The Honest Guide to Planning a Wedding on a Budget: How to Plan a Dream Wedding You Can Actually Afford

Jon Carpenter

Electric Sugar Elopements

March 31, 2026

From prioritising your budget, to recognising good deals, finding your people, and avoiding those oh-so-tempting money-pits - here’s a step-by-step guide to planning a dream day that won’t financially ruin you.

Moody Romance With Mountain Views

Kat

Leena Rose Photo

March 31, 2026

Thalia and Ricky choose Suncadia Resort in Cle Elum, WA, as their wedding venue for its open views, tall trees and late autumn colour. Leena McKinney, who photographed the day, describes it as “the perfect mix of moody romance and mountain views.” The couple kept their surroundings largely untouched. The ceremony design stayed minimal, allowing the location and their styling to lead.

Your Wedding Photos Are Gathering Dust on Your Hard Drive, Here’s How to Fix It

Guest Contributor

March 30, 2026

We got married back in 2022. And, slightly embarrassingly for someone who runs a photo book company, I only made our wedding album last year. Not because I didn’t care about the photos, quite the opposite in fact. They were some of the best photos we’d ever had taken.

Gothic Masquerade Ball in Milwaukee

Kat

Alisa Grieve

March 30, 2026

Sam had always wanted to attend a masquerade ball, so that, her a long-standing goth aesthetic and love for antiques, vintage furniture and trinkets were the main inspirations for her wedding to Liam. "It was like a moody gothic masquerade with antique eclecticism", she said.

Anti-Capitalist Couture: Eclectic Wedding Shoot Where Everything Was Thrifted, Upcycled or Reclaimed

Kat

Black Stag Creative

March 27, 2026

This shoot is a riot against the beige, minimal, Pinterest-approved wedding machine, this shoot came to us by-way of a new team of wedding suppliers from South Africa who wanted to push what it means to create a “styled wedding shoot”.

Halloween Party Meets Graveyard Gothic Wedding on a £1,500 Budget

Kat

Amy Davies

March 26, 2026

Chloe and Grant planned a fully themed gothic wedding, but their original idea looked very different. Like many couples, they started by mapping out a larger celebration and quickly watched the numbers climb. “Our original plans were going to cost almost £16k", Chloe told us. "We found it all very stressful so ended up cancelling everything. We went online and booked a registry office ceremony for £150 and didn't look back! We have zero regrets. I did my own make-up, made my bouquet, put together the decorations - everything! We didn't even have a photographer for the wedding itself, all the photos were taken on my Instax or by friends. The most important thing to us was to be married."

Alternative Engagement Ring Stones That Aren’t Diamonds

Guest Contributor

Devlin Photos

March 25, 2026

By now you’ve probably already heard the story about how and why diamonds became the go-to stone for engagement rings. But just in case you haven’t, the answer is marketing! Before the mid-20th century, diamond engagement rings were not the universal tradition they are today. In fact, many people proposed with other gemstones or family heirlooms.

Honky-Tonk Disco & Bowling Wedding

Kat

Wren and Rose

March 24, 2026

Morgan and Sam got married in a place where people usually go to drink beer, bowl and hear live music. Butch and Anne’s in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin is a dive bar with a vintage bowling alley tucked inside. The wedding photographer bride and musician groom first met while working the same wedding. Having both worked in the industry for years, they already knew exactly what they didn’t want.

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.

Yes, You Do Need a Wedding Website

Guest Contributor

Studio 123

February 18, 2026

Planning a wedding often feels like herding kittens. You send out beautiful paper invites, cross your fingers, and hope people actually show up. But hoping isn't going to help you sleep at night. A wedding website is the central hub that turns "maaaaaaybe" into "yes!". It gives your guests all the details they need to feel comfortable and excited about attending your wedding. Using a great wedding website template also makes it so easy to build a site that looks amazing and works perfectly - no advanced technical know how required!

It’s All About You: Why It’s OK to Say No to a Traditional Wedding

Guest Contributor

Ruby Walker

February 16, 2026

So, you’ve found your person, your lobster, The One and you want to make it official. We all know what happens next; a quick scroll through social media and you’re bombarded with the so-called formula for the ‘perfect’ wedding.

Boring but Important Things You Need to Do When Planning a Wedding

Kat

Van T. Richarson

February 12, 2026

Wedding planning is fun AF... until you forget about the boring admin tasks and it suddenly becomes more like an exam you forgot to study for. This is the stuff most couples forget. Not because it’s hard, but because nobody really talks about it. So hopefully this will save your sanity and any last minute panics!

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.

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...

A Private Wedding at The Satanic Temple, Salem

Kat

The Witchtographer

February 17, 2026

Did you know you can get married at The Satanic Temple in Salem!? Ceremonies at their 'Little Black Chapel' are officiated by the temple's Ministers of Satan and the space is already decked out in a dark red and black colour scheme, complete with candles and flowers, so you really can just show up and get married with very little stress. That's exactly what Aimee and Joe, who got married in December, wanted. They could arrive, focus on the ceremony, and leave without having to manage logistics or guests.

Sea of Love: Intimate, Fun & Kitsch Sure Thing Chapel Wedding

Kat

Lauren Driscoll

February 10, 2026

Maggie and Kyle got married at Sure Thing Chapel in Las Vegas with Cat Power’s cover of Sea of Love playing as the bride walked down the aisle. “After choosing Sure Thing Chapel as the venue, we wanted to play off the colours and fun vibe", Maggie told us. "I had envisioned the colour scheme of black, red and light blue. We wanted to keep it intimate, fun, and kitschy.”

Moody New Orleans Wedding Inspired by Tim Burton and Edgar Allan Poe

Kat

Captured by Amanda Lynn

February 6, 2026

Chloe and Cody’s New Orleans wedding drew inspiration from Tim Burton films, the writing of Edgar Allan Poe, and a dark, eerie approach to romance with subtle witchy references. They were also heavily influenced by New Orleans history and culture, as well as vintage aesthetics.

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.

Gothic Romance at Arnos Vale Cemetery

Kat

Becky Weir

January 14, 2026

Gothic romance was a loose reference point for Izzy and Josh autumn wedding, inspired by the bride's all -time favourite band, My Chemical Romance. Everyone expected her to turn up in a black dress, which would have been very on brand, but when she discovered a star-covered gown and veil by Boom Blush where the stars literally glowed in the dark, there really was no other option!

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.

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.

Renaissance Inspired Beauty and the Beast Wedding with a Gothic Twist

Kat

Laura Fitzgerald

October 15, 2025

Do you love Disney but in a dark, alt way more than a girly fairytale way? Then you’re going to love this gothic-meets–Beauty and the Beast inspired wedding shoot. Although it wasn’t a real wedding, there are so many creative ideas you could steal for your own. Think: moody candlelight, corseted gowns, blood-red roses, gilded mirrors, dripping wax, and that perfectly haunting mix of romance and rebellion.