Alternative Wedding Styling: Inside Katie & Josh’s Gothic Cabaret & Emo Rager

7 days ago

3 min read

We don’t think we will ever—like, ever—forget the most iconic wedding day we’ve ever had the pleasure of bringing to life.

Katie and Josh, where do we even start! A fantastic couple who were never going to do a cookie-cutter day. They wanted to celebrate their love completely on their own terms, loud, proud, and unapologetically themselves.

From Brainstorm to Reality: Adapting the Vision

At our very first design session, the concept was wild: a three-part epic featuring a Gothic Cabaret, a Rodeo, and an Emo Rager.

Then, venue going through upgrades threw a massive wrench in the works. Katie was devastated that her original dream day was taking a hit, but that’s what a killer wedding stylist is for!

We swooped in with fresh options to make sure she still got her dream day, just with a few clever pivots.

What stayed: The Gothic Cabaret vibe, the striking silver walls, and the ultimate Emo rager featuring a live performance from Kerrashed.
What changed: The rodeo had to go when outdoor access was axed. No problem—we pivoted hard and kept the energy sky-high indoors.

Bringing the Alternative Wedding Styling Together

Let’s dive into how we approached the alternative wedding styling for this unforgettable day.

1. The Silver Walls & Stage Backdrop

Silver was a non-negotiable. We brought in loads of metallic party bunting and had a delicate chat with the venue about their "sticky wall" policies to figure out how to dress the room without causing a panic.

Because the room layout restricted us (bar at one end, stage at the other), we framed the stage with a dramatic black curtain, a custom "Love You to Death" neon sign, and silver fringe edging to create that moody, cocooned feel. Fun fact: we completely underestimated how ridiculously tall the drag queen would be, meaning they towered right past our backdrop! Icon behaviour.

2. The Venue & Welcome Sign

Because this wasn’t your typical stately home or rustic barn—it was a proper music venue—space inside the main entrance was super tight. We kept the welcome sign sleek and punchy so guests instantly knew they were in the right place for an epic party.

3. Gothic Tables & Whole Pizzas

We ditched the standard long banquet rows to give it the intimate, moody feel of a 1920s club or a cool comedy venue.

Rich burgundy runners mimicking theatre stage curtains, and that gothic blood-red colour.

Since the couple served whole pizzas straight to the tables, we kept styling fuss-free: two clusters of candles, single faux red rose stems, and edgy table numbers. Sometimes, less is infinitely more.

4. The Dress-Up Zone

Want to turn your wedding guests into full-blown emos? Give them a dedicated station. We set up Stef’s Jim Bones skeleton, a silver gothic mirror with custom lettering, alongside the couples temporary tattoos, clip-in hair extensions, and makeup. It got gloriously messy, incredibly fun, and transformed the crowd for the evening rager.

5. The Room Flip & The Kiss Cam

After the drag show, we flipped the room and busted out a Kiss Cam—something we’ve never done at a wedding before. Made with our giant heart backdrop, it generated some of the absolute best, most joyful photos of the entire day.

Your Wedding, Your Rules

Katie and Josh’s day proves that expert alternative wedding styling means you don't need a stuffy, all-white colour palette or a traditional venue to have an incredible celebration.

You just need a great stylist to drag the wild vision right out of your head and into reality.

Planning an alternative wedding that breaks all the rules? Let’s talk about how we can make your vision happen. Get in touch with us today! P.s or This couple also showed a massive middle finger to wedding wear!