So many weddings start with a grand venue, expensive outfits and a colour scheme planned down to the last detail. And while we love weddings like that of course, Caleb and Gabbi did something entirely different. They started with the simple idea of just throwing a party that just happened to include a wedding. No rigid timelines, no unnecessary formalities, just a celebration that felt like them.

Marrying in a park pavilion in Milwaukee’s Bay View neighbourhood, they kept the guest list tight, inviting only close friends, parents, and siblings (no extended family). “We feel the most like ourselves around friends rather than family”, Gabbi explained. “We limited our invites to around 80 people, and with plus ones, our friend groups filled those slots. We didn’t think older family members would enjoy the same things as our 20-30-something-year-old friends, and it was a lot less stressful planning a wedding for people similar to us to enjoy.”

Gabbi, who is half-Mexican, drew inspiration from the birthday parties of her childhood including things like piñatas, Norteño music, and their favourite food. Guests were encouraged to wear bright colours, patterns, and textures rather than anything formal. One particular highlight was a game of trivia where the winner would sign their marriage license!

One of the most striking details was Gabbi’s dress. She found a secondhand dress through a Facebook group where someone was actually giving it away for free! She then worked with her friend Erin, an apprentice seamstress, to remove some of the layers and hand-paint the floral lace. “I felt the best with a lighter and slightly more colourful dress,” she said.

They skipped a wedding planner or coordinator, instead leaning on their community for help. “That made the celebration even more special, because several people can say that they had a hand in making it happen,” Gabbi noted. A friend officiated the ceremony after getting ordained especially, while others took on impromptu roles throughout the day. Gabbi’s sister and her boyfriend bartended for part of the night, and Caleb’s friends set up a station for pickleback shots.

Another friend made their incredible turtle cake! “We spent a long time trying to figure out what shape for her to make, and since I have loved turtles all my life, Caleb thought a sea turtle cake would be cool. And he was right!”

Looking back, the couple is happy with all the choices they made, especially because they managed to bring the entire wedding in at under $10,000. “Planning a non-traditional wedding means you’re planning a wedding tailored to you both individually, and as a couple, but that means that it won’t please everyone!” she advises. “Focusing on what you want rather than what others expect is sometimes a hard thing to follow through on. Planning a non-traditional requires a lot more decision-making, because you could literally choose to do anything! The hard work and thought you put in is so worth it.”