Inspired by Princess Lasertron (because really, who isn't?) I've decided to start doing a semi-regular feature where I answer reader questions. Not, like, wedding advice questions. But questions about other stuff — the site, the world, whatever.

Here are the first batch of questions, which came in via Offbeat Bride's Facebook page:

At OBB, we're all about honoring the personally meaningful, no matter how weird or "tacky" But I bet you've heard about some pretty off-the-wall wedding choices…what are the strangest things you've come across in your OBB travels? -Ariel H.

Ha! I love this question. I've definitely seen some things that aren't my personal aesthetics, that's for sure…

Continue reading "Questions from you: Strangest weddings, what inspired me to start OBB, what I regret from my wedding, and more!" →

The Offbeat Bride: Miranda, copy editor

Her Offbeat Partner: Jake, student/IT

Location & date of wedding: San Francisco City Hall — Thursday(!), June 4, 2009

What made our wedding offbeat: As a kid, I never really dreamed of "My Big White Wedding." I knew I wanted to marry Jake and I knew my mom would kill me if I didn't have a big party and ceremony, too. So I threw myself into it and tried to make it ours — no white dress, no hairspray, pizza for dinner, "Star Trek" processional, photos at ruins, pawn shop rings, a bouquet made of flowers guests bought at a liquor store or on the street on the way there.

Continue reading "Miranda & Jake's Themeless, Unrehearsed & Heartfelt Wedding" →

These recent submissions to the Offbeat Bride photo pool from Steve Koo photography make it clear that if you want no dancing at your reception, bowling may be your solution. Also, the lighting at bowling alleys is tres dramatique, oui?:

The shots remind me of this amazing series from Melissa's Idaho wedding last year by AMB Photo Company:

Continue reading "Bowling brides" →

Hey, remember when Ariel profiled OBT member Teneisha's wedding high five a few days ago? You may have noticed these two popping up all over the wedding blogosphere since then, but we've got the whole scoop below. Slurp up these details, ladies…

The Offbeat Bride: Teneisha, Imagination Specialist (and OBT member)

Her Offbeat Partner: Chris, Graphic Designer

Location & date of wedding: Ceremony- Valley of the Falls, Mandalay Bay, Vegas. Reception- Foundation Room, House of Blues, Vegas. After Party- The Luxor, Vegas — May 23, 2009

What made our wedding offbeat: The objective for our wedding (besides getting married) was about two things — the first was a goal that every single person have a completely kick ass time (including ourselves) and the second being that we would do things our way, no questions asked.

Continue reading "Teneisha & Chris' Funky Las Vegas Wedding" →

First, you should feast your eyes on Aerin & Jeremy's wedding profile. Then you should feast your eyes on the new Alice in Wonderland-tinged template Aerin just did for my wedding websites.

If you've already got a wedding website with me 'n' Nearlyweds, and you're looking at this new design and love it as much as I do, remember that you can change your template at any time and as many times as you want. And of course, if you like the new template, you can order the matching invitations.

(And yes: this is one of those things that I desperately wish had been around when I was getting married in 2004. Back in my day, we had to design our non-froofy wedding websites from scratch! And manually coordinate with our designers to make the invitations match! And walk uphill to the altar barefoot in the snow! You 2009 brides don't know how easy you've got it…)

I'm madly in love the invitation aesthetics of Aerin's Royal Steamline designs … which are a little dark, very vintage, and full of intoxicating little details like anatomical hearts, tentacles, and the most non-cutesie butterflies evar. With Royal Steamline, the issue for me isn't "Which of these designs might make a good wedsite template?" but rather "Which design should I beg her to convert into a template first!?" Because really, they're all winners.

So, you tell me: which of Royal Steamline invitation design would YOU next like to see available as a wedsite template? I'm leaning towards Tell Tale.

Oh, and if you don't have a wedding website yet: RUN DO NOT WALK and start designing yours. It's free to dive in and start tinkering and your slightly dark Alice In Wonderland-themed wedding website could be up 'n' running in about 10 minutes. Go get started!

PS: If you're an indie invitation designer, I'd love to feature YOUR work too.

You caught a peek at Aerin's style last fall … now here's the full story!

The Offbeat Groom: Jeremy, Designer & Musician

His Offbeat Partner: Aerin, Creative Director & Invitation Designer

Location & date of wedding: Portland's White House, Portland OR — 09.20.08

What made our wedding offbeat: Neither of us had really thought about what type of wedding we'd want until we were actually engaged, but there were definitely a few things we knew for sure… Churches were out. The white dress was out. Hundreds of guests were out. And then Aerin found a copy of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and everything began to fall in place.

Continue reading "Aerin & Jeremy's Neo-Victorian Haunted Museum Wedding" →