As promised, here is the full scoop on the black and white damask wedding as previously seen in the Jessica McClintock wedding trend post.

The offbeat bride: Amber, Punk Baby Bedding Designer

Her offbeat partner: ZaQ, Store Manager of Guitar Center

Location & date of wedding: Grandmas Backyard in LaMoille, IL — July 18th, 2009

What made our wedding offbeat: To start, we're very non-traditional and do everything ass-backwards. We have two toddlers, eleven months apart… THEN decided hey, we still like each other three years later, we should totally get married So we did!

Continue reading "Amber & ZaQ's Punk Rock Trashy Classy DIY Damask Wedding" →

Well, it's official: Offbeat Mama is fresh out the womb! Just like Offbeat Bride, Offbeat Mama will be packed five days a week with features, photos, and shopping for women who are doing things their own way … only this time it's families instead of weddings.

I realize that many of y'all aren't into the family planning phase — but if you have ladyfriends or family who are, won't you share Offbeat Mama with them?

And, just as I know there are folks who read Offbeat Bride who aren't planning weddings, I hope that Offbeat Mama's FUCK YEAH, FAMILY! stance will still be interesting to those who aren't at the kid phase yet. For instance:

• Did you know that goth russian couple I featured a while back had a baby, and she's about the cutest thing EVAR?
• Ever wondered what's it like to birth a baby you're giving up for open adoption?
• Who knew there was such a thing as steampunk baby booties?
• Are you a second generation weirdo? Read one woman's ode to her offbeat mama.

Oh, and that's just the beginning. Go check out Offbeat Mama, and please oh please let me know what you think!

The offbeat bride: Emily, Geologist & General Rock Geek

Her offbeat partner: Dave, Environmental Consultant

Location & date of wedding: The deck of my parent's cottage in central Alberta, Canada on June 5th, 2009

What made our wedding offbeat: We both really wanted to have a party with all of our family and friends. The actual ceremony lasted less then 10 minutes, but the party lasted for three days.

Continue reading "Emily & Dave's Rainy Cabin Potluck Wedding" →

"How to plan a wedding from afar: part 2"… GO!!! Here are even more tips and tricks to planning a wedding from a location far far away (and not freaking out in the process)! If you missed it last week, here's Part 1!

3) Venue!
Your venue should be among the first things you consider. Planning our Texas wedding from Seattle definitely had it's challenges venue-wise. I had to be dogged about internet research and on the ball with my organizational tools (see "Tools!" section) in order to keep my sanity. I did have to fly to Texas for the venue search, but before I left I scoured the Internet, contacted venues (including rock clubs, outdoor gardens, parks, theatres, sports stadiums, museums, private farms etc.) and started a spreadsheet with possible options broken down into categories.

Because I was only going to be viewing the venues once before choosing the right one, it was imperative to start a list of questions about each venue: capacity, rehearsal times, cleanup rules, parking situation, decorating stipulations, extra costs, kitchen availability…

Continue reading "How to plan a wedding from afar: part 2 (by Shrie)" →

I'm by no means a wedding planner. I had never even planned a large event before I got engaged… but in planning our wedding from over 2,000 miles away I found that there ain't jack shit for resources on this topic.

So here it is, "Shrie's Humble Guide to Planning A Wedding from Afar: Or How to Get Hitched Without Pulling Your Hair Out." I hope my teeny tidbits of advice will help at least one crazed, "I don't know where to start!" bride-to-be looking for a little relief.

Getting married and putting the whole shebang together can be awesome fun. Getting married and putting the whole shebang together at a location 2,100 miles away from where you live can be awesome fun AND a little stressful. Lucky for you, I've been through all that and will graciously divulge all my time-saving, stress-free secrets…

Continue reading "How to plan a wedding from afar: part I (by Shrie)" →