We're doing a "vegan wedding" theme week on Offbeat Bride! And I love that there are enough vegan weddings out there to profile for a whole animal-friendly week. Do take note that though not all of the weddings are ENTIRELY vegan, but, like anything, there are various styles of vegan weddings, whether it includes just the menu or their lifestyle choices in general. -Megan

The offbeat bride: Fran, a mundane office worker (and OBT member)

Her offbeat partner: Siobhán (also known as Von), youth worker and geek

Location & date of wedding: The Derby Conference Centre, a listed Art Deco building with gorgeous original 1930s interior. The ceremony was held in the lecture hall, a small theatre shaped room, then we had the celebrations in their giant sunken lounge in Derby, UK. — 31st October 2009

What made our wedding offbeat: Living a non-traditional life meant our guests weren't expecting a traditional day from the start, so we had complete freedom. We're bisexual so it was important our day was a celebration of not just our love but of love generally. The top table included a sibling's wife and girlfriend from their poly life, with a toast to the fact we could even have a legal ceremony.

Continue reading "Fran & Siobhán's feminist, disability-friendly, colourful, vegan wedding" →

The Offbeat Bride: Sin, Graphic Designer/Web Developer, Rollergirl

Her Offbeat Partner: Jay, Roller Derby Coach

Location & date of wedding: Dickson Theater, Fayetteville, AR. A local bar & club. — July 23, 2009

What made our wedding offbeat: Our wedding was non-traditional from the start. First of all, I'm 14 years older than my hubby, Jay. We met through roller derby. He's the coach, I'm a skater.

Continue reading "Sin & Jay's Cocktails & Rollergirls Wedding" →

OBT member "iLiveinmyLab" posted this great step-by-step on one of her wedding planning updates.

This is for those brides who want to know how to make one of the kick ass floral head wreaths that they sell at the Renaissance fairs without paying lots of money. I used to make these all the time but this shall be my first in about ten years. They can be customized in many different ways to be made in a larger style or a smaller style. They'd be great for flower girls (and if your flower girl has a favorite doll that wants to walk down the aisle too, you can make it using small rosebuds instead). For this one I'm going to start off with an easier variation of the floral head wreath.

Here is the list of supplies you need:

Continue reading "How to Make a Kick-Ass Floral Head Wreath, by iLiveinmyLab" →

A couple weekends ago, while I was in Los Angeles whoring it up for network executives, a couple dear friends of mine were getting married at Harbin Hotsprings in Northern California. If you loves you some hippie weddings as much as I do, you must click through the photo of Rara & Jumana below to see the full magic, and hear the song Rara wrote for their first dance.

…so, so sad I missed this one.

Part of what I love so much about Offbeat Bride is that I feel like it's all about finding inspiration outside of my little aesthetic bubble. For instance, I'm soooo not a native of the goth/industrial/fetish scene, but I can find about 10 inspiring things in the wedding photo below, which is from Severina & Seraphim's Seattle handfasting:

(photo courtesy of gak photography)

… In what unexpected places have YOU found inspiration?

(Thanks to the lovely ladies of the OBT for finding this photo!)