Squeal At The Armored Corset Dress At This Fantasy Rpg-Themed Wedding
We’re utterly thrilled about the one-of-a-kind armored corset dress at Erin’s wedding, which was custom designed by Dress Art Mystery. The stunning visuals were captured by John William. As we dive into the details, let’s start with the lovely couple: Erin, the Offbeat Bride, and Ross, her Applications Developer partner-in-crime.
Their special day took place on October 30, 2016, at the picturesque Pioneer Barn on the grounds of the Fort Menendez Old Florida Museum in Saint Augustine, Florida – a truly unforgettable setting.
Our offbeat wedding at a glance:
As self-proclaimed semi-gothy nerds with a passion for fantasy, we naturally gravitated towards a themed celebration that would bring together our love of books, movies, TV shows, comic books, cosplay, and role-playing games. Our special day became an immersive medieval-fantasy extravaganza, complete with faeries, wizards, knights, goblins, and other mythical creatures.
The entire wedding party was encouraged to don their best fantasy-inspired attire, while we gave our guests the creative freedom to choose any costume they pleased, as long as it could be worn in polite society. This led to a truly unique gathering of characters, including toddlers clad in dragon onesies, superheroes, and even the delightfully macabre Gomez and Morticia Addams.
It was an unforgettable celebration that allowed our love of fantasy to shine through and brought joy to all who attended.
Tell us about the ceremony:
For our special day, Ross and I created bespoke attire for ourselves as well as our wedding party. After scouring through countless dresses, I finally found a stunning custom armored-corseted dress from Dress Art Mystery that perfectly suited my vision. To complete the look, I had a silver filigree crown adorned with delicate chains custom-made by an Etsy seller in the UK.
Instead of traditional bouquets, my bridesmaids and I carried enchanting Moroccan glass star-shaped lanterns as we walked down the aisle. Ross took a more medieval approach to his attire, opting for custom-made tunics for our groomsmen and designing his own wedding tunic/cloak with Armstreet’s expertise. He also commissioned a bespoke bandolier from another Etsy seller, featuring alchemist vials and bottles, as well as a holster for his handmade ‘spellbook’ containing his heartfelt vows.
Our families joined in on the fantasy, donning their own medieval-inspired costumes to participate in the procession. We had faeries, wizards, elves, sorceresses, knights, and druids all marching down the aisle together, creating an unforgettable atmosphere. To amplify the ambiance, we hired a local Renaissance Faire band to perform live Celtic-inspired music while dressed in full medieval regalia.
Ross and I wrote our own vows, with Ross reading his from his trusty spellbook attached to his alchemist bandolier. His best man even prepared a three-page speech, delivered in a charming town crier voice complete with an English accent that had our guests in stitches during the reception.
Tell us about your reception:
To add an extra layer of whimsy to the wedding decor, I designed custom signs for each table, inspired by fantastical locations from fairy tales. These signs were accompanied by miniature glowing lanterns, crafted with the help of my bridesmaids (a tutorial can be found here). The centerpieces were a true labor of love, with my artsy stepmom and step-sister teaming up to create beautiful arrangements using vintage flower vases, decorative sticks, dried flowers, glitter, and hanging crystals.
This DIY approach not only saved us money but also allowed us to incorporate meaningful elements from our heritage. The music at our wedding was a true highlight, with our Renaissance faire band playing lively Celtic and medieval-inspired tunes throughout the reception. They even accompanied us for our three waltzes: Ross and I as a newlywed couple, Ross’ special dance with his mom, and my heartfelt waltz with my dad.
To complete the fantasy atmosphere, we encouraged our immediate families to dress up in medieval- and fantasy-themed costumes, resulting in an array of faeries, wizards, elves, The Mad Hatter, sorceresses, and druids joining us for the ceremony. When it came to the menu, we opted for a medieval-inspired spread that catered to my lifelong vegetarianism.
Our talented caterer delivered on this vision, serving up a delightful vegetarian pot pie alongside a variety of salads, chicken dishes, and vegetables. The sweet treats were just as impressive, with medieval-style tarts and pies filled with fresh fruit providing the perfect ending to our magical day.
What was your most important lesson learned?
The impact of having a wedding planner was undeniable for us. Our planner, who also doubled as an officiant and makeup artist, was instrumental in bringing our wedding vision to life. Her team handled everything from major logistical tasks to minute details, providing immense relief during the planning process. If you’re expecting 70 or more guests at your wedding, especially if food and dancing are involved, we highly recommend investing in a full-service planner. It’s worth every penny.
One crucial decision we made early on was setting a firm guest count before proceeding with the planning process. Our initial estimate of 50 guests eventually ballooned to 100, significantly increasing our expenses and stress levels. Initially, we faced challenges finding suitable attire for our ceremony, crafting decorations that reflected our style, and designing invitations (I took on the creative tasks myself, designing save-the-dates and invitations, as well as mailing them out).
However, with the help of our wedding planner, these obstacles became more manageable.
Vendors
Before exploring the wedding gallery, let’s take a moment to appreciate the exceptional work of Dress Art Mystery. Not only did they create a stunning custom dress for the bride, but they also crafted other breathtaking dresses that left us in awe. If you’re as impressed as we are, click on any of the images below to learn more about these incredible designs.
