White dresses are a longstanding wedding tradition… and while there is certainly a trend in amazing colored dresses, many brides are still sticking to good ole white… even those of us that drape ourselves in black every other day of the year. But for any girl, that wedding dress is still a representation of their style. So if you’ve chosen to go the traditional white route, but aren’t quite ready to let go of your dark glamour… Here’s how I handled that exact dilemma…
My wedding anniversary happens to be this week, so I thought this was a good time to begin bringing you some details of my wedding. I love planning events, especially weddings, so when I had the chance to plan my own wedding, it was an amazing experience… but not one without a lot of unwelcome opinions and outside pressure.
Here’s the thing… I do wear black every day… and I’m into macabre things… and I attend Vampire balls… and have skull art all over my house… you get the picture. There was some concern from family and friends that I would turn my wedding into a Halloween party. For me… that was never my intention. I actually did want a white dress. And I wanted an elegant wedding. But I still wanted it to feel like me. So, I added Gothic, Black, and Victorian details everywhere I could, like these DIY Victorian Cameo Restroom Signs. I can’t wait to share my entire wedding with you but for today…. it’s all about the bride.
Despite opting out of the cliche gothic black gown… I was still determined to work some black into my ensemble. I chose jet black Victorian jewelry… large dangling earrings and a black crystal filigree bracelet. I already owned those earrings, and found the bracelet on Etsy. On my feet… black stilettos adorned with black jewels. I searched high & low for heels that had a bit of Victorian flare and these from Vince Camuto fit the bill. Since my wedding day, I’ve discovered so many other shoes perfect for a victorian or gothic Bride…. shoes with way more impact than the ones I chose! Here is my Must Have List of Shoes for the Victorian or Gothic Bride!
In hindsight, I may have chosen a way more Gothic garter, but this set was given to me, it worked with my color scheme, and I felt compelled to wear it. In reality, this was my chance to go as wild as I’d like.. and I’d know what was under that dress even if no one else did. Oh well…. you get the benefit of learning from my mistakes! I’m currently working on a line of “Dark” wedding garters for the Me and Annabel Lee Shop on Etsy…. so stay tuned!! And speaking of what is under that dress…. Black lace undergarments are another opportunity to add a bit dark intrigue, depending on your style of dress.
My absolute favorite thing about my dress was the black tulle skirt I wore underneath! The skirt was a completely separate piece of layered black tulle… Yes, I had a lot of layers on, but totally worth it!! From the first day I gave any consideration to shopping for a wedding dress, I knew I wanted the black tulle, with a black sash at my waist to tie it all together. Boy did the criticism come out in full force for that decision. I was warned that my dress would look like a costume. I stuck to my guns…. and the dress was gorgeous. I couldn’t stop picking up my skirt to reveal the tulle… and got so many compliments!
If you’re thinking of incorporating some gothic drama into your wedding dress… there are so many ways to do it… just remember – it’s all in the details!! And take it from me… don’t let anyone second guess your choices! Black can be a beautiful color for a wedding!!
Photo Credit: Celine Michelle Photography
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