Those who’ve read my book (which should be all of you *cough cough*) will notice that this wedding sounds awfully familiar. Elisa and I grew up together on Bainbridge Island, and our weddings had a lot in common! I’ve mentioned her wedding before, but here’s the full profile…

The offbeat bride: Elisa, Therapist

Her offbeat groom: Eric, Electrician

Location & date of wedding: My mom’s backyard in a clearing surrounded by Cedar trees on Bainbridge Island.

What made our wedding offbeat: We decided to go low key, fun and DIY! We had a backyard ceremony and I wore the same dress that my grandma and great-grandma wore. It was so special, I’m really glad I did! After the ceremony I changed dresses so I wouldn’t trash the antique one and we danced and hung out all night. I made many of the things for the wedding to keep it cheap and cute, with everything being our colors of bright orange, pink, red, and fushia.

Read the rest of this entry »

This picture is from the wedding that got away. This summer a high school friend of mine was getting married on Bainbridge Island (our hometown), and I was super excited because it sounded like my kinda party (family property, camping, diy — aka a lot like my wedding!). Sadly, I was recovering from surgery and missed it. Tragic. TRAGIC! I cried.

And now the pictures are starting to pour in from the photographer and I’m even more heartbroken. Look at the awesome ’70s vintage feel to Elisa & Eric’s photos from photographer Courtney Brooke. Gorgeousness. I’m not sure if all these photos make up for missing the wedding or make it even worse.

(Also, I’ve begged Elisa to fill out a bride profile, so hopefully we’ll hear more about the wedding at some point.)

(Thanks to calico courtney brooke for the photo!)

The offbeat bride: Katie / corporate whore (currently looking for something more fulfilling, like talking to plants)

My offbeat groom: Lindsay / sporting goods

Location & date of wedding: Mom and stepdad’s yard on the Tulalip Indian reservation by Marysville, WA

What made our wedding offbeat: I think two things really set the tone for our offbeat wedding: 1.) Save the date magnets with ketchup and mustard bottles holding hands and smiling with, “some things just go together! Please save the date for our wedding” and 2.) A quote by Thornton Wilder on our (very lovely) invitations: “my advice to you, is not to inquire why or whither, but just enjoy your ice cream while it is on your plate.”

Read the rest of this entry »

The offbeat bride: Ginevra, Six Apart-er

My offbeat groom: Alex, dj/student/tutor

Location & date of wedding: May 28, 2007 in a backyard … in Paia, Maui

What made our wedding offbeat: We wanted to have a small wedding that reflected not just who we were as people and as a couple, but how much our family and friends meant to us by dragging them halfway across the world.

We decided on Hawaii because we both grew up in DC, lived in San Francisco for a long time, and have settled in Boston — there was no way everyone wasn’t going to have to travel someplace, so why not to paradise?

Plus, being a destination wedding kept what I call Drunk Aunt Edna incidents to a minimum. Everyone who attended was someone we wanted to be there.

Read the rest of this entry »

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

To get away with the budget we’ve set our for ourselves, private property is a must for our location. This means Honey Buckets for everyone. If we go that route, how do we tactfully let guests know that’s the deal? -Jennifer Ernst

Porta potties have gotten a bad rap at music festivals and campgrounds. Typically, the blue-water nightmares at crowded outdoor events are poorly maintained and abused by drunks, and you’re more likely to find a turd on the toilet seat than you are a roll of toilet paper. But have you ever been in a freshly-delivered porta potty? They’re actually just fine! Clean, unsmelly, and totally inoffensive. If you get porta potties for the property where you’re hosting your wedding, you’ll see that they aren’t as bad as you thought. But porta potties are secretly hilarious to everyone, and your goal is to make the most of that.

Read the rest of this entry »

The offbeat bride: Phyllis Fletcher, radio journalist (and Offbeat Bride lab rat!)

Her offbeat groom: Josh Knisely

Location & date of wedding: A friend’s backyard in Seattle, WA; September 2005

What made our wedding offbeat: We fed people before and after the ceremony — something that’s not offbeat if you’re Jewish! We aren’t, but we like the tradition of food first. So we borrowed it. Otherwise, our wedding was offbeat mainly because of things we *didn’t* do. No: aisle-walking, bridesmaids, wedding colors, printed program, ceremonial music, or poetry. No “now is when we dance” dancing; no assigned seating, cake-cutting, bouquet-tossing, party favors, or choreographed exit. What’s left, then? Everything else you have at a party! With a short and heartfelt civil ceremony between the appetizers and the barbecue.

Read the rest of this entry »