The bride wore orange and black. The groom wore a cape and fangs. Jessica Pitt and Tim Oosting wanted a nontraditional wedding on Halloween. It turned out to be just the fun-filled evening they imagined.
“We tried to do an elegant Halloween theme,” said Jessica, 26. “We had a lot of fun planning it. I knew, even before I met Tim, that I wanted to have a Halloween wedding."
It helped that Tim, 28, is a huge Halloween fan, too. He even goes so far as to set up an annual viewing schedule of his favorite horror movies.
Jessica grew up in Omaha. Tim is a native of North Platte.
The couple held the wedding and reception at Anthony's Steakhouse, 72nd and F Streets.
Jessica wore a black lace bolero jacket over her orange shantung silk dress. She carried a masquerade mask on a stick and a bouquet of orange and red roses circled with black feathers. Tim wore a black-and-red cape atop his formal wear and added white face paint and fangs after the vows.
“My maid of honor wore a normal dress, initially — she wanted to be recognizable for some pictures — but later changed into an Elvis costume,” Jessica said. “The best man came as the insect I fear most — a cockroach. He, too, wore a nicer outfit under the costume but, when he saw my family in costume, opted to stay in his for the pictures.”
The 200 guests included Freddy Kruger, the Grim Reaper and Rainbow Brite. The youngest guests were a mix of devils, fairies and boys sporting hockey masks.
Faux bones were arranged around the reception tables, which held garlic strands, movie monster statuettes and “poison” bottles filled with alcohol. Table cards included fun Halloween facts and Edgar Allen Poe quotes.
Every table had something that was fun and tasteful – not tacky,” Jessica said.
Candelabras and chemistry beakers were topped and filled with roses, orchids and chocolate cosmos arranged by Jessica's mom, floral designer Debbie Pitt of Flowers for Special Occasions.
The designer made a life-size mummy and a werewolf to sit at a table as guests. Jessica credits much of the night's creativity to her mother.
“I told her not to go crazy, but that's impossible for her,” she laughed. “When my brother graduated from college – she went all out for that, too.”
Debbie Pitt made a tent for the reception's fortune teller – who also served as the ceremony's minister. Guests enjoyed a photo booth and a large projection screen showing Michael Jackson's “Thriller” video.
The buffet included an appetizer and dessert bar with pumpkin pie bits and devil's food cake. A candy bar was stocked with apothecary jars full of orange and black sweets so that none of the younger guests missed out on the rewards of their annual sweet-gathering foray.
The couple's cake was backed by black spider-web patterned linens and was topped with vampire characters from the movie “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”
Halloween music and simulated fog filled the dance floor. Then, in a surprise move, Tim's family formed a band and performed the Monster Mash.
It was definitely a holiday to remember, Jessica said.
“We had a great time.”
VENDORS
Caterer: Anthony's Steakhouse
Flowers: Debbie Pitt/Flowers for Special Occasions
Cake: Donna Hultman
Bridal gown: The Dessy Collection
Tuxes: Gentleman's choice
Hair/Makeup: Bride did her own
Rings: New Mexico Crystal Realm
Ceremony music: i-pod playlist
Reception music: i-pod playlist
Photographer: Multi-Images Photography
Videography: Friends of family
Invitations: Made by the bride
