Halloween Inspired Wedding | Bakers Ranch Wedding
Christine and Chris’ frightfully romantic wedding featured a Halloween inspired theme and a bone chilling color palette of black, silver, grey, bone and white.
“We wanted to have a halloween wedding, but that can be risky and that theme can go in many different directions. So our guiding principles were to plan a wedding that was fun, cohesive, and sophisticated,” the bride shared. “We chose a haunted cemetery for the ceremony and an Edgar Allen Poe theme for the reception. We saw a lot of gothic black and red weddings on Pinterest and didn’t want a typical orange and black Halloween theme. Less color actually seemed more unique and it suited our theme.”
MORE: HALLOWEEN THEMED WEDDING INSPIRATION
The Clearwater couple wanted to hire the best wedding professionals, so they searched for a Sarasota wedding planner whom they could trust.
“We hired Tammy [owner of Special Moments Event Planning] because she came highly recommended, and we had personally attended two weddings she planned prior to our own,” the bride explained. “We found her recommendations to be spot on.”
MORE: SPECIAL MOMENTS EVENT PLANNING WEDDINGS
The groom incorporated personal touches throughout the wedding with unique signage and custom GOBO lighting by Tampa Bay wedding DJ and lighting company Nature Coast Entertainment Services.
“Chris is an artist, so all of the design work was done by him (our logo, website, signs, programs, menus, invitations, lighting design, etc.). I’m more of a bookworm, so he carved my own famous-author tombstones out of insulation foam, and the cake base was an open book,” the bride beamed. “Michael at Nature Coast was so enthusiastic, creative, energetic, and amazing. The music and lighting set the perfect tone. It all came together in a beautifully balanced way that was quite unexpected.”
MORE: NATURE COAST ENTERTAINMENT SERVICES WEDDINGS
Since the bride and groom chose to have an alcohol-free wedding, they knew they had to have a mouthwatering menu.
“Amici’s Catered Cuisine was highly flexible and allowed us to put together a custom cocktail party menu that did not disappoint. The food quality was top-grade and staff was excellent,” the bride gushed.
MORE: AMICI’S CATERED CUISINE WEDDINGS
Looking back, Christine’s most memorable moment was being overwhelmed with emotion on her special day.
“The ceremony was so warm, intimate and emotional. I don’t think there was a dry eye to be seen anywhere,” the bride reminisced.
The Proposal:
We love Halloween and haunts, so Chris took me to Savannah to visit the famous Bonaventure Cemetery and to go on a ghost tour (including the Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil haunts!) On our second day there, he got down on one knee and proposed to me in front of the fountain in the center of Forsyth Park.
How would you describe your theme?
We wanted to have a halloween wedding, but that can be risky and that theme can go in many different directions. So our guiding principles were to plan a wedding that was fun, cohesive and sophisticated. We chose a haunted cemetery for the ceremony and an Edgar Allen Poe theme for the reception. Nothing makes us scream and giggle like a good scare, so we decided to share that love with our family and friends.
What were your colors?
Black, silver, grey, bone and white. We saw a lot of gothic black and red weddings on Pinterest and didn’t want a typical orange and black halloween theme. Less color actually seemed more unique and it suited our theme.
What did you look for in a wedding planner?
Recommendations.
We hired Tammy [owner of Special Moments Event Planning] because she came highly recommended, and we had personally attended two weddings she planned prior to our own. She was recommended by several of our friends, who had used her with great success. Tammy then in turn recommended our DJ and caterer. After going to different wedding shows and tastings, we found Tammy’s recommendations to be spot on.
What did you look for in a wedding caterer?
We decided not to serve alcohol, so the food had to be fabulous.
Amici’s Catered Cuisine came out on top. They were highly flexible and allowed us to put together a custom cocktail party menu that did not disappoint. The food quality was top-grade and staff was excellent.
What did you look for in a wedding DJ/lighting specialist?
Fun, experienced, creative, great equipment, happy customers and a beautiful lighting portfolio.
We went to several wedding expos, but had a hard time selecting a DJ and lighting specialist. Our planner recommended Nature Coast Entertainment Services. Michael, the owner, was so enthusiastic, creative, energetic and amazing. The music and lighting set the perfect tone. It all came together in a beautifully balanced way that was quite unexpected.
What advice would you give to other Tampa Bay Brides?
Make your wedding as unique as you are, put your heart into it, have fun with as much of the process as possible, and try not to stress about any of it. Above all else, get a great wedding planner! It will be the best money you will spend on your wedding and will alleviate so much stress.
Ceremony and Reception Venue: Bakers Ranch
Photographer: Marie Still Photography
Planner: Special Moments Event Planning *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Caterer: Amici’s Catered Cuisine *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Cake: The Cake Zone
DJ & Lighting: Nature Coast Entertainment Services *Marry Me Tampa Bay Preferred Wedding Pro
Officiant: A Florida Wedding Ceremony
Invitations: BellaBaroqueDesign
Hair: Susie McNair
Makeup: Corine Cosmetics & Artistry
Chairs: US Tent
Black Windsor Furniture: So Staged Event Rentals
Guest Accommodations: Courtyard by Marriott Bradenton Sarasota/Riverfront and Hampton Inn Ellenton
Alterations: Ermira’s Alterations of Clearwater
Men’s Suits: Mens Warehouse
Dress Shop: Alfred Angelo
