OBT member Derek Kyle Noel made, yes MADE, these incredible Ouija board save-the-dates for his upcoming Halloween wedding.

For more photos and information about how he made these puppies, head over to his post about them on So You're EnGAYged where Derek also blogs about his upcoming "Gay Boy Halloween Wedding."

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

Photo courtesy of Katherine O'Brien Photography

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" →

Quinn totally gets OBBs because, well, SHE TOTALLY WAS ONE!

I'm pretty excited to tell you about OBT member-turned-Ceremony Officiant, Quinn Russell. After using Offbeat Bride to plan her 2008 wedding, she's now spreading the love by performing one-of-a-kind weddings and commitment ceremonies in the Pacific Northwest.

Quinn is a graduate of the Celebrant Foundation and Institute where she studied ritual and ceremony from many different traditions. So we're talking creative ceremonies that are unique, and speak to exactly who you guys are and what EXACTLY you want to express. She's also a GLBTQ ally and is excited to support all sorts of loving partnerships.

So if you're looking for  a hip-tattooed-minister who can also help you make a beautiful ceremony AND add all the other creative, unique things you want, too… head over to her website and then thank your lucky stars you found a fellow Offbeat Bride to guide you through it all!

The Offbeat Bride: Laura, scientist (and OBT member "2girls4PDX")

Her Offbeat Partner: Gosia, attorney

Location & date of wedding: Shakespeare Garden, Portland International Rose Test Garden, Portland, Oregon — 06.20.09

What made our wedding offbeat: Well, first we’re girlie-dress & makeup-loving gay ladies. We couldn’t agree who had to change her last name, so we played a Name Change Soccer Game the afternoon before the wedding with our guests, and the winner’s team got to pick our new last name. In a total upset, Laura (who is completely unathletic) and her team won, and she scored the winning goal. It served as a great icebreaker for everyone to get to know one another.

Continue reading "Laura & Gosia's Beautiful & Fun, All-Bride, All-Dress Wedding" →

The Offbeat Bride: Kara, Nanny, soon to be grad student and OBT member Kara48.

Her Offbeat Partner: Nicki, Law Student

Location & date of wedding: Log Cabin in Saugatuck, Michigan — March 21, 2009

What made our wedding offbeat: Where to begin? Well, there is the obvious – two brides!

Continue reading "Kara & Nicki's Woodsy Weekend Wedding" →