If You Want to Learn How To Create a Chic Themed Wedding, Like This One Inspired by Disney’s Haunted Mansion, Keep Reading Foolish Mortal!

We created a chic, Disney Inspired Wedding shoot based on the Haunted Mansion ! The goal was to show couples they can include their favorite nerdy themes into their wedding day!  The idea for this shoot started a few months ago at a venue open house. I was talking with my friend Danielle from Curbside Cakery. We were discussing our love for all things Disney. She told me she had just purchased a Haunted Mansion stencil and was so excited to use it. From there we began dreaming up just what a Haunted Mansion inspired wedding would look like. 

Disney Themed Wedding – Making the Haunted Mansion

If you look on Pinterest, Haunted Mansion weddings look pretty costumey and can be a little cheesy. I think this is why so many couples shy away from including fun, nerdy elements in their wedding decor. It is possible to do a fun, themed wedding that still looks chic and even high end. We started by creating a vision board. Then, we found vendors that also wanted to show couples how to include these elements into their wedding. Just like the secret Mickey’s hidden around the park, the key is to use those hidden, subtle elements throughout.

We chose the Holt House for our venue because we wanted a historic venue that was a blank slate, but also has its own unique charm. It was the perfect backdrop for this shoot. Tammy suggested we utilize the front porch and lawn as a ceremony space and the main living and dining areas to set up the guest table, sweetheart table, and dessert tables. The large columns on the front porch and in the window reminded us of the columns on the house in Haunted Mansion ride. We set the stage for the wedding using beautiful pieces from Rusted Root Rentals including the cake table that had a base of crumbling plaster (much like the mausoleums around the mansion), gold utensils and candlesticks holders, and perfect Victorian his and hers chairs covered in purple velvet. 

The Details in the Mansion

Tammy Koening Designs created all of the floral looks for the shoot. She used beautiful peach carnations, soft purple roses, and deep, burgundy ranunculus, as well as other unique flowers with lots of visual interest. Floral textures and colors can set the tone of your wedding and bring the spooky vibes without overdoing it. She used these florals as well as vines to decorate the ceremony space. The aisle was lined with vintage books and busts – giving nod to the singing busts in the cemetery. We used lots of black candles on the tables to help create a darker atmosphere. Tammy brought in moss to use as table filler and really made you feel like you have stepped into the graveyard! Black velvet table cloths were used to add a touch of dark elegance. 

Disney Inspired Wedding Themed Foods – Just Like the Parks!

We used the dessert table to really play into the theme of the shoot and have a lot of fun. Foods, even more than decor, can help bring in those themed elements couples want to enjoy during their wedding! This table is also where you will find the most elements from the Haunted Mansion. Danielle’s all black and purple buttercream cake was the start of the show. She designed the top two layers to be primarily decorated with vintage piping. The bottom layer was decorated with the classic wallpaper pattern from the Haunted Mansion. She also made cake pucks topped with Madame Leota’s ghostly face. We placed these in a fun crystal ball display on the dessert table. We also used moss, vintage books, a bust, a hat box, and candelabras as decor. You can even find a hidden bat stanchion from the ride. Also on the dessert table are beautifully decorated sugar cookies from Horneytown Home Baked Goods. 

The centerpiece of the shoot is the invitation suite designed by Swoozies. This beautiful black and purple invitation suite includes the names of our not so happy couple – Constance Hatchaway, the murderous bride ghost of the mansion, and her last victim, er, betrothed, George Hightower. The envelope is lined in a green and black pattern very similar to those worn by ride attendants in the park.  In the larger flatlay, you will find some other important elements to the story and ride – Madame Leota’s crystal ball, a hatchet, a vintage book of ghost stories, and pearl necklace – each string representing a late husband. 

The Ghost Bride and the Unlucky Groom

Finally, the clothing choice for this shoot came down to finding a modern bridal look and capturing the spirit of the theme, without being costumey. For our unlucky groom, we chose a green suit in a modern cut. Since green is an important color in the theme, we wanted his outfit to reflect that and feel vintage without being vintage. We also included a soft purple tie and hatchet cufflinks. For our bride, we wanted her look to feel whimsical and ethereal – like a ghost floating down the hall. While her overall look is very different from the bride within the mansion, we feel her striking silhouette topped with the cape and pearls gives her the look of “old money” that the story features. Her gown and cape was provided by Magnolia Bride. Her hair was put in a high bun, created by Beauty by Haley Garber. Makeup was very minimal, except for the eyes. Dramatic eyes were a very important part of transforming our model, Nikki, into Constance. 

More Creative Ways to Include the Theme

Throughout the shoot we had so much fun playing with different photography techniques. Trying out different lighting scenarios and camera settings allowed us to be creative in a way we don’t normally get to on a wedding day. We tried things like motion blur and double exposure to create images that looked otherworldly. 

There were so many elements from the lore of the Haunted Mansion and even the ride itself, but ultimately we decided less is more. Whether designing your wedding as a themed event or just adding a small, fun element – choosing only a few things to weave into the decor, or wardrobe, or menu for the day is the key to keep your wedding chic, and not cheesy. Don’t be afraid to add color, texture, and most importantly – fun! Your wedding should reflect your personalities and  your likes and interests together. 

If you would like to see more spooky wedding inspiration, click HERE !