A Wielki Dzień project
Gothic wedding and reception in black, burgundy and gold
Written by: Magdalena Raba
Gothic-style wedding decorations at the Vinegre Restaurant in Gdynia: black tablecloths, burgundy and gold on the tables, red flowers, lanterns and candles.
Gothic style wedding: decorations and dark color palette
In October 2026, we prepared the setting for the wedding at the Vinegre Restaurant in Gdynia: decoration of the room, decoration of the ceremony place on the terrace and floristry. Black was the background and returned in the tablecloths, in the fabric on the decorative arch, in the ribbons on the chairs and in the lanterns. The color was brought by the burgundy and red of the napkins, flowers and feathery twigs. Gold appeared sparingly, in charger plates and in figures on table numbers. Thanks to this division, the decoration of the hall and terrace is perceived as a whole.
A dark palette requires discipline because black absorbs light and easily loses details. It needs bright spots, and here they were provided by gold, glass and white candles. Red and gold can be seen more clearly on a black tablecloth than on a light one, so you don't need a lot of them. The burgundy is darker than the red of the flowers and combines it with the black of the background. We start working on the setting by talking to the couple and reviewing their inspirations, then we create a concept with a palette, and only then do we select flowers and fabrics.
Gothic wedding in a bright, glass hall
The Vinegre Restaurant room, where the decoration was created, has glass walls, a light floor and a translucent roof on a black structure. It is located on a higher floor and opens onto a terrace with a wooden platform. From the room and the terrace you can see the trees, the buildings on the slope and the sea. During the day, the interior is very bright because light enters it through the walls and roof. The black roof structure has the same color as the tablecloths and fabrics, so the black decoration is not a foreign element in this interior.
Daylight changes the perception of dark colors. Here, black does not overwhelm, but draws clear shapes. Black floor-length tablecloths mark the round tables on the light floor, and the black fabric on the arch stands out against the landscape behind the glass. In such light, you can clearly see the difference between burgundy, dark navy blue and black, which easily blend together in low light. Without glass and candle flame, a black table would look flat.
Flowers for a Gothic wedding: red and dark navy blue on a black background
The compositions included red flowers: anthuriums, roses and carnations, including small, twig-like ones. Next to them, we placed dark navy blue, almost black roses and carnations, and blue gerberas and blue thistle added a cooler tone. Two-colored, creamy-red carnations are a brighter accent in this set. The background for the flowers is formed by eucalyptus, fern leaves and other greenery. We also added burgundy, feathery twigs to the composition.
Red is visible immediately on a black background, so it attracts the eye. Dark navy blue has the opposite effect, because it blends into the background from a distance, and only shows its color up close. In addition to color, we also work with shape: a smooth anthurium, a full rose, a jagged carnation and a spiky thistle look different even when the shade is similar. Green separates the dark flowers from the black tablecloth, making their outline visible. We place the order for flowers in advance and arrange the compositions in the studio as close to the wedding day as possible.
Black wedding tablecloths with burgundy and gold accents
The round tables were covered with black floor-length tablecloths. There were gold plates placed on them, and on each of them a folded burgundy cloth napkin. The entire wedding palette is repeated in each setting: the black of the tablecloth, the gold of the charger plate and the burgundy of the napkins. The table numbers are arc-shaped acrylic plates with gold digits. Transparent acrylic does not cover the flowers, and the numbers are the color of the charger plates. We do not take credit for every element visible in the photos, because some of the equipment belongs to the room.
We arranged low flower arrangements in the middle of the tables, and around them, right on the black tablecloth, there were burgundy, feathery twigs. At a round table, the low composition allows you to see the people sitting opposite you. There were also white pillar candles in glass cylinders of various heights and small candles in glass on the tables. The glass covers the flame and reflects its light. Place the candles stably and away from the edge of the table. We ask the facility whether open fire is allowed in the room at the concept stage.
A black arch in the hall, chairs and lanterns on the terrace
In the room, against the glass wall and next to the tables, there was a thin black metal arch. The black fabric hanging over it falls on both sides. At the top, on the left, we arranged an asymmetric composition of red roses and carnations, dark, almost black flowers and greenery. Creamy amaranth inflorescences and a string of dark beads hang from it. Behind the arch and the glass you can see trees and buildings, so the structure does not block the view, but frames it.
On the terrace, with the sea in the background, there were rows of chairs prepared for the ceremony. Some of them have black satin ribbon bows on their backrests. The chairs along the aisle are covered with black chiffon, which flows onto the platform. It is tied with a satin bow, and next to it we placed a small bouquet of red carnations, greenery and burgundy, feathery twigs. Black metal lanterns with white candles stand on gray pedestals and on the podium, and one of the lanterns is decorated with a string of red beads. The wind is important outdoors, so we choose heavy, stable bases, hide candles in lanterns or glass, and tie fabrics securely.
We place the decorations on the wedding day and take them away after the reception
We plan the installation in plenty of time and work according to a fixed order. We start with structures and fabrics, then glass and flowers, and leave the candles for last. Then we walk through the room and look at it as the guest would see it, i.e. from the entrance and from the table level. The video below shows the behind-the-scenes of this work: tying black bows on chairs, arranging flowers and setting candles in glass cylinders, as well as the finished decoration.
We agree with the facility in advance when we can start work and when to dismantle it. We then know how much time we have to set up the decorations and when the room should be empty again. We prepare wedding decorations in Gdynia and other places in Pomerania, and the halls have different rules, so we ask about these dates every time. After the reception, we dismantle the decorations, pack what we brought and leave the room tidy.
What do we advise couples who are planning a wedding in dark colors?
If it is to be a Gothic wedding, start by dividing the roles in the palette. Black works as a background, but it needs color and bright spots like gold, glass and white candles. Also see the room in daylight before determining the proportions. In a bright, glass interior there may be more black, and in a darker room it is worth adding candles and glass. Choose decorations for an autumn wedding with the quickly approaching darkness in mind: in October, candlelight can be seen much earlier than in summer. Combine dark flowers with greenery or a lighter flower so that they do not disappear on the black tablecloth.
Before you plan candles, check with the facility whether the use of open flames is allowed. At round tables, choose low compositions so that they do not cover the people sitting opposite. If part of the decoration is to be placed outside, take the wind into account when choosing fabrics, candles and bases. Repeat the same colors and materials in the hall and ceremony site, such as black fabric and red flowers. We start working on the concept with the conversation and your inspirations, so collect them in advance.
