Steampunk – the meshing together of Victorian sensibilities and science-fiction. The aesthetic of aether and brass, of steamships and Air Pirates, of death and glory and mother England.
In the last few years, Steampunk has taken to world by storm – not just as a subgenre of science-fiction movies, books and games, but as a lifestyle and a subcultural aesthetic. Like Gothic, but more adventurous and playful, steampunk fuses whimsy and darkness in a perfect blend of awesome.
So it’s no wonder that Steampunk weddings are the hottest subcultural event since the class visit to the train museum. All over the world, couples are embracing the magic of the Victorian age to marry in old railway carriages, airships and hot-air balloons.
The centrepiece of a steampunk wedding is always the clothing. Steampunk fashion takes Victorian styles and re-casts them as the Victorians might have imagined futuristic aliens might have dressed.
Steampunk fashion features an element of dress-up: you create a persona for yourself based on who you would be in a steampunk world: a dishevelled air-ship captian? A steam-powered warrior from Napolean’s robot army? A mad scientist working for the Queen of Hearts? Literature, Science, Religion, Polities – take what you love from Victoriana and mesh it together into a character that’s uniquely you, but.
The Brides Outfit
A Steampunk bride should be both beautiful, mysteriouss and completely otherworldly. Think about your steampunk persona – those aspects you wish to emphasize with your outfit – your sense of adventure, your passion, your humour, your whimsy.
Steampunk is not a fashion of minimalism – it’s flambouyent, <> and <>. You need to wear something you’re comfortable in, but at the same time, you only get married once, in one outfit, so you might as well make it as awesome and crazy as you can, right?
The flexibility of the steampunk style allows us to experiment with different colours and textures. Victorians loved the combination of several layers of textured, patterned fabric, lace and jewelry. Combine stripes and squares, damask and ivy, silvers and gold for a distinctly Victorian feel. Add modern sub-cultural elements like rivets, safety pins, spikes, leather, PVC, tattoo designs and , to give that modern / old fusion.
The Groom’s Outfit
The steampunk groom is a figure of dapper sophistication. Unlike most other fashion styles, steampunk offers men ample chance to really let their creativity run wild: you could be a lion tamer at a menagerie, an Air-ship pirate or sea-going privateer, an adventurer, a pioneering archaeologist, or a decorated soldier with a mechanical arm.
No steampunk groom would be complete without a hat – bowler, top hat, soldier’s beret or cap and goggles.
The Attendants
Renting outfits from a costume shop or army store might give you the option of choosing desirable outfits on a budget. Where else could you find four matching Civil War uniforms?
Think about tying your attendants into your theme and characterisation? What about an airship crew with hand-designed insignia? Or a group of parlour ladies? Or soldiers from the Queen’s royal guard, complete with futuristic ray guns strapped at the hip?
Perhaps you could let your attendents create their own outfits based on their steampunk personas. You’d certianly have one of the most creative bridal parties ever.
Accessories
Accessories define the steampunk look. Fob watches, goggles, jewelry made from old watch parts, taxidermy, memento mori and curios, glass bottles filled with arcane liquids, military uniforms, lace handkerchiefs, monocles and huge silver keys. Hunt the many steampunk shops on Etsy or the thift stores in your own town to find the necessary gems. I love army surplus stores for a huge array of authentic knick knacks.
Creating the perfect steampunk wedding outsits means a lot of hard work: deciding on your aesthetic and your steamy personas, then scouring thift shops and car boot sales for those essential accessories. Late night DIY projects to make goggles and sew lace and attach watch parts to his cufflinks. But I think perhaps the best thing about a steampunk wedding is the chance to be boldly, crazily creative in a way you often don’t get to in everyday life, and that you get to share that creative process with your partner. How awesome is that?