Dungeon Dancing, Owl Encounters and a Forest Ceremony: Inside Dave Navarro's 'Gothic' Wedding to Vanessa DuBasso (Exclusive)
The Jane’s Addiction guitarist and the actress tied the knot at Scotland’s Dunskey Estate with a wedding setting that “felt like stepping into a fairytale,” the bride says
Dave Navarro and Vanessa DuBasso wanted their wedding guests — who included Pete Davidson — to feel as if they were “stepping into a fairytale” — castle ruins, “enchanted” forest and all.
The Jane’s Addiction guitarist, 57, and the actress and fashion designer tied the knot at Dunskey Estate in Stranraer, Scotland, in a multi-day wedding celebration, held from March 28-30, which embraced the “moody, ethereal” ambiance of the setting. The couple tells PEOPLE that the festivities included a forest ceremony, encounters with owls and even dungeon dancing.
The pair was immediately “captivated” by the coastal venue — an Edwardian castle surrounded by acres of woodlands and glimpses of the sea — when they first saw photos of it. Their wedding vision came to life organically from there, with help from planner Wendy Parker.
“We wanted our wedding to feel like a dream,” Navarro notes of their vision. “It was important to us to find a place that felt unlike anywhere we had ever been, a place that embraced nature and transported us to another world. We wanted our loved ones to share in this intimate experience.”
The couple planned a rehearsal dinner with a “Gothic, darkly romantic” vibe. “We set the mood with deep-colored flowers and black candles,” DuBasso says of the gathering, which took place on Friday, March 28.
The following day, the couple exchanged handwritten vows in an intimate forest ceremony at an altar lit with gold candelabra. White roses lined the aisle, and chandeliers hung from the trees, creating what DuBasso describes as “an almost celestial ambiance.”
In a nod to the fairytale influences, the bride wore a pair of angel wings with her Victorian-inspired bridal look. She worked with Tina Wong, the designer and owner of Grace + Ivory, to create her dramatic white dress, which featured a corseted bodice with a pearl-beaded cross emblem and a flowing, floor-length skirt. She was styled by Something White Styling.
Navarro struck a bold contrast to her “airy,” “iridescent cloud”-like gown in an all-black suit from Generation Tux — “a reflection of our contrasting yet complementary spirits,” DuBasso notes.
The couple said “I do” with rings by Simon G. Jewelry — a classic white gold wedding band for Navarro and a white gold eternity band with 5 carats of oval diamonds for DuBasso.
As their loved ones looked on within the canopy of trees, a three-piece quartet performed classical music selections including Debussy’s “Clair de Lune” for DuBasso’s walk down the aisle. The romantic moment was capped off with a fireworks display that lit up the sky.
During the reception that followed the ceremony, the newlyweds and their guests enjoyed a celebratory dinner with a menu featuring pasta, seafood and filet mignon. In addition to a selection of traditional Scottish desserts, the couple chose a Swedish princess cake for their wedding cake.
While the classic domed cake is typically green, Navarro and DuBasso once again leaned into the Gothic inspiration with an icing design of black cathedral patterns and roses.
After the meal, the group let loose and danced in the castle’s dungeon. But the wedding fun wasn’t over yet.
On the final day of their celebration, March 30, Navarro and DuBasso arranged a series of activities for their guests, including some shooting on the grounds, an opportunity to play with pet owls, a barbecue in the woods and a bonfire on the beach. “I wanted our last day to overflow with color, an expression of life,” the bride notes.
Reflecting on the occasion, Navarro tells PEOPLE the wedding was “truly special and breathtaking.”
“It exceeded our expectations,” he says.
Now that the pair are officially husband and wife, they plan to enjoy a honeymoon exploring the sights of Scotland. For the former Red Hot Chili Peppers musician, the itinerary includes “going on the hunt for holy relics,” DuBasso shares.
“It is something he has been fascinated with his whole life,” she explains, “and he is going to try to find one of the locations where the Grail is supposedly housed.”
Source: PEOPLE magazine.