Instead of following a standard timeline, Renee and Sam split their celebration into two parts. First, they eloped in Colorado on their ten-year dating anniversary. Seven months later, they hosted a reception to bring friends and family into the celebration back home in Lincoln, Nebraska.

“Our ceremony was a private moment, just us and a photographer”, Renee explained. “We only told a handful of close family members and friends. In November, we threw a party to celebrate with our loved ones. We skipped the ceremony, toasts, and speeches, and went straight into dancing, eating and drinking. The night ended with lots of karaoke and laughs!”

The aesthetic was an eclectic blend of kitsch, vintage elements, and colourful touches. “We pulled from the 60s and 70s, tacky Vegas elopements, and roller discos,” Renee continued. Pink baby’s breath, neon lights, and ceramic cat figurines were scattered throughout the space. Instead of a limited colour palette, they embraced a whole spectrum. The food followed a similarly inclusive approach, featuring five different vegan and gluten-free cakes (cake was a very important element for Renee!)

Before heading into the reception, they took an hour-long limo ride with their best friends, blasting music and setting the tone for the night. “We went full karaoke mode before we even got there,” they laughed. Once inside, the party kept rolling. Renee kicked things off with a wine-fueled rendition rendition of Pink Pony Club by Chappell Roan.

The couple put together most of the decorative elements themselves. They built a fringe backdrop using a grid net and plastic tablecloths and sourced most of their décor secondhand, thrifting pieces from local stores, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace.

When asked if they would change anything, the answer was an easy no. “We really thought about it, and there’s nothing we’d do differently,” Renee said. But they did have strong feelings about the so-called ‘rules’ of weddings. “All of them should go,” they said. “Except for cake. Cake is important.”

Planning a wedding outside of the typical structure can come with challenges, but they saw it as all part of the fun. “The wedding industry is so painfully straight and unimaginative,” Renee said. “If you want to do something different, you have to be a little more intentional. But it can add a fun challenge if you change your perspective. “Above all though, just do what makes you happy. Fuck the haters!”