Emma and Hannah’s Portland wedding was a bold, colourful, unapologetically kitsch celebration that stitched together DIY creativity with their love for their community. As a couple who love hosting, they approached the day with one goal: to make it their best party yet.

“From the start, we knew we wanted it to be bold, colourful, kitschy, and loud – just like us,” said Emma. “We both have distinct styles, and it was important that our wedding reflected that individuality. With our love for classic party décor, we made sure to incorporate playful touches like the pom-pom garlands, Krispy Kreme boxes and an audio guestbook.”

Guests were invited to wear their most interesting outfits in the couple’s chosen colour palette. Each table featured playful, DIY pom-pom garlands and handmade floral arrangements. The brides also did all the stationery and their hair and make-up themselves. Then, a week before the wedding, Hannah decided to write a personalied note on every single guest’s place card. “Our planning team thought she was a little crazy,” Emma said, “but it ended up being one of the most meaningful touches. Our guests absolutely loved it.”

There were scratch cards used as favours (“It was such a treat hearing cheers around the room as people won small prizes!”) and a camcorder was given to a friend to capture the night from the inside. The professional photos, mostly shot on film, gave the day a nostalgic edge, too. “Always give a friend a camcorder!” they advised. “The ‘home video’ footage from our wedding weekend is absolutely amazing and so special. It captured all the little, candid moments that made the whole experience even more meaningful.” The night wrapped up with karaoke, Hannah’s favourite!

Hannah and Emma prioritised hiring queer creatives. DJ Lavender Menace brought the energy and an audio guestbook from After the Tone was one of their favourite finds. They now have an audio file full of everyone’s well wishes, silly ramblings, and most importantly, their voices, forever.

But not everyone understood the vision. “One older relative called it a ‘clown show’ because of all the silly, fun, non-traditional elements,” said Emma. “But ultimately, it was our wedding, and I loved how much ownership we had over the entire event.”

“We always kept in mind that our wedding theme might feel outdated one day, but we knew it was perfectly true to us right now. When I look back at our wedding photos, I’m reminded of the strong sense of personal style and unique aesthetic we both share. It feels completely like us, in this moment. Honestly, I think all weddings should be just like that. Weddings are historic events, so what if they become dated? I can’t wait to show it off years and years later.”

And if they could give one piece of advice? “Do the weird, fun things. Seriously. Almost all of the ‘unique’ choices we made ended up being our absolute favourite parts of the day. Your wedding should look and feel like you. Do the things that make you smile – you won’t regret it!”