Real Weddings: Western US

This is Offbeat Bride's archive of Real Weddings: Western US posts.

Here are some of the most freaky fabulous weddings from the shores of the ~~Best~~ West Coast all the way to the Rocky Mountain states … Offbeat Bride is based on the West Coast, and we definitely love our weird weddings in this part of the world.

Most Recent Posts About Real Weddings: Western US

Photos by Jessica Watson Photography

The offbeat bride: Sarah, drafter and seasonal park ranger

Her offbeat partner: Aaron, construction manager and student

Date and location of wedding: Camp Wilkerson, Rainier, Oregon — September 11, 2011

Our offbeat wedding at a glance: Aaron and I had a three-day campout with lots of family and friends in a forested county park about an hour from Portland. We were thinking something more primitive, like 12 miles into Eagle Cap Wilderness, but we also wanted our families of all ages to be able to attend. So we picked a place accessible by paved roads. And Camp Wilkerson was a great mixture of isolation with amenities!

Take a Catholic family and mix it up with every kind of performer you can imagine, and you'll come up with this wedding. Belly dancing, stilt-walking, singing, dancing, and a sweet little ceremony to boot. Add in a few Star Wars and Monty Python references and you've got the complete package.

These two went head-to-head in the match of their (love) lives. Two opponents, one corner. Who will win: a bride in an epic handmade purple gown or a groom whose mother wins at all roasts? Whiskey-loving gal or Beastie Boys karaoke king? It all comes down to this wedding.

This pair thought about going with a more mainstream wedding, but the fantasy and renaissance geeks inside wouldn't let them abandon their dream renaissance festival wedding. The Texas Ren Fest gave them the opportunity to get garbed, get turkey-legged, and get their renaissance boogie on.

After a little snafu keeping their venue, this pair rocked the beach with their monster movie details, lush dessert buffet, and vows written by the wedding party. Plus, the groom had an additional challenge when removing the garter: the bride's cowboy boot-shaped rain boots!

Below the mountains of Yosemite, two eco-friendly lovers made a wedding. And boy, is it purty! They met and fell in love there, so it only made sense to celebrate there as well. With handmade pinwheels, fabric flowers, and parasols, this DIYed party is worth a look. And the scenery seals the deal.

"We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad." And this couple knows just how to throw a mad tea party on a budget, complete with key motif, Wonderland readings, and hats galore, natch. Plus they accented everything with peacock feathers… and real peacocks came around to steal them back!

An outdoor barbecue with lots of beer and lots of dancing sounds pretty awesome. But add in a surprise officiant (the bride's adorable grandfather!) and you've got some real sweetness going on. Plus, the hot Texas weather took a break just for the day. The stars aligned for this lovely spring theme week wedding.