Barefoot Hobbit-themed wedding
Photos by Jen Montgomery Photography

The submitter: Rin, Office Monarch

Their offbeat partner: Nico, Coffee Monster

Date and location of wedding: Theodore Wirth Pavillion, Minneapolis, MN — October 8, 2016

Our offbeat wedding at a glance:

Long before we got engaged, at the beginning of our relationship, we were talking the hypothetical wedding desires. Nico wanted to get married in jeans, barefoot in the middle of the woods with no one else there but the officiant. When we got engaged I told him that I was only getting married once, and that I wanted to do this right. He asked about doing a Hobbit-themed wedding and I, being the geek that I am, was all for it.

Barefoot Hobbit-themed wedding

Barefoot Hobbit-themed wedding

Barefoot Hobbit-themed wedding

Barefoot Hobbit-themed wedding

Barefoot Hobbit-themed wedding

The Groomsminions were dressed as hobbits and a dwarf, the Bridesminions were elves, and our seven-foot tall officiant was Gandalf. We asked our guests to dress up and they really delivered. A woman who is like my second mom made my gown, and the Offbeat Bride favorite (and friends of ours), KMKDesigns made Nico's outfit.

Barefoot Hobbit-themed wedding

Barefoot Hobbit-themed wedding

Our friends and family helped us in so many ways: flowers, cupcakes, homebrew, artwork, day of coordinators, and set up and tear down. It was touching to look around and see an event that was the work of so many important people.

Barefoot Hobbit-themed wedding

The date was really special to me, not just because it was my wedding but also my grandparent's 67th wedding anniversary, my grandfather passed away a few years ago so we wanted to make sure they were recognized.

Barefoot Hobbit-themed wedding

Barefoot Hobbit-themed wedding

Barefoot Hobbit-themed wedding

Barefoot Hobbit-themed wedding

Barefoot Hobbit-themed wedding

Tell us about the ceremony:

We found a venue in the Minneapolis Park service that could host both an outdoor ceremony and indoor reception. It was beautiful and sunny at the time of our ceremony.

Barefoot Hobbit-themed wedding

Barefoot Hobbit-themed wedding

We had a variety of instrumental music playing from various soundtracks like The Hobbit, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Lord of the Rings greeting our guests as they arrived. Our processional was "Aeon" by Nick Murray. The wedding party walked down a small hiking path into the clearing.

My father passed away when I was thirteen and I wasn't keen on being "given away", and it didn't feel right to walk with anyone else if it couldn't be him. I did, however, make a day-of decision to walk with our dog Tony down the aisle. Nico and I are those dog parents, and Tony is so important to our family, so it felt right.

Barefoot Hobbit-themed wedding

Barefoot Hobbit-themed wedding

Barefoot Hobbit-themed wedding

Our ceremony was short, no more than ten minutes or so. Since most of our relationship has been marked by travel, and new adventures, it was a common theme throughout. We recognized those who had passed on, and our friend Barrett did a touching reading from Fellowship of the Ring about trust. We both wrote our own vows, which very emotional. Nico teared up while saying his, and I barely kept my cool.

Barefoot Hobbit-themed wedding

Barefoot Hobbit-themed wedding

Barefoot Hobbit-themed wedding

Barefoot Hobbit-themed wedding

Tell us about your reception:

We had a few minutes to walk up the hill to the reception before the guests followed. I can't recommend that enough. When I stepped into the venue, I saw the wedding photo of my grandparents and just burst into tears. It was super emotional to feel like my grandfather was there with us. I was so lucky to have my friend Jess right there to set my face to rights.

Barefoot Hobbit-themed wedding

Barefoot Hobbit-themed wedding

We started our reception with notes of gratitude. We thanked all of those who had helped make our wedding, Nico recognized the teachers, and I ended it by raising a toast to my grandparent's for their anniversary.

Barefoot Hobbit-themed wedding

Barefoot Hobbit-themed weddingBarefoot Hobbit-themed wedding

Barefoot Hobbit-themed wedding

Our tables were set with silver dishes that I thrifted, stagecoach lanterns I bought from another bride, lush beds of moss, and fairy lights. I made the bunting that hung around the room. The venue had a wonderful area that worked as a bar, I made up a sign for The Green Dragon (a bar in The Lord of the Rings), and we named beer and wine after references in Tolkien stories. Our cutting cake was a tiny hobbit hole and the cupcakes had white chocolate trees of Gondor.

Barefoot Hobbit-themed wedding

Barefoot Hobbit-themed wedding

What was your most important lesson learned?

Assign someone to hydrate you. I was terrible about drinking water all day and woke up the next day feeling hungover despite drinking very little.

That thing where everyone tells you to take a few minutes with just you and your new spouse after the ceremony? Do it. You're going to be emotional and raw and it's wonderful to have those moments to be vulnerable with each other without people interrupting.

If you’re worried about spending money on things, join local wedding buy/sell groups on Facebook. Married couples are often wanting to sell their wedding decor/clothing after their event. Those lanterns? I got them for several dollars cheaper than I found online.

Barefoot Hobbit-themed wedding

Barefoot Hobbit-themed wedding

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Comments on The Arkenstone of weddings: a barefoot Hobbit-themed wedding

  1. Absolutely gorgeous wedding! I was in Minneapolis that weekend for work, and it was freezing cold! You don’t look the least bit cold in the outdoor images – it looks so lovely!

  2. Everything about this is amazing! I love love love Rin’s dress! Is the officiant on stilts or a platform or is he that much taller than the groom? In any case, I love that photo! Really adds to the hobbitness!

    • The Officiant is 7′ tall and my husband is only 5′

      Thank you so much for your compliments 😀

      • I think the bridesmaid at the far left with the shaved head looks lovely in purple (I guess you would call that color). I love her smile! A very beautiful wedding.

  3. That hair! <3 <3 <3

    I also love the bridesmaids outfits. So cool! Overall this wedding is amazeballs!

  4. Ahhh! This is amazing! I absolutely love your wedding!! Your dress is so lovely. I’m actually planning a Hobbit/LOTR themed wedding as well, and this gives me a lot of inspiration. <3 <3 <3

  5. This wedding was glorious. Everyone and everything looks so beautiful, and the bare feet make it feel very grounded too (which is appropriate for hobbits).

    I’ve always especially loved weddings where the idea is that they are actually taking place in the fantasy world, making it a lived experience rather than decoration.

  6. I have been looking FOREVER for centerpieces that match what’s in my head and your flower-stuffed lanterns are IT homg. THANK YOU. You all look so happy (the photo of your feet! I DIE)! Congratulations!

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