If I had been hooked up to some sort of brain activity imagining contraption when I received an inquiry for a “Haunted Mansion” inspired wedding from Jessica Carillo of Art and Soul Events, my brain would have lit up like the night sky in Los Angeles on the 4th of July. My mind was awash in images of skulls, fog machines, black candles and of course, moody floral arrangements. This was the dream!

Over the course of a few months Jessica and I carefully curated a floral and table top prop look for Alex and Joe’s October wedding that was truly fit for a corpse bride. We pulled inspiration from Victorian era natural history collections, apothecaries, macabre oddities, horror film sets, the cemeteries of New Orleans and of course, Halloween. The trick was to keep things feeling celebratory and not to lean too far into the kitsch trap that so many October weddings find themselves in. We wanted an elevated haunted house filled with welcoming spirits and good cheer.

Romantic Amaranthus Draped Bridal Bouquet & Pocket Boutonniere

Both the bride and groom donned slick black ensembles with moody burgundy, mauve and dusty rose floral accents. Alex’s bouquet is a favorite design of mine. Simple and elegant, moody but not too dark. The burgundy amaranthus draping from her bouquet and Joe's pocket boutonniere bring hints of darkness and romance together, perfect for their wedding celebration.

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An Overgrown Candle Filled Ceremony Reminiscent of a Long Forgotten Mansion

The ceremony was an intimate affair, just immediate family was witness to their candlelight union. The antique mirror that stands against the old brick wall of Carondelet House was the perfect backdrop to reflect the soft glow of dozens of Vogue Candles back onto the couple as they exchanged their vows. A New Orleans inspired installation of wild climbing Smilax vines, overgrown yet romantic arrangements and two wild, spanish moss draped urn arrangements flanking either side of the mirror encompassed the ceremony space.

Wild and Moody Floral Installations and Ghostly Performers Add to the Drama and Atmosphere of What is Perhaps, a Real Haunted Mansion.

Carondelet House, a 1920’s villa nestled in the heart of Los Angeles’ Koreatown, is the perfect location for a haunted mansion inspired wedding. The staff have tales of strange sounds and inexplicable experiences after hours, meaning that it is perhaps truly a haunted mansion itself. The eclectic mix of antique furniture and paintings blend seamlessly into the raw yet opulent architecture of the space. Jessica Carillo has a knack for choosing the perfect venue for her client’s events. When you have a venue that naturally coordinates with the look of your event there isn’t much that NEEDS to be done to dress it up. Any decor you add will just further blend and accentuate the theme and space. Touches of candlelight, moments of overgrown florals and accent pieces like bud vases were all that the entry of the Carondelet House really needed. Jessica brought Unifier Entertainment in for a little added touch of drama via live performers who greeted the wedding guests as they arrived. It was truly a sight to behold!

Black Candles along with Apothecary and Naturalist details make for a Hauntingly Beautiful Wedding Reception

The reception dinner was the cherry on top of it all. Most of the floral design focus was placed here as it offered us an opportunity to incorporate details and unusual design elements. Every dining table offered a different centerpiece made up of black candles, naturalist inspired cloches and terrariums, animal skulls, and lots of overgrown vines alongside romantic and moody floral arrangements. Overhearing Alex gasp “this is OUR wedding, Joe!” with delight in her eyes as the two of them experienced the reception room reveal was everything we could have hoped for in a reaction from our clients.

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A Simple Black Tiered Cake Can be an Elegant Backdrop for an Unexpected Floral Moment

It wouldn’t be a wedding without a stunning Nicole Bake’s Cakes creation to top it all off. Nicole arrived with a stunning multi level onyx black tiered cake atop a clear acrylic stand. We worked together to decorate the cake, in its entirety, with flowers. Nicole said to me “let’s get weird” and we never looked back!