November 12, 2018 4 myths about being an older bride (aka where's my Life Alert registry gift?!) By the time I get married, 40 will be staring me in the face. This isn't very old when it comes to first marriages, but it is older than the average in the U.S. I anticipated that it would be a little different getting married later in life (what with the Ensure cocktails and shuffle board reception), but it is taking some surprising turns. Here are some myths about being an older bride that I have discovered… Read More November 12, 2018 The Iron Throne and flowers for days at this romantic enchanted wedding in Texas Jennifer and Dylan carefully crafted a romantic enchanted wedding in Texas that will steal your hearts. Scroll to see the delicate and decadent tablescapes, glossy agate slices, and a head table dripping in the most beautiful blooms you could imagine. It was truly a fairytale-style soiree that made us swoon. Don't miss the fab Game of Thrones cake, sparkly tennis shoes, and one of the best first look groom reactions we've ever seen. Read More November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 9, 2018 A totally luxe New Jersey Indian wedding that took our breath away Deep and Avi had a luxe New Jersey Indian wedding over two days that left us dewy eyed. Whatever you do, don't miss the groom's entrance on horseback, the intricately gorgeous dress changes, and the many dance performances. And don't stop scrolling until you see what awaits you at the reception. The desserts! The dancing! The smoke machines! The decor! It's wild and will blow your mind… Read More November 8, 2018 It's vintage love at this quirky thrift shop engagement shoot We dreaded the idea of a lovey-dovey shoot with butterfly kisses, so we agreed to just not have engagement photos done. BUT then we were granted this really awesome opportunity to shoot our engagement session with an awesome photographer who loves out-of-the-norm wedding photos, and we had the idea to shoot at Goodwill. It was like a giant closet to play in for the day… Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Wedding Porn November 8, 2018 It's vintage love at this quirky thrift shop engagement shoot We dreaded the idea of a lovey-dovey shoot with butterfly kisses, so we agreed to just not have engagement photos done. BUT then we were granted this really awesome opportunity to shoot our engagement session with an awesome photographer who loves out-of-the-norm wedding photos, and we had the idea to shoot at Goodwill. It was like a giant closet to play in for the day… Read More November 2, 2018 17 winter wedding headpieces & veils to transform you into a snow queen Winter weddings are, in my opinion, the unsung heroes of the wedding world, especially when it comes to fashion. I mean, is there anything more lovely than a wedding portrait in the snow?! So gorg. And when you're hauling your butt out into said snow, you might want a matching winter wedding headpiece, veil, crown, or even a woolly hat to match. I did some digging to find snowflakes, crystals, juniper, and more in hats, crowns, headpieces, and veils to adorn your wintry noggin. Read More November 2, 2018 Retro cars, popcorn, & an adorable pair at this vintage drive-in movie engagement session An old vintage sofa, a hot retro car, Coca Cola, popcorn, and an adorable couple perfectly combine for this vintage drive-in movie engagement session. Dara and Michael are perfectly adorable in their subtly retro outfits at the Dixie Twin Drive-In in Dayton, Ohio with shots in the car, in front of a huge sign featuring them(!), and some dramatic poses. Read More November 1, 2018 It's a color explosion of papel picado & flowers at this Dia De Los Muertos wedding Look, I love Halloween week, but when I see some super colorful Dia de los Muertos wedding inspiration, I know I'm in for a spectacular show. And in this case, that show is bright papel picado strung up in trees, rainbow ribbons, multicolored bouquets, a sexy glam wedding dress, a hot AF couple how rock that ink, and a gorgeous matte black meets colorful flowers cake. Read More October 29, 2018 Tons of macabre Hallowedding details to inspire your bewitching wedding We called upon our beloved wedding vendors to give us as many blood-curdling, goth glam, and wickedly fab Hallowedding details as they could find so that we could round up a spectacular array of terrorizing trickery. Your own Halloween wedding will be BOMB with these ideas (or just lurk for fun!). Read More More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings November 12, 2018 The Iron Throne and flowers for days at this romantic enchanted wedding in Texas Jennifer and Dylan carefully crafted a romantic enchanted wedding in Texas that will steal your hearts. Scroll to see the delicate and decadent tablescapes, glossy agate slices, and a head table dripping in the most beautiful blooms you could imagine. It was truly a fairytale-style soiree that made us swoon. Don't miss the fab Game of Thrones cake, sparkly tennis shoes, and one of the best first look groom reactions we've ever seen. Read More November 9, 2018 A totally luxe New Jersey Indian wedding that took our breath away Deep and Avi had a luxe New Jersey Indian wedding over two days that left us dewy eyed. Whatever you do, don't miss the groom's entrance on horseback, the intricately gorgeous dress changes, and the many dance performances. And don't stop scrolling until you see what awaits you at the reception. The desserts! The dancing! The smoke machines! The decor! It's wild and will blow your mind… Read More November 7, 2018 Old Hollywood glittery glam reigns at this retro theater wedding We featured Dara and Michael's vintage-styled drive-in theater engagement photos that were the bee's knees. This week we are super lucky to be able to feature their whole wedding including even more vintage style, theater flair, and a couple of super cute and customized Funko figures as cake toppers. Don't miss the movie theater candy favors, Dara's Gatsby-inspired headpiece (it was like 1950s meets 1920s!), and Old Hollywood glam decor… Read More 1.3k November 6, 2018 You'll need to fan yourself from the pink suit & striped dress at this romantic brunch wedding We just wanted a small, relaxed, morning brunch wedding where people could go about their day afterwards and not where people got wasted and stayed until 1am — that is my nightmare wedding. It's great for some, but the opposite of what I envisioned. Thankfully it all came together and it was over by 2:30pm, leaving people to enjoy the rest of their day. Instead of a dance floor, people milled around talking and eating and enjoying custom drinks. It was great! Read More November 5, 2018 It poured at this rainy Iceland wedding and we wouldn't want it any other way Sarah and Matt embraced the Iceland outdoors and had a (VERY rainy) 10 hour adventure wedding for their 20+ guests and they LOVED it. They firmly believed that the weather only made the day story even better. Let's pretend we're running through the rain at the end of a movie so we can fully immerse ourselves in this misty, romantic, maybe a little muddy, and overall amazing Iceland wedding… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice October 17, 2018 How to avoid your email save-the-date going to spam My partner and I decided to send out email save-the-dates instead of a physical card. I do, however, have a warning for you if you are planning on going the green route with your save-the-date by sending out electronic ones. If you send an email with an image, you may hit your guests' spam folders. Here are some pros and cons of going green with your save-the-dates and how you can avoid your save-the-date going to spam… Read More October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More 1.2k October 26, 2018 From costume chic to goth glam: these Halloween wedding dresses are spooktacular When it comes to Halloween, there's a lot to see: spooky decor, smoky unity ceremonies, horror movie themes, and dry ice on the dance floor. But my favorite part? The stunning Halloween wedding dresses we get to see every year. From a hint of purple to shades of goth to full-on costumes, Halloween wedding dresses run the gamut from sweet to scary and I LOVE IT. Read More October 24, 2018 13 stunning & spooky Halloween wedding rings It's that spookiest of times where the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest: Halloweeeeen! And if you're ring taste matches your taste in holidays, then this Halloween wedding ring roundup is for you. Skulls, black diamonds, coffin shaped moonstones(!), and sleek goth styles abound… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
November 12, 2018 The Iron Throne and flowers for days at this romantic enchanted wedding in Texas Jennifer and Dylan carefully crafted a romantic enchanted wedding in Texas that will steal your hearts. Scroll to see the delicate and decadent tablescapes, glossy agate slices, and a head table dripping in the most beautiful blooms you could imagine. It was truly a fairytale-style soiree that made us swoon. Don't miss the fab Game of Thrones cake, sparkly tennis shoes, and one of the best first look groom reactions we've ever seen. Read More November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 9, 2018 A totally luxe New Jersey Indian wedding that took our breath away Deep and Avi had a luxe New Jersey Indian wedding over two days that left us dewy eyed. Whatever you do, don't miss the groom's entrance on horseback, the intricately gorgeous dress changes, and the many dance performances. And don't stop scrolling until you see what awaits you at the reception. The desserts! The dancing! The smoke machines! The decor! It's wild and will blow your mind… Read More November 8, 2018 It's vintage love at this quirky thrift shop engagement shoot We dreaded the idea of a lovey-dovey shoot with butterfly kisses, so we agreed to just not have engagement photos done. BUT then we were granted this really awesome opportunity to shoot our engagement session with an awesome photographer who loves out-of-the-norm wedding photos, and we had the idea to shoot at Goodwill. It was like a giant closet to play in for the day… Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Wedding Porn November 8, 2018 It's vintage love at this quirky thrift shop engagement shoot We dreaded the idea of a lovey-dovey shoot with butterfly kisses, so we agreed to just not have engagement photos done. BUT then we were granted this really awesome opportunity to shoot our engagement session with an awesome photographer who loves out-of-the-norm wedding photos, and we had the idea to shoot at Goodwill. It was like a giant closet to play in for the day… Read More November 2, 2018 17 winter wedding headpieces & veils to transform you into a snow queen Winter weddings are, in my opinion, the unsung heroes of the wedding world, especially when it comes to fashion. I mean, is there anything more lovely than a wedding portrait in the snow?! So gorg. And when you're hauling your butt out into said snow, you might want a matching winter wedding headpiece, veil, crown, or even a woolly hat to match. I did some digging to find snowflakes, crystals, juniper, and more in hats, crowns, headpieces, and veils to adorn your wintry noggin. Read More November 2, 2018 Retro cars, popcorn, & an adorable pair at this vintage drive-in movie engagement session An old vintage sofa, a hot retro car, Coca Cola, popcorn, and an adorable couple perfectly combine for this vintage drive-in movie engagement session. Dara and Michael are perfectly adorable in their subtly retro outfits at the Dixie Twin Drive-In in Dayton, Ohio with shots in the car, in front of a huge sign featuring them(!), and some dramatic poses. Read More November 1, 2018 It's a color explosion of papel picado & flowers at this Dia De Los Muertos wedding Look, I love Halloween week, but when I see some super colorful Dia de los Muertos wedding inspiration, I know I'm in for a spectacular show. And in this case, that show is bright papel picado strung up in trees, rainbow ribbons, multicolored bouquets, a sexy glam wedding dress, a hot AF couple how rock that ink, and a gorgeous matte black meets colorful flowers cake. Read More October 29, 2018 Tons of macabre Hallowedding details to inspire your bewitching wedding We called upon our beloved wedding vendors to give us as many blood-curdling, goth glam, and wickedly fab Hallowedding details as they could find so that we could round up a spectacular array of terrorizing trickery. Your own Halloween wedding will be BOMB with these ideas (or just lurk for fun!). Read More More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings November 12, 2018 The Iron Throne and flowers for days at this romantic enchanted wedding in Texas Jennifer and Dylan carefully crafted a romantic enchanted wedding in Texas that will steal your hearts. Scroll to see the delicate and decadent tablescapes, glossy agate slices, and a head table dripping in the most beautiful blooms you could imagine. It was truly a fairytale-style soiree that made us swoon. Don't miss the fab Game of Thrones cake, sparkly tennis shoes, and one of the best first look groom reactions we've ever seen. Read More November 9, 2018 A totally luxe New Jersey Indian wedding that took our breath away Deep and Avi had a luxe New Jersey Indian wedding over two days that left us dewy eyed. Whatever you do, don't miss the groom's entrance on horseback, the intricately gorgeous dress changes, and the many dance performances. And don't stop scrolling until you see what awaits you at the reception. The desserts! The dancing! The smoke machines! The decor! It's wild and will blow your mind… Read More November 7, 2018 Old Hollywood glittery glam reigns at this retro theater wedding We featured Dara and Michael's vintage-styled drive-in theater engagement photos that were the bee's knees. This week we are super lucky to be able to feature their whole wedding including even more vintage style, theater flair, and a couple of super cute and customized Funko figures as cake toppers. Don't miss the movie theater candy favors, Dara's Gatsby-inspired headpiece (it was like 1950s meets 1920s!), and Old Hollywood glam decor… Read More 1.3k November 6, 2018 You'll need to fan yourself from the pink suit & striped dress at this romantic brunch wedding We just wanted a small, relaxed, morning brunch wedding where people could go about their day afterwards and not where people got wasted and stayed until 1am — that is my nightmare wedding. It's great for some, but the opposite of what I envisioned. Thankfully it all came together and it was over by 2:30pm, leaving people to enjoy the rest of their day. Instead of a dance floor, people milled around talking and eating and enjoying custom drinks. It was great! Read More November 5, 2018 It poured at this rainy Iceland wedding and we wouldn't want it any other way Sarah and Matt embraced the Iceland outdoors and had a (VERY rainy) 10 hour adventure wedding for their 20+ guests and they LOVED it. They firmly believed that the weather only made the day story even better. Let's pretend we're running through the rain at the end of a movie so we can fully immerse ourselves in this misty, romantic, maybe a little muddy, and overall amazing Iceland wedding… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice October 17, 2018 How to avoid your email save-the-date going to spam My partner and I decided to send out email save-the-dates instead of a physical card. I do, however, have a warning for you if you are planning on going the green route with your save-the-date by sending out electronic ones. If you send an email with an image, you may hit your guests' spam folders. Here are some pros and cons of going green with your save-the-dates and how you can avoid your save-the-date going to spam… Read More October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More 1.2k October 26, 2018 From costume chic to goth glam: these Halloween wedding dresses are spooktacular When it comes to Halloween, there's a lot to see: spooky decor, smoky unity ceremonies, horror movie themes, and dry ice on the dance floor. But my favorite part? The stunning Halloween wedding dresses we get to see every year. From a hint of purple to shades of goth to full-on costumes, Halloween wedding dresses run the gamut from sweet to scary and I LOVE IT. Read More October 24, 2018 13 stunning & spooky Halloween wedding rings It's that spookiest of times where the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest: Halloweeeeen! And if you're ring taste matches your taste in holidays, then this Halloween wedding ring roundup is for you. Skulls, black diamonds, coffin shaped moonstones(!), and sleek goth styles abound… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 9, 2018 A totally luxe New Jersey Indian wedding that took our breath away Deep and Avi had a luxe New Jersey Indian wedding over two days that left us dewy eyed. Whatever you do, don't miss the groom's entrance on horseback, the intricately gorgeous dress changes, and the many dance performances. And don't stop scrolling until you see what awaits you at the reception. The desserts! The dancing! The smoke machines! The decor! It's wild and will blow your mind… Read More November 8, 2018 It's vintage love at this quirky thrift shop engagement shoot We dreaded the idea of a lovey-dovey shoot with butterfly kisses, so we agreed to just not have engagement photos done. BUT then we were granted this really awesome opportunity to shoot our engagement session with an awesome photographer who loves out-of-the-norm wedding photos, and we had the idea to shoot at Goodwill. It was like a giant closet to play in for the day… Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Wedding Porn November 8, 2018 It's vintage love at this quirky thrift shop engagement shoot We dreaded the idea of a lovey-dovey shoot with butterfly kisses, so we agreed to just not have engagement photos done. BUT then we were granted this really awesome opportunity to shoot our engagement session with an awesome photographer who loves out-of-the-norm wedding photos, and we had the idea to shoot at Goodwill. It was like a giant closet to play in for the day… Read More November 2, 2018 17 winter wedding headpieces & veils to transform you into a snow queen Winter weddings are, in my opinion, the unsung heroes of the wedding world, especially when it comes to fashion. I mean, is there anything more lovely than a wedding portrait in the snow?! So gorg. And when you're hauling your butt out into said snow, you might want a matching winter wedding headpiece, veil, crown, or even a woolly hat to match. I did some digging to find snowflakes, crystals, juniper, and more in hats, crowns, headpieces, and veils to adorn your wintry noggin. Read More November 2, 2018 Retro cars, popcorn, & an adorable pair at this vintage drive-in movie engagement session An old vintage sofa, a hot retro car, Coca Cola, popcorn, and an adorable couple perfectly combine for this vintage drive-in movie engagement session. Dara and Michael are perfectly adorable in their subtly retro outfits at the Dixie Twin Drive-In in Dayton, Ohio with shots in the car, in front of a huge sign featuring them(!), and some dramatic poses. Read More November 1, 2018 It's a color explosion of papel picado & flowers at this Dia De Los Muertos wedding Look, I love Halloween week, but when I see some super colorful Dia de los Muertos wedding inspiration, I know I'm in for a spectacular show. And in this case, that show is bright papel picado strung up in trees, rainbow ribbons, multicolored bouquets, a sexy glam wedding dress, a hot AF couple how rock that ink, and a gorgeous matte black meets colorful flowers cake. Read More October 29, 2018 Tons of macabre Hallowedding details to inspire your bewitching wedding We called upon our beloved wedding vendors to give us as many blood-curdling, goth glam, and wickedly fab Hallowedding details as they could find so that we could round up a spectacular array of terrorizing trickery. Your own Halloween wedding will be BOMB with these ideas (or just lurk for fun!). Read More More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings November 12, 2018 The Iron Throne and flowers for days at this romantic enchanted wedding in Texas Jennifer and Dylan carefully crafted a romantic enchanted wedding in Texas that will steal your hearts. Scroll to see the delicate and decadent tablescapes, glossy agate slices, and a head table dripping in the most beautiful blooms you could imagine. It was truly a fairytale-style soiree that made us swoon. Don't miss the fab Game of Thrones cake, sparkly tennis shoes, and one of the best first look groom reactions we've ever seen. Read More November 9, 2018 A totally luxe New Jersey Indian wedding that took our breath away Deep and Avi had a luxe New Jersey Indian wedding over two days that left us dewy eyed. Whatever you do, don't miss the groom's entrance on horseback, the intricately gorgeous dress changes, and the many dance performances. And don't stop scrolling until you see what awaits you at the reception. The desserts! The dancing! The smoke machines! The decor! It's wild and will blow your mind… Read More November 7, 2018 Old Hollywood glittery glam reigns at this retro theater wedding We featured Dara and Michael's vintage-styled drive-in theater engagement photos that were the bee's knees. This week we are super lucky to be able to feature their whole wedding including even more vintage style, theater flair, and a couple of super cute and customized Funko figures as cake toppers. Don't miss the movie theater candy favors, Dara's Gatsby-inspired headpiece (it was like 1950s meets 1920s!), and Old Hollywood glam decor… Read More 1.3k November 6, 2018 You'll need to fan yourself from the pink suit & striped dress at this romantic brunch wedding We just wanted a small, relaxed, morning brunch wedding where people could go about their day afterwards and not where people got wasted and stayed until 1am — that is my nightmare wedding. It's great for some, but the opposite of what I envisioned. Thankfully it all came together and it was over by 2:30pm, leaving people to enjoy the rest of their day. Instead of a dance floor, people milled around talking and eating and enjoying custom drinks. It was great! Read More November 5, 2018 It poured at this rainy Iceland wedding and we wouldn't want it any other way Sarah and Matt embraced the Iceland outdoors and had a (VERY rainy) 10 hour adventure wedding for their 20+ guests and they LOVED it. They firmly believed that the weather only made the day story even better. Let's pretend we're running through the rain at the end of a movie so we can fully immerse ourselves in this misty, romantic, maybe a little muddy, and overall amazing Iceland wedding… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice October 17, 2018 How to avoid your email save-the-date going to spam My partner and I decided to send out email save-the-dates instead of a physical card. I do, however, have a warning for you if you are planning on going the green route with your save-the-date by sending out electronic ones. If you send an email with an image, you may hit your guests' spam folders. Here are some pros and cons of going green with your save-the-dates and how you can avoid your save-the-date going to spam… Read More October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More 1.2k October 26, 2018 From costume chic to goth glam: these Halloween wedding dresses are spooktacular When it comes to Halloween, there's a lot to see: spooky decor, smoky unity ceremonies, horror movie themes, and dry ice on the dance floor. But my favorite part? The stunning Halloween wedding dresses we get to see every year. From a hint of purple to shades of goth to full-on costumes, Halloween wedding dresses run the gamut from sweet to scary and I LOVE IT. Read More October 24, 2018 13 stunning & spooky Halloween wedding rings It's that spookiest of times where the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest: Halloweeeeen! And if you're ring taste matches your taste in holidays, then this Halloween wedding ring roundup is for you. Skulls, black diamonds, coffin shaped moonstones(!), and sleek goth styles abound… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
November 9, 2018 A totally luxe New Jersey Indian wedding that took our breath away Deep and Avi had a luxe New Jersey Indian wedding over two days that left us dewy eyed. Whatever you do, don't miss the groom's entrance on horseback, the intricately gorgeous dress changes, and the many dance performances. And don't stop scrolling until you see what awaits you at the reception. The desserts! The dancing! The smoke machines! The decor! It's wild and will blow your mind… Read More November 8, 2018 It's vintage love at this quirky thrift shop engagement shoot We dreaded the idea of a lovey-dovey shoot with butterfly kisses, so we agreed to just not have engagement photos done. BUT then we were granted this really awesome opportunity to shoot our engagement session with an awesome photographer who loves out-of-the-norm wedding photos, and we had the idea to shoot at Goodwill. It was like a giant closet to play in for the day… Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Wedding Porn November 8, 2018 It's vintage love at this quirky thrift shop engagement shoot We dreaded the idea of a lovey-dovey shoot with butterfly kisses, so we agreed to just not have engagement photos done. BUT then we were granted this really awesome opportunity to shoot our engagement session with an awesome photographer who loves out-of-the-norm wedding photos, and we had the idea to shoot at Goodwill. It was like a giant closet to play in for the day… Read More November 2, 2018 17 winter wedding headpieces & veils to transform you into a snow queen Winter weddings are, in my opinion, the unsung heroes of the wedding world, especially when it comes to fashion. I mean, is there anything more lovely than a wedding portrait in the snow?! So gorg. And when you're hauling your butt out into said snow, you might want a matching winter wedding headpiece, veil, crown, or even a woolly hat to match. I did some digging to find snowflakes, crystals, juniper, and more in hats, crowns, headpieces, and veils to adorn your wintry noggin. Read More November 2, 2018 Retro cars, popcorn, & an adorable pair at this vintage drive-in movie engagement session An old vintage sofa, a hot retro car, Coca Cola, popcorn, and an adorable couple perfectly combine for this vintage drive-in movie engagement session. Dara and Michael are perfectly adorable in their subtly retro outfits at the Dixie Twin Drive-In in Dayton, Ohio with shots in the car, in front of a huge sign featuring them(!), and some dramatic poses. Read More November 1, 2018 It's a color explosion of papel picado & flowers at this Dia De Los Muertos wedding Look, I love Halloween week, but when I see some super colorful Dia de los Muertos wedding inspiration, I know I'm in for a spectacular show. And in this case, that show is bright papel picado strung up in trees, rainbow ribbons, multicolored bouquets, a sexy glam wedding dress, a hot AF couple how rock that ink, and a gorgeous matte black meets colorful flowers cake. Read More October 29, 2018 Tons of macabre Hallowedding details to inspire your bewitching wedding We called upon our beloved wedding vendors to give us as many blood-curdling, goth glam, and wickedly fab Hallowedding details as they could find so that we could round up a spectacular array of terrorizing trickery. Your own Halloween wedding will be BOMB with these ideas (or just lurk for fun!). Read More More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings November 12, 2018 The Iron Throne and flowers for days at this romantic enchanted wedding in Texas Jennifer and Dylan carefully crafted a romantic enchanted wedding in Texas that will steal your hearts. Scroll to see the delicate and decadent tablescapes, glossy agate slices, and a head table dripping in the most beautiful blooms you could imagine. It was truly a fairytale-style soiree that made us swoon. Don't miss the fab Game of Thrones cake, sparkly tennis shoes, and one of the best first look groom reactions we've ever seen. Read More November 9, 2018 A totally luxe New Jersey Indian wedding that took our breath away Deep and Avi had a luxe New Jersey Indian wedding over two days that left us dewy eyed. Whatever you do, don't miss the groom's entrance on horseback, the intricately gorgeous dress changes, and the many dance performances. And don't stop scrolling until you see what awaits you at the reception. The desserts! The dancing! The smoke machines! The decor! It's wild and will blow your mind… Read More November 7, 2018 Old Hollywood glittery glam reigns at this retro theater wedding We featured Dara and Michael's vintage-styled drive-in theater engagement photos that were the bee's knees. This week we are super lucky to be able to feature their whole wedding including even more vintage style, theater flair, and a couple of super cute and customized Funko figures as cake toppers. Don't miss the movie theater candy favors, Dara's Gatsby-inspired headpiece (it was like 1950s meets 1920s!), and Old Hollywood glam decor… Read More 1.3k November 6, 2018 You'll need to fan yourself from the pink suit & striped dress at this romantic brunch wedding We just wanted a small, relaxed, morning brunch wedding where people could go about their day afterwards and not where people got wasted and stayed until 1am — that is my nightmare wedding. It's great for some, but the opposite of what I envisioned. Thankfully it all came together and it was over by 2:30pm, leaving people to enjoy the rest of their day. Instead of a dance floor, people milled around talking and eating and enjoying custom drinks. It was great! Read More November 5, 2018 It poured at this rainy Iceland wedding and we wouldn't want it any other way Sarah and Matt embraced the Iceland outdoors and had a (VERY rainy) 10 hour adventure wedding for their 20+ guests and they LOVED it. They firmly believed that the weather only made the day story even better. Let's pretend we're running through the rain at the end of a movie so we can fully immerse ourselves in this misty, romantic, maybe a little muddy, and overall amazing Iceland wedding… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice October 17, 2018 How to avoid your email save-the-date going to spam My partner and I decided to send out email save-the-dates instead of a physical card. I do, however, have a warning for you if you are planning on going the green route with your save-the-date by sending out electronic ones. If you send an email with an image, you may hit your guests' spam folders. Here are some pros and cons of going green with your save-the-dates and how you can avoid your save-the-date going to spam… Read More October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More 1.2k October 26, 2018 From costume chic to goth glam: these Halloween wedding dresses are spooktacular When it comes to Halloween, there's a lot to see: spooky decor, smoky unity ceremonies, horror movie themes, and dry ice on the dance floor. But my favorite part? The stunning Halloween wedding dresses we get to see every year. From a hint of purple to shades of goth to full-on costumes, Halloween wedding dresses run the gamut from sweet to scary and I LOVE IT. Read More October 24, 2018 13 stunning & spooky Halloween wedding rings It's that spookiest of times where the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest: Halloweeeeen! And if you're ring taste matches your taste in holidays, then this Halloween wedding ring roundup is for you. Skulls, black diamonds, coffin shaped moonstones(!), and sleek goth styles abound… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
November 8, 2018 It's vintage love at this quirky thrift shop engagement shoot We dreaded the idea of a lovey-dovey shoot with butterfly kisses, so we agreed to just not have engagement photos done. BUT then we were granted this really awesome opportunity to shoot our engagement session with an awesome photographer who loves out-of-the-norm wedding photos, and we had the idea to shoot at Goodwill. It was like a giant closet to play in for the day… Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Wedding Porn November 8, 2018 It's vintage love at this quirky thrift shop engagement shoot We dreaded the idea of a lovey-dovey shoot with butterfly kisses, so we agreed to just not have engagement photos done. BUT then we were granted this really awesome opportunity to shoot our engagement session with an awesome photographer who loves out-of-the-norm wedding photos, and we had the idea to shoot at Goodwill. It was like a giant closet to play in for the day… Read More November 2, 2018 17 winter wedding headpieces & veils to transform you into a snow queen Winter weddings are, in my opinion, the unsung heroes of the wedding world, especially when it comes to fashion. I mean, is there anything more lovely than a wedding portrait in the snow?! So gorg. And when you're hauling your butt out into said snow, you might want a matching winter wedding headpiece, veil, crown, or even a woolly hat to match. I did some digging to find snowflakes, crystals, juniper, and more in hats, crowns, headpieces, and veils to adorn your wintry noggin. Read More November 2, 2018 Retro cars, popcorn, & an adorable pair at this vintage drive-in movie engagement session An old vintage sofa, a hot retro car, Coca Cola, popcorn, and an adorable couple perfectly combine for this vintage drive-in movie engagement session. Dara and Michael are perfectly adorable in their subtly retro outfits at the Dixie Twin Drive-In in Dayton, Ohio with shots in the car, in front of a huge sign featuring them(!), and some dramatic poses. Read More November 1, 2018 It's a color explosion of papel picado & flowers at this Dia De Los Muertos wedding Look, I love Halloween week, but when I see some super colorful Dia de los Muertos wedding inspiration, I know I'm in for a spectacular show. And in this case, that show is bright papel picado strung up in trees, rainbow ribbons, multicolored bouquets, a sexy glam wedding dress, a hot AF couple how rock that ink, and a gorgeous matte black meets colorful flowers cake. Read More October 29, 2018 Tons of macabre Hallowedding details to inspire your bewitching wedding We called upon our beloved wedding vendors to give us as many blood-curdling, goth glam, and wickedly fab Hallowedding details as they could find so that we could round up a spectacular array of terrorizing trickery. Your own Halloween wedding will be BOMB with these ideas (or just lurk for fun!). Read More More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings November 12, 2018 The Iron Throne and flowers for days at this romantic enchanted wedding in Texas Jennifer and Dylan carefully crafted a romantic enchanted wedding in Texas that will steal your hearts. Scroll to see the delicate and decadent tablescapes, glossy agate slices, and a head table dripping in the most beautiful blooms you could imagine. It was truly a fairytale-style soiree that made us swoon. Don't miss the fab Game of Thrones cake, sparkly tennis shoes, and one of the best first look groom reactions we've ever seen. Read More November 9, 2018 A totally luxe New Jersey Indian wedding that took our breath away Deep and Avi had a luxe New Jersey Indian wedding over two days that left us dewy eyed. Whatever you do, don't miss the groom's entrance on horseback, the intricately gorgeous dress changes, and the many dance performances. And don't stop scrolling until you see what awaits you at the reception. The desserts! The dancing! The smoke machines! The decor! It's wild and will blow your mind… Read More November 7, 2018 Old Hollywood glittery glam reigns at this retro theater wedding We featured Dara and Michael's vintage-styled drive-in theater engagement photos that were the bee's knees. This week we are super lucky to be able to feature their whole wedding including even more vintage style, theater flair, and a couple of super cute and customized Funko figures as cake toppers. Don't miss the movie theater candy favors, Dara's Gatsby-inspired headpiece (it was like 1950s meets 1920s!), and Old Hollywood glam decor… Read More 1.3k November 6, 2018 You'll need to fan yourself from the pink suit & striped dress at this romantic brunch wedding We just wanted a small, relaxed, morning brunch wedding where people could go about their day afterwards and not where people got wasted and stayed until 1am — that is my nightmare wedding. It's great for some, but the opposite of what I envisioned. Thankfully it all came together and it was over by 2:30pm, leaving people to enjoy the rest of their day. Instead of a dance floor, people milled around talking and eating and enjoying custom drinks. It was great! Read More November 5, 2018 It poured at this rainy Iceland wedding and we wouldn't want it any other way Sarah and Matt embraced the Iceland outdoors and had a (VERY rainy) 10 hour adventure wedding for their 20+ guests and they LOVED it. They firmly believed that the weather only made the day story even better. Let's pretend we're running through the rain at the end of a movie so we can fully immerse ourselves in this misty, romantic, maybe a little muddy, and overall amazing Iceland wedding… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice October 17, 2018 How to avoid your email save-the-date going to spam My partner and I decided to send out email save-the-dates instead of a physical card. I do, however, have a warning for you if you are planning on going the green route with your save-the-date by sending out electronic ones. If you send an email with an image, you may hit your guests' spam folders. Here are some pros and cons of going green with your save-the-dates and how you can avoid your save-the-date going to spam… Read More October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More 1.2k October 26, 2018 From costume chic to goth glam: these Halloween wedding dresses are spooktacular When it comes to Halloween, there's a lot to see: spooky decor, smoky unity ceremonies, horror movie themes, and dry ice on the dance floor. But my favorite part? The stunning Halloween wedding dresses we get to see every year. From a hint of purple to shades of goth to full-on costumes, Halloween wedding dresses run the gamut from sweet to scary and I LOVE IT. Read More October 24, 2018 13 stunning & spooky Halloween wedding rings It's that spookiest of times where the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest: Halloweeeeen! And if you're ring taste matches your taste in holidays, then this Halloween wedding ring roundup is for you. Skulls, black diamonds, coffin shaped moonstones(!), and sleek goth styles abound… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
November 8, 2018 It's vintage love at this quirky thrift shop engagement shoot We dreaded the idea of a lovey-dovey shoot with butterfly kisses, so we agreed to just not have engagement photos done. BUT then we were granted this really awesome opportunity to shoot our engagement session with an awesome photographer who loves out-of-the-norm wedding photos, and we had the idea to shoot at Goodwill. It was like a giant closet to play in for the day… Read More November 2, 2018 17 winter wedding headpieces & veils to transform you into a snow queen Winter weddings are, in my opinion, the unsung heroes of the wedding world, especially when it comes to fashion. I mean, is there anything more lovely than a wedding portrait in the snow?! So gorg. And when you're hauling your butt out into said snow, you might want a matching winter wedding headpiece, veil, crown, or even a woolly hat to match. I did some digging to find snowflakes, crystals, juniper, and more in hats, crowns, headpieces, and veils to adorn your wintry noggin. Read More November 2, 2018 Retro cars, popcorn, & an adorable pair at this vintage drive-in movie engagement session An old vintage sofa, a hot retro car, Coca Cola, popcorn, and an adorable couple perfectly combine for this vintage drive-in movie engagement session. Dara and Michael are perfectly adorable in their subtly retro outfits at the Dixie Twin Drive-In in Dayton, Ohio with shots in the car, in front of a huge sign featuring them(!), and some dramatic poses. Read More November 1, 2018 It's a color explosion of papel picado & flowers at this Dia De Los Muertos wedding Look, I love Halloween week, but when I see some super colorful Dia de los Muertos wedding inspiration, I know I'm in for a spectacular show. And in this case, that show is bright papel picado strung up in trees, rainbow ribbons, multicolored bouquets, a sexy glam wedding dress, a hot AF couple how rock that ink, and a gorgeous matte black meets colorful flowers cake. Read More October 29, 2018 Tons of macabre Hallowedding details to inspire your bewitching wedding We called upon our beloved wedding vendors to give us as many blood-curdling, goth glam, and wickedly fab Hallowedding details as they could find so that we could round up a spectacular array of terrorizing trickery. Your own Halloween wedding will be BOMB with these ideas (or just lurk for fun!). Read More More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings November 12, 2018 The Iron Throne and flowers for days at this romantic enchanted wedding in Texas Jennifer and Dylan carefully crafted a romantic enchanted wedding in Texas that will steal your hearts. Scroll to see the delicate and decadent tablescapes, glossy agate slices, and a head table dripping in the most beautiful blooms you could imagine. It was truly a fairytale-style soiree that made us swoon. Don't miss the fab Game of Thrones cake, sparkly tennis shoes, and one of the best first look groom reactions we've ever seen. Read More November 9, 2018 A totally luxe New Jersey Indian wedding that took our breath away Deep and Avi had a luxe New Jersey Indian wedding over two days that left us dewy eyed. Whatever you do, don't miss the groom's entrance on horseback, the intricately gorgeous dress changes, and the many dance performances. And don't stop scrolling until you see what awaits you at the reception. The desserts! The dancing! The smoke machines! The decor! It's wild and will blow your mind… Read More November 7, 2018 Old Hollywood glittery glam reigns at this retro theater wedding We featured Dara and Michael's vintage-styled drive-in theater engagement photos that were the bee's knees. This week we are super lucky to be able to feature their whole wedding including even more vintage style, theater flair, and a couple of super cute and customized Funko figures as cake toppers. Don't miss the movie theater candy favors, Dara's Gatsby-inspired headpiece (it was like 1950s meets 1920s!), and Old Hollywood glam decor… Read More 1.3k November 6, 2018 You'll need to fan yourself from the pink suit & striped dress at this romantic brunch wedding We just wanted a small, relaxed, morning brunch wedding where people could go about their day afterwards and not where people got wasted and stayed until 1am — that is my nightmare wedding. It's great for some, but the opposite of what I envisioned. Thankfully it all came together and it was over by 2:30pm, leaving people to enjoy the rest of their day. Instead of a dance floor, people milled around talking and eating and enjoying custom drinks. It was great! Read More November 5, 2018 It poured at this rainy Iceland wedding and we wouldn't want it any other way Sarah and Matt embraced the Iceland outdoors and had a (VERY rainy) 10 hour adventure wedding for their 20+ guests and they LOVED it. They firmly believed that the weather only made the day story even better. Let's pretend we're running through the rain at the end of a movie so we can fully immerse ourselves in this misty, romantic, maybe a little muddy, and overall amazing Iceland wedding… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice October 17, 2018 How to avoid your email save-the-date going to spam My partner and I decided to send out email save-the-dates instead of a physical card. I do, however, have a warning for you if you are planning on going the green route with your save-the-date by sending out electronic ones. If you send an email with an image, you may hit your guests' spam folders. Here are some pros and cons of going green with your save-the-dates and how you can avoid your save-the-date going to spam… Read More October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More 1.2k October 26, 2018 From costume chic to goth glam: these Halloween wedding dresses are spooktacular When it comes to Halloween, there's a lot to see: spooky decor, smoky unity ceremonies, horror movie themes, and dry ice on the dance floor. But my favorite part? The stunning Halloween wedding dresses we get to see every year. From a hint of purple to shades of goth to full-on costumes, Halloween wedding dresses run the gamut from sweet to scary and I LOVE IT. Read More October 24, 2018 13 stunning & spooky Halloween wedding rings It's that spookiest of times where the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest: Halloweeeeen! And if you're ring taste matches your taste in holidays, then this Halloween wedding ring roundup is for you. Skulls, black diamonds, coffin shaped moonstones(!), and sleek goth styles abound… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
November 2, 2018 17 winter wedding headpieces & veils to transform you into a snow queen Winter weddings are, in my opinion, the unsung heroes of the wedding world, especially when it comes to fashion. I mean, is there anything more lovely than a wedding portrait in the snow?! So gorg. And when you're hauling your butt out into said snow, you might want a matching winter wedding headpiece, veil, crown, or even a woolly hat to match. I did some digging to find snowflakes, crystals, juniper, and more in hats, crowns, headpieces, and veils to adorn your wintry noggin. Read More November 2, 2018 Retro cars, popcorn, & an adorable pair at this vintage drive-in movie engagement session An old vintage sofa, a hot retro car, Coca Cola, popcorn, and an adorable couple perfectly combine for this vintage drive-in movie engagement session. Dara and Michael are perfectly adorable in their subtly retro outfits at the Dixie Twin Drive-In in Dayton, Ohio with shots in the car, in front of a huge sign featuring them(!), and some dramatic poses. Read More November 1, 2018 It's a color explosion of papel picado & flowers at this Dia De Los Muertos wedding Look, I love Halloween week, but when I see some super colorful Dia de los Muertos wedding inspiration, I know I'm in for a spectacular show. And in this case, that show is bright papel picado strung up in trees, rainbow ribbons, multicolored bouquets, a sexy glam wedding dress, a hot AF couple how rock that ink, and a gorgeous matte black meets colorful flowers cake. Read More October 29, 2018 Tons of macabre Hallowedding details to inspire your bewitching wedding We called upon our beloved wedding vendors to give us as many blood-curdling, goth glam, and wickedly fab Hallowedding details as they could find so that we could round up a spectacular array of terrorizing trickery. Your own Halloween wedding will be BOMB with these ideas (or just lurk for fun!). Read More More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings November 12, 2018 The Iron Throne and flowers for days at this romantic enchanted wedding in Texas Jennifer and Dylan carefully crafted a romantic enchanted wedding in Texas that will steal your hearts. Scroll to see the delicate and decadent tablescapes, glossy agate slices, and a head table dripping in the most beautiful blooms you could imagine. It was truly a fairytale-style soiree that made us swoon. Don't miss the fab Game of Thrones cake, sparkly tennis shoes, and one of the best first look groom reactions we've ever seen. Read More November 9, 2018 A totally luxe New Jersey Indian wedding that took our breath away Deep and Avi had a luxe New Jersey Indian wedding over two days that left us dewy eyed. Whatever you do, don't miss the groom's entrance on horseback, the intricately gorgeous dress changes, and the many dance performances. And don't stop scrolling until you see what awaits you at the reception. The desserts! The dancing! The smoke machines! The decor! It's wild and will blow your mind… Read More November 7, 2018 Old Hollywood glittery glam reigns at this retro theater wedding We featured Dara and Michael's vintage-styled drive-in theater engagement photos that were the bee's knees. This week we are super lucky to be able to feature their whole wedding including even more vintage style, theater flair, and a couple of super cute and customized Funko figures as cake toppers. Don't miss the movie theater candy favors, Dara's Gatsby-inspired headpiece (it was like 1950s meets 1920s!), and Old Hollywood glam decor… Read More 1.3k November 6, 2018 You'll need to fan yourself from the pink suit & striped dress at this romantic brunch wedding We just wanted a small, relaxed, morning brunch wedding where people could go about their day afterwards and not where people got wasted and stayed until 1am — that is my nightmare wedding. It's great for some, but the opposite of what I envisioned. Thankfully it all came together and it was over by 2:30pm, leaving people to enjoy the rest of their day. Instead of a dance floor, people milled around talking and eating and enjoying custom drinks. It was great! Read More November 5, 2018 It poured at this rainy Iceland wedding and we wouldn't want it any other way Sarah and Matt embraced the Iceland outdoors and had a (VERY rainy) 10 hour adventure wedding for their 20+ guests and they LOVED it. They firmly believed that the weather only made the day story even better. Let's pretend we're running through the rain at the end of a movie so we can fully immerse ourselves in this misty, romantic, maybe a little muddy, and overall amazing Iceland wedding… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice October 17, 2018 How to avoid your email save-the-date going to spam My partner and I decided to send out email save-the-dates instead of a physical card. I do, however, have a warning for you if you are planning on going the green route with your save-the-date by sending out electronic ones. If you send an email with an image, you may hit your guests' spam folders. Here are some pros and cons of going green with your save-the-dates and how you can avoid your save-the-date going to spam… Read More October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More 1.2k October 26, 2018 From costume chic to goth glam: these Halloween wedding dresses are spooktacular When it comes to Halloween, there's a lot to see: spooky decor, smoky unity ceremonies, horror movie themes, and dry ice on the dance floor. But my favorite part? The stunning Halloween wedding dresses we get to see every year. From a hint of purple to shades of goth to full-on costumes, Halloween wedding dresses run the gamut from sweet to scary and I LOVE IT. Read More October 24, 2018 13 stunning & spooky Halloween wedding rings It's that spookiest of times where the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest: Halloweeeeen! And if you're ring taste matches your taste in holidays, then this Halloween wedding ring roundup is for you. Skulls, black diamonds, coffin shaped moonstones(!), and sleek goth styles abound… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
November 2, 2018 Retro cars, popcorn, & an adorable pair at this vintage drive-in movie engagement session An old vintage sofa, a hot retro car, Coca Cola, popcorn, and an adorable couple perfectly combine for this vintage drive-in movie engagement session. Dara and Michael are perfectly adorable in their subtly retro outfits at the Dixie Twin Drive-In in Dayton, Ohio with shots in the car, in front of a huge sign featuring them(!), and some dramatic poses. Read More November 1, 2018 It's a color explosion of papel picado & flowers at this Dia De Los Muertos wedding Look, I love Halloween week, but when I see some super colorful Dia de los Muertos wedding inspiration, I know I'm in for a spectacular show. And in this case, that show is bright papel picado strung up in trees, rainbow ribbons, multicolored bouquets, a sexy glam wedding dress, a hot AF couple how rock that ink, and a gorgeous matte black meets colorful flowers cake. Read More October 29, 2018 Tons of macabre Hallowedding details to inspire your bewitching wedding We called upon our beloved wedding vendors to give us as many blood-curdling, goth glam, and wickedly fab Hallowedding details as they could find so that we could round up a spectacular array of terrorizing trickery. Your own Halloween wedding will be BOMB with these ideas (or just lurk for fun!). Read More More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings November 12, 2018 The Iron Throne and flowers for days at this romantic enchanted wedding in Texas Jennifer and Dylan carefully crafted a romantic enchanted wedding in Texas that will steal your hearts. Scroll to see the delicate and decadent tablescapes, glossy agate slices, and a head table dripping in the most beautiful blooms you could imagine. It was truly a fairytale-style soiree that made us swoon. Don't miss the fab Game of Thrones cake, sparkly tennis shoes, and one of the best first look groom reactions we've ever seen. Read More November 9, 2018 A totally luxe New Jersey Indian wedding that took our breath away Deep and Avi had a luxe New Jersey Indian wedding over two days that left us dewy eyed. Whatever you do, don't miss the groom's entrance on horseback, the intricately gorgeous dress changes, and the many dance performances. And don't stop scrolling until you see what awaits you at the reception. The desserts! The dancing! The smoke machines! The decor! It's wild and will blow your mind… Read More November 7, 2018 Old Hollywood glittery glam reigns at this retro theater wedding We featured Dara and Michael's vintage-styled drive-in theater engagement photos that were the bee's knees. This week we are super lucky to be able to feature their whole wedding including even more vintage style, theater flair, and a couple of super cute and customized Funko figures as cake toppers. Don't miss the movie theater candy favors, Dara's Gatsby-inspired headpiece (it was like 1950s meets 1920s!), and Old Hollywood glam decor… Read More 1.3k November 6, 2018 You'll need to fan yourself from the pink suit & striped dress at this romantic brunch wedding We just wanted a small, relaxed, morning brunch wedding where people could go about their day afterwards and not where people got wasted and stayed until 1am — that is my nightmare wedding. It's great for some, but the opposite of what I envisioned. Thankfully it all came together and it was over by 2:30pm, leaving people to enjoy the rest of their day. Instead of a dance floor, people milled around talking and eating and enjoying custom drinks. It was great! Read More November 5, 2018 It poured at this rainy Iceland wedding and we wouldn't want it any other way Sarah and Matt embraced the Iceland outdoors and had a (VERY rainy) 10 hour adventure wedding for their 20+ guests and they LOVED it. They firmly believed that the weather only made the day story even better. Let's pretend we're running through the rain at the end of a movie so we can fully immerse ourselves in this misty, romantic, maybe a little muddy, and overall amazing Iceland wedding… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice October 17, 2018 How to avoid your email save-the-date going to spam My partner and I decided to send out email save-the-dates instead of a physical card. I do, however, have a warning for you if you are planning on going the green route with your save-the-date by sending out electronic ones. If you send an email with an image, you may hit your guests' spam folders. Here are some pros and cons of going green with your save-the-dates and how you can avoid your save-the-date going to spam… Read More October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More 1.2k October 26, 2018 From costume chic to goth glam: these Halloween wedding dresses are spooktacular When it comes to Halloween, there's a lot to see: spooky decor, smoky unity ceremonies, horror movie themes, and dry ice on the dance floor. But my favorite part? The stunning Halloween wedding dresses we get to see every year. From a hint of purple to shades of goth to full-on costumes, Halloween wedding dresses run the gamut from sweet to scary and I LOVE IT. Read More October 24, 2018 13 stunning & spooky Halloween wedding rings It's that spookiest of times where the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest: Halloweeeeen! And if you're ring taste matches your taste in holidays, then this Halloween wedding ring roundup is for you. Skulls, black diamonds, coffin shaped moonstones(!), and sleek goth styles abound… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
November 1, 2018 It's a color explosion of papel picado & flowers at this Dia De Los Muertos wedding Look, I love Halloween week, but when I see some super colorful Dia de los Muertos wedding inspiration, I know I'm in for a spectacular show. And in this case, that show is bright papel picado strung up in trees, rainbow ribbons, multicolored bouquets, a sexy glam wedding dress, a hot AF couple how rock that ink, and a gorgeous matte black meets colorful flowers cake. Read More October 29, 2018 Tons of macabre Hallowedding details to inspire your bewitching wedding We called upon our beloved wedding vendors to give us as many blood-curdling, goth glam, and wickedly fab Hallowedding details as they could find so that we could round up a spectacular array of terrorizing trickery. Your own Halloween wedding will be BOMB with these ideas (or just lurk for fun!). Read More More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings November 12, 2018 The Iron Throne and flowers for days at this romantic enchanted wedding in Texas Jennifer and Dylan carefully crafted a romantic enchanted wedding in Texas that will steal your hearts. Scroll to see the delicate and decadent tablescapes, glossy agate slices, and a head table dripping in the most beautiful blooms you could imagine. It was truly a fairytale-style soiree that made us swoon. Don't miss the fab Game of Thrones cake, sparkly tennis shoes, and one of the best first look groom reactions we've ever seen. Read More November 9, 2018 A totally luxe New Jersey Indian wedding that took our breath away Deep and Avi had a luxe New Jersey Indian wedding over two days that left us dewy eyed. Whatever you do, don't miss the groom's entrance on horseback, the intricately gorgeous dress changes, and the many dance performances. And don't stop scrolling until you see what awaits you at the reception. The desserts! The dancing! The smoke machines! The decor! It's wild and will blow your mind… Read More November 7, 2018 Old Hollywood glittery glam reigns at this retro theater wedding We featured Dara and Michael's vintage-styled drive-in theater engagement photos that were the bee's knees. This week we are super lucky to be able to feature their whole wedding including even more vintage style, theater flair, and a couple of super cute and customized Funko figures as cake toppers. Don't miss the movie theater candy favors, Dara's Gatsby-inspired headpiece (it was like 1950s meets 1920s!), and Old Hollywood glam decor… Read More 1.3k November 6, 2018 You'll need to fan yourself from the pink suit & striped dress at this romantic brunch wedding We just wanted a small, relaxed, morning brunch wedding where people could go about their day afterwards and not where people got wasted and stayed until 1am — that is my nightmare wedding. It's great for some, but the opposite of what I envisioned. Thankfully it all came together and it was over by 2:30pm, leaving people to enjoy the rest of their day. Instead of a dance floor, people milled around talking and eating and enjoying custom drinks. It was great! Read More November 5, 2018 It poured at this rainy Iceland wedding and we wouldn't want it any other way Sarah and Matt embraced the Iceland outdoors and had a (VERY rainy) 10 hour adventure wedding for their 20+ guests and they LOVED it. They firmly believed that the weather only made the day story even better. Let's pretend we're running through the rain at the end of a movie so we can fully immerse ourselves in this misty, romantic, maybe a little muddy, and overall amazing Iceland wedding… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice October 17, 2018 How to avoid your email save-the-date going to spam My partner and I decided to send out email save-the-dates instead of a physical card. I do, however, have a warning for you if you are planning on going the green route with your save-the-date by sending out electronic ones. If you send an email with an image, you may hit your guests' spam folders. Here are some pros and cons of going green with your save-the-dates and how you can avoid your save-the-date going to spam… Read More October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More 1.2k October 26, 2018 From costume chic to goth glam: these Halloween wedding dresses are spooktacular When it comes to Halloween, there's a lot to see: spooky decor, smoky unity ceremonies, horror movie themes, and dry ice on the dance floor. But my favorite part? The stunning Halloween wedding dresses we get to see every year. From a hint of purple to shades of goth to full-on costumes, Halloween wedding dresses run the gamut from sweet to scary and I LOVE IT. Read More October 24, 2018 13 stunning & spooky Halloween wedding rings It's that spookiest of times where the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest: Halloweeeeen! And if you're ring taste matches your taste in holidays, then this Halloween wedding ring roundup is for you. Skulls, black diamonds, coffin shaped moonstones(!), and sleek goth styles abound… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
October 29, 2018 Tons of macabre Hallowedding details to inspire your bewitching wedding We called upon our beloved wedding vendors to give us as many blood-curdling, goth glam, and wickedly fab Hallowedding details as they could find so that we could round up a spectacular array of terrorizing trickery. Your own Halloween wedding will be BOMB with these ideas (or just lurk for fun!). Read More More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings November 12, 2018 The Iron Throne and flowers for days at this romantic enchanted wedding in Texas Jennifer and Dylan carefully crafted a romantic enchanted wedding in Texas that will steal your hearts. Scroll to see the delicate and decadent tablescapes, glossy agate slices, and a head table dripping in the most beautiful blooms you could imagine. It was truly a fairytale-style soiree that made us swoon. Don't miss the fab Game of Thrones cake, sparkly tennis shoes, and one of the best first look groom reactions we've ever seen. Read More November 9, 2018 A totally luxe New Jersey Indian wedding that took our breath away Deep and Avi had a luxe New Jersey Indian wedding over two days that left us dewy eyed. Whatever you do, don't miss the groom's entrance on horseback, the intricately gorgeous dress changes, and the many dance performances. And don't stop scrolling until you see what awaits you at the reception. The desserts! The dancing! The smoke machines! The decor! It's wild and will blow your mind… Read More November 7, 2018 Old Hollywood glittery glam reigns at this retro theater wedding We featured Dara and Michael's vintage-styled drive-in theater engagement photos that were the bee's knees. This week we are super lucky to be able to feature their whole wedding including even more vintage style, theater flair, and a couple of super cute and customized Funko figures as cake toppers. Don't miss the movie theater candy favors, Dara's Gatsby-inspired headpiece (it was like 1950s meets 1920s!), and Old Hollywood glam decor… Read More 1.3k November 6, 2018 You'll need to fan yourself from the pink suit & striped dress at this romantic brunch wedding We just wanted a small, relaxed, morning brunch wedding where people could go about their day afterwards and not where people got wasted and stayed until 1am — that is my nightmare wedding. It's great for some, but the opposite of what I envisioned. Thankfully it all came together and it was over by 2:30pm, leaving people to enjoy the rest of their day. Instead of a dance floor, people milled around talking and eating and enjoying custom drinks. It was great! Read More November 5, 2018 It poured at this rainy Iceland wedding and we wouldn't want it any other way Sarah and Matt embraced the Iceland outdoors and had a (VERY rainy) 10 hour adventure wedding for their 20+ guests and they LOVED it. They firmly believed that the weather only made the day story even better. Let's pretend we're running through the rain at the end of a movie so we can fully immerse ourselves in this misty, romantic, maybe a little muddy, and overall amazing Iceland wedding… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice October 17, 2018 How to avoid your email save-the-date going to spam My partner and I decided to send out email save-the-dates instead of a physical card. I do, however, have a warning for you if you are planning on going the green route with your save-the-date by sending out electronic ones. If you send an email with an image, you may hit your guests' spam folders. Here are some pros and cons of going green with your save-the-dates and how you can avoid your save-the-date going to spam… Read More October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More 1.2k October 26, 2018 From costume chic to goth glam: these Halloween wedding dresses are spooktacular When it comes to Halloween, there's a lot to see: spooky decor, smoky unity ceremonies, horror movie themes, and dry ice on the dance floor. But my favorite part? The stunning Halloween wedding dresses we get to see every year. From a hint of purple to shades of goth to full-on costumes, Halloween wedding dresses run the gamut from sweet to scary and I LOVE IT. Read More October 24, 2018 13 stunning & spooky Halloween wedding rings It's that spookiest of times where the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest: Halloweeeeen! And if you're ring taste matches your taste in holidays, then this Halloween wedding ring roundup is for you. Skulls, black diamonds, coffin shaped moonstones(!), and sleek goth styles abound… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
November 12, 2018 The Iron Throne and flowers for days at this romantic enchanted wedding in Texas Jennifer and Dylan carefully crafted a romantic enchanted wedding in Texas that will steal your hearts. Scroll to see the delicate and decadent tablescapes, glossy agate slices, and a head table dripping in the most beautiful blooms you could imagine. It was truly a fairytale-style soiree that made us swoon. Don't miss the fab Game of Thrones cake, sparkly tennis shoes, and one of the best first look groom reactions we've ever seen. Read More November 9, 2018 A totally luxe New Jersey Indian wedding that took our breath away Deep and Avi had a luxe New Jersey Indian wedding over two days that left us dewy eyed. Whatever you do, don't miss the groom's entrance on horseback, the intricately gorgeous dress changes, and the many dance performances. And don't stop scrolling until you see what awaits you at the reception. The desserts! The dancing! The smoke machines! The decor! It's wild and will blow your mind… Read More November 7, 2018 Old Hollywood glittery glam reigns at this retro theater wedding We featured Dara and Michael's vintage-styled drive-in theater engagement photos that were the bee's knees. This week we are super lucky to be able to feature their whole wedding including even more vintage style, theater flair, and a couple of super cute and customized Funko figures as cake toppers. Don't miss the movie theater candy favors, Dara's Gatsby-inspired headpiece (it was like 1950s meets 1920s!), and Old Hollywood glam decor… Read More 1.3k November 6, 2018 You'll need to fan yourself from the pink suit & striped dress at this romantic brunch wedding We just wanted a small, relaxed, morning brunch wedding where people could go about their day afterwards and not where people got wasted and stayed until 1am — that is my nightmare wedding. It's great for some, but the opposite of what I envisioned. Thankfully it all came together and it was over by 2:30pm, leaving people to enjoy the rest of their day. Instead of a dance floor, people milled around talking and eating and enjoying custom drinks. It was great! Read More November 5, 2018 It poured at this rainy Iceland wedding and we wouldn't want it any other way Sarah and Matt embraced the Iceland outdoors and had a (VERY rainy) 10 hour adventure wedding for their 20+ guests and they LOVED it. They firmly believed that the weather only made the day story even better. Let's pretend we're running through the rain at the end of a movie so we can fully immerse ourselves in this misty, romantic, maybe a little muddy, and overall amazing Iceland wedding… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice October 17, 2018 How to avoid your email save-the-date going to spam My partner and I decided to send out email save-the-dates instead of a physical card. I do, however, have a warning for you if you are planning on going the green route with your save-the-date by sending out electronic ones. If you send an email with an image, you may hit your guests' spam folders. Here are some pros and cons of going green with your save-the-dates and how you can avoid your save-the-date going to spam… Read More October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More 1.2k October 26, 2018 From costume chic to goth glam: these Halloween wedding dresses are spooktacular When it comes to Halloween, there's a lot to see: spooky decor, smoky unity ceremonies, horror movie themes, and dry ice on the dance floor. But my favorite part? The stunning Halloween wedding dresses we get to see every year. From a hint of purple to shades of goth to full-on costumes, Halloween wedding dresses run the gamut from sweet to scary and I LOVE IT. Read More October 24, 2018 13 stunning & spooky Halloween wedding rings It's that spookiest of times where the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest: Halloweeeeen! And if you're ring taste matches your taste in holidays, then this Halloween wedding ring roundup is for you. Skulls, black diamonds, coffin shaped moonstones(!), and sleek goth styles abound… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
November 9, 2018 A totally luxe New Jersey Indian wedding that took our breath away Deep and Avi had a luxe New Jersey Indian wedding over two days that left us dewy eyed. Whatever you do, don't miss the groom's entrance on horseback, the intricately gorgeous dress changes, and the many dance performances. And don't stop scrolling until you see what awaits you at the reception. The desserts! The dancing! The smoke machines! The decor! It's wild and will blow your mind… Read More November 7, 2018 Old Hollywood glittery glam reigns at this retro theater wedding We featured Dara and Michael's vintage-styled drive-in theater engagement photos that were the bee's knees. This week we are super lucky to be able to feature their whole wedding including even more vintage style, theater flair, and a couple of super cute and customized Funko figures as cake toppers. Don't miss the movie theater candy favors, Dara's Gatsby-inspired headpiece (it was like 1950s meets 1920s!), and Old Hollywood glam decor… Read More 1.3k November 6, 2018 You'll need to fan yourself from the pink suit & striped dress at this romantic brunch wedding We just wanted a small, relaxed, morning brunch wedding where people could go about their day afterwards and not where people got wasted and stayed until 1am — that is my nightmare wedding. It's great for some, but the opposite of what I envisioned. Thankfully it all came together and it was over by 2:30pm, leaving people to enjoy the rest of their day. Instead of a dance floor, people milled around talking and eating and enjoying custom drinks. It was great! Read More November 5, 2018 It poured at this rainy Iceland wedding and we wouldn't want it any other way Sarah and Matt embraced the Iceland outdoors and had a (VERY rainy) 10 hour adventure wedding for their 20+ guests and they LOVED it. They firmly believed that the weather only made the day story even better. Let's pretend we're running through the rain at the end of a movie so we can fully immerse ourselves in this misty, romantic, maybe a little muddy, and overall amazing Iceland wedding… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice October 17, 2018 How to avoid your email save-the-date going to spam My partner and I decided to send out email save-the-dates instead of a physical card. I do, however, have a warning for you if you are planning on going the green route with your save-the-date by sending out electronic ones. If you send an email with an image, you may hit your guests' spam folders. Here are some pros and cons of going green with your save-the-dates and how you can avoid your save-the-date going to spam… Read More October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More 1.2k October 26, 2018 From costume chic to goth glam: these Halloween wedding dresses are spooktacular When it comes to Halloween, there's a lot to see: spooky decor, smoky unity ceremonies, horror movie themes, and dry ice on the dance floor. But my favorite part? The stunning Halloween wedding dresses we get to see every year. From a hint of purple to shades of goth to full-on costumes, Halloween wedding dresses run the gamut from sweet to scary and I LOVE IT. Read More October 24, 2018 13 stunning & spooky Halloween wedding rings It's that spookiest of times where the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest: Halloweeeeen! And if you're ring taste matches your taste in holidays, then this Halloween wedding ring roundup is for you. Skulls, black diamonds, coffin shaped moonstones(!), and sleek goth styles abound… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
November 7, 2018 Old Hollywood glittery glam reigns at this retro theater wedding We featured Dara and Michael's vintage-styled drive-in theater engagement photos that were the bee's knees. This week we are super lucky to be able to feature their whole wedding including even more vintage style, theater flair, and a couple of super cute and customized Funko figures as cake toppers. Don't miss the movie theater candy favors, Dara's Gatsby-inspired headpiece (it was like 1950s meets 1920s!), and Old Hollywood glam decor… Read More 1.3k November 6, 2018 You'll need to fan yourself from the pink suit & striped dress at this romantic brunch wedding We just wanted a small, relaxed, morning brunch wedding where people could go about their day afterwards and not where people got wasted and stayed until 1am — that is my nightmare wedding. It's great for some, but the opposite of what I envisioned. Thankfully it all came together and it was over by 2:30pm, leaving people to enjoy the rest of their day. Instead of a dance floor, people milled around talking and eating and enjoying custom drinks. It was great! Read More November 5, 2018 It poured at this rainy Iceland wedding and we wouldn't want it any other way Sarah and Matt embraced the Iceland outdoors and had a (VERY rainy) 10 hour adventure wedding for their 20+ guests and they LOVED it. They firmly believed that the weather only made the day story even better. Let's pretend we're running through the rain at the end of a movie so we can fully immerse ourselves in this misty, romantic, maybe a little muddy, and overall amazing Iceland wedding… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice October 17, 2018 How to avoid your email save-the-date going to spam My partner and I decided to send out email save-the-dates instead of a physical card. I do, however, have a warning for you if you are planning on going the green route with your save-the-date by sending out electronic ones. If you send an email with an image, you may hit your guests' spam folders. Here are some pros and cons of going green with your save-the-dates and how you can avoid your save-the-date going to spam… Read More October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More 1.2k October 26, 2018 From costume chic to goth glam: these Halloween wedding dresses are spooktacular When it comes to Halloween, there's a lot to see: spooky decor, smoky unity ceremonies, horror movie themes, and dry ice on the dance floor. But my favorite part? The stunning Halloween wedding dresses we get to see every year. From a hint of purple to shades of goth to full-on costumes, Halloween wedding dresses run the gamut from sweet to scary and I LOVE IT. Read More October 24, 2018 13 stunning & spooky Halloween wedding rings It's that spookiest of times where the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest: Halloweeeeen! And if you're ring taste matches your taste in holidays, then this Halloween wedding ring roundup is for you. Skulls, black diamonds, coffin shaped moonstones(!), and sleek goth styles abound… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
1.3k November 6, 2018 You'll need to fan yourself from the pink suit & striped dress at this romantic brunch wedding We just wanted a small, relaxed, morning brunch wedding where people could go about their day afterwards and not where people got wasted and stayed until 1am — that is my nightmare wedding. It's great for some, but the opposite of what I envisioned. Thankfully it all came together and it was over by 2:30pm, leaving people to enjoy the rest of their day. Instead of a dance floor, people milled around talking and eating and enjoying custom drinks. It was great! Read More November 5, 2018 It poured at this rainy Iceland wedding and we wouldn't want it any other way Sarah and Matt embraced the Iceland outdoors and had a (VERY rainy) 10 hour adventure wedding for their 20+ guests and they LOVED it. They firmly believed that the weather only made the day story even better. Let's pretend we're running through the rain at the end of a movie so we can fully immerse ourselves in this misty, romantic, maybe a little muddy, and overall amazing Iceland wedding… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice October 17, 2018 How to avoid your email save-the-date going to spam My partner and I decided to send out email save-the-dates instead of a physical card. I do, however, have a warning for you if you are planning on going the green route with your save-the-date by sending out electronic ones. If you send an email with an image, you may hit your guests' spam folders. Here are some pros and cons of going green with your save-the-dates and how you can avoid your save-the-date going to spam… Read More October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More 1.2k October 26, 2018 From costume chic to goth glam: these Halloween wedding dresses are spooktacular When it comes to Halloween, there's a lot to see: spooky decor, smoky unity ceremonies, horror movie themes, and dry ice on the dance floor. But my favorite part? The stunning Halloween wedding dresses we get to see every year. From a hint of purple to shades of goth to full-on costumes, Halloween wedding dresses run the gamut from sweet to scary and I LOVE IT. Read More October 24, 2018 13 stunning & spooky Halloween wedding rings It's that spookiest of times where the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest: Halloweeeeen! And if you're ring taste matches your taste in holidays, then this Halloween wedding ring roundup is for you. Skulls, black diamonds, coffin shaped moonstones(!), and sleek goth styles abound… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
November 5, 2018 It poured at this rainy Iceland wedding and we wouldn't want it any other way Sarah and Matt embraced the Iceland outdoors and had a (VERY rainy) 10 hour adventure wedding for their 20+ guests and they LOVED it. They firmly believed that the weather only made the day story even better. Let's pretend we're running through the rain at the end of a movie so we can fully immerse ourselves in this misty, romantic, maybe a little muddy, and overall amazing Iceland wedding… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice October 17, 2018 How to avoid your email save-the-date going to spam My partner and I decided to send out email save-the-dates instead of a physical card. I do, however, have a warning for you if you are planning on going the green route with your save-the-date by sending out electronic ones. If you send an email with an image, you may hit your guests' spam folders. Here are some pros and cons of going green with your save-the-dates and how you can avoid your save-the-date going to spam… Read More October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More 1.2k October 26, 2018 From costume chic to goth glam: these Halloween wedding dresses are spooktacular When it comes to Halloween, there's a lot to see: spooky decor, smoky unity ceremonies, horror movie themes, and dry ice on the dance floor. But my favorite part? The stunning Halloween wedding dresses we get to see every year. From a hint of purple to shades of goth to full-on costumes, Halloween wedding dresses run the gamut from sweet to scary and I LOVE IT. Read More October 24, 2018 13 stunning & spooky Halloween wedding rings It's that spookiest of times where the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest: Halloweeeeen! And if you're ring taste matches your taste in holidays, then this Halloween wedding ring roundup is for you. Skulls, black diamonds, coffin shaped moonstones(!), and sleek goth styles abound… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
October 17, 2018 How to avoid your email save-the-date going to spam My partner and I decided to send out email save-the-dates instead of a physical card. I do, however, have a warning for you if you are planning on going the green route with your save-the-date by sending out electronic ones. If you send an email with an image, you may hit your guests' spam folders. Here are some pros and cons of going green with your save-the-dates and how you can avoid your save-the-date going to spam… Read More October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More 1.2k October 26, 2018 From costume chic to goth glam: these Halloween wedding dresses are spooktacular When it comes to Halloween, there's a lot to see: spooky decor, smoky unity ceremonies, horror movie themes, and dry ice on the dance floor. But my favorite part? The stunning Halloween wedding dresses we get to see every year. From a hint of purple to shades of goth to full-on costumes, Halloween wedding dresses run the gamut from sweet to scary and I LOVE IT. Read More October 24, 2018 13 stunning & spooky Halloween wedding rings It's that spookiest of times where the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest: Halloweeeeen! And if you're ring taste matches your taste in holidays, then this Halloween wedding ring roundup is for you. Skulls, black diamonds, coffin shaped moonstones(!), and sleek goth styles abound… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More 1.2k October 26, 2018 From costume chic to goth glam: these Halloween wedding dresses are spooktacular When it comes to Halloween, there's a lot to see: spooky decor, smoky unity ceremonies, horror movie themes, and dry ice on the dance floor. But my favorite part? The stunning Halloween wedding dresses we get to see every year. From a hint of purple to shades of goth to full-on costumes, Halloween wedding dresses run the gamut from sweet to scary and I LOVE IT. Read More October 24, 2018 13 stunning & spooky Halloween wedding rings It's that spookiest of times where the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest: Halloweeeeen! And if you're ring taste matches your taste in holidays, then this Halloween wedding ring roundup is for you. Skulls, black diamonds, coffin shaped moonstones(!), and sleek goth styles abound… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More 1.2k October 26, 2018 From costume chic to goth glam: these Halloween wedding dresses are spooktacular When it comes to Halloween, there's a lot to see: spooky decor, smoky unity ceremonies, horror movie themes, and dry ice on the dance floor. But my favorite part? The stunning Halloween wedding dresses we get to see every year. From a hint of purple to shades of goth to full-on costumes, Halloween wedding dresses run the gamut from sweet to scary and I LOVE IT. Read More October 24, 2018 13 stunning & spooky Halloween wedding rings It's that spookiest of times where the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest: Halloweeeeen! And if you're ring taste matches your taste in holidays, then this Halloween wedding ring roundup is for you. Skulls, black diamonds, coffin shaped moonstones(!), and sleek goth styles abound… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More 1.2k October 26, 2018 From costume chic to goth glam: these Halloween wedding dresses are spooktacular When it comes to Halloween, there's a lot to see: spooky decor, smoky unity ceremonies, horror movie themes, and dry ice on the dance floor. But my favorite part? The stunning Halloween wedding dresses we get to see every year. From a hint of purple to shades of goth to full-on costumes, Halloween wedding dresses run the gamut from sweet to scary and I LOVE IT. Read More October 24, 2018 13 stunning & spooky Halloween wedding rings It's that spookiest of times where the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest: Halloweeeeen! And if you're ring taste matches your taste in holidays, then this Halloween wedding ring roundup is for you. Skulls, black diamonds, coffin shaped moonstones(!), and sleek goth styles abound… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More 1.2k October 26, 2018 From costume chic to goth glam: these Halloween wedding dresses are spooktacular When it comes to Halloween, there's a lot to see: spooky decor, smoky unity ceremonies, horror movie themes, and dry ice on the dance floor. But my favorite part? The stunning Halloween wedding dresses we get to see every year. From a hint of purple to shades of goth to full-on costumes, Halloween wedding dresses run the gamut from sweet to scary and I LOVE IT. Read More October 24, 2018 13 stunning & spooky Halloween wedding rings It's that spookiest of times where the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest: Halloweeeeen! And if you're ring taste matches your taste in holidays, then this Halloween wedding ring roundup is for you. Skulls, black diamonds, coffin shaped moonstones(!), and sleek goth styles abound… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More 1.2k October 26, 2018 From costume chic to goth glam: these Halloween wedding dresses are spooktacular When it comes to Halloween, there's a lot to see: spooky decor, smoky unity ceremonies, horror movie themes, and dry ice on the dance floor. But my favorite part? The stunning Halloween wedding dresses we get to see every year. From a hint of purple to shades of goth to full-on costumes, Halloween wedding dresses run the gamut from sweet to scary and I LOVE IT. Read More October 24, 2018 13 stunning & spooky Halloween wedding rings It's that spookiest of times where the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest: Halloweeeeen! And if you're ring taste matches your taste in holidays, then this Halloween wedding ring roundup is for you. Skulls, black diamonds, coffin shaped moonstones(!), and sleek goth styles abound… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More 1.2k October 26, 2018 From costume chic to goth glam: these Halloween wedding dresses are spooktacular When it comes to Halloween, there's a lot to see: spooky decor, smoky unity ceremonies, horror movie themes, and dry ice on the dance floor. But my favorite part? The stunning Halloween wedding dresses we get to see every year. From a hint of purple to shades of goth to full-on costumes, Halloween wedding dresses run the gamut from sweet to scary and I LOVE IT. Read More October 24, 2018 13 stunning & spooky Halloween wedding rings It's that spookiest of times where the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest: Halloweeeeen! And if you're ring taste matches your taste in holidays, then this Halloween wedding ring roundup is for you. Skulls, black diamonds, coffin shaped moonstones(!), and sleek goth styles abound… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More 1.2k October 26, 2018 From costume chic to goth glam: these Halloween wedding dresses are spooktacular When it comes to Halloween, there's a lot to see: spooky decor, smoky unity ceremonies, horror movie themes, and dry ice on the dance floor. But my favorite part? The stunning Halloween wedding dresses we get to see every year. From a hint of purple to shades of goth to full-on costumes, Halloween wedding dresses run the gamut from sweet to scary and I LOVE IT. Read More October 24, 2018 13 stunning & spooky Halloween wedding rings It's that spookiest of times where the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest: Halloweeeeen! And if you're ring taste matches your taste in holidays, then this Halloween wedding ring roundup is for you. Skulls, black diamonds, coffin shaped moonstones(!), and sleek goth styles abound… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More 1.2k October 26, 2018 From costume chic to goth glam: these Halloween wedding dresses are spooktacular When it comes to Halloween, there's a lot to see: spooky decor, smoky unity ceremonies, horror movie themes, and dry ice on the dance floor. But my favorite part? The stunning Halloween wedding dresses we get to see every year. From a hint of purple to shades of goth to full-on costumes, Halloween wedding dresses run the gamut from sweet to scary and I LOVE IT. Read More October 24, 2018 13 stunning & spooky Halloween wedding rings It's that spookiest of times where the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest: Halloweeeeen! And if you're ring taste matches your taste in holidays, then this Halloween wedding ring roundup is for you. Skulls, black diamonds, coffin shaped moonstones(!), and sleek goth styles abound… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More 1.2k October 26, 2018 From costume chic to goth glam: these Halloween wedding dresses are spooktacular When it comes to Halloween, there's a lot to see: spooky decor, smoky unity ceremonies, horror movie themes, and dry ice on the dance floor. But my favorite part? The stunning Halloween wedding dresses we get to see every year. From a hint of purple to shades of goth to full-on costumes, Halloween wedding dresses run the gamut from sweet to scary and I LOVE IT. Read More October 24, 2018 13 stunning & spooky Halloween wedding rings It's that spookiest of times where the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest: Halloweeeeen! And if you're ring taste matches your taste in holidays, then this Halloween wedding ring roundup is for you. Skulls, black diamonds, coffin shaped moonstones(!), and sleek goth styles abound… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More 1.2k October 26, 2018 From costume chic to goth glam: these Halloween wedding dresses are spooktacular When it comes to Halloween, there's a lot to see: spooky decor, smoky unity ceremonies, horror movie themes, and dry ice on the dance floor. But my favorite part? The stunning Halloween wedding dresses we get to see every year. From a hint of purple to shades of goth to full-on costumes, Halloween wedding dresses run the gamut from sweet to scary and I LOVE IT. Read More October 24, 2018 13 stunning & spooky Halloween wedding rings It's that spookiest of times where the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest: Halloweeeeen! And if you're ring taste matches your taste in holidays, then this Halloween wedding ring roundup is for you. Skulls, black diamonds, coffin shaped moonstones(!), and sleek goth styles abound… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More 1.2k October 26, 2018 From costume chic to goth glam: these Halloween wedding dresses are spooktacular When it comes to Halloween, there's a lot to see: spooky decor, smoky unity ceremonies, horror movie themes, and dry ice on the dance floor. But my favorite part? The stunning Halloween wedding dresses we get to see every year. From a hint of purple to shades of goth to full-on costumes, Halloween wedding dresses run the gamut from sweet to scary and I LOVE IT. Read More October 24, 2018 13 stunning & spooky Halloween wedding rings It's that spookiest of times where the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest: Halloweeeeen! And if you're ring taste matches your taste in holidays, then this Halloween wedding ring roundup is for you. Skulls, black diamonds, coffin shaped moonstones(!), and sleek goth styles abound… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More 1.2k October 26, 2018 From costume chic to goth glam: these Halloween wedding dresses are spooktacular When it comes to Halloween, there's a lot to see: spooky decor, smoky unity ceremonies, horror movie themes, and dry ice on the dance floor. But my favorite part? The stunning Halloween wedding dresses we get to see every year. From a hint of purple to shades of goth to full-on costumes, Halloween wedding dresses run the gamut from sweet to scary and I LOVE IT. Read More October 24, 2018 13 stunning & spooky Halloween wedding rings It's that spookiest of times where the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest: Halloweeeeen! And if you're ring taste matches your taste in holidays, then this Halloween wedding ring roundup is for you. Skulls, black diamonds, coffin shaped moonstones(!), and sleek goth styles abound… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
1.2k October 26, 2018 From costume chic to goth glam: these Halloween wedding dresses are spooktacular When it comes to Halloween, there's a lot to see: spooky decor, smoky unity ceremonies, horror movie themes, and dry ice on the dance floor. But my favorite part? The stunning Halloween wedding dresses we get to see every year. From a hint of purple to shades of goth to full-on costumes, Halloween wedding dresses run the gamut from sweet to scary and I LOVE IT. Read More October 24, 2018 13 stunning & spooky Halloween wedding rings It's that spookiest of times where the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest: Halloweeeeen! And if you're ring taste matches your taste in holidays, then this Halloween wedding ring roundup is for you. Skulls, black diamonds, coffin shaped moonstones(!), and sleek goth styles abound… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
October 24, 2018 13 stunning & spooky Halloween wedding rings It's that spookiest of times where the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest: Halloweeeeen! And if you're ring taste matches your taste in holidays, then this Halloween wedding ring roundup is for you. Skulls, black diamonds, coffin shaped moonstones(!), and sleek goth styles abound… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Bethany & Joe's geeky winter church wedding Shannon & Brad's vintage-inspired New Year's Eve wedding South Carolina Lowcountry meets the colors of India in this two-day wedding Tim & Helen's colorful, DIY wedding in Bristol Arroxane & Mike's celestial, multicultural ceremony of matrimony Lisa & Kyle's zombie apocalypse, punk-rock dance party wedding Cathy & Jon's magical romantic hideaway elopement Jill & Zach's cozy and chilly winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Zakas Photography Read More Joseph Jewelry Read More Caroline Alden Photography Read More Bands For Hire Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning Your last-minute wedding checklist Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Planning tools 101: wedding guest seating chart planner Planning tools 101: wedding budget calculator Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 >