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

We've met Erin's cowboy-shaped rain boots and crinoline (and Tadd's ankles!) a while back. Here's the rest of the story!

Photos by Jessica Watson Photography

The offbeat bride: Erin, Program Supervisor

Her offbeat partner: Tadd, Freelance Narrative Artist and Illustrator

Date and location of wedding: Beachfront vacation rental in Yachats, OR — August 22, 2011

Our offbeat wedding at a glance: Tadd and I were married on our eighth anniversary, and we had spent several years discussing what we wanted for our wedding. Outdoors? Check. Water involved somehow? Check. Small? Check. BBQ? Check. But most importantly, we wanted a wedding that encompassed us. And for those who know us, we're weird. We may seem outwardly normal, but we're just trying to fool you.

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.

A diverse group of friends and family deserves diverse activities like fire spinning, hula hooping, live music, and of course… streaking. Wait, what? This couple had their ceremony kicked off in a seriously funny way. With their trusty pooch in tow, zoot suit-clad groom, surprise group blessing, and all the elements at their disposal, this was an outdoor wedding to remember.

Bex and Cort planned a fab outdoor ceremony complete with lots of traditional and alternative takes on Jewish traditions, and were both fashion plates on top of it. Lots of laughter (including dad's "presentation" speech and mad emcee skills) and lots of personalization made this day all theirs.

In an effort to combine their love of the East Coast, local West Coast food and drink, and their mutual multicultural backgrounds, this pair ended up with a conch shells, awesome beer from Philly, heaps of awesome DIY, and of course, the totally impressive backdrop of redwoods.

After a wedding (or two) under their belt, it was time to make this one their own: Vikings, a fiery red dress, belly dancing performers (who dragged everyone up to dance!), and a processional song written by the groom. Join us (and Geoff Peterson) in reading about this backyard shindig.