Offbeat Bride | Kelly & Chris's NY Tea Party Wedding

The Offbeat Bride: Kelly, Make up Artist

My Offbeat Partner: Chris, Software Engineer

Location & date of the wedding: New York, NY courthouse, and reception at Alice's Tea Cup. March 20, 2009.

What made our wedding offbeat: I bucked tradition by having a mid-day tea party wedding: Everything was exactly like the tea parties I had in mind when I poured (water) tea for my dolls at age 6!

The girls eating cake in their AWESOME frilly dresses.

My maid of honor and I wore the most frilly, girlie dresses and hats… it was so beautiful. (Mine was beige and pink and hers was turquoise and pink) And I wore dark lipstick — to the horror of my mother-in-law!

Our biggest challenge: I could not find any dresses, flowers, hats… I just couldn't find any non-traditional bride anything! I made most of my wedding attire and did all of the flowers. After I started sewing, two months before my wedding, I opened my own Etsy site. Not finding the right dress has lead me down a new career path!

The wedding cake with a vintage cake topper.

My favorite moment: When my new husband and I came out of the courthouse, we stopped to take pictures on the steps and saw a NYPD traffic cop stop and take our picture with her cell phone. She said we were the most beautiful bride and groom she ever saw!

My fashion advice for other offbeat brides: You didn't settle for your mate, don't settle for anything less than your perfect outfit.

I didn't get my shoes until five days before, but they were perfect and I was so glad I didn't just settle on whatever to check it off the list.

Somewhere, some how, that crazy dress or hat you imagined is out there. Worse case: design it and have it made.

Care to share a few vendor/shopping links?:

Hats, dresses & flowers — Me!

The tea party! — Alice's Tea Cup

The Groom's outfit; Gucci, Prada shoes, Christian Dior shoes, all heavily discounted from Woodbury Premium Outlet, NY

Enough talk — here's all the incredible Big Apple wedding porn:

Comments (27)

On April 8th, 2009 at 1:14 PM
Annie said

I saw these pictures in the Flikr pool and I am in love with your style- You should be so proud! Congrats!

Reply to this comment
On April 8th, 2009 at 1:16 PM
Alex Davies said

Wow I just love those frilly dresses – they are soo cute. Hope you guys had a fab wedding

Reply to this comment
On April 8th, 2009 at 1:45 PM
Miss Jess said

GORGEOUS. Love it all. Great job!

Reply to this comment
On April 8th, 2009 at 2:01 PM
Allison said

OMG !! I have bought stuff from your Etsy store and had no idea you were from Offbeat Bride !! YAY !! Your store is wonderful and I am in love with your wedding pics!!

Reply to this comment
On April 8th, 2009 at 2:22 PM
trev85 said

It looks like you had a great theme for your wedding… and the wedding cake is too cute. Hope it was a great day and guys enjoy many years to come…

TJ

Reply to this comment
On April 8th, 2009 at 2:47 PM
Kelly said

Thank you for all the nice comments! I had such a wonderful day–it was absolutely perfect and I am thrilled to be profiled here!

Reply to this comment
On April 8th, 2009 at 3:56 PM
alison said

your dresses are to die for!! congrats!

Reply to this comment
On April 8th, 2009 at 5:20 PM
Amber said

I absolutly love the maid of honor's dress! What a doll! You guys are so beautiful and I'm sure you stopped traffic. Make up- amazing. Style- beyond amazing! Congratulations and I wish you many vasty years together!

Reply to this comment
On April 8th, 2009 at 5:51 PM
Me said

These dresses are among my favorites on Offbeat Bride. So sassy! Love the pink cake. It's all very fun and stylish.

Reply to this comment
On April 8th, 2009 at 7:36 PM
Ms Constantine said

OMG your dresses are amazing! I love the turqouise and pink best because they're my favourite colours but yours is a perfect twist on the traditional colours!

Reply to this comment
On April 8th, 2009 at 9:55 PM
Mekoro said

a tea party wedding is an absolutely adorable idea!! looks like it was a blast, congrats!

Reply to this comment
On April 9th, 2009 at 7:25 AM
jx said

completely ADORABLE!
well done – and felicitations to the bride, congratulations to the groom!

Reply to this comment
On April 9th, 2009 at 8:45 AM
Tracy said

that has got to be one of the cutest wedding dresses I've ever seen!!! love this wedding!

Reply to this comment
On April 9th, 2009 at 9:31 AM
Dani said

Loved the makeup! I love those photos of you and the MOH with the flowers. Amazing colors, love the dresses too!

Reply to this comment
On April 9th, 2009 at 10:44 AM
Olivia said

Are these Betsey Johnson dresses?! It is adorable! She has the cutest stuff.

Reply to this comment
On April 9th, 2009 at 4:49 PM
Jenn R. said

Such a beautiful wedding. You've really inspired me!

Reply to this comment
On April 10th, 2009 at 1:20 AM
Tanya said

Arent these the Betsey Johnson Tea Party dresses? I've drooled over them at her store…theyre amazing!

Reply to this comment
On April 10th, 2009 at 8:44 AM
Melody said

What a gorgeous wedding! Absolutely fantastic!!

Reply to this comment
On April 10th, 2009 at 9:19 AM
maylea said

I love your frilly dresses! Congratulations on getting married and for the new career path you've found… Best wishes!

Reply to this comment
On April 10th, 2009 at 6:01 PM
Cinzialee said

Very cool wedding!! I thought the dresses was so cute too. I too a bride to be and had a hard time finding non- traditional dress and Im a plus size, so I found a tradtional wedding gown at a yard sale in a style that I liked and is currently fixing it up to fit me and adding my own unique style to the gown. So that way Im reusing and it will be one of a kind as well. Anyways congrats to u and best of luck on ur career path!!

Reply to this comment
On April 12th, 2009 at 3:36 PM
nancy said

the dress, it is so pretty! and i <3 alice's tea cup… i had my baby shower there.

Reply to this comment
On April 12th, 2009 at 8:49 PM
Sarah said

Oh my gosh that is totally my dream wedding! High tea and girly frocks!

Reply to this comment
On April 17th, 2009 at 6:55 AM
Chic 'n cheap said

Congrats! I love the dress! I want something like that for my wedding! Most importantly, you looked like you had a ton of fun!

Reply to this comment
On April 20th, 2009 at 7:53 PM
sue said

you made those dresses? arent those betsey johnson dresses?

Reply to this comment
On May 3rd, 2009 at 6:35 PM
Allie said

I am planning a Tea Party Wedding in June of 2010. Your bridesmaid dresses are a total inspiration for me! Thanks so much!

Ps. Any advice?

Reply to this comment
On May 6th, 2009 at 6:45 PM
Alejandra S. said

My friend and I were at Alice's the day of your party!!! and we couldn't get over how beautiful you and your maid of honor looked!!! Good luck in your marriage adn may you have many beautifully happy years together.

Reply to this comment
On May 15th, 2009 at 1:18 PM
Karen Packard said

Hey kids, Just read my May info from Alice's and thought your wedding was the cutest. My daughter and her family used to live next door to Alice's and then they moved two years ago to Scottsdale and do I miss the
our little tea room next door….have a wonderful life…karen packard

Reply to this comment