A Gothic Fairytale Wedding at Searles Castle | Marceline & Dawson

Some wedding venues just make you stop for a minute when you walk through the door. Searles Castle in Windham, New Hampshire, was definitely one of those places.

This was my first time photographing a wedding at Searles Castle, and I honestly couldn’t get over how beautiful it was. I feel incredibly fortunate this year to have photographed weddings at so many different and amazing venues. This was my second castle wedding of the year (Hammond Castle, you’ll always have a special place in my heart), but Searles Castle has officially landed itself in my top five.

And then there’s Marceline and Dawson. If you know me, you know a black wedding dress and a castle are pretty much going to get my attention.

Getting Ready at the Castle

Despite having a pretty sizable wedding party, the morning was surprisingly relaxed. Everyone was just doing their thing, getting ready, hanging out, and enjoying the morning without a whole lot of commotion.

The guys did what guys apparently always do: fumbled around with their ties for a bit before eventually getting themselves together. Dawson, on the other hand, was ready in practically no time.

Meanwhile, Marceline was getting ready with her girls, and I have to talk about this dress.

She wore the most incredible black glitter ball gown, complete with a black veil. She looked like an absolute princess, just with a little more rock-and-roll and a lot less traditional fairytale energy. Honestly, this is exactly what I picture when I think of a goth bride. It was SO good.

Her bridesmaids were amazing, too. They were incredibly supportive, encouraging, and clearly so excited to be there for her. Her mom was right there helping and soaking in every minute of it. You could tell just how much this day meant to everyone.

A First Look With a Little Twist

Instead of doing a traditional first look, Marceline and Dawson decided to do something a little different.

Dawson stood underneath the castle balcony while Marceline waited above him. She then made her way downstairs, where he got to see her for the first time.

His reaction was pretty great. One of the first things out of his mouth was how cool she looked. And honestly, he wasn’t wrong.

Afterward, we knocked out family formals and spent a little time photographing the two of them before tucking them away for the ceremony.

A Ceremony That Was Completely Their Own

Their ceremony was short, sweet, and full of little details that made it feel like Marceline and Dawson.

One of my favorite moments involved their maid of honor and best man, who both had swords. When the officiant asked if anyone had any objections to the marriage, they each drew their swords just a little and looked around.

I mean, come on. How are you NOT going to love that?

They also incorporated candle lighting into the ceremony, along with other personal touches that made the whole thing feel intentional without being overly complicated.

Marceline arrived in a horse-drawn carriage, which was pretty fitting for the setting, and after the ceremony, the two of them made their exit the same way.

I love when couples find ways to make their wedding feel like an actual reflection of who they are instead of following a checklist of what a wedding is supposed to look like. This was very much their own thing, and it worked perfectly.

Horse-Drawn Carriages, Castle Portraits & Time to Enjoy the Day

After the ceremony, I met Marceline and Dawson at the bottom of the hill, where we continued their portraits after their carriage ride.

One thing I really appreciated about Searles Castle was how accommodating the venue was with transportation for the couple. It meant Marceline didn’t have to spend the day trekking up and down the hill in that incredible dress. Although, I should mention she was wearing completely sensible shoes underneath all that fabulousness. Priorities.

Since we had already taken care of most of the family formals and some of their portraits earlier in the day, they were able to actually enjoy their cocktail hour and spend time with their guests.

This is something I always encourage couples to consider when planning their wedding timeline. Getting some of those photographs done ahead of time means less time away from the people you invited to celebrate with you. Revolutionary concept, I know.

Once everyone was settled, Marceline and Dawson were introduced, followed by their dances, toasts, and all the usual reception festivities.

Exploring Searles Castle for Some Final Portraits

Once cocktail hour wrapped up and everyone headed out to the tent for dinner, we had the opportunity to sneak back inside the castle.

And this is where things got really fun.

With the guests outside enjoying dinner, we had the entire castle to ourselves for a little while. If there’s one thing I love about photographing weddings at historic venues, it’s getting to use the architecture, staircases, interesting rooms, and all those little details that make a location unique.

Searles Castle has so much character. There are so many opportunities to create portraits that feel cinematic and a little different from the typical wedding photographs.

Between Marceline’s black gown, the dramatic architecture, and the overall atmosphere of the castle, we had plenty to work with.

It’s one of those venues I’ll definitely be excited to return to.

A Wedding That Felt Like Them

Marceline and Dawson’s wedding was such a great reminder that your wedding doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s.

It can involve a black glitter ball gown, a castle, swords, candlelight, and a horse-drawn carriage. It can be relaxed, intimate, and completely your own without needing to follow every traditional wedding expectation.

And honestly? I think that’s the best way to do it.