Category Archive

handfasting

Handfasting is a lovely tradition to include in your unique wedding ceremony. Get inspiration from other couples who’ve “tied the knot” and then learn how to make your own handfasting cords. You may also be interested in our archive of Pagan weddings.

green wedding dress camping wedding Broken Glass Photography21 e1697163240461 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

This bride wore a green wedding dress to her vow renewal after a disastrous camping wedding

We had what ended up being a disaster of a camping wedding. So we resolved to do it again someday. That day was our 10 year anniversary. For round two of the camping wedding, we rented out a campsite and I wore a green wedding dress to fit our fey (fairy) theme.

joel cameron maya lovro pittsburgh 22 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

These beautiful nerds had Poké Ball and d20 ring boxes

Cameron and Joel’s day was a magical, whimsical celebration of their love in a botanical garden, with tarot readings, cats, colorful inclusivity, and big beautiful nerdy love: their ring boxes were a Poké Ball and a d20!

nobo and jo best crossover ever 27 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

This costume wedding is full of nerds and joy

We met on the battlefield at a LARP (Live Action Role Play) event. So we knew we were going to do something strange when we got to planning our wedding. Our inspiration was a fantastical nexus of realms – where royalty, rogues, mages, merfolk, extraterrestrial beings gathered to witness the joining of our kingdoms.

Kiowa Irish punk handfasting wedding 33 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

The vows from this Native American / Irish handfasting wedding will make you cry

We wanted to celebrate both of our families — Irish/Scottish on my side, Kiowa on his — so our ceremony was a handfasting wedding, held on Mark’s family’s allotment land. One of the things that tie both our families and cultures together is a love of horses, so including “wedding horses” felt perfect to us.

witchy halloween handfasting script alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Our Halloween handfasting ceremony script complete with readings

The wedding officiant at our witchy Halloween handfasting was one of our close mutual friends. The Halloween handfasting ceremony script he read from was composed of our personal wants, Pagan influence, and research on nontraditional vows from other offbeat weddings.

Middle Earth Wedding Hobbit Photos by Johnny Darwish Daniel Michael13 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Lord of the Rings wedding ceremony script with handfasting

Jess and Sarah’s handfasting script was inspired by their love for Middle Earth and Tolkien. Lord of the Rings fans will love how the four elements are symbolized in the four cords this couple used for their handfasting ceremony.