Avalon and Matt met at the final Sasquatch! Music Festival in 2018. So, when they started planning a wedding for 300 guests on a $20k budget, they built it inspired by their love of music, the 70s and festivals.

The ceremony took place lakeside at Elk Lake Resort, along the Cascade Lakes Highway in Oregon. They were going for a 1970s rock ‘n’ roll theme, pulling inspiration from Rock n Roll Bride magazine, actual weddings of the 70s, festivals, and their favourite band, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard. The result felt like a weekend line-up rather than a formal wedding.

160 guests gathered at the lake and their ceremony altar framed the mountain they ski every winter. Avalon’s two older sisters walked her down the aisle to Oh Baby by LCD Soundsystem. Instead of a traditional cocktail hour afterwards, they had a popcorn bar for appetizers, and the couple hopped into a canoe and paddled away for a quiet moment alone.

The seating chart was made from vintage records. Each table number was a 45 with a custom centre label. Guests wrote notes to be opened on future anniversaries. The cake leaned fully into the theme with his and hers 3D printed gators, a disco ball topper and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard’s nonagon symbol.

After dinner, guests made the 40-minute trip back to town for a wild night at Volcanic Theatre Pub – Bend’s premier indoor music venue, where the bride works. They were joined by over 300 at the reception!

So, just how did they pull this mammoth event off with a $20,000 budget? The answer was help from friends and family and calling in lots of favours. The result was a real community effort. It wasn’t perfect, but it was exactly what they wanted it to be.

“When people say wedding planning is one of the most challenging and stressful things you’ll ever do…believe them”, Avalon told us. “It truly was one of the most stressful experiences we’ve had as a couple, but it was also 100% worth every bit of it. In hindsight, I wish I had given more consideration to hiring a wedding planner or even a day-of coordinator. At the same time, I’m incredibly proud of what we pulled off together with the help of our friends and family.”

“We went into planning with the mindset that no wedding is perfect, and that perfection doesn’t mean flawlessness. That perspective ended up saving us. Did the wedding cake collapse before the ceremony started? Yes. Did the audio cut out halfway through the bridal party walking down the aisle? Also yes. But those ‘disasters’ turned into exactly the comedic relief we needed. Instead of unravelling the day, they loosened everyone up and lowered the pressure. In a strange way, the imperfections made it more human and more memorable.”

Their first dance, which was one of their most memorable moments, and took place on stage. The band Avalon manages, Serpentfoot, performed Her and I by King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard for the occasion. “We took dance lessons and had the routine professionally choreographed”, the bride explained. “Three minutes in, I ran offstage for a 30-second outfit change while Matt distracted the crowd with a celebratory shot alongside the bridal party. At a precise moment in the song, confetti poppers exploded, revealing the new look just as we finished the dance. Then we pulled everyone onto the floor to kick off the party!”

After an hour of dancing, Serpentfoot returned for a 45-minute set. There was, of course, a massive mosh pit and crown surfing! Karaoke followed with full lighting and concert-level sound. The party went on into the early hours.

“Celebrating your love is one of the greatest gifts you can give your relationship”, Avalon concluded. “I am so happy we did it and loved every step of the process.”