How to make a DIY zombie bride costume

The zombie bride works because everyone recognises the silhouette straight away: a white dress and a veil, just a few years past their best. You do not need a real wedding dress or much money. Here is how to build the costume, the groom to go with it, and the photos to take on Halloween night (Saturday, October 31).

Prefer to skip the sewing kit? The Till Death and After story puts you both in a ruined chapel from two photos, and your first video is free.

Make our zombie wedding video

1. Find the dress

• Charity shops and resale apps often have old wedding, bridesmaid or prom dresses at low prices.
• A white sundress, slip dress or long nightdress reads as a zombie wedding dress once you add a veil.
• Fit matters less than usual. A little loose looks right; pin it at the back if needed.

Only distress a dress you never want to wear again: none of the steps below can be fully undone.

2. Distress the zombie wedding dress

1. Tear the hem. Snip small cuts along the bottom and rip upwards by hand so the strips are uneven lengths.
2. Fray the edges. Rub the hem, sleeves and neckline with sandpaper or a cheese grater.
3. Age it. Sponge cooled strong tea or coffee onto the lower half, darkest at the hem, and let it dry scrunched up for a patchy, yellowed look.
4. Dust it. Just before you go out, rub brown and grey eyeshadow into the folds, seams and skirt.

Skip bleach and spray paint on anything that sits against your skin.

3. The veil

A cheap length of tulle on a comb or headband is enough. Tear a few holes in it, tea-stain the edges, and tangle in a couple of dried leaves or a sprig of dried flowers. Wear it slightly crooked, as if it has been through a lot.

4. A bouquet of dead flowers

• Hang a supermarket bouquet upside down somewhere dry for a week or so until it shrivels.
• Or buy dried roses or seed heads, which already look the part.
• Or take cheap artificial flowers and dust them with grey and black shadow (or spray them outdoors, away from people).
• Wrap the stems in torn lace or a strip of tea-stained fabric.

5. Zombie bride makeup and hair

Start with the base from the zombie makeup tutorial, then add faded glamour: smudged dark liner, a dark lipstick blotted and greyed, and a touch of blush dusted over with grey. Pin the hair half up and pull a few strands loose, with dry shampoo for a dusty finish. Keep any fake blood minimal and skin-safe; the look is eerie and sad rather than gory.

The zombie bride and groom

• Zombie groom. A thrifted suit or shirt and waistcoat, a loosened tie, a wilted buttonhole and dust on the shoulders and knees.
• Both undead. The classic pair, matching faded makeup and torn formalwear.
• Living groom, zombie bride. He is clean and holding the ring; she has turned. This is the version from the zombie hug trend and photographs beautifully.
• The full wedding party. Add bridesmaids and groomsmen for a group costume; see the zombie Halloween costume ideas for more.

More pairs are in the zombie couple costume ideas.

Zombie wedding photo ideas

• The aisle walk: down a park path or an empty street at dusk.
• The ring: a close-up of grey hands sliding it on.
• The first dance, cheek to cheek.
• The veil caught in the wind, shot from behind.
• Cutting a single cupcake with very solemn faces.

Overcast light or golden hour suits the faded colours best. Ask before shooting on private property.

Turn it into a zombie wedding video

Till Death and After is a 15 second story set in a ruined chapel: tattered wedding clothes, a ring at the altar and vows that outlived the apocalypse. Upload a clear photo of the partner who stays human and one of the partner who turns; the AI keeps both faces and adds the music, with no watermark, in portrait or landscape. Your first video is free (480p, no card), and pricing covers HD. The step-by-step guide has photo tips. Going solo as the bride? Use the AI zombie filter with one photo instead.

Make our zombie wedding video