Kat Von D's Goth Wedding Created by her Wedding Planner
The Kat Von D and Leafar Sayer Wedding changed all the rules for weddings. The cocktail reception could have appeared to be a classic all white wedding with an odd twist like the upside down crucifix. The ballroom doors opened to unveil a monochromatic blood red romantic cave dripping in fabric. Candles floated above lush tabletops adorned with collections of Bibles, skulls, crystals, and mounds of flowers. Guests enjoyed an elaborate multi-course vegan feast while listening to special musical performances with Kat serenaded Leafar while playing Nick Cave’s into my arms on a red piano as their grand finale.
I was beyond thrilled when longtime friend and client texted me to help plan her once in a lifetime wedding extravaganza. Kat has an amazing creative vision and I couldn’t wait to hear what she had in time. i had been working with her since her for over a decade and knew anything was possible. To my joyous surprise she her vision was a monochromatic cherry red wonderland. As we dreamed together we targeted the concept of a march through Dante’s circles of hell for a true til death do us part theme.
Enjoy the details as we take a reminiscent journey through the iconic wedding:
The Kat Von D and Leafar Seyer Wedding was celebrated by one hundred sixty of their closest friends and family on June 2, 2018 at The Beverly Hills Hotel. Save the dates featured a gold framed picture of the couple with a personalized handwritten announcement by Kat which was reproduced with embossed gold ink.
The front of Kat Von D’s Save the Date with Engagement Photo
The back of Kat Von D and Prayers Save the Date with Kat’s Handwriting Printed in Gold Foil
The wedding invitation arrived in a black box embossed with a crucifix. The box was lined with red velvet and filled with a 3D Skull invitation and an ID bracelet. The black bracelet with the wedding date in raised gold numbers and a cross charm was designed by Leafar.
Our Kat Von D branded welcome girls were dressed in goth school girl skirts, knee socks and Kat Von D smokey eye shadow. They welcomed guests, encouraged video interviews and assisted with finding their glasslike escort cards.
A parchment scroll, feather quill and ink well invited artistic guests to create a memorable keepsake. Guests descended through the overflowing floral garden spiral staircase towards the hum of the cocktail party. On their way, guests passed a suspended floral crucifix made of carnations, followed by upside-down version of the crucifix. Flowers continued to lead them to a heavenly white room blanketed in faux fur carpet, dripping in tasseled fabric, surrounded by sanctuary windows, fringed tables, white flowers and a slowly flickering crucifix candle sculpture.
The alluring fragrance of Kat Von D’s signature Saint Perfume welcomed guests drifted lightly through entrance combining notes of jasmine, vanilla and sandalwood for a total immersion into our dreamy wonderland.
Artist Gusts had Fun Signing the Scroll Guest Book
The cocktail hour was visually stunning. A photograph of our couple laying hand-in-hand in white flowers was projected on a wall as guest entered. Video mapping of film footage of Kat and Leafar scrolled across the recessed ceiling.
An award winning magician entertained while guests enjoyed vegan hors d’oeuvres and sipped smokey cocktails infused with a hint dry ice. Each cocktail was creatively named after the couple’s sphynx cats: Poe, Nietzche and Piaf.
Black Signature Cocktail with Dry Ice
The ballroom doors opened to reveal a monochromatic red ballroom dripping in victorian style drapery between cave walls. Romantic floating candles lit the room.
Inspired by Phantom of the Opera and Dante’s Inferno, our room was filled with circular tables layered in sequin, satin, taffeta and silk fabrics. Every table was uniquely designed with a curated collection of heirlooms and oddities such as Bibles, rosaries, skulls, crystals, orbs and antlers. Tall centerpieces cascaded in the center of the tables. Clusters of glass domes encapsulated butterflies, flowers and archeological treasures. Looking closely a guest may have discovered where a single butterfly landed on a flower or dome.
The room was scented with Kat Von D’s Sinner Perfume fragrance with a rich deep cinnamon, wood and patchouli to arouse a romantic mood.
The sweetheart table was elevated on the existing stage. The tablecloth was adorned with flowers flowed like a river over 15’ long. Two red gothic chairs awaited the bride and groom. Behind the sweetheart table was a red draped curtain inspired by the Paris opera house. The entire sweetheart table stage with ornamented with wild red flowers and antlers as an ode to nature.
In the center of the room, a sculpture of melted candles encircled our shiny red dance floor. Mountains of candles dripped into pools of wax. In the center of the dance floor, a castle cake with a video projection of the couple waving and blowing kisses to the guests was projected on the castle front door.
As house lights faded, a video played telling the Kat and Leafar’s love story. As the film played, guests took their seats and the cake was replaced with our ceremonial stage.
Silence. The groom materialized wearing a goth charro suit with veiled sombrero. The bride emerged wearing all red antlers, flamed veil and high ruffled collar Victorian gown from across the room. They circled around the floor to meet together in the center of the room. The dragon crested veil was held by a pair of contortionist in red latex who assisted the bride into her position. The couple stepped up onto a raised circular alter, surrounded by friends, the soul mates joined to unite with heartfelt vows and tears.
Every table was carefully designed with a bespoke collection of vintage tableware. Strategic combinations black, red and crystal glassware flanked each place setting. Red Glass Chargers, gold flatware and red napkins marked our seats. Our chairs were red velvet with gold trim. A red menu card with gold metallic font described the vegan feast. A note at the top of the menu read, “We are proud to provide this 100% vegan meal made with love, not animals.”
The formal vegan dinner began with spicy empanadas with chipotle peppers as an appetizer. Next guests enjoyed heirloom baby beet salad with citrus supremes, pickled shallots and mango vinaigrette. A pasta course followed serving corn tortellini, charred peppers, fried leeks and vodka sauce. The entree featured harvest roast sweet potato and marshmallow gratin and basil glazed brussel sprouts. The dessert course treated guests to stone fruit croustade with blackberry coulis. The wedding cake was red velvet. The final course served to each guest was a gift bag complete with a Poe Candle, custom matches and a lipstick for women to refresh if needed. However the collector’s edition lipstick was rarely opened.
As diner was served, everyone was treated to musical performances by @heresy44 @matttyt and @iamrorbertharvey. The climax of the evening was a final performance by Kat Von D to her loving husband on a red piano. She serenaded, “Into My Arms” by Nick Cave to Leafar. Leafar couldn’t help but walk to her for a touching moment when she broke into tears. Kat and Leafar graciously thanked everyone including a shout out to the hotel for making her vegan menu extraordinary.
In lieu of gifts, donations were made to Mercy for Animals.