The spooky season is upon us—perfect timing for Natasha and James’s haunted house wedding! The School of Rock is what brought these two together. Natasha was there for guitar lessons and participated in the school’s ‘Adult Band Program.’ The chemistry was instant when James showed up as a new guitar instructor.
Their first date was in March, so naturally they went to a haunted house. When James took Natasha’s hand, the feeling was electric. She knew then he was the person for her!
They both love Halloween and things that go bump in the night, so a zombie was involved when James asked her to be his wife. Says Natasha, “James proposed to me while we put Halloween decorations on our new home. He put the ring on a zombie prop that popped up at me with the ring fastened to its finger—so cute!”
Since their first date was at a haunted house, there was no question in their minds that their wedding had to be at one, too. So, they chose the best around: Dark Hour Haunted House in Plano, TX.
You may think that Natasha’s black wedding gown was a foregone conclusion, but that wasn’t on her mind at all. Says Natasha, “I never set out to get a black wedding dress. In fact, I was very open-minded during the dress-finding process and tried on plenty of white and other colored dresses. After trying on a couple of white dresses, I just happened to ask my bridal assistant, Ve at Bridal Boutique in Lewisville, TX, if they had any black dresses that I could try on. She said they had one, and it was in storage in the back of the store. I asked to see it. When she unzipped the bag, this gorgeous, classic black dream of a dress was revealed. It had everything I loved—a sweetheart neckline, a handkerchief layered tulle skirt, and just the right amount of bling! If I could design a dress on my own, it would be this dress. THIS was my dress. I’d like to think this dress was just waiting for me.
James also wanted to do something unique for his wedding suit. He has fully embraced Texas culture since moving here seven years, so he went with an all-black western style suit complete with cowboy hat, embroidered jacket, bolo tie, and boots—he looked great!“
More about their fun, 100% James and Natasha day from our fabulous bride below:
black wedding gown: Lea-Ann Belter Onyx via the Bridal Boutique of Lewisville | photographers: Deep Shadows Pictures – Josh Davis and Halle Bookout | scroll down for full vendor list
Why did you decide to get married where you did?
“Our first date was at a haunted house, so it was only fitting that we get married at a haunted house! So we got married at Dark Hour Haunted House in Plano, TX. It is a state-of-the-art haunted attraction in the heart of DFW.”
Tell us about your day!
“It was the best day ever! James and I always wanted our wedding to be fun, so an important element of the day was to have a portion of the haunted house open for guests to enjoy during the reception. It was a hit! Everyone had a blast, and James and I even got to scare our guests inside the haunted house.”
What was your first dance song?
“Our first dance song was “Life Eternal” by Ghost. We really enjoy that band. The song is beautiful and was perfect for us. We also had a cloud effect which added to the specialness of the dance.”
One detail you couldn’t live without?
“My little sister wasn’t supposed to be able to make our wedding (she is serving in the Army overseas). But, to my surprise, she secretly was able to get time off and surprised me at the rehearsal. It was the greatest gift she could ever have given me.”
What was the most important aspect for you in terms of planning your wedding?
“Being organized! As a producer, I could break down the day like I would for any television or radio show I was producing. This made it easy for me to break down the day’s details and clearly communicate the schedule to my coordinator and the haunted house team.”
Three words that best describe your partner:
“James is supportive, loving, and fun!”
Any tips for couples getting married?
“Think outside the box! Create the wedding that you both dream of!”
Natasha + James’ Haunted House Wedding Vendors
black wedding gown: Lea-Ann Belter Onyx via the Bridal Boutique of Lewisville | photographers: Deep Shadows Pictures – Josh Davis and Halle Bookout | venue: Dark Hour Haunted House | makeup: Elizabeth Rist Makeup Artistry | hair: Mandy Whitsitt | catering: Love and War in Texas | bar service: North Texas Wedding Event Services | cake: Irene’s Bakery | cloud effect: Pyrotex | videographer: Robert Alcala
