Red Chestnut Flower

When you think or hear about a themed wedding you may assume that it is going to be pretty cheesy. However, there are ways to keep your themed wedding fun and classy at the same time. If you are someone who loves October 31st, would like to step out of the box and have a Halloween themed wedding, then we have some ideas for you.

The Dress - There are a few different options for your wedding gown. The first is to keep the dress traditional white with a mermaid silhouette like Mortica from the Addams Family. Add a black or fall colored ribbon around the waist. Or you break the norm and wear an elegant black ball gown- after all, your wedding has a Halloween theme so you could be completely untraditional and certainly memorable.

The Bridesmaids - Keep your ladies in a typical bridesmaid dress in a fall color or basic black but add some flair by having a fun orange pin for their hair or dress. Just look for simple autumn inspired pieces that can be added to the bridesmaid dress, jewelry, hair or flowers.

Groom/Groomsmen - Wear the traditional black tuxedo but add a splash of Halloween color by wearing a Fall colored bow tie, vest, cummerbund or tie.

Bouquets - Use orange, gold, red or even plum colors for the flowers and look for fun Halloween decorations to be added into the wedding bouquet such as miniature pumpkins, skeletons, spiders, etc. You could even look for Halloween themed ribbon to be wrapped around the stem of the bouquets.

The ceremony itself could remain traditional but with little touches of Halloween. The reception is the time when you could go all out and really showcase your Halloween theme.

Your Guests

In the spirit of Halloween, ask your guests to participate by wearing a Halloween costume instead of what they'd typically wear to a wedding.

Table Decorations/Centerpieces

o Hollow out pumpkins and use as flower vases or candle holders

o Add black and orange pillar candles around the tables and coordinate with matching black table clothes

o For unique centerpieces, spray tree branches black and place cobwebs and spiders throughout

o Use fake miniature gravestones as name cards

Reception Area Decorations

o Hang dark drapes around the reception area

o Hang white lights around dark drapes to give the feeling of a twilight setting

o Add a to your cake

o Place dried branches throughout the reception area

o Spray paint pumpkins gold or silver to add color and pizzazz to the basic pumpkin and place the pumpkins throughout the reception area

o Hang orange and/or black lanterns

o Lead the way to the reception area with pumpkins that have arrows carved in them to show guests where to go.

o Place candles in bags to line the entryway to the reception.

o Use witch caldrons to hold beverages.

Wedding Favors

o Personalize a Jones Soda bottle with your picture, wedding date and/or thank you.

o Create trick or treat bags filled with candy.

o Create masks for guests to wear at the wedding reception and to take home- these could also be used as name cards as well.

o Buy miniature coffins filled with candy.

o Place Carmel apples on your reception table to use as decorations and favors

No matter what you do, a Halloween inspired wedding will be one that your guests will never forget!

Susan A. Shapiro