Can't decide if this is a good idea or not for our Halloween wedding..

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We are planning to get married on Halloween next year in our local town hall. We just want a cheap and cheerful event, with a nice big party after for all our family and friends. We met at a Halloween party years ago so it's a special day for us. We were thinking of telling people it's fancy dress code too, as we will be running with a Halloween theme for the day (pumpkins etc). I know it's tacky, but I want a fun wedding where people don't need to spend a fortune on a new outfit and will remember it.

A close relative is getting married next year and is having a very expensive, full frills wedding, requiring most guests to stay a night or two, and I feel like a low key, fun wedding would be a welcome contrast to that.

So my question is, if you received a wedding invite for Halloween with fancy dress code, would you be happy to dress up? I was thinking of incentivising with prizes for best dressed..?

I think it sounds like fun. I would need to buy a wedding outfit anyway, and a Halloween costume would be cheaper, and then I would have a costume for any future Halloween parties!

It's your wedding, do what you like!

I think your wedding theme is really lovely and would be a very welcome change if it was a wedding I was attending.

The only issue is that I would hate dressing up!

If you are definitely going to ask people to wear a costume then you need to make it very clear that the dress code is fancy dress as, due to social anxiety, I would hate to be dressed up and others not! It would absolutely trigger me and I would feel awful, if however everyone was in fancy dress I would find it much easier, I imagine there must be a few of your guests that would feel the same way.

Basically I think it needs to be all or no one.

Would it work if you asked people to wear black tie/ball gown/evening dress which would look more old timey vampire theme without the dressing up as a Frankenstein, mummy, witch, etc.

Optional fancy dress definitely not compulsory. My aged granny would have been perplexed at dressing up and I don't have any costumes so it's not everyone's cup of tea. Halloween theme sounds nice though.

Awww my birthday is Halloween so every birthday party I had had has been Halloween themed - its a great time for a birthday cos everyone is up to party. But I'd never expect everyone to come in full on dress up mode- often just a mask and accessories is enough which you could provide- and maybe ask people to come in black or purple?

Its a NO to dressing up from me, but a Halloween themed photo booth suggested by pp is a great idea. Lots of props in there, masks, wigs hats. Love an informal wedding OP they are the best.

I am known for despising fancy dress parties, but my exception is Halloween where I go completely and utterly to town. If I were a guest I’d love it.

As a family that doesn't celebrate Halloween we wouldn't want to do it. But if everyone that you're inviting does then go for it!

Sorry have just read you are doing a box of costumes. Good idea!

I'm no fan of fancy dress either; find it a bit childish. But that aside, I love the idea of a Halloween-themed wedding (and I say that even though the onset of early-dark nights is probably my least favourite time of year)! All organic decor - think I'd dispense with the fake spiderweb and plastic bats - but colourful pumpkins carved or whole and lovely piles of bronzed leaves will look amazing, and the latter are free! Oh, and lots and lots of candles, and devil's food cake to eat. You can also get really creative with your own and your attendants' dresses.

A huge budget, meticulous attention to detail, (and especially naff wishing-wells put there strategically to gain monetary donations) kill the spontaneity of weddings, IMO. And that type of wedding has an added catch: they all end up pretty much identikit.

I'd far rather go to yours. It sounds much more individual, spontaneous and fun. Congratulations!

I don't see that fancy dress as that much hard work?! Even just wearing black with cat ears or a witch hat. Would there be a way to explain to people the theme is chilled out and they don't need to go and hire expensive elaborate heidi klum style outfits?! What would you wear?!
Alternatively state normal dress and have you got any budget for face painters or props? X

I generally don't like fancy dress but i don't mind halloween. I usually have to buy something new to wear for most weddings so wouldn't mind spending for dress up. I went to a halloween wedding many years ago and it was a masked ball so that cost more than a normal wedding.

I’m fully on board for a fancy dress Halloween wedding! I love a good party and fun with friends, which this sounds like it would be.

You could do a photo booth/probs box and have halloween accessories etc for people to take pictures. You could ask people to email/drop box/whats app group all picture they took too (Im assuming most will take pictures on their phones).

Just came on to suggest photo booth so will echo what PO said

Out of interest; would people really decline a friend’s wedding because it was fancy dress?

Even if I didn’t like it, I’d suck it up for my friends special day.

Depends whether it's fancy dress in general or specific spooky/Halloween dress. I think most people could rustle up some sort of fancy dress without having to go to a lot of expense (my go-to outfit in those circumstances is a sort of 20s-inspired costume although none of the items is actually vintage). If you say it has to be something spooky - well, I would be willing to do it, but you might get a few people who for various reasons (lack of money, being uncomfortable with the supernatural or just being a pain) wouldn't want to do it. You know your friends and family better than we do!

If you had invited me, I would have declined! I couldn't tell you how many fancy dress / themed party invitations I've turned down over the years, because I have a really bad aversion to "dressing up"! 80s themed birthday parties, 20s flappers and gangsters, surf themes, and yes Halloween parties, I've said no to them all! I can't think of anything worse.
And as PP have said, think of your photos!
I think it's fine if you and your DH to be want to theme your outfits, maybe even for some of the more willing wedding party too, but please don't make it compulsory!

I got married on Halloween. I bloody love dressing up, but wouldn’t have included it in the wedding. We had carved pumpkins, bridesmaid wearing black, and at our reception we had a “lucky dip” with wrapped gifts which was basically silly Halloween themed tat like witches noses, chattering teeth, rubber skeletons etc. People wore the noses, hats etc and took lots of ridiculous photographs on the camera we passed round. It was a lot of fun and suited our friendship group.
Photo booth is a good idea (wasn’t a thing when we got married).

Out of interest; would people really decline a friend’s wedding because it was fancy dress

In real life - I don't know anybody who would. On here, whole different story. "It's an invitation not a summons" will usually be trotted out.

I wouldn't decline but I would not attend in fancy dress.

Going totally against the consensus here but I went to Halloween wedding where everyone dressed up, it's was amazing and so much fun, I'd be totally on board and love the idea!

Dressing up is for kids

Oh there's always one that has to act all superior and take a I'm better than you stance.

A bit of a «scare» city ( pun intended) of repliés here saying the bride and groom should have the wedding they want !
I think it’s a fab idea . Sensitive children and adults notwithstanding.

I know someone who wore a black wedding dress, it worked for her, she looked great.

I think it sounds ACE. Please can I come?