t your typical wedding day look, but that’s exactly why everyone remembers it.
If you’re still searching for ways to bring that extra dose of Halloween magic to your day, just think of what gives you that shiver of excitement. It doesn’t have to be a full-scale haunted house or overdone costumes. Sometimes, the best Halloween Inspiration comes from unexpected places—like a perfectly placed raven feather in your bouquet or a dessert that has your guests wondering if it’s really safe to eat. Spoiler: it always is.
Great photographs, well done
This is awesome. Such a different take on a wedding compared to the usual colorful, flowery, white weddings that pretty much everyone does. I’m sure all the punk/goth couples out there would love something like this.