The Bride Wore Black

Jessicka's dress was a blend of influences -- "Addams Family" and turn-of-the-century vintage. Costumers Adele Mildred and M'Lynn designed a silhouette that was slimmer on top and flared at the knees with a small train, made of champagne silk overlaid with black French Chantilly lace. Mildred had also made the dainty veiled doll hat worn by guest Liz McGrath, the diminutive downtown sculptor known by friends as "Bloodbath McGrath." McGrath had, in turn, designed the dozen or so creepy little rabbit centerpieces, each ghoulish bunny elaborately attired in top hat, polka dots and pink lace collar.

Ryden's wedding gift was a miniature portrait of the couple -- a faithful adaptation of Jan Van Eyck's "The Marriage of Giovanni Arnolfini" that was reproduced on the invitations. Gifts to the couple included a cuckoo clock, a mannequin head and an anatomically correct model of the human heart. Iconic horror comic book artist Roman Dirge gave them a framed sketch of a woman with vampire teeth and a fur-lined jacket.

It was Jessicka's idea to have a rabbit, a symbol of fertility since pre-Christian times, officiate over the ceremony, and in his sermon, the bunny described how the star-crossed lovers first met seven years ago, on Friday the 13th. Then came the vows. Jessicka promised she would comfort Christian "in times of sorrow and insanity," while Christian swore never to try to "restrain" his wife in any way, causing chuckles among many guests. As they slipped simple white gold wedding bands onto each other's fingers, the couple vowed to "embrace each other -- but not to the point of smothering" and to "say I love you a lot, and let go of the stupid little things."

The mother of the bride sniffled through the ceremony. Then the bunny declared them husband and wife -- and high-fived the groom.

The party was on.

The guests were fabulously attired, largely in 1940s siren style and, of course, black. There may have never been a wedding with so many black fishnet stockings, Vivienne Westwood heels and black crucifixes, unless it was in a Billy Idol video. Naturally, there was an abundance of body art, and complexions were fashionably milky.

Von Teese, who met the bride through her former husband, Manson, was a vintage vision in a 1940s clingy cap-sleeved black knit dress with tiny turquoise beads on the shoulders, Weiss costume clip earrings and a striking miniature aqua felt hat, adorned with a single saddle brown ostrich feather. In choosing her outfit, Von Teese was inspired by the 1944 classic "Cover Girl," starring Rita Hayworth.