Kathryn Williams

I never expected to fall in love at age 40, let alone get engaged for a second time! But the universe loves to surprise and delight us.

When Shelby and Simon came across Dope Elope , an event by Sarah Marie Celebrancy in Canberra that hosts eight mini-elopements over two days, they weren't even officially engaged. But the bold, non-traditional vibe called to them, and having already discussed marriage, this felt like the perfect sign. The catch? They had to plan everything in just two months.

Celebrate the extraordinary and personalise your wedding with all of the gothic mystery and elegance you could possibly wish for. Keep reading for details of how you can conjure up the perfect wedding experience that's exactly how you want it to be – all you need is plenty of imagination and a little Cricut™ know-how to turn your gothic wedding fantasy into reality…

Zoe and Stephen didn't just plan one wedding—they planned two. First came a private legal ceremony, held a month ahead of their big day, where Zoe wore a dinosaur print dress. But the main event was an immersive, nerd-tastic celebration centred around all the things and people they love. “Each week as we planned, we'd come back to the same question,” Zoe said, “Does this choice fit our ethos of having the things we love with the people we love?”

The glass domes can fit up to six people, are heated, and you can play your favourite Christmas tunes

For Lucy and Kyle, creating an unforgettable celebration meant blending cinematic romance with a night-long dance party inspired by Baz Luhrmann's signature film style. Their wedding paid homage to iconic movies like Romeo + Juliet The Great Gatsby , and Moulin Rouge featuring custom neon signs (made by the best man!) vintage Versace champagne flutes, wearable florals for the groom and a vintage inspired cake.

Emma and Steven's wanted their wedding to feel personal and very much in sync with their own story. Their theme of “colourful-retro-city-chic” was woven throughout with nods to family, music, and memories. They had their ceremony at The Old Marylebone Town Hall and a casual pub reception, and the bride wore her mother's dress. In total they spent less than £10,000 but still had the wedding day of their dreams.

Cody and Liliana, who have been together since high school, wanted their wedding to be all about their family, friends and who they are. Held in May at Montsalvat Artists Colony and Botanicah , both in Melbourne, they thrifted EVERY SINGLE ITEM for their DIY reception dinner. Liliana wore a Selkie dress customised by a friend, while Cody was in a thrifted suit.

Choosing an engagement ring often involves balancing personal style, budget, and values, lab grown diamond engagement rings are becoming a popular option that checks all three boxes. Certified lab grown diamonds offer the same brilliance and fire as mined diamonds, and thanks to brands like With Clarity, these sustainable gems are available in designs that celebrate luxury without compromise.

Issue 58 was dedicated to EXPRESSING YOURSELF and doubling down on who you are for your wedding. So, we thought a shoot showing some gender nonconforming attire options was the perfect choice. Shot in Las Vegas in collaboration with That Chapel Downtown and P3 Events , our model Zara embraced both their masculine and feminine sides to create a shoot that contrasts the two and looked absolutely incredible in both!