Although married in California, Skyelar and Adam were very much inspired by the bride’s Louisiana roots in the the greenery and general vibe of their winter wedding. Describing their theme as “Vintage Whimsigoth” and “Eclectic Winter Whimsy”, the day was a celebration of them, with a beautiful blend of dark jewel tones and vintage charm. Adding in some drama with the florals, the day quickly turned into quite the gothic fairy garden.

“We really leaned into making statement choices and not sticking to a particular style – our only concrete theme was colour”, the bride told us. “Since we wanted to stray away from hyper-traditional wedding aesthetics, we tried to make it feel like a celebration, not something to sit through. We tried to thrift or source from small businesses as much as possible, and found ways to incorporate ridiculous touches like stone-painted vintage Furbies and ghosts on our cake stand. Adam’s suit was a surprise to everyone attending, and my change from a traditional gown to sequined pants really solidified it as a party.”

The ceremony was a joyful affair, filled with laughter (they began by inviting guests to come up and take a selfie with them!) and personal touches. A friend officiated and the playlist consisted of all their favourites. Personal vows, infused with pop culture references and a dad jokes made the experience uniquely theirs.

Then came the party where the couple arrived by doing a Second Line, a New Orleans tradition where the couple dance with parasols and eventually pulled the crowd into a dancing conga line. “Our twist was doing it to a cover of Lovely Day by a NOLA brass band, and then we transitioned into first dances and garter tosses”, said Skye.

The homemade elements also added personal touches to the celebration; a thrifted mirror for a selfie station, handcrafted centrepieces, and tables named after favourite love songs.

“Don’t feel like you have to do what everyone else is doing or has done!” the bride concluded. “It feels like the wedding industry is very trend-focused, and for us we really did what we could to make it feel like something we would WANT to attend. Don’t get caught up in the influencers and big names – if you love it, it’s worth it. Take your time to plan and enjoy the creative process.”