Justin and Kelsey didn’t set out to throw a wedding for anyone but themselves. “It’s for us, not them,” Kelsey said, and they stuck to that from start to finish. They had a limited budget, so did everything from the cake, flowers, props and decor themselves. “The theme was forest goth… basically using all the decor from our home!”

Originally, they had their sights set on a wedding deep in the forest. Weather forced a last-minute shift, and they chose the Sacajawea Centre instead.

The ceremony cut out a lot of the traditional elements. No vows. No over-the-top moments of scripted romance. Instead, the wedding party came down the aisle to Hooked on a Feeling by Blue Suede. Justin and Kelsey walked out together afterward to September by Earth, Wind and Fire. The reception was basically one big emo party and their playlist consisted of a mash-up of classic emo anthems, metalcore breakdowns, and random bursts of Taylor Swift.

The DIY projects became one of the highlights of the planning process. “Watching the DIY projects come together was the best part,” Kelsey said, “and the anticipation!”

They saved money everywhere, but particularly on their rings, which came from Etsy. “We figured if our styles change down the road we could buy new ones, but we love the ones we have for now.”

If there’s one thing Kelsey hopes other couples take away from their experience, it’s that there are no real rules. “There shouldn’t be rules. Do whatever YOU want,” she said. And if you’re wondering where to put your money, she has just one piece of advice: “Spend the most money on the honeymoon!”