To kick off Offbeat Bride's first ever "Elephun Elephant Day" we present to you an elephant inspired wedding! And stay tuned for more elephant themed posts today!

The Offbeat Bride: Mary, school librarian

Her Offbeat Partner: Adam, writer

Location & date of wedding: Lucy the Elephant, Margate City, NJ — 4/18/2009

What made our wedding offbeat: First of all, because it happened with the help of our friends and family instead of vendors. Adam's mom made our amazing (and delicious) Lucy-shaped cake. A lifelong friend did my hair. Family members decorated blank prayer flags as decorations. My sister and I made the bouquets from supermarket flowers the day before the wedding. Everyone pitched in to pour champagne at the reception. Honestly, our wedding would have been crap without everyone's participation. It made the whole event much more fun and meaningful.

Continue reading "Mary & Adam's Elephantastic Wedding" →

The Offbeat Bride: Elka, editor and writer

Her Offbeat Partner: Peter, city attorney for Napa

Location & Date of wedding: We had the ceremony on my family's land, where my Aunt Kris tumbled over her pony's head when she was galloping him in the moonlight, and where I rode horses as a child and teenager. Our reception is two miles away at Seven Pines Lodge. Oh, this is northwestern rural Wisconsin! August 9th, 2008.

What made our wedding offbeat: There were a lot of things that made our wedding unique and memorable. It was very family and friend uniting. We wanted everyone to feel like they were in love, too, and that they were loved and appreciated. This was truly a community event!

Continue reading "Elka & Peter's Rural Wisconsin Wedding… with honey!" →

Remember the wedding with cue cards? Here's the full story!

The offbeat bride: Yolkai, Mama, crafter, delicious food maker

Her offbeat groom: Anthony/Ackshawn, Teacher, K-8 Behavior Specialist

Location & date of wedding: Isis Oasis Sanctuary, a retreat center with an Egyptian theme in Geyserville, CA.

What made our wedding offbeat:We did it our way! After six years and a baby together we wanted the public declaration, the fancy outfits, and the big fun party! We chucked most of the mainstream wedding crap and held on to a few sweet traditions. Pretty much everything, from the invitations to the interpretive dance, was an expression of our style, our silliness, and our values.

Continue reading "Yolkai's lighthearted red wedding" →

I'm in love with this wedding. I mean yes: the bride is wearing an amazing red wedding dress and we all know I love those — but she's also rocking a coordinated red wedding veil! Evidently, the veil was made the morning of the wedding. Bonus points for last-minute magic.

I also love that the groom matched the theme with his red mohawk — but I'm especially smitten by the fact that a groomsman helped the guests by holding up helpful cue cards during the ceremony.

Everyone: steal this idea.

(Thanks to the Mighties! for the photos, and to Melissa for the tip!)