Maisie and Jet planned their wedding celebration for one day before Halloween, only so their guests could enjoy their halloween plans the next day with their kids. My personal favorite holiday is Halloween, so when they told me they were planning a spooky, dark romance themed wedding, I was overjoyed.

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Valley Garden Center in Phoenix was the right backdrop for it. Dense greenery, string lights overhead, open sky. A venue that holds its own without needing much done to it, which meant everything Maisie and Jet brought in landed that much harder.

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And they brought a lot. Deep red florals, red tapers in gold candlestick holders, a black table runner, gothic stationery with old-style typography. A Halloween candy station. A converted horse trailer turned mobile bar courtesy of Wild Spirits. Bridesmaids in all black. Maisie in a flowing white gown with a lace-trimmed veil and long, jet black hair to match, carrying a bouquet of deep crimson calla lilies and trailing amaranth that looked like it came straight out of a pre-Raphaelite painting. Her nails were dark-tipped stilettos. Jet wore an olive green suit and Dr. Martens, which is exactly the right energy for a celebration like this.

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The ceremony was held under the trees that shielded their guests from the unrelenting Phoenix sun. Tears were shed and promises were made between two souls in love. Then the light dropped and the candles were lit, dripping crimson on the dinner tables as guests sat and toasts were made. The night was complete with a taco truck, Halloween candy station and full dance floor. It was the kind of wedding where the guest list is people who actually know each other, and it showed.

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Maisie and Jet ended the night with a private dance between just the two of them after all their guests had left. I'd never seen that before, and I'm now a firm believer that every couple should strongly consider it for their own wedding.

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Thanks Maisie and Jet for letting me be there and tell your story. If this aesthetic speaks to you and you're planning a dark romance wedding at Valley Garden Center or anywhere in Phoenix, I'd love to hear from you.