I first met Gareth and Lou around three years ago at a wedding fair in Birmingham. They were attending with their friends who were getting married, and years later when it was their turn, they asked me to be their photographer.
Mrs Rob, Ellie (Starr to our family and friends) from Alternative Ceremonies UK (who they call one of their Fairy Goth Mothers) was their celebrant and she created the perfect personalised horror themed wedding ceremony for Gareth and Lou, who have become friends or ours. When they also met at the same wedding fair, it was mutual quoting from An American Werewolf in London, and conversations about horror films and actors which convinced Gareth and Lou that they had found the right celebrant for them.
Their ceremony and reception was held at Donington Park Farmhouse Derby. Greetings their guests by the entrance of the barn ceremony room was Michael Myers, Gareth’s favourite horror character.
The barn was darker than most venues which went well with their aesthetic, but it wasn’t so easy to photograph in there. Jack O’Lanterns were placed down the aisle, and they had a black arch with a banner signed by the band Creeper with a lyric from Lou’s entrance song More Than Death by Creeper on it.
Lou arrived with her parents looking fang-tastic in a goth Legend Bridal gown. Gareth was dressed from head to toe in black, my kind of wedding! The dress code was black and goth with some of their family and friends wearing black to a wedding for the first time, but all remarked it was so Lou and Gareth.
The ceremony started with Lou’s Godfather Carl air guitaring down the aisle as their Flower Dude. Guests were showered with red rose petals before the Bridesmaids and Lou’s Bride’s Man arrived a head of her.
The ceremony had quotes from their favourite films in it and their handfasting cords which they made had charms representing things they liked on them. As I am also a Graphic Designer, I created a unique wedding certificate complete with blood splatters for them to sign during the ceremony.
As they said their vows to each other the tears from laughter turned to emotional ones as they both read their personal vows to each other. Lou’s Grandparents who are a massive part of their lives were so proud and happy.
They both put so much effort into their day, including a ‘find the ghosts’ hunt. The reception tables were all themed with horror films they liked with each one named from favourite films. The props on each table were from those films, and the guests were gifted a small coffin containing a ghost made for them.
Harpist Alison from Aelvenharp Weddings, who is a fellow alternative wedding supplier played some rock and goth songs after the ceremony as guests signed a specially made for the wedding Necronomicon with red pens. York Ghosts sat round their triple tiered black wedding cake which was made by a friend. A specially carved wedding pumpkin had ‘Mr and Mrs Jones’ on it, and they had a pumpkin filled with sweets for guests to eat.
On the evening more guests arrived with some wearing fancy dress as encouraged to by the newlyweds. Guests snapped selfies with Michael Myers using the props provided, and he over saw their evening reception.
A DJ banged out a playlist Lou had requested with everyone running to the dancefloor when he played certain rock, metal and pop classics.
A great time celebrating was had by all in attendance and the venue was filled with love for Lou and Gareth. Many there stated it was ‘the best wedding ever’ and how it was ‘Lou and Gareth’. Congratulations Lou and Gareth x
