With a shared love for all things dark and spooky, Kelsey and Mackenzie crafted a ‘Til Death’ theme for their wedding that embraced their personalities without slipping into a full-blown Halloween vibe. Their October celebration balanced moody decor with black, emerald green, and metallic accents, alongside a scattering of skeletons.

Kelsey always imagined herself in a black wedding dress, a choice that felt perfectly natural to her. “I’ve seen so many brides take the alternative route, and I knew I wanted to be one of them,” she explained. Mackenzie found her perfect look in Brooklyn, at an LGBTQ+ suit shop that delivered a tailored experience to match Kelsey’s bridal moment.

Kelsey walked down the aisle to the isolated vocals of Rain by Sleep Token and instead of a traditional officiant, they were married by Kelsey’s ‘Cali Mom,’ a family friend. The couple wrote their own vows, with Mackenzie cleverly weaving in the ‘Til Death’ theme. “Her vows had everyone bawling,” Kelsey shared.

At the reception, their friend from high school served as DJ, mixing a playlist of alternative, ‘trashy’ hits, and a bit of Zach Bryan for Mackenzie. “Our DJ nailed it,” Kelsey said. Her dad, ‘Big Tim’, became an unexpected star of the party, showing up in countless photos, even headbanging to We Came As Romans. “We had a blast, and seeing my dad let loose like that was incredible, “Kelsey recalled. The night also included a cheeky lap dance to Pony, and wrapped up with a rendition of Take Me Back to Eden by Sleep Token.

In true DIY spirit, Kelsey drew on her six years of experience working at Michael’s to create much of the decor herself. Her mother-in-law crafted memory banners, and Mackenzie’s stepdad constructed an incredible coffin photo prop and a ceremony arbor. “I recommend DIYing as much as possible,” Kelsey advised. “It’s a lifesaver cost-wise and getting to see our vision come to life while doing it alongside the people that we love was the best part of the whole experience. Pinterest became our best friend.”

“When it’s your wedding, it’s your rules,” they concluded. “There’s no script so just do what feels right for you and your partner. Weddings don’t have to be in churches, dresses don’t have to be white, vows don’t have to be religious, and your bridal party doesn’t have to be by gender. We both had a maid of honour and a best man with our mixed bridal parties and we wouldn’t change a single thing.”