Why the Morbid Name?
Death Do We Party! It’s perfect. It’s a wink to us. And it’s a vow to hold adventure and commitment in the highest regard. A brand born out of Mambo Taxis, wordplay, and a hope to never take ourselves too seriously. Like I said, perfect for us.
But when most people hear the name Death Do We Party Press, they usually tilt their head, which I actually don’t hate…. But let’s back up.
When Dustin and I got engaged, we always knew it wouldn’t be a “a chicken-or-fish” affair. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve frequented many spectacular traditional banquet weddings, but being older we selfishly wanted to force some of our older loved ones into our type of adventures.
But as thirty-somethings footing our own bill, we needed to balance wanderlust with reality. We took on scouting trips like it was our duty:
• Dallas Belmont Hotel: Gorgeous skyline, cool retro vibe
• Marfa,Tx: Star-crossed lovers belong under the West Texas stars right?
• Fredericksburg, Tx: Wine, Vaudeville rooftop, and two-stepping—what’s not to love?
• Cancún, Mexico: My happy place, off-strip and off-script.
• Amalifi Coast: Too far, too many zeros. But apparently, I have several happy places.
The list went on & on & on, but in the end, Cancún won. Because if you’re going to pledge forever, why not do it barefoot in the sand?
Before the wedding, we threw an engagement party. The timing landed perfectly with Halloween, but we didn’t want spiders and cobwebs — we wanted a celebration of life. So we leaned into Día de los Muertos. This is when Death Do We Party was truly born.
We couldn’t just call it “Dustin & Erica’s Engagement Party.” Boring. Unacceptable. I’m a fashion copywriter. Dustin is a branding fiend. It had to be clever. So one Sunday funday at Mi Cocina Death Do We Part-y was born.
We hosted it in Oak Cliff with a folksy jazz band. Guests were requested to wear something old, something new, something borrowed or something blue, and it was magical. Color, music, laughter. Life. Dancing and drinks.
We loved it so much, it became our wedding website and later our brand identity. Our wedding was a huge success too and as is our partnership.
Every six months when the URL renewal bill came up, we debated letting it go. Houses, kids, life — it felt like a luxury we couldn’t afford. Not to mention, the dozen or so inquiries a year to buy it.
But each time we agreed not to part with it. God had planted a seed in our hearts, this would be more than a wedding site some day.
Fast forward. We started writing again this spring. Dustin dusted off the domain, smug grin intact. “This is what we saved it for.”
What does Death Do We Party mean now? The name stuck because it means a lot to us. 12 years. 3 kids. 1 stink pug. Multiple job changes and homes. We’ve sent loved ones to heaven and found solace knowing their real party is just beginning. We celebrate what we have every day.
Life is fleeting. Love is sacred. And stories — whether novels, merch, or late-night jazz in Oak Cliff — are how we celebrate both.
Death Do We Party isn’t about finality. It’s about squeezing every drop of joy out of the days we’re given.
It’s about honoring the past, throwing confetti at the present, and dreaming recklessly into the future.
It began with a wedding. Now it’s a press. A brand. A way of life. And as long as the stories keep coming, so will the party.
