Kyla and Tyrone wanted a ceremony written in fire, not florals. They chose gothic romance and dark fantasy as their blueprint, with a cathedral-lit Sleep Token concert as a reference point. Every element was deliberate and every moment was ritualised.

Their invitations arrived in the form of custom energy drinks. Each can said ‘You’, ‘Are’, and ‘Invited’, with the wedding details hidden in the ingredients list. Boxes lit from within carried the message ‘Carpe Noctem” and a Dracula-inspired poem summoning guests to the ceremony.

Their wedding took place at night, timed to a specific moon phase and numerologically aligned to the number eight. Guests wore black and held up lighters during the ceremony. The bride walked down the aisle to You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth by Meat Loaf followed by a violin-piano version of Hallelujah. The vows were held under a glowing neon cross beside a candle-lit altar and two doves flew overhead like they were on the payroll.

“I custom created the ceremony to include the Song of Solomon 8:6: ‘Set me as a seal upon your heart…’ and ‘As the Raven represents wisdom, loyalty, transformation and protection, may these qualities infuse Kyla and Tyrone’s marriage…'”, the bride told us. “We called in the elements, God, and guides. Guests received palmistry cards. But nothing prepared me for the crack in Tyrone’s voice as he read his vows. He’s not usually emotionally expressive, and that moment made every ounce of stress and planning worthwhile.”

There were no florals. Only fire. The aisle was flame-lit, and the cake was three oversized wax-dripping candles, each a different flavour. Guests thought they were part of the décor until they were sliced open. Kyla’s sister made them by hand.

The incredible attention to detail didn’t end there. Guests were given made glow-in-the-dark welcome drinks. They used crystal wands and purple Mirari gin to activate the potion, following instructions left at their seats.

The reception was a choreographed experience. Each course of the meal arrived with smoke, lights, and music. Aerialists performed over the main course.

They planned everything themselves and paid for it too. “We didn’t want ourselves or our parents in debt for our vision,” Kyla said. “And we made it happen. No one should be expected to follow tradition if it doesn’t resonate. Rip up the rulebook, light it on fire, and dance through the smoke. You’re allowed to be selfish. It’s your one sacred night. Less Pinterest, more prophecy.”

Her advice to future couples: “Make it yours. Don’t apologise for what you want. Honour your magick. Make it art. Spend on photography and video – your future-self will kiss you for it. And remember, it’s okay if it’s not for everyone. It only needs to be for you.”