Black Meringue

Weird & Wonderful Weddings

Black Meringue invited readers to wow us with stories of their unique weddings, and the responses were truly breathtaking. Be amazed and inspired, and if you have any stories of your own let us know!

Phantom of the Opera

Musicians Adam Fillary and Donna Reed based their wedding on the Phantom of the Opera. “It was the first musical we ever saw together, and, after all, it’s a love story,” says Donna. “Our wedding venue was the Gothic, dark Oakley Court Hotel in Windsor, Berkshire, which was also where the Rocky Horror Picture Show was filmed – but it was still beautiful enough to be a wedding venue!”

The pair chose a colour theme for the big day as well – black, white and gold, after a scene in the film. “We asked all of our guests to stick to this theme, and/or go Victorian, because that is when the story was set,” explains Donna. “And everyone did!”

Donna’s dress was inspired by Emmy Rossum in the Aria scene of the Phantom, right down to the corset and the period petticoats, and made by Anna Maria D’Amato (www. damato-bridal.co.uk). Her circlet was hand-made with wax flowers and beads, she wore Victorian-style boots, and her jewellery was as close to that in the film as possible – stardrop earrings and necklace. The bridesmaids wore black satin bustle skirts, corsets and Victorian boots, and Donna made tiaras for all three.

“Guests listened to music from the film Edward Scissorhands, which has a really beautiful, magical feel, while they waited for the ceremony to start,” continues Donna. “And I walked in to the score from the song The Music of the Night from the Phantom of the Opera.”

And the spooky thread running through the day didn’t stop at the venue. “We wanted something a bit different to keep everyone from getting bored, and the Victorians were obsessed with Ouija boards and anything scary, so we hired a magician with a difference – a psychic entertainer,” says Donna. “The tables were decorated with hand-made Venetian masks, and each table was named after a character from the story.”

“We wanted the ceremony to be as individual and as personal to us as possible,” she finishes. Perfect.