{"id":328038,"date":"2022-10-20T07:00:39","date_gmt":"2022-10-20T06:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/whimsicalwonderlandweddings.com\/?p=328038"},"modified":"2024-03-22T16:57:22","modified_gmt":"2024-03-22T16:57:22","slug":"goth-wedding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wedissimo.com\/blog\/goth-wedding\/","title":{"rendered":"Alternative & Non-Traditional Goth Wedding with a Black Dress"},"content":{"rendered":"

What an awesome alternative goth wedding<\/strong> I have to share with you! It’s Lauren and Niki’s epic non-traditional day which is jammed-packed with personality.<\/p>\n

Lauren and Niki’s wedding journey started with a proposal<\/a> in Transylvania on Halloween, outside of the Black Church. Doesn’t that sound just amazing? From there they planned a day true to them with no table plan<\/a>, no matching bridesmaid dresses or any kind of dress code.<\/p>\n

Instead, they created a fun and relaxed day at The Unthank Arms<\/a> pub in Norwich<\/a>. They had simple decor to reduce waste teamed with gorgeous natural flowers. Then there were the amazing black outfits they both rocked. Oh and look out for cute cats! Stunning<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Anna Pumer Photography<\/a>, thank you ever so much for sharing your amazing images with us.<\/p>\n

\"Bridal \"Black \"Pet<\/p>\n

Goth Wedding<\/h2>\n

The Proposal<\/h3>\n

We aren\u2019t a typical couple, and we both knew if we were ever going to get married, we wouldn\u2019t want to do things the way everyone else does and we like a lot of spooky stuff<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

So Niki proposed to me on Halloween, in Transylvania<\/strong>, outside the church in Brasov called the Black Church (he had been planning to ask while we were at Bran Castle \u2013 Dracula\u2019s Castle \u2013 but there were too many school children running around!).<\/p>\n

He had bought an emergency ring the day before we left for our trip as the one he had chosen hadn\u2019t arrived! We celebrated with beers in the local rock club<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The Vision<\/h3>\n

We started with what we didn\u2019t want<\/strong> \u2013 as we really had no idea what our wedding might look like, not really being wedding people \u2013 and worked from there to find what we did want!<\/p>\n

We had no seating plan, no matching bridesmaids or dress code<\/strong>. We wanted a relaxed, fun atmosphere, but mostly we wanted it to be \u2018us\u2019, for people to have enjoyed coming and to have had a good time. We didn\u2019t realise how much our guests would need a good time by the time our wedding day actually happened!<\/p>\n

Budget<\/h3>\n

We did keep a record but after two cancellations and a venue change due to covid, we gave up! It was a low budget<\/strong> as far as weddings go.<\/p>\n

\"Black \"Black \"Black \"Black \"Black \"Bouquet<\/p>\n

The Venue<\/h3>\n

We initially had a venue by the sea in Kent, but with the pandemic, our wedding got postponed, then cancelled, then rearranged.<\/p>\n

Then we moved back to Norwich and discovered our lovely local pub The Unthank Arms<\/strong> did weddings. They said \u2018yes\u2019 to everything we asked, didn\u2019t charge extras, didn\u2019t question it when Niki tested the speakers with some Rob Zombie, and our organiser Libby was so amazing (she even wore black on our day!).<\/p>\n

The food was great and the staff were beyond lovely and helpful. The beer garden welcomed dogs and inside was a traditional pub with local beers.<\/p>\n

Your Outfits<\/h3>\n

I knew I wanted a black dress<\/strong>, something I might wear again as I hate waste, and one of my best women found one online that was perfect.<\/p>\n

I had Irregular Choice<\/strong> shoes, a Vide Noir corset belt<\/strong> and Bibian Blue lace bolero<\/strong> to add some drama. My godmother gave me a Victorian mourning bracelet and my necklace said \u2018Til Death\u2019 from Rune & Raven.<\/p>\n

My hair and makeup<\/strong> were done by Demi Lock, who really made me feel comfortable as she\u2019s an alternative chick herself and didn\u2019t try to make me look like everyone else!<\/p>\n

Niki wanted to be comfortable (and did not want to wear a suit). He wore black jean flares<\/strong>, black high-tops from EMP, a second-hand bolero tie with a silver buffalo skull clasp, a black shirt and a velvet jacket he had tailored by Hockerty. He had a touch of colour with bright yellow socks<\/strong> with cacti on them (which were also a reference to an in-joke between him and his band)!<\/p>\n

\"Goth \"Goth \"Goth \"Goth \"Goth<\/p>\n

The Ceremony & Music<\/h3>\n

The day before our \u2018official\u2019 ceremony we had a hand-fasting on a nearby beach, just Niki and I, our friend Row officiating, then went to the pub for pre-Big-Day drinks!<\/p>\n

The following day we got married at the registry office in Norwich Castle<\/strong>, and everyone got on a Norwich City Tour bus afterwards to take us to the pub!<\/p>\n

I made my entrance to Danny Elfman\u2019s \u2018Ice Dance\u2019<\/strong> from Edward Scissorhands, we walked out to Clutch\u2019s \u2018In Walks Barbarella\u2019<\/strong> which no one heard because everyone was cheering so loudly!<\/p>\n

Your Photographer & Filmmaker<\/h3>\n

We booked Anna Pumer when we lived back in Kent, we wanted someone who would understand the kind of wedding we were having (and who loved cats). She was wonderful through all the lockdown cancellations and agreed to make the journey to Norwich when we moved! The photos were amazing<\/strong>, we were very glad to have decided to spend the money on a pro!<\/p>\n

\"Goth \"Goth\"Goth\"Goth \"Goth \"Confetti \"Goth \"Goth \"Goth \"Goth \"Goth \"Goth \"Goth \"Goth \"Goth \"Table<\/p>\n

The Styling & Decor<\/h3>\n

There was no theme really, just a natural vibe<\/strong>. The brides mum decorated the pub with her own greenery<\/strong> from Christmas decorations, electric candles and fairylights.<\/p>\n

The garden had black and white paper decorations<\/strong> that could be used again. We didn\u2019t have signs saying \u2018welcome to our wedding\u2019 etc as we didn\u2019t want anything that would be single-use then thrown away.<\/p>\n

We printed our own programs<\/strong> which had a quiz about us on them, and used our first wedding date\u2019s beer-mat invitations as table decorations!<\/p>\n

Flowers<\/strong> were a gift from our friend Philippa at P.S. Floristry \u2013 she made the bride\u2019s bouquet as a flat coffin-style spray and a handful of buttonholes \u2013 and the table vases were donated to the pub afterwards.<\/p>\n

Our cake<\/strong> was another gift from a friend – Carly at Agents of Cake \u2013 with black icing, lace trim and different flavours in each of the four tiers. A sculptor friend Nickie made mini versions of our two cats to sit on the cake.<\/p>\n

\"Black \"Card \"Blue \"Blue \"Lego \"Goth \"Goth \"Goth \"Goth \"Goth \"Goth<\/p>\n

The Honeymoon<\/h3>\n

We\u2019re planning our trip to Mexico<\/strong> as we speak! We\u2019re going to Mexico City for Day of the Dead celebrations and hopefully we\u2019ll see some temples, haunted houses and bat caves. We also might squeeze in a beachside cocktail or two.<\/p>\n

Memorable Moments<\/h3>\n

The night before we sent family to the wrong pub<\/strong> (twice!) and they had to be rescued by friends of ours they\u2019d never met before as we tried to describe them over the phone (\u2018there should be a lady there with bright red hair, she\u2019ll get you to the right place\u2019!)<\/p>\n

The tour bus<\/strong> was great fun, photos in the Plantation Gardens, the pets that joined us throughout the day. Also, every single speech<\/strong> made the groom cry, including his own. But one of our personal highlights was after the ceremony, when we snuck off to another local pub for a beer<\/strong> just the two of us, before heading to the reception to meet all our guests.<\/p>\n

\"Goth \"Goth \"Goth \"Goth \"Goth \"Goth<\/p>\n

Advice For Other Couples<\/h3>\n

Do whatever you want<\/strong>, it\u2019s your wedding and anyone who doesn\u2019t like it doesn\u2019t have to come! It will soon be clear who loves you and wants to celebrate you, rather than just expect an invitation.<\/p>\n

\"Goth<\/p>\n

How brilliant!<\/p>\n

Lauren and Niki, thank you both so much for sharing your alternative goth wedding story.<\/p>\n

Further Reading<\/h4>\n