Dark. Moody. Victorian. It's as simple as that! The traditional white wedding was not appealing to Kari and Steven. The focus was all things dark. From the black wedding attire to the moody burgundy dresses, the styles showed through!
Q: Tell us about your wedding! What was the inspiration behind your day? Did you have a specific theme, style or color palette? Did you incorporate any cultural or religious traditions in any part of your day?
A: Dark. Moody. Victorian. It's as simple as that. The traditional white wedding was not appealing to us. Our focus was all things dark. From our black wedding attire to the moody burgundy dresses, our styles showed through.
Q: Let's talk wedding decor. How did you decorate your space for the ceremony and the reception? Was any part of the decor DIY?
A: I made many of our decorations myself to fit the overall aesthetic. I sewed our black lace table runners and placed fairy lights underneath to add a subtle twinkle. With gold vintage candle holders spread out amongst the tables. Many tea light candles were also used to set a moody atmosphere and of course the color black. We enjoy many movies and incorporated them in our decor. We made a statement piece of love quotes from our favorite movies and TV shows. There was quotes from Deadpool, The Sopranos, Game of Thrones and many more. Our guest book was Harry Potter themed along with a feather pen for signing. With our moody style we also rented vintage couches. The overall look turned out great to fit that vintage and Victorian gothic look.
Q: What were the florals like in your wedding? Did you use flowers in any of your design elements like the bridal bouquets, centerpieces or ceremony backdrop? Did they play an important part in the overall style of your wedding?
A: We asked for dark and moody with no traditional whites or greens, With that being said we were able to mix shades of black, maroon and beige in our bouquets. Our statement arch was custom to a his and her style. Half was all beige and the other half all black representing each of us as a couple. While also utilizing elements/ flowers from Greece, Italy and Japan to give it a more unique quality to fit our taste. Our florals complimented our wedding colors perfectly.
Q: Did you personalize the day in any way (food trucks, guest entertainment etc.)? What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding?
A: Our ceremony started at 7 pm. We wanted an outdoor evening ceremony to fit the aesthetic of the wedding. Once we said I do, we had a social/cocktail hour and our guests received appetizers and desserts followed by a dance. We provided cigars for our guest to enjoy as well. Our venue also had yard games and allowed us to have designated beer pong table for our guests to enjoy. One of my favorite parts was the music we chose prior and during our ceremony. We love movies and incorporated theme instrumentals from our favorite pieces of pop culture.
Q: Let's talk fashion. How did you both choose your wedding day look? Describe the looks in detail.
A: All black everything! Steven's suit was all black detailed from head to toe. We added some some gold accessories. Many of these accessories were passed down such as the watch and tie clip he wore. Each piece has been kept in his family throughout the generations. Kari's dress was custom made and turned out better than imagined. The bottom smooth and elegant, with the top laced to perfection. On the earrings! An extra bold statement.
Q: How did you meet? Tell us about the proposal.
A: We met in the fourth grade and grew up together. We graduated high school together and looking back now we would have never guessed we would be married. After high school we became best friends for many years. Our friendship grew over the years and we started dating. Four years later we attended his grand opening of his new bar and restaurant. He made a speech in thanks to all friends and family with the surprise of a proposal.
Q: What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day?
A: The overall feeling of being overwhelmed with the love you have for your spouse along with the massive support from our friends and family. Our wedding day was full of beautiful emotions and there is no greater feeling than marrying the one you truly love with all your heart.
Q: Do you have any wedding planning or marriage advice that you'd like to share with other couples planning their day?
A: There was not one moment on our wedding day that was stressful. Planning the wedding was very simple and stress free for us. This could be because we planned the entire wedding before telling anyone when it was. We did not let anyone give there input or tell us how to do it. This made our special day exactly how we wanted but importantly, we did only what we wanted to do. The less people to give input or know of the day the better. This made planning easier and preparation go smoother.
