Bri and Matt met after Bri moved to Vegas and joined a new group of friends. “The timing wasn’t right for anything romantic,” she said. “We stayed friends for years, and over time, it became undeniable that there was something more between us.” Seven years later, they were planning their wedding around two things they both loved: spooky season and each other.

Even though the bride is an event planner by trade, they eloped for both personal and financial reasons. Spending $5,000 on their day (with the most budget going towards the photographer) felt so much better to them than throwing a big party for other people.

They wore matching Friday the 13th Vans and Bri skipped the white dress in favour of something more her. “I wore a black wedding dress because it felt the most authentic to me”, she explained. “I practically live in black and feel the most beautiful in it.” Finding the right one wasn’t easy though, eventually she pieced it together herself with a dress from House of CB and a cape from Etsy. “I do feel a bit bummed that I didn’t get the classic bridal shop experience”, she admits. “I loved my dress, but it’s not quite magical to open a box alone at home and try it on in your bathroom.”

The shop they got married in, Cemetery Pulp, was already full of spooky and horror character, so they didn’t need to do any decorating. The owners closed it for them to have privacy, it was the perfect setting. “I love bones, tarot cards, and all things a little macabre, and Matt is a comic book nerd through and through”, Bri explained. “The shop reflected both of our personalities so well that we barely had to decorate, it was already magic.”

Afterwards, they did some photos at Wetlands Park and an 80s-themed café, Back to the 80s. They skipped any form of reception and went home for takeaway with their pets. They were emotionally exhausted in a way that only introverts will truly understand. “There was something so comforting about spending our evening together at home, just the two of us.”

The pressure to conform, even when you know what you want, was something they both felt. “There’s so much pressure, financial, emotional, and aesthetic. It’s easy to get swept up in the idea that your wedding has to be Pinterest perfect or cost as much as a down payment on a house. The logistics were simple, but dealing with the worry of disappointing people or feeling like we had to justify our decision, that was tough. Even though we knew this was the right choice for us, there was still guilt to process.”

Bri’s closing advice to other couples is to just follow your gut. “Don’t let other people’s expectations drown out your own voice. Your wedding should reflect you, not a checklist. A wedding doesn’t have to involve a big guest list, a white dress, and a traditional reception to be considered ‘real.’ A wedding is real the moment two people decide to commit to each other, everything else is optional.”