A Whimsical Rooftop Wedding at Ariel International Center in Cleveland, Ohio

Furry friends were the focus of Julia Szabo (31 and an attorney) and Benjamin Kowalczyk’s (33 and a sales manager) whimsical Where The Wild Things Are wedding at Cleveland’s Ariel International Center. The classic children’s book inspired just about every detail—from life-size cardboard cutouts of the couple’s five pets to signs that spoke to the impending wild rumpus. Succulent centerpieces and gilded accents tied the entire look together, along with vintage ceramic cats that dotted dining tables. “I’m somewhat of a ‘crazy cat lady,’ so Benjamin and I collected them throughout our engagement,” Julia says of the cheeky tchotchkes. A rustic altar made of recycled wood pallets framed the rooftop nuptials. In lieu of a custom cocktail, the newlyweds served a signature beer crafted at Platform Beer Co. and aptly named “Murray’s Wild Rumpus Ale.” “We’re definitely food people, so when choosing our menu, we served all of our favorites,” Julia says of offering guests tacos and late-night gourmet pizzas. A strawberry buttercream cassata cake was adorned with peg doll versions of the pair and their pets. “Our pets are very important to us—they’re our very own ‘wild things,’” Julia says of the inspiration behind their Maurice Sendak motif.