Melissa and Steve’s Halloween wedding was part gothic dinner party, part vintage Hollywood fantasy. They intentionally kept the day intimate, having just 50 of their closest loved ones, so they could make meaningful choices and splash the biggest portion of their $20,000 budget on a beautiful venue and amazing food!

The couple created a hauntingly elegant atmosphere that blended their love of horror movies with old-school glam. Think: Cluedo-inspired mystery, endless candles, elevated skulls, and DIY centrepieces that nailed the “creepy but classic” brief.

“We were going for creepy yet classic old Hollywood vibes”, Melissa told us. “We skipped most traditional wedding things. No bouquet toss, no garter, no big dance floor. Just an incredible four-course Italian meal and a room full of love.”

Rather than sticking to a traditional ceremony setup, Melissa and Steve exchanged vows privately (with just their photographer as witness) before heading to a bar together for a moment of calm. “We wanted to be fully present with one another before everything else began,” they said.

Later, they entered the venue together and self-united their marriage by signing the license at the altar. Their aisle song was a cover of Dancing Queen, recorded by friends. “We laughed the entire time. The rings got stuck, the sweetheart table caught on fire, the groom dipped himself during our first dance… it was perfect.”

In total, the wedding lasted just four hours, enough time for a brief 15 minute ceremony and fantastic food. They didn’t want a long, drawn out day so this format was perfect. “We got to actually eat our food, talk to everyone, and spend the whole time together”, Melissa explained. “A small dinner party wedding was 100% the right choice for us.”

Melissa’s advice? “The only people who have to understand and love it are the couple getting married”, she said. “My number one rule was: THERE ARE NO RULES. You have free will and you don’t HAVE to do anything. The number of people who will assume they’re invited or try to guilt you when they’re not is wild! You can’t make everyone happy, and you shouldn’t feel bad for choosing the size wedding that’s right for you. t goes by fast so make sure you actually enjoy it.”