A short wedding in Dublin last month cost €5,000 and lasted under two hours. Eighteen guests joined Sarah and David at Woollen Mill, a venue where they could legally marry, before moving downstairs for dinner. The ceremony began at 9 p.m. and ended by midnight, with the couple home by 10:30 p.m..

Sarah, who is autistic, rejected traditional wedding customs. She skipped a long aisle, a white dress, and the ritual of being “given away” by her father. “I wasn’t going to do things to make others happy and make myself uncomfortable,” she said. The focus instead was on intimacy and flexibility.

Her outfit came from Vinted, costing €70 for the dress, €20 for shoes, and €10 for a bag. Most of the €5,000 budget went toward decorating the private dining room with flowers from Flowerpop and Studio Grace. Keeping guest numbers low helped them stay within budget. “There a lot of external pressure,” she explained when asked about the biggest stresses during the planning process. “I stayed true to myself on this and bought things I loved second hand. I don’t regret a thing about it.”

Photographer Katy Hill documented the evening differently than typical weddings. Instead of posed group photos, she captured Sarah and David walking through Dublin at night, including stops at the Ha’penny Bridge and the pub where Sarah’s father often drank. The couple also prioritized their son’s needs over wedding traditions. When their son, who was at home, became upset and needed them, Sarah and David left dinner early—guests remained at the restaurant without feeling pressured to follow suit.

Sarah said their wedding remained meaningful despite its unconventional approach. “Although it’s considered the couples ‘big day’ it’s OK to put your children first,” she said. “None of this made our wedding any less special. Things can be very different and still magical.”