Theresa, a PhD student, vegan and rad Australian, posted this short and sweet tutorial about how she made super-kitschy "parental flowers," little giveaways her parent's could take with on their trip back to the states after the wedding. They're just too easy AND adorable not to share. Take it away Theresa! – Offbeat Shrie

We wanted to have something special to give our parents at the wedding, but we didn't want to pay an arm and a leg for flowers from a florist — especially since my parents wouldn't be able to take real flowers home with them to the US.  So we decided to make them ourselves, and all for less than $10.

So, behold our parental flowers, awesome and flippin' cheap!

Continue reading "How to DIY your own floral fascinators and buttonhole flowers" →

The Offbeat Bride: Linda, Writer/Doll Maker

Her offbeat partner: Stephen, Web Designer

Location and date of wedding: Minnamurra Rainforest and Gerringong, NSW Australia — 19/11/09

What made our wedding offbeat: Our wedding was offbeat because we really wanted to focus on making the whole experience fun.

This began with hand drawn 'zine' style invitations by our friend Helen and golden Wonka tickets for our guests.

Our ceremony was held deep in a rainforest under a giant fig tree. We chose the location because I have loved it ever since I was a child. (I used to think fairies lived in the tree!)

Continue reading "Linda & Stephen's fairy tale, tea party wedding" →

Dammit. The Australian Offbeat Brides have all the fun:

Thanks so much to Linda for sharing her photos with us in the Offbeat Bride photo pool. We'll be sharing LOTS more of them and all the magical details with you tomorrow…

The offbeat bride: Lee, Massage Therapist

Her offbeat partner: Glen, Mechanic

Location & date of wedding: Peel Manor House, Karnup, Perth, Western Australia — Saturday 2nd Jan 2010

What made our wedding offbeat: The invites were concert tickets and we tried to keep the theme, cars and songs secret until the day.
We arranged (with friends help) for me to arrive in a blown, big block, '34 (nicknamed ‘Dirty Hore’) hot rod with no exhaust, to ceremony and the bridesmaids arrived in my late father’s car (a white Oldsmobile with red trim).

Continue reading "Lee & Glen's Aussie, Rockabilly/Pinup 1950s love fest" →

Sarah posed this on the Kiwi & Aussie Brides Group on the OBT. It's an issue that we're sure lots of Aussie couples are struggling with, and one that unfortunately impacts couples worldwide. -Megan

I'm an outspoken supporter of GLBTI rights, especially when it comes to marriage equality in Australia. I go to rallies, I write letters to my local member of parliament and I post stuff all over my Facebook. That said, I had a bit of a meltdown a few months ago when discussing my impending marriage — I hold a strong view that marriage should be between two loving people, no matter what their gender or sexual orientation.

I had trouble confirming that I wanted to adhere to and join an insitution that precluded my best friend, and many other people that have been supportive of my relationship with my FH. After speaking with all of them, and confirming that none of them would hate me for going ahead with a marriage, I decided that while I would continue to fight for the rights of my friends, I would also go ahead with my own hetero marriage.

All of that said, my FH and I have just started looking at ceremony structures for the wedding, and have been advised by our celebrant that we must include this in the introduction…

Continue reading "Marriage equality issues with hetero ceremonies in Australia" →