The colour palette from Victoria and Melvin’s wedding was lifted straight from a vintage Valentine’s card: bold reds, sugary pinks, hearts and kitsch. They filled the space with trinkets, tchotchkes and sentimental touches that echoed their own décor style. “The overall look really reminded us of our very eclectic and colourful home,” they said. “It was a comforting environment to be in that screamed us!”

The couple took a relaxed approach to wedding planning and focused on joy, playfulness and visibility. “We didn’t get caught up with too many specifics and rules and traditions,” they explained. “We kept it fun and campy and intimate.” That freedom helped them push back against the negativity they’ve experienced around their relationship. “In these dark times, we loved to show the light of a queer relationship, many people including our own family not seeing our love as real or seeing it as something evil. We just wanted to get the point across that love is love no matter how unconventional others may find it.”

Their ceremony leaned into their shared love of film. Movie scores guided the emotional arc of the day, from the instrumental of Sally’s Song from The Nightmare Before Christmas to the couple’s walk-in track, Ice Dance from Edward Scissorhands. They walked back up the aisle to True by Spandau Ballet, a nod to The Wedding Singer and something they’d both dreamed about doing as kids.

They wrote their own vows, and something unexpected happened. “Without even a single peek at each other’s work or even talking about what we wrote, we practically wrote the same speeches word for word,” Victoria said. “The raw emotion that waved over everyone, even just the workers there, definitely felt like such a special moment for us.”

After the ceremony, the celebration kept rolling with family speeches, music and handmade decorations. Much of it came from their own home. “Little pieces of us were everywhere,” she continued. “It was just such a joy to share us and our love with our favourite people.”

One of the key collaborators who helped bring their vision to life was Jen of Simply Glamorous Floral, who acted as their coordinator, decorator and florist. “Meeting her at the open house at our venue was absolutely key,” they explained. “The second we locked eyes with her she expressed how much she adored our energy and her extreme desire to work with us. Everything just clicked into place… it really felt like we were planning everything with a really good friend.”

“Don’t forget to think of yourselves about everything, don’t let anyone dictate what YOU want and need for your special day” the bride concluded. “Everyone’s story is different so tell it in a way that makes your heart sing.”