This Wedding Aesthetic Blended Campy with Medieval and Cottagecore for an Unapologetically Queer Celebration

A bold, genre-defying wedding blends medieval romance, cottagecore whimsy, and queer camp.

If you’ve ever dreamed of a wedding that feels equal parts fairytale, family reunion, and creative collaboration, Sophia and Caymus’s backyard celebration is the kind of magic you can’t replicate. Hosted at their grandparents’ home in Connecticut, this whimsical, queer garden wedding blended “medieval/renaissance revival, cottagecore, garden party, and queer/drag aesthetics” into a one-of-a-kind experience that felt, in their words, “kind of like a campy queer ren faire that was still elegant and beautiful.” With deeply personal details, an all-hands-on-deck approach, and a palpable sense of community, their day was less about tradition and more about creating something entirely their own.

Sophia and Caymus’s love story began young, but never felt fleeting. “We met at 18 in college through singing and mutual friends, and it didn’t take long for us to become obsessed with each other and fall in love,” they shared. Over the next eight years, their relationship grew through cross-country moves, life changes, and shared adventures, always grounded in the feeling that “our souls were meant to be connected.” Fittingly, they chose to marry on their eight-year anniversary after not one, but two thoughtful proposals on opposite coasts.

When it came to choosing a venue, the answer was clear. “We got married at our grandparents’ house, in the garden,” they said, a place filled with history, meaning, and a family tradition of backyard weddings. Beyond its beauty, the location ensured that “it was easy for our grandparents to be physically present,” making the celebration all the more special.

From the start, the couple envisioned a wedding that invited guests to fully step into the experience. Their dress code? “Whimsical attire encouraged,” with inspiration ranging from fantasy to fashion-forward. The result? “The whole thing truly did feel like a fantasy,” they shared, brought to life by a community that showed up ready to celebrate.

That sense of community carried into every moment of the ceremony. Officiated by their best friend, it struck “a good balance of tradition and whimsy,” featuring handwritten vows, group vows for family and friends, and deeply personal touches throughout. One standout? “We asked my cousin to be a ‘potion bearer’ and filled vintage glass bottles with Caymus wine and drank them after our vows. He wore a cape and it was perfect!” Guests even joined in a joyful singalong to “Our House,” creating a moment that felt as intimate as it was unforgettable.

The details of the day were nothing short of extraordinary and almost entirely DIY. “The whole thing felt so us, down to the smallest details,” they shared. In the months leading up to the wedding, Sophia, her grandmother, and loved ones crafted everything from candles made with pressed flowers to hundreds of hand-sewn bunting flags. “Every single piece had a story and a deeper meaning,” they explained, creating a layered, heartfelt atmosphere. Guests even took pieces home: “candlesticks, candles, vases, plants… and now have little shrines to the wedding in their homes,” they said. “It’s the cutest thing ever!”

Florals were equally meaningful, grown and arranged by Sophia’s grandmother. “She started planting flowers for our wedding as soon as she found out we were engaged,” they shared, resulting in lush, seasonal blooms woven throughout the entire property including a hydrangea-covered arch that served as a ceremony focal point.

The celebration unfolded over an entire weekend, intentionally designed to bring people together. From a pre-wedding bonfire filled with songs and laughter to a post-wedding brunch where guests lingered a little longer, Sophia shared, “it’s so rare to have everyone together and I’m so grateful we got this extra time.”

And when it came time to celebrate, they did it their way. Performances replaced traditional speeches, with friends and family singing, reading, and sharing their love in creative ways. “Having people offer creative contributions was so special,” they said. Their first dance — performed live by a friend — was followed by a group Irish céilí dance and hours of curated music that kept the energy high all night long.

Looking back, one moment stood above the rest: “Our first kiss was so completely full of love and joy… surrounded by such a tangible feeling of love and joy from our community,” they shared. “It was truly magical.”