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Author of three editions of the Offbeat Bride book and its sequel (From Shitshow To Afterglow, the ultimate offbeat breakup book) Ariel Meadow Stallings is the publisher of all the Offbeat Empire web properties. She lives in Seattle with her son. To read her latest writing, follow @arielist on Medium.
hello kitty rainbow heel multi 1 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Kick it with these colorful alternative wedding shoes

Here at Offbeat Wed, we have been talking about alternative weddings shoes for nontraditional folks LITERALLY FOR DECADES. I’ve been rounding up super bold unique bridal shoes since 2007, and as I’ve gotten older, my taste has only gotten weirder. Today, I’m going to share some of my favorite nontraditional shoes for 2022.

inclusive marketing for wedding vendors on offbeat wed alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Inclusive marketing for wedding vendors ready to be AWESOME

It’s 2023, and we like to think that wedding vendors know better than to assume that all folks getting married are straight, right? But when it comes to inclusive marketing for wedding vendors, remembering that some folks are LGBTQ is just the beginning…

Piñatas, tacos, & cascarones at this Mexican-inspired DIY wedding in Chicago

ATTN: Other people’s cultures are NOT your wedding theme

A letter from a reader: “I’m soooooo excited about you featuring Latino/x weddings for Hispanic Heritage Month — just PLEASE be mindful, respectful, and recognize that culture, customs, rituals, even religions are not a wedding theme.” Where’s the line between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation with weddings?

A horse ranch wedding with a horseback ceremony and DIY for days

That “Apache wedding blessing” isn’t Native American at all

That well-known “Apache wedding blessing” reading has nothing to do with Native American culture in any way shape or form, other than that it’s something that a white dude imagined Native Americans might possibly say. So I wrote a new one.

offbeat bride third edition by ariel meadow stallings alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

The 3rd edition of Offbeat Bride: What it’s like to STILL be talking about your wedding 15 years later

What’s it like editing a book about your wedding 15 years after the fact? It’s humbling. It’s embarrassing. It makes you realize how much you’ve changed, and it makes you deeply profoundly grateful for the ride.

Advice for the Bride box as seen on Offbeat Bride

Unsolicited wedding advice: How to create a win/win situation

I recently read an article addressing the psychology behind unsolicited advice. The article focused on a research paper titled “Advice Giving: A Subtle Pathway to Power,” which confirms what most of us have likely suspected: unsolicited advice more for the benefit of the adviser than the advisee. So how can you work with this to make unsolicited advice less irritating, and more helpful?