Bride and Groom Go Viral for Sharing the Unconventional Things They Did for Their Wedding

Hali Oduor and Nathan Mixon had a small, personal wedding at Beach Palace in Malindi, Kenya. Their ceremony was designed to reflect who they are as a couple. They chose to skip some traditional wedding customs — a decision they say they would happily make again.

“It was important to us that our wedding felt deeply personal and meaningful, something that truly reflected who we are as a couple,” the bride and groom told PEOPLE. “Every choice we made came back to that intention. We wanted the day to feel like us from start to finish, and to tell our story in a way that felt authentic. In the end, that meant doing some things differently, and we loved every bit of it.”

In a TikTok that has over 7 million views, Oduor shared the things they skipped. She started with a makeup artist, saying it was because “no one knows my face, or how I want to feel, better than me.” For her bridal look, Oduor wore a neck scarf and a simple hairstyle instead of a veil to match the wedding’s beach setting.

The ceremony was outdoors, with the aisle decorated with white flowers, according to Brides. Guests sat in a semi-circle to create a feeling of being embraced by their loved ones.

Oduor didn’t carry a bouquet, and there was no wedding party before her entrance. The couple wanted their guests to relax without the stress that can come with large weddings. They invited only 35 guests to keep the day intimate.

“All of our non-traditional choices were planned,” Oduor said. “I didn’t carry a bouquet because I didn’t want to feel awkward walking down the aisle. I wanted to focus fully on the moment, not worry about my hands or who I would give the bouquet to.”

She added, “We also wrote handwritten notes to every guest. With a small wedding, we knew everyone there personally. It was important to show how much they meant to us and the role they played in our lives. We thanked them not just for being there but also for supporting us over the years.”

At the ceremony, all guests also blessed the wedding rings. The couple passed the rings around so everyone could hold them and “speak a blessing over them,” making the union feel full of love.

After the ceremony, Oduor changed into her mother’s wedding dress, which she could dance in, but she kept her neck scarf from the ceremony look.

The couple had a long dinner with all their guests at one table. Each guest received a handwritten thank-you note instead of a wedding favor, which Oduor found more meaningful. They also skipped the wedding cake, and “no one noticed.”

Instead of leaving for a honeymoon right after the wedding, Oduor and Mixon continued celebrating with their guests to spend more time with the people who came for them.

“I loved that we stayed true to ourselves in every decision,” Oduor said. “The guest count felt perfect, even though we felt pressure to invite more people. Having only the people who mattered most created a once-in-a-lifetime energy I will never forget. We probably won’t have that exact group together again, which made it even more special.”

She added, “Traditions can be beautiful, but they are not required. The most magical moments happen when you do what feels right for you. If there is one day in your life that should feel entirely like you, it is your wedding.”