DIY Queer Wedding Weekend at Camp Hidden Valley, Maryland
Caitlin (she/her) and Melissa’s (she/her) wedding weekend in White Hall, Maryland, felt less like a formal affair and more like the kind of camp getaway you never want to leave. Hosted at Camp Hidden Valley at Deer Creek Preserve, it was the perfect blend of creek tubing, dancing, chosen family, and glitter. These two did things their way – from matching tailored vests to food truck tacos to skipping the traditional aisle setup – and the whole thing felt like a Pride party in the woods (their words, and honestly, spot on).
How did you meet, and what led you to this moment?
Melissa: We matched on Her shortly after I moved to Baltimore in 2018. Cait scheduled a date, then rescheduled. Twice. First because of some drama in her friend group, then because a certification class popped up. I was a first-year public school teacher and didn’t have the energy for what felt like flakiness, so I stopped replying.
A few months later, I got a random text from a number I didn’t have saved: “Hey this is random – are you in a puppet show rn?” I have no idea why I replied, but I did. We started talking again, set another date, and actually made it happen this time. Cait was waiting for me outside the theater in a peacoat and pocket square, holding a comically small popcorn and two red wines. That night ended with a kiss under a lunar eclipse on a freezing street corner.
From there, things just kept building, falling in love, building a life, and making our respective cats into step-siblings.
What kind of celebration did you want to create, and how did you land on your venue?
We knew we wanted something outdoors, with space for our people to stay the weekend. We’re both campers, so that vibe felt natural for us. Camp Hidden Valley at Deer Creek Preserve was perfect. There were trails, a creek for tubing, a pool, cabins, it gave everyone space to relax, hang out, and be fully immersed in the weekend.
The vibe was always going to be relaxed, colorful, and very queer. We described it as “where the glitter meets the woods.” We didn’t want people stressing about what to wear or feeling like they had to fit into any mold. Just come as you are. It felt more like a Pride party in the forest than a wedding, and that’s exactly what we wanted.
Talk us through the wedding day – from start to finish.
Most of our guests had arrived the night before, so we started the day with a casual breakfast in the reception hall. Cait and I did some final setup while our guests went hiking, swimming, or tubing down the creek. Once things were ready, we joined in and spent most of the day just hanging out with our community.
About an hour and a half before the ceremony, we split off to get ready. The ceremony itself was simple and heartfelt. Afterward, the reception flowed naturally. Everyone grabbed food from Mexican on the Run, we mingled, danced, and listened to some beautiful speeches from our siblings. We had our first dance and danced with our parents, then DJ Rosie Hicks kicked things off with a high-energy dance floor. We ended the night around the fire, listening to a DJ set from a friend who had passed a few years prior. It was emotional and grounding in the best way.
With so much happening, how did you stay on top of planning?
We did almost all of it ourselves, which was a lot to juggle while working full time. Our wedding was basically one big DIY project, but we couldn’t have pulled it off without our people. Everyone who arrived early pitched in – arranging flowers, putting up signage, handling last-minute details.
We used a chaotic but functional Google spreadsheet system to stay on top of things. Our biggest tip: make sure both people can access and update whatever tool you’re using. Being able to keep shared notes and budget info in one place helped a lot, even if it wasn’t always pretty.
What did you wear, and how did you approach the more traditional elements?
We both wore different prints of the same vest from Wild Fang and had them tailored, which made a huge difference. It felt good to wear something that aligned with who we are, not overly formal, not overly gendered, just us.
We wrote our own vows and structured the ceremony to feel like us too. There was no pressure to follow specific traditions, and we made decisions based on what felt meaningful rather than what was expected. That included how we walked in, how we stood, and even the structure of the reception. Everything had a little more breathing room.
Who were some of the vendors that made your day so memorable?
We can’t say enough good things about Raelika Photography. We were looking for someone who had worked with queer couples before and had a talent for capturing real, candid moments. Rachael delivered on every front. A few months after the wedding, my sister passed away, and having those beautiful photos of us and our family means more than we can ever put into words.
DJ Rosie Hicks brought so much life and joy to the dance floor. And our wedding rings from Bluestone Goldsmithing were the perfect final touch.
Favorite moments?
Tubing down the creek before getting ready. The quiet joy of floating on the water surrounded by friends. And later, winding down around the fire with everyone we love. My sister’s speech stands out too – it holds so much meaning for me now.
Photography by Raelika Photography
Catering Mexican on the Run
DJ DJ Rosie Hicks
Jewelry Bluestone Goldsmithing
Venue Camp Hidden Valley at Deer Creek Preserve
