A few days ago I got asked a question via Twitter about about some suggestions for good alternatives to the first dance. Offbeat Bride has broached the topic of dance-free wedding receptions before, but what if you like to dance, but you just don't want to have to be the ONLY ONES dancing? Or, maybe you love being the only ones under the spotlight, but dancing isn't exactly your thing, what are your other options?

First Song 
We've seen many variations on this idea — there's been first songs, first karaoke, musically inclined couples have even put a band together in order to perform at their wedding. I've been to a wedding where only the bride was a musician, and she performed a song that she wrote for groom instead of them both doing the first dance.

First Drink
Instead of mixing your unity cocktail during the ceremony, save it for the reception in leu of a first dance!

Kicking off your reception with a first drink is quick and painless and does double duty for shy brides & grooms as it can help to calm nerves and will probably help put you in the mood to dance later on… with everyone else, of course.

Continue reading "7 First Dance Alternatives for Dance-shy Couples" →

The Offbeat Bride: Sacha – English Instructor & Musician

Her Offbeat Partner: Christopher – Librarian & Musician

Location & date of wedding: In a garden and Florida Room in Winter Park, FL — June 19, 2009

What made our wedding offbeat: We had to get married outside, even though it was Florida… in June… during hurricane season. We grew up in South Florida and spent a lot of time fishing and birdwatching together, so on our wedding day, we wanted to be surrounded by the scrappy Florida foliage we both love. After two weeks of storms, the rain let up, and we got our sunny wedding day wish.

Continue reading "Sacha & Christopher's Alcohol-Free Garden Party Wedding" →

The Offbeat Bride: Sara, Educational Consultant and Obsessive Blogger

Her Offbeat Partner: Matt, Director of Sharing for a network of charter schools

Location & date of wedding: Sunshine Mountain Lodge in the mountains of Colorado — July 19, 2008

What made our wedding offbeat:We started the wedding planning process by declaring a strict and modest budget: $2,000 to be exact. We wanted our wedding to be about sincerity, authenticity, connection, and a celebration and proclamation of love and commitment. We didn’t want it to be about monogrammed napkins and excessive amounts of fondant. In all honesty, we didn’t want to let our wedding overshadow our relationship (and we needed to save money for the house we planned to buy four days after our wedding).

Continue reading "Sara & Matt's Summer Camp Wedding" →

Y'all remember Whitney Lee, Offbeat Bride's favorite Austin wedding photographer? Well, she's back again with more wedding porn, this time from Stephanie & Kevin's recent wedding.

Stephanie says: I guess the main thing that made our wedding offbeat was that we tried to do things because we liked them or because they were important to us, rather than doing things because they're just always done at weddings.

We had a "First Rock Band" rather than a first dance. This was because we love Rock Band and we do not love to dance. It's definitely one of my best memories of the night; my husband on guitar, me on the drums, and all our friends and family surrounding us and belting out "Living on a Prayer." Exuberance all around. It was awesome.

Continue reading "Whitney Lee Photography brings you Stephanie & Kevin's wedding" →

What was I just saying about bar weddings? Here's another one!

The offbeat bride: Baxter – writer (and OBT member!)

Her offbeat partner: Chris – Buyer at Amazon.com

Location & date of wedding: Discovery Park and Sunset Tavern – Seattle, WA (06-07-08) [Editor's note: Sunset Tavern, previously seen on OBB.com]

What made our wedding offbeat: Our ceremony was a short and sweet number is Discovery Park, overlooking the Sound with only family and a few friends in attendance. I wore a red corset top and a black skirt. He grew out his chops and wore a custom vest to go with his black pinstripe suit. A friend played "The Air That I Breathe" on acoustic guitar. Another friend officiated. We wrote our own vows which were basically love letters to each other, posed for some pictures and then it was on to the real party!

Continue reading "Chris & Baxter's Old-Timey Gothic Karaoke Wedding" →