The Dark fairy-tale of York Cemetery.

styled shootBlog
Written By Charlotte Yates
Scarlet in Chains Vow renewal

What started out as a group of TilDeath suppliers taking advantage of being in the same place at the same time, turned into and incredibly meaningful and teary day.

It’s no surprise that several of the TilDeath tribe would all be in Whitby for Tomorrow’s Ghosts festival; either vending or simply enjoying the gig. So we decided to try and take the opportunity to create a styled shoot while so many of us were together. Being Halloween weekend, the end of a crazy busy wedding season, and full steam events schedule, plans didn’t quite come together for that weekend. BUT we had already planned dresses, discussed ceremonies and designed jewellery, so we knew we had to make it happen.

A few short weeks later we pulled together to coordinate diaries, find a venue and book hotels; and the idea of a ‘Dark Fairy-tale’ in York Cemetery was born. What evolved however, was much more than a styled shoot.

Here’s a quick look at the team for the day:

Our models are Sophie and Drew of Scarlet in Chains, and I don’t think they knew what they’d volunteered for when they offered to model. Having just celebrated their 10-year wedding anniversary though it became the ideal opportunity to renew their vows to each other. Starr of Alternative Ceremonies worked with Sophie and Drew to create a ceremony full of meaning just for them:

Starr - Alternative Ceremonies

Although this was a shoot to promote some of the TilDeath Gothic Luxe Wedding Fair suppliers, it was also an opportunity to write a short handfasting ceremony for Sophie and Drew who made their own handfasting chains and decorated them with chosen and full moon energised crystals.

As chains are their living, it was important and personal to them their handfasting bindings were made by them, using chains. The chains won’t rust, neither will their union. Drew and Sophie are both links in one chain. Working together tightens the knot.

Meaningful and personalised words created uniquely for them were said, and it was emotional.

To witness the bond and unconditional love they have between them was incredible.

To be able to create a ceremony for them was an honour.

As for the rest of the day I’ll let Sophie and Drew describe it;

Sophie and Drew:

It’s truly mind blowing to see how far Gothic weddings have come.

When we were handfasted 10 years ago there was nothing like the amazing creations we were honoured to model for this shoot. We both felt otherworldly! The looks Legend Bridal created were perfect for us and captured our personal styles so well.

We started the day in true wedding fashion, trying to fit 4 of us, 4 wedding dresses and do hair and makeup in a tiny hotel room. We all had a real laugh, put the world to rights, and even talked of world domination too! This may have been because we were all denied coffee from the coffee shop attached to the hotel - but what’s plotted in the dressing room stays in the dressing room.

Our amazing MUA Ruth E Moulden was an absolute star, full of creative energy and had us all laughing throughout our makeup. She gave us both a fabulous face of makeup that I wish I had the skill to recreate every day as we both felt and looked amazing.  The look was both goth as hell but timeless, which is so important for wedding makeup as your photos are forever. I really hope we get the pleasure of her doing our makeup again sometime in the future.

An elegant, dark feminine look for Drew with Persephone and then Cordeline Top and Amaranth Skirt. The outfits were a joy to wear, and Persephone especially made her feel like a Queen for the day. It just bleeds gothic elegance with lace vines and florals, and that jaw dropping skirt.

Drews second outfit was the Cordeline Top and Amaranth Skirt; so perfect for her too! Featuring lots of lace and satin which are her absolute favourite fabrics. And the hidden pockets in her skirt were a touch she was very excited about. The modern Victorian goth aesthetic is truly beautiful on her.

For Sophie a beautiful witchy, dark goddess look with the Zorya dress straight out of a gothic fantasy. With lovely occult touches such as the pentagram back to the dress and hooded cloak, it suited her down to the ground. Sophies second dress Bellatrix was an amazing choice for Sophie with its heavy metal style of dramatic split skirt and chiffon train - a perfect nod to her metal girl roots with a hint of Valkyrie warrior in there too.

And a brilliant feature that we were both thrilled by was the structure in all the dresses. Whether you have small or wayward breasts, Legend Bridal have literally thought of everything; a fab skin matched mesh layer with sewn in cups boosts those of us with small chests and keeps those of us with wayward chests where we should be! Absolute confidence whilst being completely comfortable is amazing!

The fab faux floral bouquets were by Maddison Rocks Floral and the hand sculpted pure black paper Dahlia bouquet was by Paper Jackdaw. These are works of art you can keep forever. The possibilities with these are endless and is a lovely way to include so many nods to your likes and little things that have featured in your relationship. Skulls, spikes antlers in with your wedding flowers? Yes please!

The headpieces were a combination of Legend Bridal for Sophie’s black crystal crown and Drews beaded tiara and circlet. These were all fab and complimented the dresses perfectly we really did feel like royalty.

Our second set of Headpieces were by the fabulous Peacock Pretties, Sophie’s crystal covered spiderweb branches complimented the dress beautifully adding a real whimsical and mysterious feel to the whole look with an air of gothic forest nymph.

Drews beautiful feather fascinator with a stunning metal and chain spider web complimented her look perfectly and gave the dramatic evil Queen energy she wanted. Another fab example of how different styles can be brought together into a wedding theme to very different headdresses brought together with the spiderweb theme.

We are not traditional women as is probably clear by now; so why should the handfasting be either? This is where we talk about the fabulous Alterntive Celebrant Starr, a fellow Black Country bab!

We both just about managed to not ruin our makeup with the beautiful script she had written for us. Starr had an amazing understanding of our relationship and it really showed in the ceremony she created for us. Though we were all on photoshoot I think every single one of us forgot that whilst she performed the ceremony. As it was so moving and emotive everyone in the room was in the moment… that’s the power of an amazing celebrant.

A very personal touch for us was to create our very own Handfasting chains; one side decorated by each of us in a meaningful way to us and our practice. We created the chain as an experiment for the shoot but Is now absolutely a thing!

 The handfasting chain and our jewellery for the day we named “as above so below” to represent balance between us in our relationship. It demonstrates the importance of indulging all sides of yourselves within your relationship. It symbolises balance, how you truly come to know each other, how things slowly reveal over the years and how it actually makes you love the other person more and more.

 As we have been married for 10 years this year, our impromptu vow renewal was perfect timing as your relationship to each other changes and grows over the years especially for us as it also marks Drew’s first year of transition. So, this was an amazing way to mark that.

 The photography was amazing, we are both still new to being on the other side of the camera and so need lot of direction on where to look, where to place hands etc.

Rob was great, utilising a hybrid of natural light, backed up with extra light sources, he captured not just the amazing outfits but also the magic between the two of us. Our reaction on seeing the photos felt like we were back there again, and the smoke bomb shoot was something we had both wanted to do for ages.

Charlotte Yates
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