No priest, just potions & puzzles: this handfasting was pure nerd magic

What do you get when you mix Dungeons & Dragons, handmade potions, a raven feather quest, two jade rings, and a pair of puzzle-loving weirdos in all black? You get Rose and Blackwell’s New Hampshire handfasting: part sacred rite, part escape room, all heart.

Rose (genderfluid: he/she/they/it) and Blackwell (he/him) had already handled the legal stuff back in Colorado. But when it came time to gather their families and say their vows, they weren’t interested in a church ceremony or a courthouse vibe. She’s pagan, he’s agnostic, and together they created a wedding that honored their beliefs, celebrated their nerdy passions, and made space for every guest to play a part.

Rituals and raven feathers instead of aisle runners

Held at Blackwell’s sister’s home in Antrim, New Hampshire, the day was intimate (about 30 of their closest humans) and deeply intentional. They began with a private cleansing ritual: removing all jewelry the night before, showering off the old, and entering their wedding day symbolically bare. That morning, they adorned one another with rings and collars. Not just accessories, but commitments. Symbols of love, devotion, and service.

During the ceremony, the couple exchanged vows (more on those in a second), then cut each other’s hair—a practice rooted in Rose’s pagan beliefs. “Our history is held in our hair,” Rose said. “At the beginning of our relationship, we entered with fresh haircuts. Cutting it together was a sign of starting fresh. And in braiding the cuttings, we bound ourselves even further.”

Yes. They braided their hair cuttings together. If that doesn’t give you chills, check your alignment.

The vows? Full heart, full fantasy.

These two did not hold back. Rose declared, “As your wife, I vow to you my mind. And with it, my honesty—whether you want it or not.” She invoked Freya, Medusa, and their shared history of pain and passion, saying, “If you were to have Medusa’s curse, I would still with all my love gaze into your eyes, so even as stone I would be graced with the sight of you for eternity.”

Blackwell responded in kind: “You made me want better… to make a life and live it, not just chase a goal.” He called back to the first puzzle Rose ever gave him (a cipher for her name and number), and promised to “overcome new and exciting challenges, find more interesting problems, and laugh at them together.”

Honestly? We’d play this campaign forever.

When the vows are done… it’s puzzle time

Instead of a dance floor, guests were drawn into a fully customized puzzle quest, designed by Krista Jones of Whimsically You. Think: D&D potion vials, cipher wheels, invisible ink, and clues hidden in cow-themed riddles (yes, really). Each table had its own theme—Edgar Allan Poe, Lord of the Rings, Stonehenge mythology—and each puzzle culminated in a collective challenge to unlock the final chest of wedding favors: bottles of local maple syrup and custom talismans stamped with Rose & Blackwell’s wedding sigil (drawn by Blackwell’s mom, artist Valerie Hird).

Was it chaotic? Absolutely. Did anyone get stuck? Only briefly—Krista was on-site as Game Master. Did it reflect who they are as a couple? Down to the last enchanted feather.

DIY details and handmade memories

From a collage of dried flowers saved from past dates to rings displayed on a rusty nail beside old chains, the entire day was a patchwork of intimate artifacts. Everything mattered. Everything meant something. Including the Save the Date artwork, hand-drawn by Blackwell’s mom and turned into a wax seal used on game scrolls.

Even their attire told a story: both marriers wore black, because of course they did. She proposed to him multiple times over the years. They met in a game store basement. The moment they saw each other, Rose heard fate whispering. And honestly? We hear it too.

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Wedding vendors

• Photographer: Gusto Photos, @gustophotos
• Bespoke puzzle experience: Whimsically You, @whimsically.you