How to Add Tasteful Touches of Halloween to Your October Wedding at The MC Hotel

Picture this: you’re an engaged couple in New Jersey planning an October wedding. You love Halloween, but don’t want your wedding to be a full-on haunted house. You want the mood, the magic, and the color of October without it feeling like a themed-party. If that sounds like you, The MC Hotel in Montclair, NJ is a great venue to pull it off… and we have the perfect real wedding inspiration to offer you. 

With its modern architecture, rooftop skyline views, and warm city glow, The MC Hotel creates the perfect canvas for a sophisticated Halloween-inspired wedding. Elaina and Sean’s October reception showed how effortlessly you can weave in subtle spooky touches like skeletons, black cats, and pumpkins while keeping everything elevated and refined.

The main seasonal inspiration came through in the florals and bridal party style. The bridesmaids wore mismatched fall tones in mustard yellow, burnt orange, and deep emerald green, creating a rich, layered palette that felt perfectly October. Paired with vibrant textured florals, the look captured everything we love about fall: bold, moody, and full of warmth.

Here are a few ways to bring that same moody-meets-modern magic to your October wedding photos in New Jersey.

1. Start with a Rich, Autumnal Color Palette 

Your color palette sets the tone for everything else. Deep jewel tones—burgundy, rust, plum, mustard yellow, emerald, amber—these tones all add warmth and dimension, while black or gold accents can nod subtly to Halloween. Against The MC Hotel’s sleek interiors, those colors pop beautifully in both natural and low light.

2. Mix in Seasonal Details, But Keep Them Intentional

A few well-chosen Halloween touches go a long way. Elaina and Sean brought the season to life with some thoughtfully-placed skeletons, miniature pumpkins, and black cat accents placed throughout their tablescape and décor. The key is to be creative and understated: each piece felt purposeful, not overt. When styled within a cohesive palette and with bright florals, these details felt editorial rather than themed.

3. Lean Into Candlelight and Moody Lighting

The MC Hotel’s rooftop and reception spaces glow beautifully once the sun sets. Add layers of candlelight, amber uplighting, and textured metallics to enhance that atmosphere. Think taper candles in glass holders, black votives, and mirrored surfaces reflecting warm light. It’s romantic, dramatic, and unmistakably October.

4. Choose Florals That Celebrate the Season

Rich fall florals tie everything together. Dahlias, ranunculus, sunflowers, and touches of greenery bring texture and color without overwhelming the space. Bright, lush arrangements paired with votives or touches of Halloween touches can help you nail the “autumnal hodge-podge” look perfectly: bold, layered, and natural. 

5. Add Creative, Well-Placed Halloween Touches

The best way to bring Halloween personality into your wedding is through subtle, intentional details. Elaina and Sean added small décor moments that felt both playful and refined, like a skeleton figurine in a bathtub and a few understated nods to the season placed throughout the reception. These touches brought a sense of creativity and individuality to the day while keeping the overall design cohesive and elevated. When balanced with elegant lighting and florals, even the smallest Halloween detail can feel stylish and artfully done.

6. Make Your Photography Work for the Mood

The MC Hotel photographs beautifully at night and in low light. The rooftop views, downtown Montclair streets, and the hotel’s modern lobby all offer creative backdrops for bright, editorial-style portraits. 

7. Focus on Atmosphere and Connection

More than anything, a Halloween-season wedding is about feeling. Elaina and Sean’s day was filled with laughter, cozy candlelight, bright colors, and just the right amount of edge. Their celebration proved that you can honor the season you love while keeping your wedding timeless and true to you.

Planning your own October wedding in North Jersey?

The MC Hotel in Montclair offers the perfect blend of city energy and intimate fall warmth. If you’re dreaming of a celebration that feels modern, moody, and completely personal, this venue sets the stage for an unforgettable night.