You saw the Twilight-esq wedding cupcake picture last week, and now here's the whole story behind that wedding

The offbeat bride: Dannette, Movie Sales Rep

Her offbeat partner: Nicholas, Cement Truck Driver

Location & date of wedding: Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Des Moines, Iowa — May 17th, 2009

What made our wedding offbeat: Nick and I met at his first gig in his new band that he was playing in, with my brother. We both love live music and have been to quite a few concerts together. He proposed to me at a concert front row and center! So I had to pull that in to our wedding.

Continue reading "Dannette & Nicholas' musically inspired wedding" →

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" →

The Offbeat Bride: Taryn, Public Servant

Her Offbeat Partner: Craig, Public Servant

Location & date of wedding: Gothic Church and Wine Bar in Windy Wellington, New Zealand — 20 June 2009

What made our wedding offbeat: Every little detail was perfectly us! We made a whole heap of compromises to keep family happy, but they were easy things to do because we love our families. However we also pushed back on things that were really important to us. Craig's cousin Jessica is his best friend, and it was really important to him to have her in his groom's party, even though that upset some people. My family is traditional South African Indian Seventh Day Adventist and Craig's is pure Kiwi Party Animal so it was always going to be a delicate balancing exercise.

Continue reading "Taryn & Craig's Silly, Fun-Filled, New Zealand Winter Wedding" →

To celebrate the season, we're featuring a Halloween wedding every week for the month of October!

The Offbeat Bride: Kymba, RN (and OBT member)

Her Offbeat Partner: Kerry, Paramedic

Location & date of wedding: Shaffer Hotel, Mountainair, New Mexico. A haunted pueblo-deco, built in a unique style with an attached park, gazebo, firepit, game room, multipurpose room, an attached restaurant, and a ghost or two who joined in our fun — October 31, 2008

What made our wedding offbeat: As a free-spirited, multi-ethnic, democratic hippie marrying a former military, Lutheran, republican — there wasn't a whole lot about our wedding that was considered "normal" by either side of the aisle (well, except the aisle itself). My family was very happy with the whole Halloween wedding in a haunted hotel in costume vibe. His family was very happy with the gazebo ceremony site, country music reception, and the great local food.

Continue reading "Kymba & Kerry's Haunted Hotel Halloween 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!