When a couple’s aisle walk goes viral because of the groom’s incredible reaction to seeing his bride, you just know the rest of the wedding is going to be spectacular! But make no mistake, Amanda and Tyler’s wedding was not just a viral moment, every single detail was a fairytale.

Their wedding, held at The Castle at Wildwood Gardens, drew on a blend of renaissance, Victorian gothic, and Viking influences. It wasn’t the rigid, historically accurate kind of themed wedding – more a personal interpretation shaped by their shared love of fantasy and history. Tyler’s proposal, fittingly, had taken place during Amanda’s favorite act at the Renaissance Faire on Halloween 2021. “We started planning for a full-on Viking wedding,” Amanda told us, “but the more we found things we loved, the more it evolved into something more renaissance-esque.”

Seeing their venue for the first time helped solidify their vision. The castle’s architecture and grounds gave them the perfect backdrop for a day that felt both timeless and suited their theme. Lanterns filled with flowers replaced traditional bouquets, and their music choices ranged from Lindsey Stirling’s violin covers to heavy metal, with Tyler walking in to a cover of Ride of the Rohirrim and Amanda making her entrance to Stirling’s Lord of the Rings Medley.

The ceremony itself was like a dream. They opted for a handfasting instead of a traditional ring exchange, choosing a rope that matched their wedding colours. “From the moment Tyler walked down the aisle, to when he shouted and cheered as he saw me before falling absolutely speechless and literally picking his jaw up off the ground – it was perfect. We also had said private vows to one another away from everyone, just us and our videographer. Those were from the heart, off the top of our heads for no one but us.”

The reception kept the personal, alternative vibe going too. Instead of a standard cake, they served red velvet cupcakes and they chose mead over beer or wine. The drink cart even had a Slushie machine that was Maple mead! Their menu leaned into the medieval theme with dishes like honey-glazed turkey and beef ribs. Their sweetheart table featured axes, a skull holding the knot from their handfasting, and their drinking horns.

Looking back, the couple wouldn’t change a thing. “We planned it together, as a team, as a couple,” they said. “It’s not just a bride’s job or a groom’s job – it’s about making it the wedding you both want. There are no rules to planning a wedding. We wish that every engaged couple would just do what they want to do. You’re not marrying your in-laws or friends – you’re marrying them. So have the most super nerdy elaborate DnD circus style, clown fiesta, soup sandwich wedding that you want! Forget what everyone else wants and expects from you, it is your day. End of story.”