Designing a macabre, "evil forest" wedding

casyme

I'm a "goth-leaning" bride that doesn't want a full-on goth wedding, but I do want it to be darkly elegant to match my tastes.  We're getting married in mid-October, and I'm trying to think of ways to create a macabre atmosphere, like an "evil forest."  So far I'm thinking of having strange flower arrangements with bare branches, spiky flowers, and pheasant feathers.  Plus lots of candles. 

But after that, I'm stumped.  What else could I do in terms of decor to set the dark mood, without resorting to skulls, black and red, etc.?

(Yes, I cross-posted on the Goth board)

Gabrielle76

I'm unreasonably obsessed with pheasant feathers.  I think that maybe small crystals or something hanging from the bare branches could help add an air of mysticism.  Maybe a fog machine for the dance floor? they aren't too pricey to rent, and nothing says 'spooky forest' like fog on the floor.  I don't know what your budget is, but maybe you could DIY some big branchless tree type things with manzanita branches in pots, and place them in corners.  I also think you're just screaming for a bare branched advice tree.  Also, I once saw really cute escort cards where everyone's name and table number was written on a tiny arrow made from a dowel, a feather, and then the place cards looked like targets. I don't know if that totally fits your theme, but it seems like it could potentially fit in. 

I hope that helps!  I may return with more junk to suggest. 

BMcLeodTeam

A friend of mine recently had a wedding that would fit kinda into what you're describing. I remember seeing a lot of dark purple and dark green, there were manzitta branches in nearly everything. She had the fog machine for the dance floor. Trying to remember stuff not already mentioned... lol
She had this really pretty dark purple sparkly confetti, and that's what was thrown when she left, and was also on the tables around the centrepieces, which were candle heavy. For table numbers they were in these ornate black scroll frames that looked like they were supposed to look like iron, like the old iron gates.

Hmmm let me think on this a bit and maybe message her lol

balletdawn

ooh lanterns, yes!