Kath didn’t want to be “given away.” Dave didn’t want to be the centre of attention. Neither of them wanted cookie-cutter vows or a rigid itinerary. What they did want was a day filled with meaning, stitched together with felt ornaments, vintage treasures, and just enough glitter to cause some mild chaos.

Their December wedding wasn’t built on trends or timelines. It was built on 20+ wild ideas that somehow worked together. The bride wore a vintage dress which she bought on Vinted and shoes from Depop. “We didn’t follow many traditions”, Kath told us. “My dad had recently passed so my mum walked me down the aisle. I didn’t take Dave’s surname – we have taken each others last name as a middle name.”

Rather than walking down the aisle to something generic, Kath was accompanied by a special recording of Dave playing her favourite David Bowie song on the piano. “That was a moment I’ll never forget,” she said. “It made everything feel so real.” Their vows avoided anything too twee and the couple opted for a candle-lighting ritual instead of more traditional formalities.

As an illustrator, Kath poured creativity into every corner of the reception. She designed and hand-crafted almost everything herself: felt Christmas decorations tucked into handmade stockings, vintage cat magnets, and a painstakingly beaded bag based on an old childhood photo of Dave. Their tables were decorated with finds from charity shops and vintage markets, their cake featured plastic models of their three cats. Guests received a spoof wedding magazine full of in-jokes and stories.

“The Glitter Bar was a huge hit,” laughed Kath. “There was face paint everywhere. We also had arcade machines for the kids (and the grown-up kids!) which definitely helped keep the chaos fun.” For their end-of-night anthem, they ditched the usual Scottish send-off and had the band play Feliz Navidad. “It was Christmas, after all,” Dave grinned.

Looking back, they wouldn’t change much – except maybe finding time to actually eat the buffet. “That and a free bar all night,” Kath adds. “But otherwise, we really managed to include everything we wanted.” They saved money by making almost all the stationery and décor themselves.

When asked about what was hardest, they didn’t talk about logistics or timelines, they talked about unsolicited opinions. “People mean well, but it can be exhausting when everyone thinks they know how you should do things,” says Kath. “It’s your day. Do what you want.”

That’s something they want other couples to know, too. “Non-traditional weddings are still real weddings. You don’t have to follow the script. You’re allowed to write your own. Our advice? Make it yours. Don’t stress. Get crafty if you can – it makes it all the more special. And eat the damn buffet!”