Category Archive

I was the editor of the now-defunct Offbeat Families, and owner/photographer at Stephanie Kaloi Photography in Portland, OR.
memory alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

A vintage-inspired California farm wedding with jasmine, goats, and a coral dress

Abra and Jeff got hitched at Roshambo Farms, aka sun-drenched barnyard heaven — complete with chickens, turkeys, and goats. In the months leading up to the wedding, the bride’s mother amassed a collection of vintage silk and cotton lace, and Abra’s childhood friend used the pieces to fashion her dusty coral wedding gown. Guests also gifted the couple handwritten blessings (to be opened on the denoted anniversary).

pet name tag alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Honor your pet by wearing their name tag to your wedding

For a lot of people pets are family… so it makes sense that many couples want to include their fave furry sidekick on their wedding day. At their courthouse elopement, Cullie and Chris came up with a subtle way to honor their recently deceased cat: Cullie wore the cat’s collar and name tag on her wrist.

glittery bride alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

A glittery Cambodian-influenced post-elopement wedding party in Philly

Nei and Mike eloped in Las Vegas and then got weddinged three months later. Since Nei hails from Cambodia they each donned wedding wear from the country as a nod to her family’s origins. Nei actually wore two incredible glittery dresses (one red, and one silver) and two tiaras — talk about bling! The couple and their family created nearly every detail, including the bouquets, red paper cranes (they had 500!), and tree branch centerpieces. The pair finished up the night by diving face-first into their three-tiered red wedding cake, which might be one of the fastest ways to eat wedding cake ever.

blue church alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

One part church + one part Laotian ceremony = a seriously awesome wedding day

Anna and Brad had two weddings in one day! They began by getting married in the same church Brad’s parents were wed in, and rounded out the evening with a traditional Laotian ceremony. The festivities included a customized newspaper wedding announcement, a Laotian string ceremony known as baci, and so much delicious-looking food (look at those fruit kebabs!) you could almost taste it through your screen.

black and white bridal photo alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

A love-heavy rainy day wedding in a New York barn

Rebecca and Meeka had to battle downpours throughout their entire wedding day, but even the most torrential rain couldn’t stop them from smiling! The two held their ceremony in a barn decorated with animal skulls and rope, and cleverly used white roses to mark seats intended for family members. After jumping the broom, they moved on to the reception space, where plenty of dancing and toasting followed. If you still want more after looking at the photos, videographers Love Brain Films shared their wedding video right here. Get the tissues out! It’s a good one.

aquarium wedding cake alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Turtles, starfish, and sailboats: a sun-filled aquarium wedding from New Jersey

Ben and Erin hosted their ceremony and reception at New Jersey’s Atlantic City Aquarium. The pair included a ton of darling details like blue and teal striped pinwheels and planting a tree together for their unity ceremony. They also opted to leave several seats intentionally empty during the ceremony, and marked these spots with a handwritten tribute to family and friends who couldn’t be there to celebrate.