OBT member Jessica was Googling flowers the other day and discovered this totally awesome bouquet alternative:

It's from Zoony Balloons and it's called "the Zoony Bouquet." And as Jessica noted, "how cute would this be for a carnival or circus themed wedding!?!"

Well, lemme answer that question Jessica… Very. That's how cute this would be.

We've featured tons of non-floral bouquet alternatives, but here's one alternative I think we'll be seeing more of in the future: Rachael's bridesmaids carried red glass lanterns instead bouquets … and the result was stunning…

Rachel had a TON of a great details at her red & black wedding. Check out all the photos here, and be expecting a full profile in the near future! Oh, and if you're inspired by the lantern idea, you can find a few here.

How's this for the ultimate bouquet alternative for a vintage-loving bride? This bouquet, made by Studio del Fiore in Portland, OR, is crafted from roughly 75 vintage brooches, earrings, and rings. As portlandneatsheet.com notes, this is "a sweet way to incorporate meaningful family gems and jewels into your wedding day." Lots more information over here, and special thanks to *tara for sending this in!

The Offbeat Bride:
Tiffany, Librarian
(and OBT member "TippyLooHoo")

Her Offbeat Partner:
Brandon, Electrician

Location & date of wedding:
Friday the 13th, March 2009
Kilworth Memorial Chapel in Tacoma, WA & BPIC in Browns Point, WA.

What made our wedding offbeat: One of the biggest things that made our wedding offbeat was that it was on a Friday the 13th. And our colors reflected that: orange, black, purple, and white. We tried to do everything as cheap as possible. I bought most of our decorations, supplies, etc. on Ebay. We decorated everything ourselves. I made my very own nearly flowerless bouquet. We didn't use tradition music for the ceremony. Oh, and all of my bridesmaids were men.

Continue reading "Tiffany & Brandon's Orange Friday the 13th family blending" →

Allow me to introduce you to The Red Ruby Rose, a collection of unique handmade clutches made in Bristol, England by artist and illustrator Rowena Dugdale.

These amazing clutches come are made from an eclectic mix of contemporary and vintage fabrics that seem custom catered to Offbeat needs — check out the full range of peacock designs! Some of them are so brilliantly colored and gorgeous that I could see a courthouse bride using one instead of a bouquet. Imagine this being held by a bride in a tea length dress, wearing sharp little red gloves:

Rowena credits a mix of influences, from vintage ephemera and moody blooms to noir silhouettes and ethereal patterns. The Red Ruby Rose has a whole line of bags crafted with custom fabrics inspired by Rowena's illustrations and photography. Then there's the luxury line of silk bags that are making me swoony.

To check out a few of my very favorites from of The Ruby Red Rose's collection, keep reading. And imagine these in the hot little hands of your bridesmaids or, heck, YOURSELF!

Continue reading "Fall into Red Ruby Rose's clutches" →