Photography and words by Fleming Photo

Most peoples’ childhood heroes were Barbie or the Spice Girls. Mine was Morticia Addams. From her pale skin that matched mine, to her long red fingernails when she pushed Fester & Deborah’s doorbell….I wanted to be her! As I grew into my teens, couplegoals were not Victoria & David but Morticia & Gomez! They adored each other, swooned, even spoke their own language. So when it comes to finding the ultimate wedding goals…surely it would be an Addams family wedding.

There's a really fine line between Halloween/spooky bridal styled shoots and it crossing over (so to speak) into tacky, vampire satire. The team and I paid close attention to subtle details and small nods to the entire Addams Family idea. The brief I gave nearly every single wedding suppler was “what would Gomez & Morticia have at their wedding?”

The team did not disappoint.

I’ve had this concept in my head for years. After a few failed attempts with various venues, it was a fellow wedding supplier that pointed me in the direction of Ettington Park Hotel. Once the exterior location of 60’s horror film The Haunting, along with numerous accounts of ghostly sightings, it was the perfect fit when I laid eyes on the chapel and the grounds.

Holly from Revelry Events did an excellent job of helping me put concepts into actual styling ideas. It was big boots to fill but Holly really helped me visualise the various shots I wanted in order to create a beautiful and well considered gothic wedding shoot. Holly clearly has a true talent for dealing with vague ideas and turning them into something special!

Having had this idea in my mind for so many years, I knew exactly which suppliers I wanted to work with to realise the dream. Bespoke bridal designer Felicity Westmacott made the ultimate Morticia Addams wedding gown! Having worked with Felicity previously on re-creating cinematic gowns, I knew she would deliver the goods! From the sleeve details to the authentic Morticia style edging at the feet of the dress, but the main piece of incredible design was the hanging black beads on the back of the dress that hung in such a way it created a pentagram!

"I threaded one thousand black glass faceted beads in loops to create a five-pointed pentagram star that appears where they cross!"

The mention of stationery came up during an entirely different call with the mega babe that is Peach Wolfe. As soon as I mentioned Addams Family, I had a mock-up and the most gorgeous snake motif sent over. Sarah’s designs went on to exceed all of my expectations, giving the ultimate Addams Family vibe to the coffin-shaped RSVP and menu. It pulled the entire tablescape together along with some gorgeous crystals favours by Necromancy Shop.

Gemma from Iris & Co was top of the list for flowers when I saw her beautiful blooms at a wedding event last year. She brought to life the reds and burgundy that Morticia would have hand-grown herself, along with the infamous red roses.

Bronya from DCC understood the brief to a T when I said, “I want an urn that looks like Addams Family relatives are actually in it” and when I saw the finished product I gasped! It was perfect. Yes, that’s right, the urn is in fact a cake!

Wilderness Prop Hire helped dress the table along with a custom welcome sign that greeted guests to the dusk ceremony. When it came to rings I knew I wanted alternative jewellers Bloody Mary Metal on the case. As a long time fan and having collaborated with them before, I was so happy they were up for a second project. So much so, I’ve ended up keeping Gomez’s wedding ring as a little keepsake from the shoot!

I gave Rachel from Make-up in Orangeries complete trust in making both Morticia & Gomez classically macabre but with a bridal hint. Having worked with her before, I knew she was a highly accomplished MUA. To complete the long we had a beautiful Cathedral length gown made by Felicity that morning along with gorgeous celestial headpieces from The Lucky Six Pence. I’m sure you’ll agree our Morticia looked INCREDIBLE!

I'm so incredibly blown away from the team's efforts, talent and drive to bring together this Morticia and Gomez alternative gothic wedding shoot. As a huge fan of the macabre, I wanted to showcase that Halloween weddings can still be stylish. They can pay beautiful homage to the morose!

Check out the full gallery below along with a list of the amazing team of UK wedding suppliers involved in making this happen! If you like what you see please follow them and get in touch with them directly about your own wedding plans!

Concept & Photography: @lexflemingphoto

Concept & Planning: @revelryeventsuk

Venue: @ettingtonparkhotel

Hair & Make-up: @makeup_in_orangeries

Flowers: @irisandcoflowers

Dress: @felicitywestmacott

Suit: @asos

Jewellery: @bloodymarymetal

Headpieces: @thelucky6pence

Props: @wildernessprophire 

Cake: @bronyadcc

Stationery: @peachwolfe  

Crystals: @shopnecromantic

Peacock chair: @the_hullabaloo_collective

Models: @meganrose.earthsoul & @masonthehealer