Arizona Goth Wedding with Donuts, Tattoos, and Veil Drama
Brianna (she/her) and Jessica’s (she/her) wedding at Whispering Pines Resort in Pinetop, Arizona, was anything but traditional, exactly how they wanted it. Think matching tattoos, black gowns, pizza instead of cake, and a mosh pit to close out the night. These two had known each other since high school, but it wasn’t until 2021, after they’d both left other relationships, that they reconnected and everything clicked. Fast forward two years, and they were saying “I do” beneath a spiderweb-draped arch in the forest, surrounded by their closest people, a whole lot of fog, and some seriously good vibes.
How did you land on Pinetop and Whispering Pines as your venue?
We always knew we wanted a forest wedding. We looked at a few spots, but the owners at Whispering Pines Resort were so kind and accommodating. It just felt right. The trees, the vibe, the people. It all lined up.
Tell us about the vibe. What inspired the look and feel of your wedding day?
We’re both metalheads, so it had to have a goth twist. Think black outfits, dramatic makeup, and a floral arch with a giant spiderweb draped in pink. Our wedding dresses and veils were from Strut Bridal, and Brianna wore a killer suit jacket from Black Widow London. It was forest witch meets rocker chaos in the best way.
How did you handle the planning process?
We kept things old school. Just wrote everything down in a dedicated wedding notebook. We were on a budget, so keeping track of every expense helped. Jessica’s dad also helped cover most of it, which saved us big time.
What was your approach to food and vendors?
We skipped the fancy catering. Neither of us like cake, so we did donuts and pizza instead. It was delicious, easy, and cheap. As for photography, we found Kelcee from Escape and Adventure at a wedding expo. Her energy stood out instantly. I’m super picky with people, and I loved her from the start. Andrea Michelle Photo helped out as second shooter, and she was amazing too.
Any standout moments from the day?
So many. We set everything up ourselves that morning with help from our families. Kelcee even arrived early to shoot and ended up helping with setup too. After our first look, we weren’t even nervous anymore, just ready to get married. The best part? Toward the end of the night, our DJ from Encompass Entertainment and Kelcee kicked off a full-blown mosh pit. Yes, seriously. A full-on mosh pit at our wedding.
How did you approach wedding traditions and make the ceremony your own?
We both walked down the aisle with our dads, which was something really special to us. We also wrote our own vows and skipped the traditional altar setup to keep things simple and personal. Jessica had a father-daughter dance, and Brianna danced with both of her parents. We still did a bouquet and garter toss, one of us is more femme, the other more masc, so it worked for us.
What were your outfits like?
Both black, both bold. Tattoos showing, long dark veils, statement jewelry. Our dresses from Strut Bridal felt perfect, and Brianna’s jacket from Black Widow London added the exact edge we wanted. The vibe was very “goth queens get married in the forest.” And it worked.
Any advice for queer couples planning a wedding?
Stick to what feels like you. Forget the rules. Get a good notebook. And if your photographer offers to start a mosh pit, say yes.
Photography by Escape and Adventure & Andrea Michelle Photo
Dress & Veil Strut Bridal
DJ Encompass Entertainment
Suit Jacket Black Widow London
Venue Whispering Pines Resort
