Think a Dia de los Muertos theme would sort of dark and gothic because it’s all about death? THINK AGAIN! I’m totally in love with Julie Cupcake’s psychedelically colorful Dia de los Muertos-themed wedding reception.

The table-settings are so happy they’re almost rainbow-bright. Julie’s floral dress with the cheetah shrug makes me want to go dancing. The five-tier wedding cake has zebra stripes, a singing Elvis, and skulls. Oh, and Julie’s hair is pretty much to die for.

This is NOT a wedding for the modern minimalists, but if you love kitschy retro fabulousness, you must check out the full set.

(Thanks to Julie Cupcake for the photo!)

I adore Jackie’s amazing futuristic wedding dress — and the the fact that she made it herself makes it that much more fabulous.

Further awesomeness points for also making the cocktail hat she wore, and getting married on a pirate ship in Vegas, and doing it all on Leap Day.

Check out all the photos over here, and read more about how Jackie did it all in three months over on LJ’s Anti-Bride Community.

(Thanks to nightwind for the photo!)

These cakes made me start drooling — y’all can keep your fondant-covered multi-tiered cakes. I’m sure they’re delicious! But for me, it’s all about cakes covered in flowers and fruits, like these cakes from Ivonne & Josh’s 2004 wedding.

Oh and Check out Ivonne’s dress! Holy hell.

Anyway, for more info about how Ivonne saved a fortune on her cakes, keep reading.

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The offbeat bride: Brit, Admin

Her offbeat partner: Cecilia, Accountant

Location & date of wedding: Historic building outside Boston, MA, October 13, 2007

What made our wedding offbeat: We made the decision early on that we would keep whatever traditional wedding elements we liked, and ditch those we didn’t! This meant the white dress was out, along with “tossing” of anything, but the ceremony and reception with all our friends and family were in. We had a modest budget, and incorporated lots of DIY. I made all of our paper products, centerpieces and my bouquet. We also used rented audio equipment and mix cd’s for the music and did all the decor ourselves. Other things that puzzled our families included walking down the aisle together, not having a bridal party and planning the entire thing ourselves.

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The offbeat bride: Stacey, Figure Skating Coach & Graphic Designer

Her offbeat groom: Joel, Motion Capture Specialist

Location & date of wedding: Strathcona Park Lodge between Campbell River and Gold River, BC. August 25, 2007

What made our wedding offbeat: My job as a Graphic Designer was at a wedding invitation design studio. My whole life had been filled with other people’s wedding plans for years. I’d always been the one dishing out advice and helping people with their taffeta filled or very alternative plans. So when it was my turn I had lots of ideas but I also knew that everything had to be different from anything I had worked on for a client. Having helped with a few hundred weddings, that was very difficult but it also pushed me to try things I wouldn’t have otherwise.

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How great would it be to apply this business card concept to your wedding invitations? Thanks to Scunshine for the idea!

How cute are these gamer invites for Hope & Jeremy’s wedding?

It’s like pac-man, only with less ghosts and more love.

This is like the antithesis to those lame-ass “Game Over” tshirts. And goes great with that Mario Bros groom’s cake.

Ah, gamer luv!

(Thanks to hopemeng for the photo!)

The offbeat bride: Dawn Hajnos (Doula/Artist/Student Midwife)

Her offbeat partner: Jason Keil (Woodworker/Artist/Painter)

Location & date of wedding: Honeymoon Island State Park, Dunedin Fl & The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park Live Oak, FL. Oct 9th and 13th 2007.

What made our wedding offbeat: Our wedding belonged to Us. We invited only our best friends who, thankfully are married to each other and our close family friend officiant. We got married in a tide pool at Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin Fl. After we said our vows the four of us island hopped along the gulf of mexico. Our plans were not popular with some of our friends and family but it was what we wanted and we refused to settle….It was the most relaxing loving, perfect day with NO stress.

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