Wedding Dress Shopping 101: A No-Nonsense Guide to Buying a Wedding Dress

Alexandra Merri

Mark Horton Photos

April 9, 2026

This is your no-nonsense roadmap to wedding dress shopping - from picking boutiques and decoding sizing to trusting your instincts and keeping the experience grounded in who you are.

This Pre-Wedding Shoot in Chinatown Shows What Authentically Honouring Your Roots Looks Like

Kat

Annalee

April 9, 2026

Sam and Kaylee wanted to honour both their backgrounds with a pre-wedding photo session. As a nod to Sam's Hong Kong heritage (in a distinctly Asian-American way), the two chose to run around San Francisco Chinatown at night. They visited several beloved locally-owned Chinese-American businesses and Chinatown landmarks. Kaylee brought her own piece of family history to the session, wearing her grandmother's wedding dress and her mother's veil as a tribute to the women who came before her.

Viking Inspired Boho Wedding in Norway with a Homemade Dress

Kat

Fotostorie

April 8, 2026

Martine and Terje chose a forest setting in Norway for their Viking meets boho wedding and planned the day around what felt familiar to them. The plan was to keep it relaxed and personal. This even extended into what they wore. When the bride couldn't find a dress she liked, she ended up making one herself! She also made a shirt for her groom and the flower girl dresses.

Gothic Black Tie Wedding on Halloween

Kat

Ami Darling

April 7, 2026

Amber and Jago got married on 31st October in Cornwall. The date was significant because not only do they love Halloween, they started dating on and got engaged on Halloween! As goths, it just made total sense to keep the same date for their wedding.

Things to Consider Before Buying an Engagement Ring Online

Guest Contributor

Black Stag Creative

April 6, 2026

Victorian Goth Ghosts in a Haunted House

Kat

Keri Lynne

April 6, 2026

Did you know there is no rule that says your engagement shoot has to be pretty pictures of you in a field or on a beach. I mean, those make lovely shoot locations and all but do you know what's way cooler? A freakin' haunted mansion! For Anita and Michael, who love all things dark and romantic, these vibes were elite.

Intimate Red Wedding with a Diet Coke Tower

Kat

Candice Vann

April 3, 2026

Sarah and Jordan did not want a big spectacle for their wadding. Instead, they opted for an intimate ceremony and meal with their closest family. That didn't mean they didn't care about the aesthetics though, in fact they were very visually driven, wanting deep opera reds, black accents, candlelight, and rich textures. They hired Britney of Be You Planning to help them bring their vision to life

Non-Traditional Ideas That Actually Make Your Wedding Way Better

Guest Contributor

Leena Rose Photo

April 2, 2026

Having an “alternative” wedding isn’t about being different for the sake of it. It’s about crafting a day shaped around you and what you want it to look, and almost more crucially, feel like. If you blindly follow the formula, you end up with a timeline built around traditions you don’t question, photos you don’t even want, and a day that runs more like a production schedule than a party. It works, of course, but it isn’t always the right path, especially if you or your guests are neurodivergent.

Emo-Friendly Games to Play at Your Wedding

Guest Contributor

March 8, 2026

Let’s face it, gaming is a key part of many get-togethers these days. While it isn’t necessarily everyone’s cup of tea, we’ve all been at parties where a console machine is being explored in the corner of a room. For gaming-mad couples, when it comes to planning their wedding, adding a gaming setup for the big reception is an option.

The Engagement Pressure Test: How to Deal With All the Questions & Opinions When You First Get Engaged

Rachel Darwin

Lilia Abrahamsen

March 5, 2026

If you are new here, or even if you are not: congratulations! I wish I could hear your proposal story. I always love hearing them. Getting engaged is always a wonderful story in itself… one that you’ll be telling for the rest of your lives. I hope you know you don’t need to rush on to the next chapter now if you don’t want to - even if there are people in your life who are urging you to do so.

Ask An Expert: Hen Dos and Don’ts

Guest Contributor

Photography by Vicki

February 25, 2026

My friends are mostly introverts or neurodivergent. What are some hen do ideas that won’t overwhelm anyone or feel like a performance?

Most Boho Wedding Dresses Look the Same. Here’s How to Find One That Doesn’t

Guest Contributor

February 24, 2026

For years, boho wedding dresses were the answer for nearlyweds who didn't see themselves in traditional bridal. They offered freedom from stiff silhouettes, heavy fabrics, and the feeling of dressing like someone else on your own wedding day.

Dolly Parton Meets Mars Attacks with a Wes Anderson Spin

Kat

Of Colour and Hue

January 20, 2026

Tattoo Artists’ Low Maintenance Vegas Wedding

Kat

Christina Sforza

January 16, 2026

Angela and Garrett wanted to elope, but they also wanted a few of their favourite people with them, So they had the best of both words with their micro wedding in Vegas. They invited a few guests but it was 'lets just run off to Vegas' elopement vibes through and through.

Wild West High Noon Wedding in Vegas

Kat

Mayhew Photo LV

January 12, 2026

Adam and Kitty got married in Las Vegas with a guest list of six and a budget of around £5k including travel and accommodation from the UK. The ceremony took place at High Noon at the Welcome to Las Vegas sign, followed by a limo ride out to the Valley of Fire for portraits.

Crown of Thorns: A Gothic, Las Vegas Celebration

Kat

Christina Forza

January 9, 2026

Alex and Chaniel's wedding was built around the symbol of a crown of thorns. For them, it marked suffering, redemption and spiritual resolve they found through their relationship. It reflected the changes they made to arrive at marriage together.

Moody Pin-Up Scottish Castle Wedding with a Mid-Wedding Hair Transformation

Kat

Faye Wilde

February 27, 2026

We've seen the trend for brides cutting their hair before their reception a few times (and we love it) but this is definitely the first time we've seen someone cut and colour their hair midway through the wedding! That was just classic Gaelle though - she didn't want their wedding to be like anybody else's. Not wanting to be outshone, the groom cut his long hair as well and the reaction from their guests was priceless!

Headbanging & Handfasting: A Viking Inspired Barn Wedding

Kat

Wilder

February 25, 2026

Lucy and Mark leaned into a loose Viking influence for their barn wedding. They wanted the day to be chilled but also a little bit of them.

Retro, Tropical Disco Wedding with a Disco Ball Carrying Flower Nan

Kat

Courtney Stannard

February 24, 2026

The main references for Christie and Kevin's wedding were The Shining, the 1970s and 1990s with lots of ideas pulled from Rock n Roll Bride magazine! A nightclub venue in downtown Saratoga Springs, NY was the backdrop, with everywhere they went that day being within walking distance. The morning began at The Adelphi Hotel, where they got ready and started their photo session. From there, they moved into Congress Park, bringing their entire wedding party with them into the indoor carousel.

Metallica, Elvis & a Second Chance at Love

Kat

Jamie Y

February 23, 2026

Debbie and Masty met at 18-years-old while they were in college studying Psychology. They dated, then drifted apart as life moved forward. More than a decade passed without contact. Then, on the same night, they dreamed about each other. Masty reached out and they decided to reunite in Las Vegas at a Metallica concert. You can probably guess the rest...

Colourful Yet Gothic Wedding in Italy with Tarot Cards, Ouija Boards & Nerdy Details

Kat

Studio Fotografico Bacci

February 16, 2026

Sara and Alessandro waited eighteen years before getting married so they wanted full control over how the day looked, felt and functioned, without having to compromise for other people! Sara is a wedding florist, so did all the flowers herself. They wanted the day to have a gothic, nerdy flair but also have colour. They were married in Italy at La Fornace di Sammontana.

Coffee & Crystal Candelabras: Romantic Romeo + Juliet Inspired Wedding

Kat

Alesia Hardy Films

February 3, 2026

The main visual reference point for Jenna and Chad's wedding was the final church scene in Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet. They wanted candles everywhere, a blue neon crosses, dark red velvet drapery, vintage furniture and low lighting.

Goths on the Beach: A Moody Californian Beach Elopement

Kat

Photos by Beck

February 2, 2026

Nikki and Nate got married on the Californian coast in winter, dressed entirely in black. Their inspiration was creating something intimate, alternative, moody, and a little bit boho with a dramatic, non-traditional twist. "We were inspired by the beauty of the coastline, earthy textures, and darker romantic tones", Nikki said. "We wanted the day to feel intimate, atmospheric, and authentically ‘us’ and a touch of edge that reflected our personalities."

Elegant & Moody Til Death Wedding

Kat

Trevino

January 27, 2026

Victoria and Jonathon chose the Emerald Theatre in Mount Clemens, Michigan, for a their moody yet elegant, 'til death' inspired wedding. The venue really helped set the tone, with guitars lining the walls, a giant stage and coloured lighting throughout. They used black everywhere from her dress to linens, chairs and flowers.

A Hauntingly Beautiful Corpse Bride Editorial

Kat

Lauren New

October 31, 2025

Nothing says Halloween wedding more than the Corpse Bride and this shoot may be one of the best homages we've ever seen. In fact we loved it so much, we made it the cover shoot for our November/December print issue which dropped yesterday! It blends slight Victorian-inspired details with modern drapery and design elements, bringing together a touch of the past and present for a hauntingly beautiful, editorial goth vibe.

This ‘Goth Glam’ Shoot Is Proof That Weird Is the New Luxury

Kat

Stag & Bird

October 29, 2025

This shoot, dubbed Goth Glam by everyone involved, was created out of a need to shake things up. The team wanted to bring together Kansas City’s weirdest, boldest, and most unapologetic creatives and make something that proved “high-end” doesn’t have to mean beige. They called it a love letter to the alt-lux side of weddings: velvet and smoke, drama and decadence, edge and elegance. The goal was to show that goth, glam, and alternative can sit right alongside luxury, without losing the grit.

Forbidden Fruit Alternative Bridal Editorial

Kat

Tia Leigh

October 23, 2025

A single bite can change everything. That’s the energy behind Forbidden Fruit, a conceptual bridal meets boudoir shoot dreamt up by Suzy Marrero of Pepper Lavender Events. She calls it her “version of temptation meeting wedding day glam, where indulgence, lust, and allure take centre stage". It’s unapologetic. It’s decadent. And it dares you to look a little closer.

Halloween Wedding Shoot in Ecuador’s Enchanted Dry Forest

Kat

LH Film

October 20, 2025

Halloween is a little different in the southern hemisphere. In the dry forests of Quito, Ecuador, it arrives with sun, dust, and a different kind of magic. Assyah of Jamila and Juliette, who conceptualised and styled this photo shoot, wanted to capture that energy in the shoot, blending local traditions with a gothic edge.