A Halloween Wedding
Straight Out of the Movies

Jyl and Colton’s first date was a horror movie, so perhaps it’s no surprise that they ended up having a Halloween wedding!

They tied the knot at Rassawek, surrounded by guests dressed in everything from wedding finery to full-on Halloween costumes. But this wasn’t just about the spooky stuff. Their shared love of films and music found its way into everything from the outfits to the soundtrack, with three live bands, a few unexpected surprises and some very special moments on the dance floor.

And wait until you see where they spent their wedding night!

Photos throughout from Nicki Metcalf Photography

Halloween Wedding Style with a Cinematic Twist

Jyl's All-Black Wedding Dress

Jyl’s wedding dress started life as a design from David’s Bridal, but it took some serious alterations to get it exactly how she wanted it.

Fariba’s Alterations replaced the original tan lining with black, giving the whole dress its dramatic, obsidian-black finish. They also adjusted the sleeves and added lace-up detailing to the back.

Underneath, Jyl wore her favourite steel-toe combat boots. Jyl’s makeup, by Eden Rosetta, was inspired by Amy Lee from Evanescence in the early 2000s. For her hair, Hair Apparent LLC took inspiration from Natasha Lyonne’s look in Russian Doll.

Jyl also made her own necklace using lace, wire and amethyst crystals, adding another personal detail to her wedding look.

Colton's Indiana Jones-Inspired Wedding Suit

Colton took his wedding outfit inspiration from a rather different film: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

More specifically, he loved Harrison Ford’s white dinner jacket in the opening restaurant scene. His own outfit featured a cream dinner jacket with wide lapels, worn over a black satin waistcoat with a hidden red paisley lining.

He finished the look with black formal trousers, a white dress shirt and onyx studs, with most of the pieces coming from Brooks Brothers.

Autumn Colours for the Wedding Party

The bridesmaids wore dresses from Baltic Born in colours inspired by autumn leaves. Jyl gave each of them an obsidian crystal to wear on the day.

The groomsmen wore suits from The Black Tux, with bow ties Jyl had made herself using fabric samples from the bridesmaids’ dresses. Colton gave them colourful socks, too.

And for a slightly less traditional wedding party accessory, the groomsmen were each given a tiny rechargeable walkie-talkie. According to Jyl, they proved surprisingly handy for keeping everyone in touch throughout the day!

A Halloween Wedding at Rassawek

Jyl and Colton chose Rassawek for their Halloween wedding, with its hilltop ceremony setting and plenty of space for their celebrations. Wedding planner Donna Mitchell helped organise the day.

As Jyl explains:

“Our goal with the wedding was to create a celebration that felt unmistakably like us: unconventional, theatrical, meaningful – with just the right amount of Autumnal Spooky.”

Before the ceremony, the couple had their first look, giving them a moment together before joining their guests. Nicki Metcalf Photography photographed the wedding, with Kimie James providing videography.

An Unplugged Ceremony with a Heavy Metal Soundtrack

Guests arrived in a wonderful mix of formal outfits and Halloween costumes. There were scarecrows, forest nymphs, characters from The Phantom of the Opera and even lederhosen, with everyone from eight to 85 joining in.

Jyl and Colton asked guests to put their phones and tablets away for the ceremony so everyone could enjoy being there with them.

As Jyl put it:

“Our only rule was simple… have fun in the present with us.”

And Jyl’s walk down the aisle had a soundtrack you don’t hear at many weddings. Ninja Strings performed a specially arranged string version of Darkness at the Heart of My Love by Ghost, making its debut for the occasion.

Jyl and Colton said their vows in the hilltop ceremony setting, surrounded by family, friends and some wonderfully unconventional wedding guests. They exchanged wedding rings. Jyl’s ring from Earth Art Gem and Jewelry, while Colton’s was from Staghead Designs.

Movie-Inspired Wedding Decor & Halloween Details

Autumnal Florals with a Spooky Twist

Jyl and Colton weren’t short of pumpkins! They appeared throughout the wedding, from the ceremony aisle to the reception tables, alongside colourful flowers and plenty of unusual gourds.

For the flowers, Jyl gave M Henry Design a rather interesting brief.

“When meeting with my florist I told them I love weird creeping things, I have a carnivorous garden, and my favorite time of year is Halloween. I gave them the creative freedom needed to pull off the beautiful floral decor and arrangements. She collected so many details I never could have imagined myself.”

The results included Jyl’s wonderfully colourful bouquet, floral arrangements on wooden barrels and a hexagonal ceremony backdrop decorated with flowers and greenery.

Wedding Tables Inspired by the Movies

Inside the reception venue, forest-green tablecloths were paired with burnt-orange runners, amber glasses and colourful floral centrepieces. Pumpkins and gourds made their way onto the tables too, alongside candles.

Each table was named after one of Jyl and Colton’s favourite films, including Up, The Lion King, Indiana Jones and The Lord of the Rings. They designed their own film-themed table signs, with stationery supplied by PostNet.

Pumpkin spice & all things nice

Amongst the wedding treats was a pumpkin that wasn’t quite what it seemed. It was actually their wedding cake! Alexandria Cupcake LLC also created a selection of cupcakes, with a separate white cake decorated with musical notes completing the display.

A Vinyl Record Wedding Guestbook

With music playing such a big part in their lives, a traditional wedding guestbook wasn’t really going to cut it.

Instead, Jyl and Colton invited guests to sign vinyl records and album covers, leaving messages they could keep long after the wedding.

They also set up a recording booth with a microphone, where guests could leave spoken messages, advice and well wishes. A lovely alternative to the usual guestbook.

A Wedding Reception with Live Music

Three different bands performing throughout the day. Ninja Strings provided the ceremony music, Sweet Potatoes brought jazz to the cocktail hour, and Stonebrook took over for the evening with live rock and pop.

Colton had a surprise up his sleeve, too, joining Stonebrook onstage to play a keyboard solo. Not every groom gets to perform at his own wedding!

Eight Dance Lessons & a First Dance

Jyl and Colton weren’t leaving their first dance to chance. They took eight lessons at Arthur Murray Dance Studio to prepare for their moment on the dance floor.

As Jyl told us:

“Since this bride has two left feet, those classes were critical! But once the big moment arrived, we glided across the dance floor to Jake Shimabukuro’s beautiful cover of The Beatles’ ‘Something.’ I’m happy to report that the dance was a success, and I didn’t trip over my own feet!”

Wedding Dances Worth Remembering

The parent dances brought some lovely moments to the evening, particularly Jyl’s dance with her dad. They chose the waltz theme from Jurassic Park, a film they’d watched together many times when she was growing up. Colton then took to the floor with his mum for Forever Now by Michael Bublé.

Later in the evening, Stonebrook played Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd for the anniversary dance, inviting all the married couples onto the dance floor. As the song played, the MC gradually asked couples to leave according to how long they’d been married. Jyl and Colton were the first to go, having been married for less than a day!

One by one, the other couples left the floor until only Colton’s grandparents remained.

Jyl remembers the moment:

“Only the groom’s grandparents remained slow dancing until 65 years was called, to great applause from everyone.”

Halloween Celebrations into the night

The Halloween fun continued well into the evening, with guests showing off their costumes and a winner crowned in the fancy-dress competition. There were even lightsabers making an appearance on the dance floor!

Outside, a huge bonfire kept everyone warm, with s’mores and speciality cocktails inspired by Jyl’s carnivorous garden. A Sharper Palate provided the food and drinks for the celebrations.

After plenty more dancing and a bouquet toss, it was time for Jyl and Colton to make their getaway in a shiny classic car.

But they weren’t heading to an ordinary hotel room. Their wedding-night accommodation was tucked away on the Rassawek property: a private railway boxcar attached to a full-size antique steam locomotive!