Category Archive

Alternative Wedding Ceremony Ideas & Examples

We’ve got SO much wedding ceremony advice like how to officiate a wedding, tons of wedding ceremony readings, a bazillion wedding ceremony scripts, and even wedding vow examples! We’ve also got info about handfasting and other unity ceremonies. You’ll want to start here: Wedding Ceremony 101.

hiring a wedding string quartet alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Hum a few bars, pay cash, and make room for the bows: The “do’s and don’ts” of hiring a string quartet

Last time we got insider-info from a wedding musician we talked all about the music. Now let’s talk about how to hire and treat the musicians with this great advice from a Tribesmaid and cellist.

image alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

We already had a big wedding, now how do we celebrate getting legalled?

So here’s the thing: my wife and I had our wedding already, as we never knew when, if ever, Prop 8 would be repealed. Thankfully it did! We can now legally get married. How can we have a “part two,” without it being as big as the first and having everyone ask so many questions? Any ideas on how to pull that off? Is anyone else in the same position as we are in now?

startrekofficiant alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

When Trekkies Wed: a Star Trek-themed ceremony, vows, and officiant dressed as Q

Seattle-based officiant Elaine Way was contacted by our Trekkie couple of the day (John and Becky) and asked if she would dress in full character for their ceremony. The character they had in mind was none other than Q, aka the bossy enlightened know-it-all from Next Generation. Since Becky and John are full-blown Trekkies, we also have the entire ceremony AND a wedding video!

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Show that you can weather life’s storms together under a ceremonial umbrella

We ended our ceremony with an Indonesian wedding tradition, since that is where we met and is also the birthplace of my father. We sat under an umbrella while our celebrant showered us in a mixture of goodness. This included turmeric rice, to symbolize prosperity and everlasting love; coins, to remind us to share our wealth with the less fortunate; and candy, to represent sweetness throughout our marriage.

steampunk groomsmen alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Betsy & Seth’s unexpectedly steampunk DIYed handfasting

Put on your goggles and your neo-Victorian gear, because this is STEAMPUNK WEEK! Today we’ve got an unexpectedly steampunk wedding with pumpkin wine chillers, kilts, and a fabulous handfasting. Oh, and their favorite moment is one of those that will totally make you say “awww.”

Screen Shot 2013 09 24 at 2.06.12 PM alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

This children’s picture book about friendship is a surprisingly great ceremony reading

I knew I wanted a reading included in our ceremony. Nothing too long. Nothing too sappy. Nothing too clichéd. And I wanted to find something that would allow my two oldest and dearest friends to participate in our ceremony. Then I remembered a children’s picture book that I loved as a kid. The book is called Rosie and Michael by Judith Viorst. I was thrilled to discover IT’S PERFECT!