A Whimsical, Rustic Wedding at Stillwell House and Garden in Tucson, Arizona

Kathleen Marsland (26 and a teacher) and Matt Marsland (28 and a multimedia developer) met in their college Japanese class and quickly bonded over their love of video games and Japanese animation. Their wedding theme “evolved into what I can only describe as eclectic elegance with video game and animation elements,” says the bride. Kathleen and Matt got married at the Stillwell House and Garden in Tucson, Arizona, chosen for its lush courtyard and old architecture that matched the vintage atmosphere the couple sought. For a vibrant fall feel at the October wedding, the bride selected orange as a primary decor color, complemented by cobalt blue and accents of chocolate and gold elements. The ceremony took place in the courtyard, where Kathleen and Matt exchanged their vows in front of an altar with hanging glass baubles filled with flowers, moss and lights. They marked their union with a unity cactus and recessed into the cocktail hour, where a friend played their favorite video game songs on the piano. The reception and seated dinner took place in the courtyard, followed by a nightclub-inspired dance party indoors. Totoro details made an impact as table numbers and the custom topper to their wedding cake, and the groom’s cake was a tribute to Kingdom Hearts, the video game that brought them together. “What we ended up with was a mash-up of vintage, modern and geek all rolled into one,” says the bride.