This is not exactly going to be a "omg, yay ideals!" kind of post. Nay, not this one. This, friends, is my personal story of how I was not able to calmly stick to my convictions. My story of how I let my mom take something and run with it. My tale of how I basically threw a tantrum like a frustrated toddler… and, my reflection of what I learned from it.

Tribe member Deloreangrrl's groom and his friend made this save-the-date comic strip from an old Batman comic for their Alice in Wonderland-themed wedding. And these were emailed to save on postage and to be kind to the earth. This, among many other excellent photos of boots, kilts, flasks, dresses, awesome ink, and a circus tent piñata, came from our reader submissions. I love it when the Tribe, the Offbeat Flickr Pool, and the Offbeat Bride Pinterest account come though for us with this kind of eye candy.

Add a vintage flavor to your wedding bevvies with paper straws Steal this idea »

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.

We don't normally cover current events, but I can't help but be all tickled by the news trickling out from Mark Zuckerberg & Priscilla Chan's totally nontraditional wedding yesterday. A few distinctly offbeat details…

The moment I found out about Phoenix wedding photographer Mike Olbinski's unique hobby, I thought now THIS is a photographer for Offbeat Brides! So if you're looking for a wedding photographer who welcomes all wedding adventures AND captures stunning photos, then Mike Olbinski is the perfect match for you.

Keep reading to check out more gorgeous photos, including ones taken from both above and below the ground!

Some of you who've been around for a while might remember my "Your favorite shoe" posts. Here's how they work: when you buy shoes from one of my shoe posts, I can see what you buy. No, not you SPECIFICALLY, but y'all in general. I don't know who buys what, but by looking through my records, I can see which shoes y'all love the most.

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.