The Offbeat Bride Tribe is different from other wedding communities in that we emphasize positive, constructive communication. Our goal is to de-stressify the wedding planning process and remind our members that they're awesome! To preserve the safe-haven feel of the group, all members are responsible for knowing and following the rules below. The network is actively moderated to remove content and members that don't adhere to these guidelines.
We totally respect that these rules may strike some members as too controlling. There are lots of online wedding communities, and we fully support finding the one that fits with your needs!
OUR VALUES
- Be constructive & proactive: The Offbeat Bride Tribe places a strong emphasis on constructive, positive communication — in general, we're more interested in sharing lessons learned from challenges than we are in commiseration.
- Be respectful & tolerant: The Tribe is for support and encouragement. Be tolerant and respectful of others, especially when their opinions differ. This value also extends outside the community: mocking other brides, other weddings, other wedding planning communities, etc, is not ok. Remember this song.
- Be useful & use the tools: Take the time to familiarize yourself with Tribe's different features (journals, forum categories, groups) and posting in the best place.
More about our values and mission here.
WHAT'S NOT OK HERE?
We have very clear boundaries about what content is a good fit for this community. Breaching any of these rules is grounds for having your membership revoked without warning.
Absolutely no selling or marketing
If you use the Tribe to try to sell anything or market your business, your membership may be revoked. This includes promoting for-profit blogs (i.e., blogs with donation links, advertisements, shops, etc). The one exception to this rule is bride-to-bride selling of used wedding items via our Marketplace (currently unavailable). If you're a member who's also a business owner or vendor in some way, please do not ever mention or link to your work on the Tribe. That said: Tribe members get a deep discount on advertising! Email us for more info.
No soliciting votes or donations
We remove all content related to online contests. Do not post material soliciting people to go vote for you to win a anything, anywhere, ever. This rule also includes soliciting donations — even for when they're for very worthy causes, the Tribe just isn't the place for it.
No weight-loss or negative body image discussions
This is a touchy subject, and without a doubt our most controversial rule: The Tribe is not the place to talk about weight loss, or negative body image issues. Too many wedding communities are overtaken by unhealthy, triggering discussions, and our aim on the Tribe is to promote positive attitudes of self-acceptance.
This isn't to say body talk isn't allowed — just keep it constructive. The Tribe is the place to remind yourself and be reminded that you are awesome! We know this rule has a lot of wiggle room and gray areas--don't hesitate to ask a mod if you have any questions!
No medical or legal advice
For liability reasons we cannot allow members to give legal advice or perform medical diagnoses or give medication/treatment suggestions. We do allow sharing legal information that is publicly accessible online. Any posts that are seen to be dispensing medical or legal advice are NOT done so with the permission of Offbeat Bride, and will be closed and/or removed.
No trolling, high drama, or attention whoring
This community functions on trust and honesty and it goes without saying that embellishments, high drama, or lies are all super disruptive. Any member who we feel uses emotional manipulation or fosters community drama will be suspended.
THE SHITTY DISCLAIMER:
The Tribe is a private community, and we reserve the right to remove any member or content at any time for any reason without warning. All members are considered guests, and membership can be revoked if you chose not to follow the guidelines.
IN CLOSING:
