Real Weddings | Offbeat Bride

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Photos by Craig Volpe

The offbeat bride: Amy, Music Teacher

Her offbeat partner: Jess, Video Game Designer

Date and location of wedding: McMenamins Cornelius Pass, Hillsboro, Oregon — August 6, 2011

Our offbeat wedding at a glance: We raced each other in a Rubik's Cube competition in lieu of a first dance. It's something we regularly do at home, so it fit us much better than dancing, which we'd done maybe twice in our four years of dating. We tricked the guests, too. My sister/maid of honor/emcee called us down to the dance floor, and we assumed the dancing position while she started the music ("Anyone Else But You" by The Moldy Peaches). The music was our cue to reach over and grab two Rubik's Cubes from our friends at the nearest table, who had previously been assigned the task of messing them up. Despite the fact that I'd been the one who taught Jess how to solve a cube when we first met, he won the competition. We gave Rubik's Cubes as wedding favors too, and it was fun watching our guests play with them during the reception.

This couple had a 2013 wedding date, but after nine years of dating, they said to hell with waiting, let's get hitched! Three months later they had booked a cool vintage-style restaurant and their nearest and dearest watched them get married in a most excellent retro rock 'n' roll fashion. They may not have remembered to get themselves fed on the day, but they did not forget to bring the style!

A very cool Texas guest book, a Bender card box, towers full of homemade cupcakes (and zombie cupcakes!) , and all the ladies wearing cowboy boots: it's a feast for the eyes! Plus, they shared not only a first dance, but THE very first dance ever together. And if all that isn't enough, there's a cute pooch wearing a bow tie. You're hooked now.

The groom comes from a big wedding-loving Assyrian family, the bride wants to elope discreetly. Sometimes an Old Hollywood vibe is the draw that brings a reluctant bride around. Have some classic movie place cards, lots of feathers, some glowing and happy parents, and Old Hollywood glamour and everyone will go home happy. Plus they had some really sweet audience involvement during the ceremony.

A fabulous red renaissance dress, kilts all around, a squee-worthy mushroom cake, and a dragon ring bearer — it can only mean the cutest little wedding in the round you ever did see. And if you're unsure of how to include your guests in the ceremony, you'll want to see how this bride created her bouquet! Oh, and watch out for surprise flying birdseed.

I think if I were to hire a bride to make my own DIY details, this would be the one. She made awesome paper flowers and a rolled magazine page card box, but the most amazing contributions were the FABULOUS bridesmaid dresses and homemade cake — all of which look professional. This bride and her helpers have major talent. On top of it all, this pair is so damned cute that I will call them Squishies and they will be my Squishies.

This wedding packs a visual punch with a gorgeous cathedral in Scotland, awesome kilts, and most amazing sunny day for the UK. The handmade dress (made by the bride's mother!) is a testament to craftsmanship. Oh, and the gorgeous art deco-inspired cake, and unexpected wedding crashers are worth a look too!

Retro dresses, victory rolls, in-ceremony Facebook updates, a pre-ceremony cocktail party, lots of polka-dots, and an impromptu feat of strength on the dance floor: it's a retro wedding for everyone!