Photo Credit | Unsplash
The sun is setting, transitioning from day to night, the lights are dimming, exposing the warm tones more than ever before, reflecting the joyful love of the happy newlyweds. This imagery is what we use as the foundation of a lovely dark and moody vision inspiration for your beautiful wedding! The amazing thing about weddings and creating the bride’s ideal atmosphere is that there’s something for everyone, whether it's light and airy with the soft pastels of spring and summer, or it’s dark and moody with the deep tones of fall and winter, or the bride has chosen to switch your typical color tones to an unexpected season, your wedding day will reflect true love and the environment that is created is only a complement to that. With that being said, we’re diving into all things dark and moody on this spooky holiday to get you in the spirit of the season!
COLOR PALETTE
Typically, we think of the dark and moody inspiration for a wedding for the fall and winter seasons, although it really can make for a beautiful and warm atmosphere all year round, depending on the wants of the couple! Let’s take a tour of all the seasons to spark ideas for the ideal dark and moody palette you might want to have surround the beauty of the day. Fall, the season of change, is the ideal time to bring out the rustic browns, darker greens, deep blues, purples, and reds, complemented by neutrals and even gold. Winter, the season of retreat, is the perfect time to build on the cloudy landscape, with deep purples and reds to complement gold, black, and crystal blues. Spring, the season of bloom, allows for the silver and golden color spectrum to flourish, in addition to deeper pink and yellow tones. Summer, the season of being present, gives way to expanding on the lighter greens, deeper blues, and colors like salmon and the grape-like color palette. These are just some ideas to get you in the moody inspiration for whichever season your special day is in!
DECORATIONS
When it comes to the broad category which we condense to be the decorations of a wedding, this encompasses the tablescape, the altar, invitations, even the cake, and everything in between. The beauty of the bride’s dress is only enhanced by its atmosphere, which is why we want to clue you in on some tips and tricks for creating this! When thinking about the tablescape, think dark chargers to go under the plates, deep colored napkins tied with a gold or silver bow or napkin ring, with each table being complete with table numbers and name tents which have light handwriting set by a lovely dark background. Some moody décor ideas that really set the vibe could look like metal candlesticks with tall black candles, deep-colored, silky fabric, along with dark cheesecloth to complete and tablescape. We also have loved to see our couples utilize the LED signs which are the perfect way to wrap up the altar and reception spaces. Really, when going for the dark and moody aesthetic, think industrial, vintage, classy and medieval eras to set the right tone for the night.
FLORALS
A HUGE part of what adds and really creates the aesthetic of the day is the florals that are chosen. Florals seep into every part of the wedding day, whether it’s walking down the aisle, taking photos, setting the tablescape, or celebrating at the reception, the florals are there for it all. We recommend our brides who are looking for this aesthetic to use the color palette mentioned above as inspiration for which florals to choose!
PHOTOGRAPHY AND LIGHTING
The whole dark and moody vibe is something you definitely want to capture in the snapshots of your special day! This kind of photography relies heavily on the use of natural light, using cloudy light as inspiration. The darker palette complements this kind of photography well because of the boldness and richness of color which is enhanced! Benefits to this kind of photography for your wedding day might look like less squinting because of the harsh light, the contrast against the beautiful white of the bride’s dress, and the capturing reality because of its tonal nature. Another tip and trick we have for you when creating this elegant space are drawing on the use of candlelight or industrial lighting which only helps expose the moodiness of the space.
SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT
VENUE- The venue is the foundation of the ceremony and reception space and can really impact the quality of the dark and moody vibe! When choosing your venue, think historic hotels, industrial warehouses, grey brick, or stony, cottage feel!
ATTIRE- It’s a known fact that you’ll be expecting the bride to come down the aisle in white, although when drawing on this darker inspiration for your wedding, consider going outside the box and implementing a darker gown or tying a dark bow around your waist!
COCKTAILS- Another fun idea is to draw on the moody element and plan your signature drinks accordingly by making cocktails that go with the theme! If you’re going for a spooky vibe, put a “witches brew cocktail” on the menu with steam radiating from the drink, or find classy and gold goblets to carry the drinks to keep the flow of the theme throughout the entire wedding.
Photo Credit I Unsplash
The dark and moody wedding themes are something we are living for right now and it’s only right that we let our readers in on some inspiration we’re seeing, it was too good not to share. We hope you find yourself all encompassed in this aesthetic and that it brings you as much joy and elegance as we see it ourselves!
