Chic Steampunk Wedding
Maddison and Marcus take Chic Steampunk to a new level in this inspirational wedding photo shoot. Both bride and groom in black, and a stunning bouquet that pulls the whole look together – we think you’ll adore this theme. Read on!
Details for a Chic Steampunk Wedding
Brides looking for an original and unique wedding theme should consider the Chic Steampunk wedding. This wedding theme encompasses both an industrial and a Victorian theme, combining elegance as well as items such as pipes, clocks, gears, feathers, and even compasses.
The venue can be an important element in carrying out the Chic Steampunk wedding theme, but even an outdoor wedding location can be the perfect place for a Chic Steampunk wedding. Brides may also find that they utilise food to also carry out the Chic Steampunk wedding theme. Today’s bakers create lots of edible goodies to depict clocks, pocket watches or tall hats!
Colour Palette for a Chic Steampunk Wedding
Black and crimson red are often the most popular hues in a Chic Steampunk wedding colour palette. However, some brides want lots of antique or ivory white, too.
Many times, grooms and their attendants will want black and various shades of grey in their wedding attire. Olive has also been spotted in the Chic Steampunk wedding colour palette. Dark brown, as well as copper, have made appearances on various Chic Steampunk wedding colour palettes as well. Some may swap copper for bronze or even gold. Silver also tends to mesh well with these colours.
What to Look for in a Venue for a Chic Steampunk Wedding
Look for a repurposed venue that has character! There are a wealth of venues available that were once warehouses, factories, historic homes, and museums (particularly old railroad museums), and each of these naturally lends to the industrial Chic Steampunk wedding theme.
When touring any of these possible venues, look for the character previously mentioned. Are areas of brick or concrete peeking out from the walls of the venue? Are there wooden rafters in the ceiling? Are long, hanging industrial lights descending from the rafters? Any and all of these decorative aspects will lend to the Chic Steampunk vibe of the venue.
Food for a Chic Steampunk Wedding
Because Steampunk is a bit of a throwback to the Victorian era, create a menu with this historical time period in mind. Afternoon teas were quite popular in the Victorian era, so afternoon receptions might be a great time for cucumber tea sandwiches and macarons. Mini-desserts would also work well for the Chic Steampunk wedding food menu. A great idea would be to set up an Earl Grey station so that guests can choose exactly what they like.
Another idea, however, is to serve favourite foods but use Victorian era dishes to present the food. For instance, brass charger plates were popular during this time, as are Victorian porcelain. Some choose to host a literal hog roast, but, if this isn’t your cup of tea, you can always opt for roasted chicken or beef.
Wedding Dresses and Accessories for a Chic Steampunk Wedding
To be certain, the wedding dresses at a Chic Steampunk wedding are very fun and quite interesting! Most do not fit tradition, and brides may opt for different headpieces or hats rather than a tiara and veil.
A ruffled dress with a visible corset and a hat is completely Steampunk, and this type of dress can be easily obtained via a cosplay dress shop or a cosplay website. Some brides will choose a dress that offers a corset in red or black, while other brides may opt for a leather corset. When it comes to hats, a top hat is totally Steampunk.
Menswear for a Chic Steampunk Wedding
Again, a cosplay costume source is a great place to find a Steampunk suit for the groom and the members of his party. The groom and his attendants have a great deal of choice in picking just the right outfit, however.
Some grooms will don a black tux with tails and a red vest, complete with a matching boutonniere and top hat (a red hat band will really set off the Chic Steampunk menswear). Some will also have an alpenstock to really depict the Chic Steampunk theme. Others will mix some dark grey in with a black suit. An ascot should be worn rather than a traditional tie.
Wedding Cake Ideas for a Chic Steampunk Wedding
Brides can build on the traditional wedding cake when hosting a Chic Steampunk wedding. The key to making a wedding cake a steampunk one is in the accessories.
One wedding cake was antique white rather than ivory white, and the two tiers of the cake were wrapped in burlap at the bottom of each tier. The decorations of the cake were fondant gears that cascaded down both tiers of the cake.
Another wedding cake was totally black. Of the three tall tiers, the bottom two tiers were wrapped in a metallic lace material. Black roses and a black top hat were set at an angle on the top tier (picture guitarist Slash with his classic top hat cocked to one side). Other Steampunk touches might include using clocks or touches of bronze to accent an otherwise traditional tiered wedding cake.
Ceremony Decor for a Chic Steampunk Wedding
Many brides, particularly those who find a repurposed venue that is perfect for the Steampunk wedding, will decorate only sparsely. In fact, this is one of the key elements of the Chic Steampunk wedding. While brides may wish to add details involving clocks, gears, geometric shapes, and the like, less is definitely more for this theme.
One bride hung Edison lights from those exposed rafters for her Chic Steampunk wedding. Another bride used a backdrop that featured different sized gears as well as some feathers. One used a ceremonial arch that featured the interior gears of a clock, with a large clock at the apex of the arch.
Reception Decor for a Chic Steampunk Wedding
Again, if a bride is able to find that repurposed venue with exposed brick or concrete walls, then the venue itself may lend to the Chic Steampunk wedding theme quite easily with little decorating effort. However, some brides enjoy adding to the venue to really highlight the Chic Steampunk wedding reception.
Centrepieces are a big part of decorating for the Chic Steampunk wedding reception. Tall, wooden or wrought iron candlesticks are perfect for wedding reception centrepieces. Some brides forgo adding a candle and place a small bouquet of flowers in the tall structures.
Wedding Reception Music for a Chic Steampunk Wedding
The Cure released multiple songs that are perfect for the Chic Steampunk wedding reception music playlist. A particular favourite is the hit, “Lovesong,” and a more modern, reggae version was released by 311, if brides prefer. “Just Like Heaven” and “Friday, I’m in Love” are also great Cure songs that people enjoy dancing to.
Song selections by the groups They Might be Giants, My Chemical Romance, and Pop Goes Punk are also perfect for the Chic Steampunk Wedding reception playlist. Some brides also add a lot of 80s songs to the playlist, including soundtrack songs from any John Hughes movie.
Steampunk Chic
From Jen Events – “This styled shoot was inspired by the amazing work of Filament Vintage Lighting. He designs, these unique filament lighting fixtures that screams modern-day Steampunk so I had to ask him if he would be interested in collaborating for a styled shoot!
I had so much fun designing this offbeat wedding. When searching for venues, I stumbled upon this beautiful gem in Costa Mesa called the Gray Matter Museum of Art. It was breathtaking inside with its exposed pipes and beams and the concrete floors. From there, amazing vendor after amazing vendor joined in on the fun!”
From Jen Events – “Kelsey Daffern Photography has an amazing eye for detail and she shot everything perfectly. Nails and Day Bridal provided an Elizabeth Dye two-piece wedding dress that was black and so perfect for the modern-day Steampunk bride. The tulle gave it a fun flow vibe. Fusion Hair and Beauty made the bride look totally flawless with her dark red lip.
Party Pieces by Perry provided a variety of items for this styled shoot. First, they provided the farm table set as well as the blue upholstered chairs that gave the scenery a pop of a colour. They also provided the dark blue sofa with the modern gold side tables. Lastly, they provided the cake stand with the open glass bottom as well.”
“Hadley Custom Designs created the invitation suite and place cards that were modern and clean, and even included tiny gears on it. Friar Tux provided our groom with a Burgundy Shawl Lapel Tuxedo with a leather bow tie. Kat’s Floral Creations designed the ultra lush bouquet that included an all white king Protea from South Africa.
Laura Marie’s designed a beautiful two-tiered square wedding cake that included sugar gears. Baker Party Rentals provided the tableware including the beautiful rose gold flatware and the copper pressed glassware. Waveform Events provided the globe and the amber uplighting that added to the Steampunk vibe. Happily Ever Etched provided the laser etched names in copper and the copper etched champagne glasses!”
Credits: Photography: Kelsey Daffern Photography // Bridal Attire: Elizabeth Dye from Nic and Day Bridal // Coordination: Jen Events // Hair & Makeup: Fuse Hair and Beauty // Rentals: Party Pieces by Perry // Paper Goods: Hadley Custom Designs // Groom’s Attire: Friar Tux // Lights: Filament Vintage Lighting // Florals: Kat’s Floral Creations // Cake: Laura Marie’s // Tableware: Baker Party Rentals // Uplights: Waveform Events // Lasercut Items: Happily Ever Etched // Venue: Gray Matter Museum of Art in Costa Mesa, California.