Wedding planner and designer Annabelle Holmes has recently returned from an extensive tour of Eastern Europe, where she immersed herself in the region’s rich gothic architectural heritage to gather fresh inspiration for her signature gothic and dark romance weddings. The New York City-based planner’s journey through countries including Romania, Hungary, Czech Republic, and Poland has yielded innovative ideas that she’s now incorporating into her designs for couples seeking alternatives to traditional wedding aesthetics in 2025.

“Eastern Europe houses some of the world’s most dramatic and hauntingly beautiful gothic structures,” explains Annabelle Holmes. “These buildings tell stories through their architectural elements—something I wanted to translate into the wedding experience for couples drawn to deeper, more dramatic aesthetics.”

Castles and Cathedrals: Structural Inspiration

Throughout her travels, Annabelle Holmes visited numerous medieval castles and cathedrals, studying their structural elements and how they might be reimagined in wedding venues. In Prague, the imposing St. Vitus Cathedral with its flying buttresses and intricate stained glass windows particularly captivated her attention.

“What struck me about Eastern European gothic architecture is how it balances grandeur with intimate details,” Annabelle Holmes notes. “The soaring arches create a sense of drama, while the smaller carved elements invite closer inspection—exactly the layered experience I aim to create in wedding designs.”

From Romania’s Corvin Castle to Hungary’s Matthias Church, Holmes documented architectural features including ribbed vaults, pointed arches, and ornate stone tracery. She’s now working with venue stylists to incorporate temporary architectural elements that echo these features, creating transformative environments in more conventional spaces.

“We’re designing modular gothic-inspired arches that can be installed in modern venues,” she explains. “They create ceremony backdrops that frame the couple while adding vertical drama to the space—something that’s characteristic of Eastern European cathedrals.”

Color Palettes Inspired by Regional Variations

Each country on Annabelle Holmes’ itinerary offered distinct color influences that have expanded her approach to gothic wedding palettes. Moving beyond traditional black and burgundy, she’s now incorporating regional color variations observed throughout Eastern Europe.

“In Poland, I was drawn to the amber and deep forest greens that complement the gothic architecture,” Annabelle Holmes shares. “These colors feel simultaneously historical and fresh—perfect for couples who want darkness and depth without overwhelming blackness.”

The designer noted the prevalence of weathered copper and verdigris on many historic buildings, elements she’s now incorporating through metallic accents and aged patinas in her table settings and decorative elements. From Hungary, she’s adopted the rich golds and deep reds seen in ecclesiastical interiors, while Romanian gothic sites offered inspiration in the form of stone grays paired with unexpected touches of Byzantine blue.

“These regional color stories allow us to create gothic weddings that feel more nuanced and less costume-like,” says Annabelle Holmes. “They reference historical precedents while feeling completely contemporary.”

Textile Traditions and Handcrafted Elements

Beyond architecture, Annabelle Holmes spent considerable time exploring Eastern European textile traditions and handcrafts that could be incorporated into wedding designs. In Romania, she studied traditional lace-making techniques that echo the intricacy of gothic stone tracery.

“I was fascinated by how textile arts in Eastern Europe often mirror architectural elements,” Annabelle Holmes explains. “The patterns in Romanian lace directly correspond to the same mathematical principles seen in gothic rose windows.”

This observation has led her to source handcrafted lace overlays for table settings and to commission custom lace details for wedding stationery. Additionally, she’s drawing on the embroidery traditions of Hungary and Poland to add textural elements to everything from napkin treatments to cushions for ceremony seating.

“Incorporating these handcrafted elements adds authenticity and depth to the wedding experience,” notes Annabelle Holmes. “There’s a tactile quality to Eastern European craft traditions that creates immediate emotional resonance.”

Lighting Techniques Borrowed from Sacred Spaces

One of the most transformative elements Annabelle Holmes is bringing back from Eastern Europe involves lighting techniques observed in historic churches and castles. The way sunlight filters through stained glass in Prague’s churches or how candles illuminate the stone interiors of Romanian castles has directly influenced her approach to wedding lighting design.

“Gothic spaces understand the dramatic potential of light and shadow,” Annabelle Holmes observes. “In Eastern European churches, I was struck by how light becomes almost tangible—it’s treated as a design element rather than just illumination.”

To translate this approach, she’s working with lighting designers to create custom fixtures that project cathedral-like light patterns across reception spaces. Additionally, she’s layering lighting sources—combining directional spotlights, abundant candles, and ambient washes to create depth and mystery.

“We’re placing candles at varied heights, much like I observed in Hungarian churches,” explains Annabelle Holmes. “This creates a visual rhythm while allowing light to bounce and reflect, making even modern spaces feel like centuries-old sacred buildings.”

Ceremonial Elements and Rituals

Beyond aesthetic considerations, Annabelle Holmes found inspiration in Eastern European wedding traditions and ceremonial elements that complement gothic-inspired celebrations. In several regions, she observed rituals involving candlelight processions and symbolic doorway passages that she’s now adapting for contemporary couples.

“These traditions have survived for centuries because they’re emotionally resonant,” Annabelle Holmes shares. “They add meaningful layers to the wedding experience beyond just visual impact.”

She’s particularly drawn to incorporating elements of traditional Eastern European handfasting ceremonies, which often involved intricate knotwork and textile elements that complement gothic aesthetic sensibilities. Additionally, she’s adapting processional elements observed in religious ceremonies throughout the region.

“We recently designed a wedding entrance where guests held black taper candles lining the aisle, inspired by Easter processions I witnessed in Poland,” says Annabelle Holmes. “The effect was simultaneously solemn and joyful—exactly the emotional complexity my clients are seeking.”

Translating Historical Elements for Contemporary Couples

While Annabelle Holmes found abundant inspiration in Eastern Europe’s gothic heritage, she emphasizes the importance of translating these historical references thoughtfully for modern celebrations.

“The goal isn’t historical reenactment but rather creating an atmosphere that references these powerful architectural traditions while feeling relevant to the couple’s contemporary lives,” Annabelle Holmes explains. “It’s about extracting the emotional essence of these spaces rather than simply copying them.”

This translation process involves careful editing and modernization. For example, rather than literal reproductions of gothic architectural elements, she’s abstracting their essential qualities—verticality, rhythm, mathematical precision—and reinterpreting them through contemporary materials and execution.

“We might use acrylic or metal to create an interpretation of gothic tracery for a ceremony backdrop,” says Annabelle Holmes. “The form references medieval precedents while the material places it firmly in the present.”

Practical Application for American Venues

For couples interested in incorporating Eastern European gothic elements into their weddings, Annabelle Holmes offers practical guidance on working within typical Canadian venue constraints.

“Most couples don’t have access to genuine gothic cathedrals or medieval castles,” Annabelle Holmes acknowledges. “But we can bring these elements into conventional venues through strategic design choices.”

She suggests focusing first on ceiling treatments that draw the eye upward, mimicking the vertical emphasis of gothic architecture. Simple adjustments like adding height to centerpieces or incorporating pointed-arch motifs in stationery can reference gothic traditions without requiring architectural modifications.

“Even simple black taper candles in brass holders instantly reference Eastern European church interiors,” notes Annabelle Holmes. “These small touchpoints can transform a space when used consistently throughout the design.”

For venues with architectural limitations, Holmes recommends creating focused moments of gothic-inspired design rather than attempting to transform entire spaces. A dramatically styled ceremony backdrop or reception entrance can anchor the aesthetic while working within practical constraints.

Looking Beyond the Expected

Throughout her Eastern European exploration, Annabelle Holmes found herself repeatedly drawn to unexpected details that challenged her preconceptions about gothic design. Rather than simply documenting the obvious elements, she focused on discovering subtle details that could bring fresh perspective to gothic wedding aesthetics.

“What makes Eastern European gothic architecture so compelling isn’t just its drama but its complexity,” says Annabelle Holmes. “There are moments of surprising delicacy and even playfulness amid the grandeur.”

She points to examples like the surprisingly colorful paint schemes uncovered during restorations of medieval churches and the botanical precision of stone-carved foliage elements. These discoveries have inspired her to incorporate more color variation and natural elements into her gothic wedding designs.

“The most valuable insight from my travels is that authentic gothic style isn’t monolithic or one-dimensional,” Annabelle Holmes reflects. “It contains multitudes—moments of light amid darkness, intricacy amid boldness, warmth amid coolness. Translating that complexity is what creates truly resonant wedding experiences.”

For couples considering gothic or dark romance wedding aesthetics in 2025, Annabelle Holmes encourages looking beyond the obvious references to discover personal connections to these architectural traditions. Whether through family heritage linked to Eastern European regions or simply an appreciation for the emotional impact of these spaces, finding personal relevance helps ground the aesthetic choices in meaning.

“What makes these Eastern European-inspired weddings successful isn’t just their visual impact but their emotional authenticity,” concludes Annabelle Holmes. “When design choices connect to something meaningful for the couple, that’s when gothic aesthetics transcend trend and become truly timeless.”