Romantic & Moody Wedding Inspired by Phantom of the Opera

I have a confession: I hadn’t seen the 2004 film adaptation of Phantom of the Opera prior to booking this wedding. I know, I know, it’s CRIMINAL. But, luckily, when Sabrina and Nick reached out to have me photograph their Phantom of the Opera inspired wedding, it was the perfect reason to finally sit down and watch it. Needless to say, I am forever grateful for them!

Let me tell you guys, this couple had a vision. Every detail, from the beautiful tablescapes to Sabrina’s custom-made gown, was curated to bring the romantic fairytale vibes to life. This wedding truly felt like a gothic romance, and I had the best time creating art, capturing the couple’s love story, and documenting the day as it progressed.

The day began with the couple’s first look in an intimate stairwell in their venue. I loved the deep red velvet lining the steps, making Sabrina’s gown pop and setting a romantic atmosphere for her and Nick’s first meet. I used direct flash to emphasize the colors and contrast – in fact, I used flash for about 90% of this wedding! In the gallery below, you’ll mostly see a combination of direct and indirect flash, with some non-flash photos during the ceremony. I love what flash can do to a vibe!

The ceremony was held at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington DC, which offered the most ethereal atmosphere to complement the moody and romantic style of the wedding. The space seemed larger than life, with sound echoing into the vaulted ceilings and the faint scent of incense from past services. It was the perfect venue to complement the gorgeous reception space that the couple found!

We then traveled back to the venue where cocktail hour and the reception commenced. The light from hundreds of real candles illuminated the gilded reception space and brought the room to life with dancing flames and shadows. Red fruit and flowers adorned each table, with the occasional little statue or golden treasure peeking through the petals. The newlyweds were announced into dinner, and an awe fell over the room as the couple swiftly began their first dance, a choreographed masterpiece that seamlessly blended their dance with their parent dances, and then ended with a beautiful lift as the room erupted into applause. It was truly something out of a dreamlike period piece.

Finally, no Phantom of the Opera inspired wedding would be complete without a masquerade! Guests donned masks of every kind as the evening transitioned into nighttime, and I finally bid farewell to this magical wedding. I will always remember this wedding like a distant dream, and I’m already yearning for the next gothic wedding to capture.

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