After a major hurricane disrupted their original plans, Joi and Jillian shifted from a larger event to something more intimate and local. The result was a celebration that felt like a full expression of their personalities and values, and a real collaboration between them and their loved ones.

“Our talented and creative friends played a significant role in our wedding, creating a real sense of community”, Joi told us. “They designed our stationery, made floral arrangements, curated playlists, made delicious food, and even created friendship bracelets for all the guests. Instead of using traditional titles for the wedding party, like Maid of Honour or Best Man, we opted for the unisex title Queers of Honour for our two wedding leaders. Each wedding party attendant was assigned a Tarot card that reflected their personality, such as The Lovers, The Fool, or The Hierophant.”

They describe the theme as retro, moody, and a little kitschy, the neurodivergent couple mixed Art Deco influences with classic horror references. Guests were encouraged to dress as their favourite horror characters, replacing formalwear with costumes.

At the ceremony, the officiant (also a friend) wore an alligator costume inspired by the film Pearl. They exchanged vows beneath bunting that, briefly, took flight thanks to an accidentally activated ceiling fan! Candles and bud vases lined the aisle, and both brides walked down with someone significant – Joi with their best friend and Jillian with her mum – while The Cure’s Love Song played.

Regardless of how much planning we did in advance, things changed up to the week prior to the event”, they continued. “Some things were outside of anyone’s control, such as natural disasters, but it meant that we needed to prepare for up to thee different contingencies! We thought we could rely on takeout pizza, but we wish we had opted for a catered meal for a more structured service. The pizza was 1.5 hours late because it was too large for several delivery drivers’ cars!”

Despite the hiccups, they wouldn’t change a thing. “Our wedding was a testament to the fact that you don’t need to spend a fortune to create a memorable event,” they concluded. “We received an abundance of positive feedback, with many guests expressing that it was the most unique and creative wedding they had ever attended. Our wedding was a true reflection of who we are, both as individuals and as a couple.”