We teased this bride's technicolor gradient dress last week, and now we've got the whole vibrant story!

In front of some urban decay
Photos by Lydia Maybee

The Offbeat Bride: Laura, Visual Artist/Art Teacher (and Tribesmaid)

Her offbeat partner: David, Executive

Date and location of wedding: Burchfield Penny Art Center and Hotel Lafayette, Buffalo, NY — September 28, 2013

Our offbeat wedding at a glance: We wanted everything to reflect our personalities and our story. From that we chose the invites, Domo-Kun cake topper, and the zombies, LEGO crayons, and caramels in the favors. I DIYed the hanging garland, the feather headpieces, peacock clutch purses, groom's attendants ties, and the invitations, and David drew the chalkboard signs.

The bouquets

Allentown mural

I chose a custom-made gown by Ali Eagen at her shop, Anatomy. I took her a very ambitious sketch, and from the beginning she was on board. I hand-dyed all the fabric for the dress which was made with 21 different colors. David wore a custom-made suit in black with a purple pinstripe.

The cake

fascinator

Tell us about the ceremony:
We wrote our own vows separately, aiming for funny, personal, and meaningful. We had an amazing musician playing acoustic guitar, Doug Yeomans, who learned five songs for us. The families and David's attendants entered to “Across the Universe.” My attendants and I entered to “This Will Be Our Year” by The Zombies.

In the middle of the ceremony, Doug played “Grow Old with You” by Adam Sandler. It took a few seconds for the guests to realize what was playing, and then there was a round of laughter. We exited to “You and Me Song” by The Wannadies.

German wedding toast

We did a German Unity ritual using a Nuremberg wedding cup. David's mother brought the cup back from the German town she grew up in. It involves drinking from the same cup at the same time.

Our vows included promising to tolerate a love of obscure Canadian radio shows, cook elaborate weekend breakfasts, do the dishes, and to make good stories to laugh about when we are old.

My uncles did this reading of quotes:

“For small creatures such as we, the vastness is bearable only through love.” – Carl Sagan
“Love is like Pi: natural, irrational, and very important.” – Lisa Hoffman
“I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.” – Vincent Van Gogh
“A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.” – Mignon McLaughlin
“All our young lives we search for someone to love. Someone who makes us complete. We choose partners and change partners. We dance to a song of heartbreak and hope. All the while wondering if somewhere, somehow, there's someone perfect who might be searching for us.” – The Wonder Years
“If you can't run, you walk. If you can't walk, you crawl. If you can't crawl, you find someone to carry you.” – Firefly
“Art and love are the same thing: It's the process of seeing yourself in things that are not you.” – Chuck Klosterman
“Oh my god, don't ever die. I have so much more to tell you, and I'm not interested in telling it to anyone else. ‘Cause I am nothing more or less than what I see in your eyes when you look at me. Do you know how long I waited for you? You have given me a life so big and full and good… and fun! I don't even know what we do, really, besides clean up and complain and wish we were sleeping, but with you, somehow its fun.” – Mad About You
“Falling in love is a completely transcendent experience. It's like eating pizza-flavored ice cream. Your brain can't even process that level of joy.” – Mike Birbiglia
“At that very moment, time stopped, as it was wont to do when present, past and future collide; when one's existence ceases to be measured in days, hours and minutes, but instead in immeasurable quantity of life events.” – Pushing Daisies
“And in this moment, I swear… we are infinite.” – Perks of Being a Wallflower

Sneaking in to the reception

Reception room

The Guestbook

First Dance 2

Dancing

My favorite moment:
We chose to ride together alone to the ceremony just to have a few minutes to talk and let it all sink in. It was a great way to reflect on everything without editing. Also, '57 Chevy Bel-Air seats are springier than you might expect!

Out in front of the Burchfield

Cutting the Cake

Cheers

Post toast

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Comments on Laura & David’s color-filled art gallery wedding

  1. I love this wedding so much I just want to hug it and squeeze it and call it George. <3 Beautiful!

    • Anyone who knows Laura and saw her grow up was sure to expect the unexpected. She is a marvelous, confident, talented, beautiful girl. And David is a prince.

    • Green Lake Jewelry out of Seattle made my wedding and engagement ring. It was a custom job, and they are really great to work with.

  2. “Also, ’57 Chevy Bel-Air seats are springier than you might expect!”

    LMAO!

  3. That wedding dress is beautiful on it’s own, but it’s the bride that makes it stunning – it looks INCREDIBLE on you!

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