about our featured blogger

We're pleased to announce Mike Allebach as our new Gothic weddings blogger. Mike owns Allebach Photography with his wife Rachel and loves photographing tattooed brides & punk rock grooms. He and his wife met while Mike was playing guitar in a punk rock band. They live outside of Philadelphia with their son Elijah and new twins Evan and Caleb.

Special thanks to Nick Brown Photography, Janae Shields Photography and Mary Basnight Photography for our featured Gothic wedding photos

3 Gothic Wedding Reception Venue Ideas

When it comes to wedding sites, these sublime locales are spot-on for you and your Prince of Darkness.

A Castle Wedding: Channel Bram Stoker

It's hard to think of a faraway castle without thinking of that icon of all things gothic: Count Dracula. If you're looking for the ultimate goth wedding locale, a castle is just the place.

For castles close to home, check out our guide to the best wedding castles in the US. Or, go all-out and plan a destination wedding at an authentic medieval castle in Europe. Each one has its own unique character and history, and you might even stumble upon some jaw-dropping artifacts housed there: The rosary beads worn by Mary, Queen of Scots at her beheading, for example, are kept at Arundel Castle in Brighton, England. Gruesome!

A Mansion Wedding: A Home With a Past

Another excellent option is to host your wedding at a stately mansion. It has much of the same allure as a castle and is -- let's face it -- far more accessible and affordable.

Like the idea of hosting your wedding in a place that's actually haunted? Check out our roundup of purportedly haunted wedding sites.

An Outdoor Wedding: A Twilight Theme

Hold the ceremony just before dusk to make the most of the fleeting light just before sundown. Offer guests black lace parasols for shade and style. For decor, you won't need much more than a few dozen hanging votives in tree branches. Darkness, after all, is something of a guest of honor -- so the more shadows, the better!

-- Alex Hess

from the community

I have to say that the "Twilight" themed wedding sounds spectacular. I have to admit that I will be walking down the aisle to "Bella's Lullaby". Afterall, We are getting married in Washington, and I am a sucker for dark romances. I can't say that I would pass out black lace parasols to my guests because that would take away from the bride carrying around her parasol and fan. Instead our guests will be greated with beautiful sandalwood fans adorned with a black satin ribbon. Also I would prefer to be wed in a castle, but since we happened upon a lovely garden we couldn't be happier to be surrounded by Mother Nature herself. We are very much looking forward to our lovely gothic victorian garden party.

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