Set against a backdrop of cosmic symbolism and communal connection, Morgan and Tiffane designed a wedding day that celebrated not only their love but also their commitment to their community and the values they hold dear. They were inspired by astrology, tarot, drag balls, their inclusive spiritual community, sumptuous textures, and unexpected colour palettes.

They wanted ritual and tradition, but on their own terms. As Tiffane explained, “We decided to have a more traditional ceremony at the chapel to check the box of having the feeling of what a wedding ‘should’ be: walking down the aisle, saying ‘I do’, sealing it with a kiss in front of our loved ones, and the symbol of our commitment to each other. We also knew that our marriage isn’t just about our commitment to each other but our commitment to our community and creating vows between us and those we love.”

They then performed a mandala ritual, a practice Tiffane created called Circles of Remembrance, which she has been using to facilitate community circles and officiate weddings for over a decade. “The mandala ceremony was so integral to our day,” she continued. “We set up an ancestral altar to invite in those who came before us and especially to honour my parents who passed away in my twenties. A candle was placed at the centre of the mandala to represent us. Each ring around the centre was created with symbolic items like marigolds, crystals, and other meaningful objects that correlated with significant groups of people in our lives. Guests were asked to place their item in the mandala to signify their commitment to us as individuals and as a married couple and to honour their role in our lives.”

They skipped the traditions that didn’t align with their values, such as the bouquet toss, taking off the garter, and having gendered wedding parties. “We wanted to unsubscribe from traditional bride and groom roles,” they explained. “One part of planning we did find frustrating was vendors who couldn’t seem to understand that Morgan is not a bride. The wedding industry needs to work harder to educate themselves on what it really means to be affirming of trans and nonbinary folx. We were fortunate enough to find and be able to hire Jasmine, our wedding planner, and she helped us connect to vendors who really got us.”

The reception was an unapologetic celebration of joy and self-expression. Guests were treated to a t-shirt toss from the balcony, and there was live funk music, tarot card readings, a whiskey and cigar bar, a Dolly Parton drag queen, and a lip-sync competition. “Our guests really brought it,” Morgan said. “Multiple costume changes, wigs on wigs, and jaw-dropping choreography. It was a little unhinged, and we’d do it all over again if we could.”

Flowers were their biggest expense, but they were worth every penny. Tiffane worked closely with Brittany and Doug at The Flowerslinger to create sculptural arrangements that evolved in colour and texture throughout the day. “I was devastated by the idea of our flowers going to waste,” she explained. “Our planner and The Flowerslinger donated them to The Grateful Vase, which repurposes florals for nursing homes. As a former hospice worker, this was such a meaningful touch. The flowers were worth every penny, and we will never EVER be over it.”

Finding their outfits was another highlight, but for Tiffane in particular, not without its challenges. After countless disappointments, she found High Vibe Bride in Kansas City. They not only created a pink, ethereal, and perfectly campy dress for her but also incorporated a silk flower from her late mother’s wedding veil. “It was the only shop I tried anything on at, and my experience was above and beyond. Fat people get married, and we don’t all want to wear white sleeveless dresses.”

Reflecting on their day, one of their favourite moments was sharing private vows before the ceremony because those vows were really what it was all about. “It was the sweetest moment of the day,” they concluded. “It put us behind schedule, but we wouldn’t have traded it for anything.”