Cass and Matt threw their wedding inside the Georgia Aquarium, with belugas, whale sharks, and a sea turtle named Tank joining the guest list. For two performers who thrive on spectacle, the venue set the stage for a day that was, in Cass’s words, “uniquely and unmistakably us.”

Cass wore a custom peacock-inspired gown, designed and built by her friend, Eilee. It was loud, flamboyant, and her favourite colours of blue, green, and purple. Instead of flowers, she carried a bouquet handmade from parrot feathers and peacock down, crafted by her friend Julian using materials from the bird sanctuary where she volunteers. “Not only was it stunning and unique, but it’s a bouquet that will never die,” Cass said.

Tradition wasn’t high on their list of priorities. Their officiant was a friend and co-worker who decided to rap his way through the ceremony, ending in the first kiss. “It was hilarious and heart-warming,” Cass said.

The reception was full of one-off details made by their people. A trippy welcome sign painted by Cass’s brother Chris, a Barbie and Ken custom-made as a wedding gift, and DIY table cards named after things that mattered to the couple instead of standard numbers. Cass’s maid of honour surprised them with a live song from Wicked, while her mum secretly recorded a cover of a song she used to sing to her as a child. She was so good that guests thought it was the original recording until Cass pointed put she was singing live!

One of the bride’s favourite moments came when they disappeared from the party for a private photo session around the aquarium. “We had the whole place to ourselves and we managed to get some amazing photos we never could’ve gotten had other people been there,” Cass said.

For Matt, his highlight was something different: “My favourite part was just knowing that we were finally getting married. Everything else was just a very, very, very, very, very, very nice bonus.”

Not everyone loved their decisions, though. “Any time you break tradition, you’re going to upset someone,” Cass explained. “There is an unfortunate precedent of guests making the wedding about themselves instead of the people getting married. A friend of ours had a very casual wedding and the lack of formality caused her sister so much resentment that they’ve now lost touch. I didn’t want to be walked down the aisle. My father took it well, but other fathers may not be so understanding.”

Their choice to host a child-free wedding meant some people refused to come but they didn’t regret their decision. “With weddings as well as in life, true self expression will always piss someone off. But guess what? This day isn’t about them. It’s about you. So if you’re likely to disappoint someone’s standards anyway, say ‘fuck ‘em’ and turn that self expression up to 11!”