At House of Elliot, we celebrate brides who embrace individuality, romance, and a touch of darkness. House of Elliot real bride Briana perfectly captured the spirit of a gothic wedding, blending elegance with Halloween-inspired whimsy.
From a magical pumpkin patch proposal to a candlelit ballroom reception, every detail reflected her love for gothic romance and alternative bridal style. Briana completed her hauntingly beautiful look with our Beatrice Elliot Black Lace Wedding Boots, combining comfort, style, and a bold statement for an unforgettable day.
In this feature, Brian shares her story, in her own words — from how she met her husband to the inspiration behind her darkly romantic wedding.
To all our brides daring to be different: never be afraid to let your personality shine through every element of your special day!
With love,
Nicole (Founder and CEO House of Elliot)
All photos by Nick & Lauren Photoghraphy
💍 Tell us about how you met your partner and about the proposal
“My partner and I met through my randomly matched college roommate! The two of them were best friends in high school and we had seen each other in passing for years before we ever considered going on a date. Our relationship developed very naturally and easily.”
“We’ve attended an annual Fall Festival with our friends every year since we began dating and he knew that I wanted a fall proposal. We both love Halloween and the spooky season, so we knew this location was perfect — right next to the pumpkin patch!
He contacted the live entertainment that was performing at the festival and they agreed to play Taylor Swift’s ‘Love Story’ when we sat down to listen to the music. We love to dance together, so it wasn’t suspicious that he wanted to twirl me around to one of my favorite songs. When I twirled back around, he was down on one knee and sang with the music to ask me to marry him.”
🕯️ Where did you get married and who did you invite?
“Our ceremony and reception were held at the Historic Dubsdread Ballroom in Orlando, FL. The ceremony was in front of a beautiful tree with hanging vines and bistro lights. The reception moved into the ballroom that had the perfect mix of rustic and modern decor.
We had just about 100 guests. Each side of our wedding party had 4 of our closest friends and siblings.”
🖤 What was the main inspiration for your wedding?
“Our wedding was inspired by the elegance of gothic romance combined with the whimsy of Halloween nostalgia. I always told vendors it was if Phantom of the Opera and Halloweentown were mixed together!
The colors were rust orange, deep plum, black, and cream. We featured a plethora of candles and lanterns with gorgeous silk and foam florals. Our table centerpieces featured a different tarot card instead of traditional table numbers.”
“We wanted to showcase our shared love for Halloween and magic, but still wanted to host an elegant affair. There were plenty of pumpkin accents but the candles truly brought the gothic flair to life.”
👗 Tell us about your wedding look
“I’ve known since I was a little girl that if I ever decided to have a wedding, I would only wear a black dress. I’ve been the spooky child my entire life and my wedding day wouldn’t be any different. It was very important to me that I still find an elegant black gown, so I kept my search to wedding dress designers who offered black fabric options.”
“With my haunting black and blush dress by Morilee, I wore a black tourmaline crystal crown with my gothic beaded veil. My jewelry was from a small shop, Moon Maiden Jewelry, and looked like it was plucked right out of a gothic vampire film. I even did a run-test at the bridal salon to ensure the dress and veil flowed perfectly behind me, like I was running down a long castle hallway.”
👢 What made you choose a pair of House of Elliot boots for your wedding day?
“I have always been in love with boots — specifically lace boots. I had no interest in wearing a pair of high heels that wouldn’t be comfortable or that would get shoved in a box as soon as the wedding was over. I wanted a pair of beautiful boots that would not only provide the comfort that I needed for such a long day, but would also be a show-stopper on their own!”
“I planned to dance and twirl the night away and needed a pair of shoes that would stay on throughout the evening and still expressed my own style. The Beatrice Elliot Black Lace Boots caught my eye immediately. I love a pointed toe moment — and with this pair resting just below my knees I knew they would provide the movement and comfort I was looking for. The fact that each pair is hand-crafted with love just made my desire to wear them even greater.”
🎃 What did you love the most about your wedding day?
“My wedding day was unapologetically true to who I am as an individual, but also true to who my partner and I are together. We curated a magical evening of elegance that still reflected our quirky and eclectic tastes. From our tarot card reader as live entertainment, to our DJ perfectly selecting music that was more akin to an Emo-Night event, we truly felt like the evening embodied our personalities.”
💫 What pearls of wisdom would you share with future brides?
“At the end of the whole process, your wedding day is about you and your partner. No matter what family members may be assisting financially or emotionally throughout planning, you are the star of the show.
Your wedding day is to celebrate the love shared between two people. As much as we love our family and friends, remember that you can leave the people-pleasing behind. You can respect the opinions of your loved ones without sacrificing your own passion and vision. Put yourself and your partner first. You are not hosts of this event — you’re the guests of honor.”
🌙 Anything else you would like to share?
“Don’t sacrifice your own style and expression just to follow ‘traditions.’ You can respect the values and ideas of certain traditions that mean something to you while creating new experiences.
Both my mother and mother-in-law were my ‘something blue’ and each wore a gorgeous blue gown. My older brother walked me part-way down the aisle to escort me to my father who gave my hand to my now-husband. You can mix old and new without compromising your wedding vision.”
🖤 A Final Word from House of Elliot
We are completely enchanted by this gothic-romantic celebration — a true reflection of individuality, love, and elegance. Our Beatrice Elliot Black Lace Boots were the perfect finishing touch to a look that combined dark fairytale beauty with personal meaning. A heartfelt thank you to Briana for sharing her story with us and allowing us to showcase her stunning gothic wedding — we’re so thrilled to celebrate her unique style and unforgettable day!
