It’s officially wedding season, and while many of you might be planning offbeat weddings, chances are good that you have a couple traditional weddings to attend this summer. Here’s one non-intrusive, respectful way that you as an offbeat guest can bring a little offbeat flavor into any wedding:

Conduct your own photo project at the reception
Make a nice sign that says something like “CONGRATULATIONS, JOE & JANE!” Get as crafty as you want with it, or just print out a piece of paper. Then, bring your sign and your camera to the wedding, and during the reception, ask your fellow guests if you can photograph them holding the sign.

You’ll end up with a bunch of photos sort of like these, which you can then print and make a sweet Blurb book for the newlyweds.

This is also a great way to interact with your fellow guests — you don’t have to talk too long to anyone, but can make a point to meet everyone and make them feel a part of something fun.

So I was looking around your website, and I feel like sort of a poser even being here. I’m wearing a white dress and I have my bridesmaids wearing pink and although we’re not getting married in a church, our ceremony looks pretty traditional. Do you have any suggestions for how I can make my wedding more offbeat? —Jessica

I actually don’t, Jessica — because I don’t think your wedding needs to be more offbeat. It just needs to be honest and authentic, and if what you want is a white dress and a more traditional ceremony, I think that’s fucking awesome.

I’ve run into this a lot in talking to people about their weddings — the dirty flip-side of “my wedding is too weird” is “my wedding isn’t weird enough.” Both sentiments make me sad because your wedding is not a contest.

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