5 Drop-Dead Gorgeous Halloween Wedding Ideas

Are you sick of the seeing the same white wedding over and over? Do you want to fulfil your inner ‘elder goth’ and add a little bit of your own unique flare? Then why not say your vows beneath candle light or choose a venue for it’s more ‘permanent’ of residents. If you’re a big fan on spooky season then these Halloween wedding ideas will be sure to delight!

These unique Halloween wedding ideas will help you make your big day day an event that no one will ever forget.

5 Drop-Dead Gorgeous Halloween Wedding Ideas

1. Considering getting married in an historic location

While there’s nothing wrong with getting married in your local church, chapel or modern hotel venue, it can be exciting to mix things up. Whether you’re getting married during the Halloween season, or you just love all things spooky, wouldn’t it be thrilling to say your vows in an historic castle? Better yet, what if that castle were notoriously haunted by souls long since passed?

There are various haunted locations throughout the UK and Ireland that readily welcome guests to be married on their grounds, all you need do is make a quick Google search. But, when scouting out haunted locations for you and your beloved to say your vows, bear in mind some may not be as obvious as others.

Venues such as Castle Leslie in Co.Monoghan, Ireland, often have their dark past overlooked. While now it operates as a regular, run-of-the-mill wedding location, it’s history is what makes this location perfect for any frightful affair!

Not sure if your chosen location ticks all your boxes? Don’t be afraid to ask the staff or even the locals for their opinion.

Of course, if you’re adamant about the ‘spook’ factor, why not consider a graveyard? Castle ruins? Or, if you have any on hand, the remains of an old church or fort?

Be warned: If you’re choosing to go the ‘abandoned’ route, make sure you get the permission of the local council/owner of the building’s remains. Trespassing could get you and your party into serious trouble and won’t be one of your best Halloween wedding ideas! That and the caretakers of the location will be able to advise on whether or not the location is safe for purpose. While I understand the desire to stand out when it comes to your spooky venue, no one wants your soul to add to the haunting.

2. DIY Or Die?

Let’s be honest, weddings can be a very expensive affair. From flowers to party favours to the DJ for the evening do, the list of expenses can seem endless! That’s why I highly recommend that, if you’re creative and you have the time, you hone in on your skills. There are so many DIY tutorials you can follow to make your own, unique wedding decorations and favours, all of which will give your day that extra ‘pop’!

My husband recently threw me a surprise haunted party for my thirtieth birthday. The majority of his decorations were home made over the course of a few weeks from my understanding. Our flowerbed in the back yard was filled with plastic skull moulds, he created paintings, hands clawing out from the walls, small coffin shaped signage and even a life sized coffin lid for the entrance way. It was easy enough for him to get his hands on the materials, he simply asked our local shop for left over plastic and cardboard. While his ideas came from both Instagram and TikTok.

Ryan loved every moment of the process and it brought him back to our wedding. We got married during COVID, and as a result our reception was held in our own kitchen. It was a very small and intimate affair, and as such we had limited decorations, most of which were home made by my husband and his mum.

Of course, not everyone is creative or has the time to create home made decorations. But if you are ready and willing to give it a go, why not head over to Pinterest or TikTok to pick up some ideas for your own spooktacular wedding event!? They’re jam packed with frightfully wonderful Halloween wedding ideas and you’re sure to find some ghoulish inspiration.

3. Hold A Midnight Ceremony

Traditionally most wedding ceremonies are held mid morning to early afternoon. But why not shake things up with a dusk or even midnight wedding? As a night owl myself, I would have loved my wedding to be at nightfall! You have the whole day to get ready, and all night to party! Plus if you’re really seeking that spooky vibe, then a dark autumn night is the perfect setting to start a ‘new’ life.

Bonus points if you’re into the moon cycles and somehow manage to choose a night with a full moon. Now that would be an amazing way to empower the beginning of your marriage!

4. Full Faced Makeup!

While I understand it’s not for everyone, I personally think that a full face of makeup would be a memorable and unique wedding experience. I’m talking full faced sugar skull or even zombie SFX attire. If you’re a Tim Burton fan you may also want to re-enact the Corpse Bride and go full blue like Emily!

Yes, you’re probably going to get a few looks from your granny. But it’s your big day, and I wish I’d had the confidence (and authority) to go full wedding goth. Remember it’s your day and your rules so do what you love!

5. Consider A Themed Party

If you and your new spouse choose to go full costume, that’s awesome. But if you create a theme for your wedding, then your guests might feel obliged to join in! You could host a full Halloween themed wedding with costume ideas within your invitations. Or, you could opt for a blanket theme like ‘Day of the Dead’, ‘Zombie Apocalypse’ or even something more vague like ‘Fantasy world.’

If you are considering a fully themed wedding, be prepared for non-compliant guests. Not everyone will want to dress up. But one way to encourage the shy members of the congregation could be to provide various materials for use at the reception. For example, if your theme is masquerade, you could provide various masks laid out on a table to choose from. Some people simply need to see others dressed up to feel confident enough to do so themselves. While others aren’t into it, and that’s perfectly fine too.

Halloween weddings won’t be to everyone’s taste but if it’s what you and you partner want then don’t be afraid to fully embrace all of these Halloween wedding ideas. You know we always say that only yours and your partners opinions matter when it comes to planning your wedding and we love a good alternative wedding over here!

Have you hosted a Halloween themed wedding or are you planning to? We’d love to hear from you in the comments about your own experiences with spooky weddings. Feel free to share some of your own Halloween wedding ideas too!

About the author

Chloe runs the lifestyle blog Nyxie’s Nook covering mental health, general wellness and eating disorder recovery. Chloe is an elder emo at heart who loves all things spooky and black. Chloe and her husband Ryan featured their beautiful micro wedding complete with one year anniversary pumpkin photoshoot on The Thrifty Bride earlier this year.

Pin this!