Alexandra Kelley had only followed one rule when it came to her wedding day: there were no rules.

“Someone’s wedding day is their day to express themselves and do what they feel is happy and fun and right,” she said.

So, when she married Kevin Fox last June 4th at the historic Columbus Museum of Art, she did so in a stunning red dress – that seemed to stun at least of the few of the surprised guests.

“I didn’t always know who the guy would be,” she joked, “but I always knew I wouldn’t wear a white dress. I love red and thought it would be a great way to set the tone that this wouldn’t be a traditional wedding.”

The most impactful of the Fox’s non-traditional wedding touches was a unique charity component. Eschewing a standard gift registry, they instead requested that their guests donate to the Columbus Metropolitan Library, the Mid-Ohio Food Bank or WCBE. The couple also displayed easels with the mission statement for Equality Ohio, pledging their commitment to allowing same-sex marriage, which drew some donations from their party as well.

All in all, the Kelley-Fox nuptials netted around $6,000 for local charities – one of the only weddings in history that didn't just cost money.

“It was a small thing, but that was very important to us, and we just wanted to acknowledge it,” she said. “We need to get to a place where everyone can marry whomever they choose. Besides, we have all the hand towels and candlesticks we need anyway.”