'I was bawling': Cute meets cult in video game-themed wedding ceremonies

Gaming convention PAX isn't the place you'd expect a wedding but two couples were happily wed in a special ceremony themed around the Australian hit video game Cult of the Lamb on October 13.

Blake Dankworth and Shania Gynn were one couple, along with fellow lovebirds Tanner Newberg and Jasper Ciclovan.

The idea came from Cult of the Lamb developers Massive Monster who put a callout to keen couples online, but for the couples who were selected, it was a dream they didn't even know they had.

Miss Gynn and Mr Dankworth met thirteen years ago on the school bus, and neither could have predicted that their journey would lead them to get married alongside a crowd of robed cultists.

Nobody was unhappy about it though.

"It's better than any of us could have expected," said Mr Dankworth.

Mr Dankworth and Miss Gynn even have Cult of the Lamb-themed tattoos on their forearms, which Mr Dankworth speculated may have given them the edge on being selected.

Jasper Ciclovan and Tanner Newberg met online, and over many years, fostered a connection that quickly became romantic - and they haven't looked back since.

"I'm from the States. I moved my whole life here for this one," Mr Newberg said. "We couldn't stop talking to each other, we became more than friends and it just kept spiralling from there."

"We've been following [the game] since the beginning," said Mx Ciclovan.

The two even got married in fursuits - full-size, animalistic mascot costumes.

The ceremonies were marked with handfasting, a tradition that comes from Norse culture but has seen a revival in Neopaganism.

The couples were walked to the altar by the Lamb themselves, before their hands were bound together and beautiful vows were shared - bringing tears from the entire crowd present.

"As soon as it started, I was bawling," one member of the crowd said. "It was so sweet."

Mr Dankworth said some of his family were a little hesitant with the theming thanks to a traditional Christian upbringing, but were mostly just excited to see him getting married.

"My family are, for the most part very excited. There's a little bit of a pushback in regards to the theming but besides that, everyone on my side is quite ecstatic for us," he said.

"Everyone on my side has just said 'this is the perfect wedding for you' ... I'm just happy that we fit the theme, with the wacky and quirky vibes of this crazy thing that's going to happen," said Miss Gynn.

Celebrant Abby Wiverton started training as a celebrant during the COVID-19 lockdown, and after 25 weddings said this was "easily the wildest thing I've ever done".

The joy on their face throughout the unique ceremonies was clear though, as the calls to 'Praise the Lamb' echoed throughout the hall.

Wrapping up our interview, Miss Gynn said she had thoughts on a Red Dead Redemption-themed funeral ceremony but was keen to enjoy a happy and long life with her new husband first.