In what ways can I inject my personality into the decor?

"For a darkly romantic Gothic wedding that still feels tasteful and stylish, I would say that less is more – choosing the decor can be as much about what you take out as what you add in. It would be amazing to go massively overblown and cover the place in dramatic florals but that isn’t a very budget-friendly approach. Gothic styling is by nature overstated but there are ways to convey everything you love while sticking to your budget.

I would start with a few traditional stationery touches, harking back to the historic venue you have chosen to marry in. Get a bespoke hand-illustrated wedding crest or logo designed for you with your initials, incorporating any other Gothic imagery you love, like skulls, crows, roses, thorns or even an old crumbling mansion. You can then use it throughout your wedding – for your invitations, on your table stationery and stamped onto favours or cake boxes – to tie everything together. It will set the tone of your day right from the beginning.

If you are artistic but on a budget, I would also suggest taking a modern calligraphy course with À L'aise, Quill or Lamplighter London, so you can handwrite your own place cards – I’d say calligraphy is a pretty essential addition to a Gothic wedding.

The Stylist wedding blog: expert advice on achieving that Gothic-romantic look