Dan Savage recently blogged about Engagement 101, a creepy wedding industrial complex rag that features coverlines like "The hottest celebrity ring trends." The best one reads "Have you found THE ONE? How can you tell?"

Dan actually went to far as to scan the terrible quiz you can take to find out if you've found "THE ONE." (Crucial clue: what he gets you for your birthday!) It's awful and amusing.

The offbeat bride: Tracy Ducasse, Registered Nurse (and Offbeat Bride lab rat!)

My offbeat groom: Thomas Ducasse, Oil Burner Technician

Location & date of wedding: In my grandparent's backyard in Oakham, MA … in 1987!

What made our wedding offbeat: We got married outside, no religious affiliations. Our ceremony was in front of the huge birch tree, at my grandparents house, and had our pictures taken by friends and family — no photographers, except amateur ones. We paid for the wedding ourselves. My girlfriend made my wedding bouquet, and gave it to me as a gift. This year marks our 20th anniversary, so it seem frugal is the way to go for a lasting marriage.

Continue reading "Tracy Ducasse's bee-friendly backyard nuptials" →

According to this photo, my next book should clearly be called "Offbeat Handjob."

Thanks to everyone who came out this weekend, both in Brooklyn as well as DC! There are lots of Brooklyn pictures over here and here, and shots of the first meeting of the DC offbeat wedding co-op will be forthcoming. I'm fascinated by the idea of organized wedding co-ops, and it was awesome to get to witness the birth of one in an Arlington living room last night.

(Thanks to LW Lens for the photo!)

Several people have asked me about the outfits Andreas and I wore at our wedding, and while I go into detail about them in the book, I must take a minute to call-out one of the indie designers we worked with — Chaya Branley, who works under the fabulous name of DaintyCore. Chaya worked on everything that Andreas and I wore, with the exceptions of my bustier and ribbon veil.

Chaya does all sorts of awesome work, but you must check out this wedding dress she made a few years ago. I think "dress" is almost an insult — it's almost more a contraption, with all the delicious grommets and ribbons and laces and layers. When I saw the series, I was like "YOU! WOMAN! CLOTHE ME!"

The only sad part of this story? Chaya isn't actively taking clients at this point — if you're inspired by her fashions, you could try begging. Or just drooling over and over again at this gallery.

The offbeat bride: Kate Davies, Barmaid

My offbeat groom: Lee Davies, Delivery Driver

Location & date of wedding: September 3rd, 2005 in Ammanford, South Wales

What made our wedding offbeat: After 10 years together, we decided to throw a big fat funky retro wedding. We had a tight budget so I made everything: invitations, wedding cake, favors, order of service, seven bridesmaid dresses — not to mention my own dress. And I did it all in keeping with our pink and green theme.

Continue reading "Kate Davies takes DIY to a whole new level" →

Thanks to the fabulous Katie Toft, I finally was able to get my segment from Northwest Afternoon onto YouTube for all the world to see. Here's me trying to explain the wackiness of hula hoops and rave music to a daytime television audience. I wore a black blazer to try to help my credibility, but I guess the braids still gave me away…

This spot aired on January 29, 2007 on KOMO 4, Seattle's local ABC affiliate.