Jan. 24, 2020 How I handled pressure from family during wedding planning We just have so many people who are SO STOKED to FINALLY be able to do things that they've always wanted and expected to be able to do at a wedding! As wedding planning went on, juggling all of those dearly held expectations and figuring out how to handle pressure from family became more and more a part of our wedding planning process… Read More Jan. 22, 2020 How to have an unplugged wedding in 2020 An unplugged wedding isn’t for everyone — some couples want to skip a professional photog in favor of guests capturing the moments, while others simply aren’t bothered by the idea of devices pointed at them while they say their I dos. But if you feel irked by the idea of friends and family taking in your big day from behind a screen, consider the following… Read More Jan. 20, 2020 A laid-back, multicultural Olin Park wedding with a surprise dress swap They decided on a laid-back BBQ-style wedding, with a twist: Lia, whose mom is Chinese, wanted to surprise her with an outfit change into a traditional Chinese gown at the reception, and the results were stunning. Her mom was super surprised, and Lia looked amazing in both her traditional Western dress AND her traditional Chinese gown. Read More Jan. 17, 2020 Why doesn't anyone talk about how AWKWARD weddings feel? I think everyone needs to talk more about the real feeling of a wedding ceremony. Hello, people: HUSHED SILENCE AND STANDING IN FRONT OF A CROWD OF PEOPLE IS AWKWARD. Read More Jan. 15, 2020 My Vows-First Wedding I'm soooo tired of the wedding thing: the planning, the stressing, the fears that I'm not doing it right…and for what? By making my wedding unusual, authentic, personal, and different — okay, offbeat — I'm already almost guaranteeing that it won't meet everyone's expectations. That's why I'm making mine a vows-first wedding. Read More Jan. 13, 2020 A sweet Philadelphia elopement with an homage to some of the best photo spots in Philly Angela and Vojtech are planning a larger wedding next year overseas with family, but they wanted a Philadelphia elopement just for the two of them beforehand. They had a sweet private ceremony and lots of street photography in the city they love. They chose the Philadelphia Wedding Chapel for the wedding and then we went to Philadelphia's Broad Street for some romantic photos. Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Wedding Porn Dec. 23, 2019 Beautiful and avant-garde insect-themed wedding inspo Photography and planner Chettara titled this wedding inspiration, "You Bug Me in the Best Way" and it blew our minds. I had no idea insect-themed decor, favors, and styling could be so stunning, but IT IS. Read More Dec. 2, 2019 Red lips, red cars, & '50s Style at this retro wedding inspiration This stunning retro wedding inspiration at 28 Event Space in Kansas City was inspired by planning a fab wedding on a more modest budget. Polaroids as favors, sweet and simple retro-inspired decor, a focus on delicious desserts — it can all be done without having a huge budget. Don't miss the red lips with matching flowers, loving gazes, cocktail-length dress, the fancy vintage car, and all the fairy lights you could want… Read More 1.5k Nov. 6, 2019 6 brides, 6 styles: there's no one way to be a bride Y'all know we've never taken the stance that there's one kind of bride or one way to be a bride. There's enough pressure to fit into a mold (emotionally AND physically!), and so much pressure not to be a certain way (pushy, a "bridezilla," a pushover, whatever). So when we spied this shoot showcasing six real brides rocking their own styles from traditional and whimsical to tattooed to sporting a dapper suit, we were SO in. Read More Oct. 10, 2019 A celebration of Neo-Soul with rich florals, jumpsuits, & tulle skirts A Neo-Soul inspired wedding shoot? YES PLEASE. Hints of Maxwell and Erykah Badu, with decor that goes earthy, moody, and a bit gritty… Read More 2.3k Oct. 3, 2019 This pair met Toothless at their How to Train Your Dragon-themed forest engagement shoot Dorothy and Matthew are BIG fans of the How To Train Your Dragon movies and wanted to have some great couples photos with the feel of some of the scenes from the first movie, where Hiccup and Astrid are in the woods with Toothless… Read More Sep. 16, 2019 The venue at this black & white pop art-themed wedding inspiration is SO FUN What’s black, white and red all over? This amazing pop art-themed wedding inspiration at the Joshua Vides Chapel installation at the Palms Hotel and Casino. Using his signature black and white sketch motif, Vides converted 800 square feet of the Palms into this fun interactive art space he titled, "Til Death Do Us Part." Guests are welcome to participate in multiple ways including everything from taking photos for their social media to actually getting married in the space. Read More More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings Jan. 20, 2020 A laid-back, multicultural Olin Park wedding with a surprise dress swap They decided on a laid-back BBQ-style wedding, with a twist: Lia, whose mom is Chinese, wanted to surprise her with an outfit change into a traditional Chinese gown at the reception, and the results were stunning. Her mom was super surprised, and Lia looked amazing in both her traditional Western dress AND her traditional Chinese gown. Read More Jan. 13, 2020 A sweet Philadelphia elopement with an homage to some of the best photo spots in Philly Angela and Vojtech are planning a larger wedding next year overseas with family, but they wanted a Philadelphia elopement just for the two of them beforehand. They had a sweet private ceremony and lots of street photography in the city they love. They chose the Philadelphia Wedding Chapel for the wedding and then we went to Philadelphia's Broad Street for some romantic photos. Read More Jan. 6, 2020 Sunflowers, video games, and ribbon wands at this Kentucky mansion wedding A little rain, a lot of love! Deja and William included a bit of everything they love into their Kentucky wedding day at Wiedemann Hill Mansion including video games, sunflowers, ribbon wands, and tons of meaningful moments. Don't miss the gorgeous photos in front of the Eastern Redbud trees native to Kentucky, where the wedding took place… Read More Dec. 30, 2019 Vinyl, brass bands, & epic food made this music lovers' Sonoma wedding rock Rebecca and Oren are super music lovers, so when they were planning their Sonoma wedding, adding musical elements was a no-brainer. Here's more from the bride on how it all came to be… Read More Dec. 16, 2019 A soon-to-be mama & her handsome groom elope in the mountains of Glacier National Park As Mary's due date approached, her fiance Kristian told her out of the blue that he wanted to marry her before the baby came. So with short notice, they high-tailed it to Glacier National Park in Montana to celebrate their love, their baby, and make their marriage official. It was a truly glorious landscape to have a ceremony. Huge vistas, vast mountains, waterfalls, and a golden hour to end all golden hours… Read More 1.4k Dec. 9, 2019 This quirky Austin wedding had tons of color & even more style Tara and Steven have a quirky sense of personal style and they brought that into their wedding. This meant fun colors everywhere, from their outfits (that veil!) to their pup to their sweet outdoor ceremony. Don't miss the rainbow wedding party, floral "hey you" themed table names, and sparkler exit. You'll be bowled over with cuteness with this one… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice Jan. 24, 2020 How I handled pressure from family during wedding planning We just have so many people who are SO STOKED to FINALLY be able to do things that they've always wanted and expected to be able to do at a wedding! As wedding planning went on, juggling all of those dearly held expectations and figuring out how to handle pressure from family became more and more a part of our wedding planning process… Read More Jan. 22, 2020 How to have an unplugged wedding in 2020 An unplugged wedding isn’t for everyone — some couples want to skip a professional photog in favor of guests capturing the moments, while others simply aren’t bothered by the idea of devices pointed at them while they say their I dos. But if you feel irked by the idea of friends and family taking in your big day from behind a screen, consider the following… Read More Jan. 17, 2020 Why doesn't anyone talk about how AWKWARD weddings feel? I think everyone needs to talk more about the real feeling of a wedding ceremony. Hello, people: HUSHED SILENCE AND STANDING IN FRONT OF A CROWD OF PEOPLE IS AWKWARD. Read More Jan. 15, 2020 My Vows-First Wedding I'm soooo tired of the wedding thing: the planning, the stressing, the fears that I'm not doing it right…and for what? By making my wedding unusual, authentic, personal, and different — okay, offbeat — I'm already almost guaranteeing that it won't meet everyone's expectations. That's why I'm making mine a vows-first wedding. Read More Dec. 27, 2019 Our Unceremonious Ceremony: yes, you can improv wedding vows! I scrawled some vows on notepaper the morning of the wedding, and my partner 100% winged it in the moment. I'm sharing these really just to reiterate what Offbeat Bride is all about: I hope you get to do whatever you want on your day. Read More Dec. 20, 2019 How many stamps to put on your wedding invitations? Learn from my mistake! I learned that about half of our invitations arrived with a "postage due" stamp on the envelope and a smaller second envelope soliciting $0.15 from the recipient. What did I do wrong!? Read More More Advice > Recent DIY Jan. 8, 2020 Should you DIY wedding flowers? What to know before you say GO It's way too easy to think, "It's just flowers. I can do thaaaat!" as a favorite florist once said… Possibly because she had heard brides say that before! …A lot. But you need to make sure you're ready for all that's involved when you DIY your wedding flowers. Read More Sep. 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 8.9k Jul. 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 2.8k Jun. 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 3.3k 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 3.4k Apr. 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 Dec. 13, 2019 These stunning email invitation suites make digital look like print Emailing your wedding invitations is an eco-friendly AND budget-friendly wedding choice. Plus, they're getting to be just as lovely as printed invitations so you can still keep it as classy and avant-garde as you like. Read More 1.1k Dec. 3, 2019 Not your average celebrity rings: imagining the engagement rings of our favorite fictional characters Let's just have some fun today, imagining the engagement rings of a few of our favorite fictional characters. We're talking about everyone from the all-grown-up versions of Harry Potter characters like Luna Lovegood or Hermione Granger, to Star Wars characters, to movie faves like Lydia Dietz from Beetlejuice to Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, to comic book bad-asses like Wonder Woman, and Gamora… Read More 1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
Jan. 22, 2020 How to have an unplugged wedding in 2020 An unplugged wedding isn’t for everyone — some couples want to skip a professional photog in favor of guests capturing the moments, while others simply aren’t bothered by the idea of devices pointed at them while they say their I dos. But if you feel irked by the idea of friends and family taking in your big day from behind a screen, consider the following… Read More Jan. 20, 2020 A laid-back, multicultural Olin Park wedding with a surprise dress swap They decided on a laid-back BBQ-style wedding, with a twist: Lia, whose mom is Chinese, wanted to surprise her with an outfit change into a traditional Chinese gown at the reception, and the results were stunning. Her mom was super surprised, and Lia looked amazing in both her traditional Western dress AND her traditional Chinese gown. Read More Jan. 17, 2020 Why doesn't anyone talk about how AWKWARD weddings feel? I think everyone needs to talk more about the real feeling of a wedding ceremony. Hello, people: HUSHED SILENCE AND STANDING IN FRONT OF A CROWD OF PEOPLE IS AWKWARD. Read More Jan. 15, 2020 My Vows-First Wedding I'm soooo tired of the wedding thing: the planning, the stressing, the fears that I'm not doing it right…and for what? By making my wedding unusual, authentic, personal, and different — okay, offbeat — I'm already almost guaranteeing that it won't meet everyone's expectations. That's why I'm making mine a vows-first wedding. Read More Jan. 13, 2020 A sweet Philadelphia elopement with an homage to some of the best photo spots in Philly Angela and Vojtech are planning a larger wedding next year overseas with family, but they wanted a Philadelphia elopement just for the two of them beforehand. They had a sweet private ceremony and lots of street photography in the city they love. They chose the Philadelphia Wedding Chapel for the wedding and then we went to Philadelphia's Broad Street for some romantic photos. Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Wedding Porn Dec. 23, 2019 Beautiful and avant-garde insect-themed wedding inspo Photography and planner Chettara titled this wedding inspiration, "You Bug Me in the Best Way" and it blew our minds. I had no idea insect-themed decor, favors, and styling could be so stunning, but IT IS. Read More Dec. 2, 2019 Red lips, red cars, & '50s Style at this retro wedding inspiration This stunning retro wedding inspiration at 28 Event Space in Kansas City was inspired by planning a fab wedding on a more modest budget. Polaroids as favors, sweet and simple retro-inspired decor, a focus on delicious desserts — it can all be done without having a huge budget. Don't miss the red lips with matching flowers, loving gazes, cocktail-length dress, the fancy vintage car, and all the fairy lights you could want… Read More 1.5k Nov. 6, 2019 6 brides, 6 styles: there's no one way to be a bride Y'all know we've never taken the stance that there's one kind of bride or one way to be a bride. There's enough pressure to fit into a mold (emotionally AND physically!), and so much pressure not to be a certain way (pushy, a "bridezilla," a pushover, whatever). So when we spied this shoot showcasing six real brides rocking their own styles from traditional and whimsical to tattooed to sporting a dapper suit, we were SO in. Read More Oct. 10, 2019 A celebration of Neo-Soul with rich florals, jumpsuits, & tulle skirts A Neo-Soul inspired wedding shoot? YES PLEASE. Hints of Maxwell and Erykah Badu, with decor that goes earthy, moody, and a bit gritty… Read More 2.3k Oct. 3, 2019 This pair met Toothless at their How to Train Your Dragon-themed forest engagement shoot Dorothy and Matthew are BIG fans of the How To Train Your Dragon movies and wanted to have some great couples photos with the feel of some of the scenes from the first movie, where Hiccup and Astrid are in the woods with Toothless… Read More Sep. 16, 2019 The venue at this black & white pop art-themed wedding inspiration is SO FUN What’s black, white and red all over? This amazing pop art-themed wedding inspiration at the Joshua Vides Chapel installation at the Palms Hotel and Casino. Using his signature black and white sketch motif, Vides converted 800 square feet of the Palms into this fun interactive art space he titled, "Til Death Do Us Part." Guests are welcome to participate in multiple ways including everything from taking photos for their social media to actually getting married in the space. Read More More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings Jan. 20, 2020 A laid-back, multicultural Olin Park wedding with a surprise dress swap They decided on a laid-back BBQ-style wedding, with a twist: Lia, whose mom is Chinese, wanted to surprise her with an outfit change into a traditional Chinese gown at the reception, and the results were stunning. Her mom was super surprised, and Lia looked amazing in both her traditional Western dress AND her traditional Chinese gown. Read More Jan. 13, 2020 A sweet Philadelphia elopement with an homage to some of the best photo spots in Philly Angela and Vojtech are planning a larger wedding next year overseas with family, but they wanted a Philadelphia elopement just for the two of them beforehand. They had a sweet private ceremony and lots of street photography in the city they love. They chose the Philadelphia Wedding Chapel for the wedding and then we went to Philadelphia's Broad Street for some romantic photos. Read More Jan. 6, 2020 Sunflowers, video games, and ribbon wands at this Kentucky mansion wedding A little rain, a lot of love! Deja and William included a bit of everything they love into their Kentucky wedding day at Wiedemann Hill Mansion including video games, sunflowers, ribbon wands, and tons of meaningful moments. Don't miss the gorgeous photos in front of the Eastern Redbud trees native to Kentucky, where the wedding took place… Read More Dec. 30, 2019 Vinyl, brass bands, & epic food made this music lovers' Sonoma wedding rock Rebecca and Oren are super music lovers, so when they were planning their Sonoma wedding, adding musical elements was a no-brainer. Here's more from the bride on how it all came to be… Read More Dec. 16, 2019 A soon-to-be mama & her handsome groom elope in the mountains of Glacier National Park As Mary's due date approached, her fiance Kristian told her out of the blue that he wanted to marry her before the baby came. So with short notice, they high-tailed it to Glacier National Park in Montana to celebrate their love, their baby, and make their marriage official. It was a truly glorious landscape to have a ceremony. Huge vistas, vast mountains, waterfalls, and a golden hour to end all golden hours… Read More 1.4k Dec. 9, 2019 This quirky Austin wedding had tons of color & even more style Tara and Steven have a quirky sense of personal style and they brought that into their wedding. This meant fun colors everywhere, from their outfits (that veil!) to their pup to their sweet outdoor ceremony. Don't miss the rainbow wedding party, floral "hey you" themed table names, and sparkler exit. You'll be bowled over with cuteness with this one… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice Jan. 24, 2020 How I handled pressure from family during wedding planning We just have so many people who are SO STOKED to FINALLY be able to do things that they've always wanted and expected to be able to do at a wedding! As wedding planning went on, juggling all of those dearly held expectations and figuring out how to handle pressure from family became more and more a part of our wedding planning process… Read More Jan. 22, 2020 How to have an unplugged wedding in 2020 An unplugged wedding isn’t for everyone — some couples want to skip a professional photog in favor of guests capturing the moments, while others simply aren’t bothered by the idea of devices pointed at them while they say their I dos. But if you feel irked by the idea of friends and family taking in your big day from behind a screen, consider the following… Read More Jan. 17, 2020 Why doesn't anyone talk about how AWKWARD weddings feel? I think everyone needs to talk more about the real feeling of a wedding ceremony. Hello, people: HUSHED SILENCE AND STANDING IN FRONT OF A CROWD OF PEOPLE IS AWKWARD. Read More Jan. 15, 2020 My Vows-First Wedding I'm soooo tired of the wedding thing: the planning, the stressing, the fears that I'm not doing it right…and for what? By making my wedding unusual, authentic, personal, and different — okay, offbeat — I'm already almost guaranteeing that it won't meet everyone's expectations. That's why I'm making mine a vows-first wedding. Read More Dec. 27, 2019 Our Unceremonious Ceremony: yes, you can improv wedding vows! I scrawled some vows on notepaper the morning of the wedding, and my partner 100% winged it in the moment. I'm sharing these really just to reiterate what Offbeat Bride is all about: I hope you get to do whatever you want on your day. Read More Dec. 20, 2019 How many stamps to put on your wedding invitations? Learn from my mistake! I learned that about half of our invitations arrived with a "postage due" stamp on the envelope and a smaller second envelope soliciting $0.15 from the recipient. What did I do wrong!? Read More More Advice > Recent DIY Jan. 8, 2020 Should you DIY wedding flowers? What to know before you say GO It's way too easy to think, "It's just flowers. I can do thaaaat!" as a favorite florist once said… Possibly because she had heard brides say that before! …A lot. But you need to make sure you're ready for all that's involved when you DIY your wedding flowers. Read More Sep. 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 8.9k Jul. 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 2.8k Jun. 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 3.3k 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 3.4k Apr. 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 Dec. 13, 2019 These stunning email invitation suites make digital look like print Emailing your wedding invitations is an eco-friendly AND budget-friendly wedding choice. Plus, they're getting to be just as lovely as printed invitations so you can still keep it as classy and avant-garde as you like. Read More 1.1k Dec. 3, 2019 Not your average celebrity rings: imagining the engagement rings of our favorite fictional characters Let's just have some fun today, imagining the engagement rings of a few of our favorite fictional characters. We're talking about everyone from the all-grown-up versions of Harry Potter characters like Luna Lovegood or Hermione Granger, to Star Wars characters, to movie faves like Lydia Dietz from Beetlejuice to Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, to comic book bad-asses like Wonder Woman, and Gamora… Read More 1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
Jan. 20, 2020 A laid-back, multicultural Olin Park wedding with a surprise dress swap They decided on a laid-back BBQ-style wedding, with a twist: Lia, whose mom is Chinese, wanted to surprise her with an outfit change into a traditional Chinese gown at the reception, and the results were stunning. Her mom was super surprised, and Lia looked amazing in both her traditional Western dress AND her traditional Chinese gown. Read More Jan. 17, 2020 Why doesn't anyone talk about how AWKWARD weddings feel? I think everyone needs to talk more about the real feeling of a wedding ceremony. Hello, people: HUSHED SILENCE AND STANDING IN FRONT OF A CROWD OF PEOPLE IS AWKWARD. Read More Jan. 15, 2020 My Vows-First Wedding I'm soooo tired of the wedding thing: the planning, the stressing, the fears that I'm not doing it right…and for what? By making my wedding unusual, authentic, personal, and different — okay, offbeat — I'm already almost guaranteeing that it won't meet everyone's expectations. That's why I'm making mine a vows-first wedding. Read More Jan. 13, 2020 A sweet Philadelphia elopement with an homage to some of the best photo spots in Philly Angela and Vojtech are planning a larger wedding next year overseas with family, but they wanted a Philadelphia elopement just for the two of them beforehand. They had a sweet private ceremony and lots of street photography in the city they love. They chose the Philadelphia Wedding Chapel for the wedding and then we went to Philadelphia's Broad Street for some romantic photos. Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Wedding Porn Dec. 23, 2019 Beautiful and avant-garde insect-themed wedding inspo Photography and planner Chettara titled this wedding inspiration, "You Bug Me in the Best Way" and it blew our minds. I had no idea insect-themed decor, favors, and styling could be so stunning, but IT IS. Read More Dec. 2, 2019 Red lips, red cars, & '50s Style at this retro wedding inspiration This stunning retro wedding inspiration at 28 Event Space in Kansas City was inspired by planning a fab wedding on a more modest budget. Polaroids as favors, sweet and simple retro-inspired decor, a focus on delicious desserts — it can all be done without having a huge budget. Don't miss the red lips with matching flowers, loving gazes, cocktail-length dress, the fancy vintage car, and all the fairy lights you could want… Read More 1.5k Nov. 6, 2019 6 brides, 6 styles: there's no one way to be a bride Y'all know we've never taken the stance that there's one kind of bride or one way to be a bride. There's enough pressure to fit into a mold (emotionally AND physically!), and so much pressure not to be a certain way (pushy, a "bridezilla," a pushover, whatever). So when we spied this shoot showcasing six real brides rocking their own styles from traditional and whimsical to tattooed to sporting a dapper suit, we were SO in. Read More Oct. 10, 2019 A celebration of Neo-Soul with rich florals, jumpsuits, & tulle skirts A Neo-Soul inspired wedding shoot? YES PLEASE. Hints of Maxwell and Erykah Badu, with decor that goes earthy, moody, and a bit gritty… Read More 2.3k Oct. 3, 2019 This pair met Toothless at their How to Train Your Dragon-themed forest engagement shoot Dorothy and Matthew are BIG fans of the How To Train Your Dragon movies and wanted to have some great couples photos with the feel of some of the scenes from the first movie, where Hiccup and Astrid are in the woods with Toothless… Read More Sep. 16, 2019 The venue at this black & white pop art-themed wedding inspiration is SO FUN What’s black, white and red all over? This amazing pop art-themed wedding inspiration at the Joshua Vides Chapel installation at the Palms Hotel and Casino. Using his signature black and white sketch motif, Vides converted 800 square feet of the Palms into this fun interactive art space he titled, "Til Death Do Us Part." Guests are welcome to participate in multiple ways including everything from taking photos for their social media to actually getting married in the space. Read More More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings Jan. 20, 2020 A laid-back, multicultural Olin Park wedding with a surprise dress swap They decided on a laid-back BBQ-style wedding, with a twist: Lia, whose mom is Chinese, wanted to surprise her with an outfit change into a traditional Chinese gown at the reception, and the results were stunning. Her mom was super surprised, and Lia looked amazing in both her traditional Western dress AND her traditional Chinese gown. Read More Jan. 13, 2020 A sweet Philadelphia elopement with an homage to some of the best photo spots in Philly Angela and Vojtech are planning a larger wedding next year overseas with family, but they wanted a Philadelphia elopement just for the two of them beforehand. They had a sweet private ceremony and lots of street photography in the city they love. They chose the Philadelphia Wedding Chapel for the wedding and then we went to Philadelphia's Broad Street for some romantic photos. Read More Jan. 6, 2020 Sunflowers, video games, and ribbon wands at this Kentucky mansion wedding A little rain, a lot of love! Deja and William included a bit of everything they love into their Kentucky wedding day at Wiedemann Hill Mansion including video games, sunflowers, ribbon wands, and tons of meaningful moments. Don't miss the gorgeous photos in front of the Eastern Redbud trees native to Kentucky, where the wedding took place… Read More Dec. 30, 2019 Vinyl, brass bands, & epic food made this music lovers' Sonoma wedding rock Rebecca and Oren are super music lovers, so when they were planning their Sonoma wedding, adding musical elements was a no-brainer. Here's more from the bride on how it all came to be… Read More Dec. 16, 2019 A soon-to-be mama & her handsome groom elope in the mountains of Glacier National Park As Mary's due date approached, her fiance Kristian told her out of the blue that he wanted to marry her before the baby came. So with short notice, they high-tailed it to Glacier National Park in Montana to celebrate their love, their baby, and make their marriage official. It was a truly glorious landscape to have a ceremony. Huge vistas, vast mountains, waterfalls, and a golden hour to end all golden hours… Read More 1.4k Dec. 9, 2019 This quirky Austin wedding had tons of color & even more style Tara and Steven have a quirky sense of personal style and they brought that into their wedding. This meant fun colors everywhere, from their outfits (that veil!) to their pup to their sweet outdoor ceremony. Don't miss the rainbow wedding party, floral "hey you" themed table names, and sparkler exit. You'll be bowled over with cuteness with this one… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice Jan. 24, 2020 How I handled pressure from family during wedding planning We just have so many people who are SO STOKED to FINALLY be able to do things that they've always wanted and expected to be able to do at a wedding! As wedding planning went on, juggling all of those dearly held expectations and figuring out how to handle pressure from family became more and more a part of our wedding planning process… Read More Jan. 22, 2020 How to have an unplugged wedding in 2020 An unplugged wedding isn’t for everyone — some couples want to skip a professional photog in favor of guests capturing the moments, while others simply aren’t bothered by the idea of devices pointed at them while they say their I dos. But if you feel irked by the idea of friends and family taking in your big day from behind a screen, consider the following… Read More Jan. 17, 2020 Why doesn't anyone talk about how AWKWARD weddings feel? I think everyone needs to talk more about the real feeling of a wedding ceremony. Hello, people: HUSHED SILENCE AND STANDING IN FRONT OF A CROWD OF PEOPLE IS AWKWARD. Read More Jan. 15, 2020 My Vows-First Wedding I'm soooo tired of the wedding thing: the planning, the stressing, the fears that I'm not doing it right…and for what? By making my wedding unusual, authentic, personal, and different — okay, offbeat — I'm already almost guaranteeing that it won't meet everyone's expectations. That's why I'm making mine a vows-first wedding. Read More Dec. 27, 2019 Our Unceremonious Ceremony: yes, you can improv wedding vows! I scrawled some vows on notepaper the morning of the wedding, and my partner 100% winged it in the moment. I'm sharing these really just to reiterate what Offbeat Bride is all about: I hope you get to do whatever you want on your day. Read More Dec. 20, 2019 How many stamps to put on your wedding invitations? Learn from my mistake! I learned that about half of our invitations arrived with a "postage due" stamp on the envelope and a smaller second envelope soliciting $0.15 from the recipient. What did I do wrong!? Read More More Advice > Recent DIY Jan. 8, 2020 Should you DIY wedding flowers? What to know before you say GO It's way too easy to think, "It's just flowers. I can do thaaaat!" as a favorite florist once said… Possibly because she had heard brides say that before! …A lot. But you need to make sure you're ready for all that's involved when you DIY your wedding flowers. Read More Sep. 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 8.9k Jul. 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 2.8k Jun. 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 3.3k 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 3.4k Apr. 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 Dec. 13, 2019 These stunning email invitation suites make digital look like print Emailing your wedding invitations is an eco-friendly AND budget-friendly wedding choice. Plus, they're getting to be just as lovely as printed invitations so you can still keep it as classy and avant-garde as you like. Read More 1.1k Dec. 3, 2019 Not your average celebrity rings: imagining the engagement rings of our favorite fictional characters Let's just have some fun today, imagining the engagement rings of a few of our favorite fictional characters. We're talking about everyone from the all-grown-up versions of Harry Potter characters like Luna Lovegood or Hermione Granger, to Star Wars characters, to movie faves like Lydia Dietz from Beetlejuice to Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, to comic book bad-asses like Wonder Woman, and Gamora… Read More 1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
Jan. 17, 2020 Why doesn't anyone talk about how AWKWARD weddings feel? I think everyone needs to talk more about the real feeling of a wedding ceremony. Hello, people: HUSHED SILENCE AND STANDING IN FRONT OF A CROWD OF PEOPLE IS AWKWARD. Read More Jan. 15, 2020 My Vows-First Wedding I'm soooo tired of the wedding thing: the planning, the stressing, the fears that I'm not doing it right…and for what? By making my wedding unusual, authentic, personal, and different — okay, offbeat — I'm already almost guaranteeing that it won't meet everyone's expectations. That's why I'm making mine a vows-first wedding. Read More Jan. 13, 2020 A sweet Philadelphia elopement with an homage to some of the best photo spots in Philly Angela and Vojtech are planning a larger wedding next year overseas with family, but they wanted a Philadelphia elopement just for the two of them beforehand. They had a sweet private ceremony and lots of street photography in the city they love. They chose the Philadelphia Wedding Chapel for the wedding and then we went to Philadelphia's Broad Street for some romantic photos. Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Wedding Porn Dec. 23, 2019 Beautiful and avant-garde insect-themed wedding inspo Photography and planner Chettara titled this wedding inspiration, "You Bug Me in the Best Way" and it blew our minds. I had no idea insect-themed decor, favors, and styling could be so stunning, but IT IS. Read More Dec. 2, 2019 Red lips, red cars, & '50s Style at this retro wedding inspiration This stunning retro wedding inspiration at 28 Event Space in Kansas City was inspired by planning a fab wedding on a more modest budget. Polaroids as favors, sweet and simple retro-inspired decor, a focus on delicious desserts — it can all be done without having a huge budget. Don't miss the red lips with matching flowers, loving gazes, cocktail-length dress, the fancy vintage car, and all the fairy lights you could want… Read More 1.5k Nov. 6, 2019 6 brides, 6 styles: there's no one way to be a bride Y'all know we've never taken the stance that there's one kind of bride or one way to be a bride. There's enough pressure to fit into a mold (emotionally AND physically!), and so much pressure not to be a certain way (pushy, a "bridezilla," a pushover, whatever). So when we spied this shoot showcasing six real brides rocking their own styles from traditional and whimsical to tattooed to sporting a dapper suit, we were SO in. Read More Oct. 10, 2019 A celebration of Neo-Soul with rich florals, jumpsuits, & tulle skirts A Neo-Soul inspired wedding shoot? YES PLEASE. Hints of Maxwell and Erykah Badu, with decor that goes earthy, moody, and a bit gritty… Read More 2.3k Oct. 3, 2019 This pair met Toothless at their How to Train Your Dragon-themed forest engagement shoot Dorothy and Matthew are BIG fans of the How To Train Your Dragon movies and wanted to have some great couples photos with the feel of some of the scenes from the first movie, where Hiccup and Astrid are in the woods with Toothless… Read More Sep. 16, 2019 The venue at this black & white pop art-themed wedding inspiration is SO FUN What’s black, white and red all over? This amazing pop art-themed wedding inspiration at the Joshua Vides Chapel installation at the Palms Hotel and Casino. Using his signature black and white sketch motif, Vides converted 800 square feet of the Palms into this fun interactive art space he titled, "Til Death Do Us Part." Guests are welcome to participate in multiple ways including everything from taking photos for their social media to actually getting married in the space. Read More More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings Jan. 20, 2020 A laid-back, multicultural Olin Park wedding with a surprise dress swap They decided on a laid-back BBQ-style wedding, with a twist: Lia, whose mom is Chinese, wanted to surprise her with an outfit change into a traditional Chinese gown at the reception, and the results were stunning. Her mom was super surprised, and Lia looked amazing in both her traditional Western dress AND her traditional Chinese gown. Read More Jan. 13, 2020 A sweet Philadelphia elopement with an homage to some of the best photo spots in Philly Angela and Vojtech are planning a larger wedding next year overseas with family, but they wanted a Philadelphia elopement just for the two of them beforehand. They had a sweet private ceremony and lots of street photography in the city they love. They chose the Philadelphia Wedding Chapel for the wedding and then we went to Philadelphia's Broad Street for some romantic photos. Read More Jan. 6, 2020 Sunflowers, video games, and ribbon wands at this Kentucky mansion wedding A little rain, a lot of love! Deja and William included a bit of everything they love into their Kentucky wedding day at Wiedemann Hill Mansion including video games, sunflowers, ribbon wands, and tons of meaningful moments. Don't miss the gorgeous photos in front of the Eastern Redbud trees native to Kentucky, where the wedding took place… Read More Dec. 30, 2019 Vinyl, brass bands, & epic food made this music lovers' Sonoma wedding rock Rebecca and Oren are super music lovers, so when they were planning their Sonoma wedding, adding musical elements was a no-brainer. Here's more from the bride on how it all came to be… Read More Dec. 16, 2019 A soon-to-be mama & her handsome groom elope in the mountains of Glacier National Park As Mary's due date approached, her fiance Kristian told her out of the blue that he wanted to marry her before the baby came. So with short notice, they high-tailed it to Glacier National Park in Montana to celebrate their love, their baby, and make their marriage official. It was a truly glorious landscape to have a ceremony. Huge vistas, vast mountains, waterfalls, and a golden hour to end all golden hours… Read More 1.4k Dec. 9, 2019 This quirky Austin wedding had tons of color & even more style Tara and Steven have a quirky sense of personal style and they brought that into their wedding. This meant fun colors everywhere, from their outfits (that veil!) to their pup to their sweet outdoor ceremony. Don't miss the rainbow wedding party, floral "hey you" themed table names, and sparkler exit. You'll be bowled over with cuteness with this one… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice Jan. 24, 2020 How I handled pressure from family during wedding planning We just have so many people who are SO STOKED to FINALLY be able to do things that they've always wanted and expected to be able to do at a wedding! As wedding planning went on, juggling all of those dearly held expectations and figuring out how to handle pressure from family became more and more a part of our wedding planning process… Read More Jan. 22, 2020 How to have an unplugged wedding in 2020 An unplugged wedding isn’t for everyone — some couples want to skip a professional photog in favor of guests capturing the moments, while others simply aren’t bothered by the idea of devices pointed at them while they say their I dos. But if you feel irked by the idea of friends and family taking in your big day from behind a screen, consider the following… Read More Jan. 17, 2020 Why doesn't anyone talk about how AWKWARD weddings feel? I think everyone needs to talk more about the real feeling of a wedding ceremony. Hello, people: HUSHED SILENCE AND STANDING IN FRONT OF A CROWD OF PEOPLE IS AWKWARD. Read More Jan. 15, 2020 My Vows-First Wedding I'm soooo tired of the wedding thing: the planning, the stressing, the fears that I'm not doing it right…and for what? By making my wedding unusual, authentic, personal, and different — okay, offbeat — I'm already almost guaranteeing that it won't meet everyone's expectations. That's why I'm making mine a vows-first wedding. Read More Dec. 27, 2019 Our Unceremonious Ceremony: yes, you can improv wedding vows! I scrawled some vows on notepaper the morning of the wedding, and my partner 100% winged it in the moment. I'm sharing these really just to reiterate what Offbeat Bride is all about: I hope you get to do whatever you want on your day. Read More Dec. 20, 2019 How many stamps to put on your wedding invitations? Learn from my mistake! I learned that about half of our invitations arrived with a "postage due" stamp on the envelope and a smaller second envelope soliciting $0.15 from the recipient. What did I do wrong!? Read More More Advice > Recent DIY Jan. 8, 2020 Should you DIY wedding flowers? What to know before you say GO It's way too easy to think, "It's just flowers. I can do thaaaat!" as a favorite florist once said… Possibly because she had heard brides say that before! …A lot. But you need to make sure you're ready for all that's involved when you DIY your wedding flowers. Read More Sep. 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 8.9k Jul. 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 2.8k Jun. 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 3.3k 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 3.4k Apr. 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 Dec. 13, 2019 These stunning email invitation suites make digital look like print Emailing your wedding invitations is an eco-friendly AND budget-friendly wedding choice. Plus, they're getting to be just as lovely as printed invitations so you can still keep it as classy and avant-garde as you like. Read More 1.1k Dec. 3, 2019 Not your average celebrity rings: imagining the engagement rings of our favorite fictional characters Let's just have some fun today, imagining the engagement rings of a few of our favorite fictional characters. We're talking about everyone from the all-grown-up versions of Harry Potter characters like Luna Lovegood or Hermione Granger, to Star Wars characters, to movie faves like Lydia Dietz from Beetlejuice to Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, to comic book bad-asses like Wonder Woman, and Gamora… Read More 1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
Jan. 15, 2020 My Vows-First Wedding I'm soooo tired of the wedding thing: the planning, the stressing, the fears that I'm not doing it right…and for what? By making my wedding unusual, authentic, personal, and different — okay, offbeat — I'm already almost guaranteeing that it won't meet everyone's expectations. That's why I'm making mine a vows-first wedding. Read More Jan. 13, 2020 A sweet Philadelphia elopement with an homage to some of the best photo spots in Philly Angela and Vojtech are planning a larger wedding next year overseas with family, but they wanted a Philadelphia elopement just for the two of them beforehand. They had a sweet private ceremony and lots of street photography in the city they love. They chose the Philadelphia Wedding Chapel for the wedding and then we went to Philadelphia's Broad Street for some romantic photos. Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Wedding Porn Dec. 23, 2019 Beautiful and avant-garde insect-themed wedding inspo Photography and planner Chettara titled this wedding inspiration, "You Bug Me in the Best Way" and it blew our minds. I had no idea insect-themed decor, favors, and styling could be so stunning, but IT IS. Read More Dec. 2, 2019 Red lips, red cars, & '50s Style at this retro wedding inspiration This stunning retro wedding inspiration at 28 Event Space in Kansas City was inspired by planning a fab wedding on a more modest budget. Polaroids as favors, sweet and simple retro-inspired decor, a focus on delicious desserts — it can all be done without having a huge budget. Don't miss the red lips with matching flowers, loving gazes, cocktail-length dress, the fancy vintage car, and all the fairy lights you could want… Read More 1.5k Nov. 6, 2019 6 brides, 6 styles: there's no one way to be a bride Y'all know we've never taken the stance that there's one kind of bride or one way to be a bride. There's enough pressure to fit into a mold (emotionally AND physically!), and so much pressure not to be a certain way (pushy, a "bridezilla," a pushover, whatever). So when we spied this shoot showcasing six real brides rocking their own styles from traditional and whimsical to tattooed to sporting a dapper suit, we were SO in. Read More Oct. 10, 2019 A celebration of Neo-Soul with rich florals, jumpsuits, & tulle skirts A Neo-Soul inspired wedding shoot? YES PLEASE. Hints of Maxwell and Erykah Badu, with decor that goes earthy, moody, and a bit gritty… Read More 2.3k Oct. 3, 2019 This pair met Toothless at their How to Train Your Dragon-themed forest engagement shoot Dorothy and Matthew are BIG fans of the How To Train Your Dragon movies and wanted to have some great couples photos with the feel of some of the scenes from the first movie, where Hiccup and Astrid are in the woods with Toothless… Read More Sep. 16, 2019 The venue at this black & white pop art-themed wedding inspiration is SO FUN What’s black, white and red all over? This amazing pop art-themed wedding inspiration at the Joshua Vides Chapel installation at the Palms Hotel and Casino. Using his signature black and white sketch motif, Vides converted 800 square feet of the Palms into this fun interactive art space he titled, "Til Death Do Us Part." Guests are welcome to participate in multiple ways including everything from taking photos for their social media to actually getting married in the space. Read More More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings Jan. 20, 2020 A laid-back, multicultural Olin Park wedding with a surprise dress swap They decided on a laid-back BBQ-style wedding, with a twist: Lia, whose mom is Chinese, wanted to surprise her with an outfit change into a traditional Chinese gown at the reception, and the results were stunning. Her mom was super surprised, and Lia looked amazing in both her traditional Western dress AND her traditional Chinese gown. Read More Jan. 13, 2020 A sweet Philadelphia elopement with an homage to some of the best photo spots in Philly Angela and Vojtech are planning a larger wedding next year overseas with family, but they wanted a Philadelphia elopement just for the two of them beforehand. They had a sweet private ceremony and lots of street photography in the city they love. They chose the Philadelphia Wedding Chapel for the wedding and then we went to Philadelphia's Broad Street for some romantic photos. Read More Jan. 6, 2020 Sunflowers, video games, and ribbon wands at this Kentucky mansion wedding A little rain, a lot of love! Deja and William included a bit of everything they love into their Kentucky wedding day at Wiedemann Hill Mansion including video games, sunflowers, ribbon wands, and tons of meaningful moments. Don't miss the gorgeous photos in front of the Eastern Redbud trees native to Kentucky, where the wedding took place… Read More Dec. 30, 2019 Vinyl, brass bands, & epic food made this music lovers' Sonoma wedding rock Rebecca and Oren are super music lovers, so when they were planning their Sonoma wedding, adding musical elements was a no-brainer. Here's more from the bride on how it all came to be… Read More Dec. 16, 2019 A soon-to-be mama & her handsome groom elope in the mountains of Glacier National Park As Mary's due date approached, her fiance Kristian told her out of the blue that he wanted to marry her before the baby came. So with short notice, they high-tailed it to Glacier National Park in Montana to celebrate their love, their baby, and make their marriage official. It was a truly glorious landscape to have a ceremony. Huge vistas, vast mountains, waterfalls, and a golden hour to end all golden hours… Read More 1.4k Dec. 9, 2019 This quirky Austin wedding had tons of color & even more style Tara and Steven have a quirky sense of personal style and they brought that into their wedding. This meant fun colors everywhere, from their outfits (that veil!) to their pup to their sweet outdoor ceremony. Don't miss the rainbow wedding party, floral "hey you" themed table names, and sparkler exit. You'll be bowled over with cuteness with this one… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice Jan. 24, 2020 How I handled pressure from family during wedding planning We just have so many people who are SO STOKED to FINALLY be able to do things that they've always wanted and expected to be able to do at a wedding! As wedding planning went on, juggling all of those dearly held expectations and figuring out how to handle pressure from family became more and more a part of our wedding planning process… Read More Jan. 22, 2020 How to have an unplugged wedding in 2020 An unplugged wedding isn’t for everyone — some couples want to skip a professional photog in favor of guests capturing the moments, while others simply aren’t bothered by the idea of devices pointed at them while they say their I dos. But if you feel irked by the idea of friends and family taking in your big day from behind a screen, consider the following… Read More Jan. 17, 2020 Why doesn't anyone talk about how AWKWARD weddings feel? I think everyone needs to talk more about the real feeling of a wedding ceremony. Hello, people: HUSHED SILENCE AND STANDING IN FRONT OF A CROWD OF PEOPLE IS AWKWARD. Read More Jan. 15, 2020 My Vows-First Wedding I'm soooo tired of the wedding thing: the planning, the stressing, the fears that I'm not doing it right…and for what? By making my wedding unusual, authentic, personal, and different — okay, offbeat — I'm already almost guaranteeing that it won't meet everyone's expectations. That's why I'm making mine a vows-first wedding. Read More Dec. 27, 2019 Our Unceremonious Ceremony: yes, you can improv wedding vows! I scrawled some vows on notepaper the morning of the wedding, and my partner 100% winged it in the moment. I'm sharing these really just to reiterate what Offbeat Bride is all about: I hope you get to do whatever you want on your day. Read More Dec. 20, 2019 How many stamps to put on your wedding invitations? Learn from my mistake! I learned that about half of our invitations arrived with a "postage due" stamp on the envelope and a smaller second envelope soliciting $0.15 from the recipient. What did I do wrong!? Read More More Advice > Recent DIY Jan. 8, 2020 Should you DIY wedding flowers? What to know before you say GO It's way too easy to think, "It's just flowers. I can do thaaaat!" as a favorite florist once said… Possibly because she had heard brides say that before! …A lot. But you need to make sure you're ready for all that's involved when you DIY your wedding flowers. Read More Sep. 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 8.9k Jul. 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 2.8k Jun. 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 3.3k 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 3.4k Apr. 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 Dec. 13, 2019 These stunning email invitation suites make digital look like print Emailing your wedding invitations is an eco-friendly AND budget-friendly wedding choice. Plus, they're getting to be just as lovely as printed invitations so you can still keep it as classy and avant-garde as you like. Read More 1.1k Dec. 3, 2019 Not your average celebrity rings: imagining the engagement rings of our favorite fictional characters Let's just have some fun today, imagining the engagement rings of a few of our favorite fictional characters. We're talking about everyone from the all-grown-up versions of Harry Potter characters like Luna Lovegood or Hermione Granger, to Star Wars characters, to movie faves like Lydia Dietz from Beetlejuice to Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, to comic book bad-asses like Wonder Woman, and Gamora… Read More 1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
Jan. 13, 2020 A sweet Philadelphia elopement with an homage to some of the best photo spots in Philly Angela and Vojtech are planning a larger wedding next year overseas with family, but they wanted a Philadelphia elopement just for the two of them beforehand. They had a sweet private ceremony and lots of street photography in the city they love. They chose the Philadelphia Wedding Chapel for the wedding and then we went to Philadelphia's Broad Street for some romantic photos. Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Wedding Porn Dec. 23, 2019 Beautiful and avant-garde insect-themed wedding inspo Photography and planner Chettara titled this wedding inspiration, "You Bug Me in the Best Way" and it blew our minds. I had no idea insect-themed decor, favors, and styling could be so stunning, but IT IS. Read More Dec. 2, 2019 Red lips, red cars, & '50s Style at this retro wedding inspiration This stunning retro wedding inspiration at 28 Event Space in Kansas City was inspired by planning a fab wedding on a more modest budget. Polaroids as favors, sweet and simple retro-inspired decor, a focus on delicious desserts — it can all be done without having a huge budget. Don't miss the red lips with matching flowers, loving gazes, cocktail-length dress, the fancy vintage car, and all the fairy lights you could want… Read More 1.5k Nov. 6, 2019 6 brides, 6 styles: there's no one way to be a bride Y'all know we've never taken the stance that there's one kind of bride or one way to be a bride. There's enough pressure to fit into a mold (emotionally AND physically!), and so much pressure not to be a certain way (pushy, a "bridezilla," a pushover, whatever). So when we spied this shoot showcasing six real brides rocking their own styles from traditional and whimsical to tattooed to sporting a dapper suit, we were SO in. Read More Oct. 10, 2019 A celebration of Neo-Soul with rich florals, jumpsuits, & tulle skirts A Neo-Soul inspired wedding shoot? YES PLEASE. Hints of Maxwell and Erykah Badu, with decor that goes earthy, moody, and a bit gritty… Read More 2.3k Oct. 3, 2019 This pair met Toothless at their How to Train Your Dragon-themed forest engagement shoot Dorothy and Matthew are BIG fans of the How To Train Your Dragon movies and wanted to have some great couples photos with the feel of some of the scenes from the first movie, where Hiccup and Astrid are in the woods with Toothless… Read More Sep. 16, 2019 The venue at this black & white pop art-themed wedding inspiration is SO FUN What’s black, white and red all over? This amazing pop art-themed wedding inspiration at the Joshua Vides Chapel installation at the Palms Hotel and Casino. Using his signature black and white sketch motif, Vides converted 800 square feet of the Palms into this fun interactive art space he titled, "Til Death Do Us Part." Guests are welcome to participate in multiple ways including everything from taking photos for their social media to actually getting married in the space. Read More More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings Jan. 20, 2020 A laid-back, multicultural Olin Park wedding with a surprise dress swap They decided on a laid-back BBQ-style wedding, with a twist: Lia, whose mom is Chinese, wanted to surprise her with an outfit change into a traditional Chinese gown at the reception, and the results were stunning. Her mom was super surprised, and Lia looked amazing in both her traditional Western dress AND her traditional Chinese gown. Read More Jan. 13, 2020 A sweet Philadelphia elopement with an homage to some of the best photo spots in Philly Angela and Vojtech are planning a larger wedding next year overseas with family, but they wanted a Philadelphia elopement just for the two of them beforehand. They had a sweet private ceremony and lots of street photography in the city they love. They chose the Philadelphia Wedding Chapel for the wedding and then we went to Philadelphia's Broad Street for some romantic photos. Read More Jan. 6, 2020 Sunflowers, video games, and ribbon wands at this Kentucky mansion wedding A little rain, a lot of love! Deja and William included a bit of everything they love into their Kentucky wedding day at Wiedemann Hill Mansion including video games, sunflowers, ribbon wands, and tons of meaningful moments. Don't miss the gorgeous photos in front of the Eastern Redbud trees native to Kentucky, where the wedding took place… Read More Dec. 30, 2019 Vinyl, brass bands, & epic food made this music lovers' Sonoma wedding rock Rebecca and Oren are super music lovers, so when they were planning their Sonoma wedding, adding musical elements was a no-brainer. Here's more from the bride on how it all came to be… Read More Dec. 16, 2019 A soon-to-be mama & her handsome groom elope in the mountains of Glacier National Park As Mary's due date approached, her fiance Kristian told her out of the blue that he wanted to marry her before the baby came. So with short notice, they high-tailed it to Glacier National Park in Montana to celebrate their love, their baby, and make their marriage official. It was a truly glorious landscape to have a ceremony. Huge vistas, vast mountains, waterfalls, and a golden hour to end all golden hours… Read More 1.4k Dec. 9, 2019 This quirky Austin wedding had tons of color & even more style Tara and Steven have a quirky sense of personal style and they brought that into their wedding. This meant fun colors everywhere, from their outfits (that veil!) to their pup to their sweet outdoor ceremony. Don't miss the rainbow wedding party, floral "hey you" themed table names, and sparkler exit. You'll be bowled over with cuteness with this one… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice Jan. 24, 2020 How I handled pressure from family during wedding planning We just have so many people who are SO STOKED to FINALLY be able to do things that they've always wanted and expected to be able to do at a wedding! As wedding planning went on, juggling all of those dearly held expectations and figuring out how to handle pressure from family became more and more a part of our wedding planning process… Read More Jan. 22, 2020 How to have an unplugged wedding in 2020 An unplugged wedding isn’t for everyone — some couples want to skip a professional photog in favor of guests capturing the moments, while others simply aren’t bothered by the idea of devices pointed at them while they say their I dos. But if you feel irked by the idea of friends and family taking in your big day from behind a screen, consider the following… Read More Jan. 17, 2020 Why doesn't anyone talk about how AWKWARD weddings feel? I think everyone needs to talk more about the real feeling of a wedding ceremony. Hello, people: HUSHED SILENCE AND STANDING IN FRONT OF A CROWD OF PEOPLE IS AWKWARD. Read More Jan. 15, 2020 My Vows-First Wedding I'm soooo tired of the wedding thing: the planning, the stressing, the fears that I'm not doing it right…and for what? By making my wedding unusual, authentic, personal, and different — okay, offbeat — I'm already almost guaranteeing that it won't meet everyone's expectations. That's why I'm making mine a vows-first wedding. Read More Dec. 27, 2019 Our Unceremonious Ceremony: yes, you can improv wedding vows! I scrawled some vows on notepaper the morning of the wedding, and my partner 100% winged it in the moment. I'm sharing these really just to reiterate what Offbeat Bride is all about: I hope you get to do whatever you want on your day. Read More Dec. 20, 2019 How many stamps to put on your wedding invitations? Learn from my mistake! I learned that about half of our invitations arrived with a "postage due" stamp on the envelope and a smaller second envelope soliciting $0.15 from the recipient. What did I do wrong!? Read More More Advice > Recent DIY Jan. 8, 2020 Should you DIY wedding flowers? What to know before you say GO It's way too easy to think, "It's just flowers. I can do thaaaat!" as a favorite florist once said… Possibly because she had heard brides say that before! …A lot. But you need to make sure you're ready for all that's involved when you DIY your wedding flowers. Read More Sep. 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 8.9k Jul. 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 2.8k Jun. 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 3.3k 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 3.4k Apr. 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 Dec. 13, 2019 These stunning email invitation suites make digital look like print Emailing your wedding invitations is an eco-friendly AND budget-friendly wedding choice. Plus, they're getting to be just as lovely as printed invitations so you can still keep it as classy and avant-garde as you like. Read More 1.1k Dec. 3, 2019 Not your average celebrity rings: imagining the engagement rings of our favorite fictional characters Let's just have some fun today, imagining the engagement rings of a few of our favorite fictional characters. We're talking about everyone from the all-grown-up versions of Harry Potter characters like Luna Lovegood or Hermione Granger, to Star Wars characters, to movie faves like Lydia Dietz from Beetlejuice to Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, to comic book bad-asses like Wonder Woman, and Gamora… Read More 1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
Dec. 23, 2019 Beautiful and avant-garde insect-themed wedding inspo Photography and planner Chettara titled this wedding inspiration, "You Bug Me in the Best Way" and it blew our minds. I had no idea insect-themed decor, favors, and styling could be so stunning, but IT IS. Read More Dec. 2, 2019 Red lips, red cars, & '50s Style at this retro wedding inspiration This stunning retro wedding inspiration at 28 Event Space in Kansas City was inspired by planning a fab wedding on a more modest budget. Polaroids as favors, sweet and simple retro-inspired decor, a focus on delicious desserts — it can all be done without having a huge budget. Don't miss the red lips with matching flowers, loving gazes, cocktail-length dress, the fancy vintage car, and all the fairy lights you could want… Read More 1.5k Nov. 6, 2019 6 brides, 6 styles: there's no one way to be a bride Y'all know we've never taken the stance that there's one kind of bride or one way to be a bride. There's enough pressure to fit into a mold (emotionally AND physically!), and so much pressure not to be a certain way (pushy, a "bridezilla," a pushover, whatever). So when we spied this shoot showcasing six real brides rocking their own styles from traditional and whimsical to tattooed to sporting a dapper suit, we were SO in. Read More Oct. 10, 2019 A celebration of Neo-Soul with rich florals, jumpsuits, & tulle skirts A Neo-Soul inspired wedding shoot? YES PLEASE. Hints of Maxwell and Erykah Badu, with decor that goes earthy, moody, and a bit gritty… Read More 2.3k Oct. 3, 2019 This pair met Toothless at their How to Train Your Dragon-themed forest engagement shoot Dorothy and Matthew are BIG fans of the How To Train Your Dragon movies and wanted to have some great couples photos with the feel of some of the scenes from the first movie, where Hiccup and Astrid are in the woods with Toothless… Read More Sep. 16, 2019 The venue at this black & white pop art-themed wedding inspiration is SO FUN What’s black, white and red all over? This amazing pop art-themed wedding inspiration at the Joshua Vides Chapel installation at the Palms Hotel and Casino. Using his signature black and white sketch motif, Vides converted 800 square feet of the Palms into this fun interactive art space he titled, "Til Death Do Us Part." Guests are welcome to participate in multiple ways including everything from taking photos for their social media to actually getting married in the space. Read More More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings Jan. 20, 2020 A laid-back, multicultural Olin Park wedding with a surprise dress swap They decided on a laid-back BBQ-style wedding, with a twist: Lia, whose mom is Chinese, wanted to surprise her with an outfit change into a traditional Chinese gown at the reception, and the results were stunning. Her mom was super surprised, and Lia looked amazing in both her traditional Western dress AND her traditional Chinese gown. Read More Jan. 13, 2020 A sweet Philadelphia elopement with an homage to some of the best photo spots in Philly Angela and Vojtech are planning a larger wedding next year overseas with family, but they wanted a Philadelphia elopement just for the two of them beforehand. They had a sweet private ceremony and lots of street photography in the city they love. They chose the Philadelphia Wedding Chapel for the wedding and then we went to Philadelphia's Broad Street for some romantic photos. Read More Jan. 6, 2020 Sunflowers, video games, and ribbon wands at this Kentucky mansion wedding A little rain, a lot of love! Deja and William included a bit of everything they love into their Kentucky wedding day at Wiedemann Hill Mansion including video games, sunflowers, ribbon wands, and tons of meaningful moments. Don't miss the gorgeous photos in front of the Eastern Redbud trees native to Kentucky, where the wedding took place… Read More Dec. 30, 2019 Vinyl, brass bands, & epic food made this music lovers' Sonoma wedding rock Rebecca and Oren are super music lovers, so when they were planning their Sonoma wedding, adding musical elements was a no-brainer. Here's more from the bride on how it all came to be… Read More Dec. 16, 2019 A soon-to-be mama & her handsome groom elope in the mountains of Glacier National Park As Mary's due date approached, her fiance Kristian told her out of the blue that he wanted to marry her before the baby came. So with short notice, they high-tailed it to Glacier National Park in Montana to celebrate their love, their baby, and make their marriage official. It was a truly glorious landscape to have a ceremony. Huge vistas, vast mountains, waterfalls, and a golden hour to end all golden hours… Read More 1.4k Dec. 9, 2019 This quirky Austin wedding had tons of color & even more style Tara and Steven have a quirky sense of personal style and they brought that into their wedding. This meant fun colors everywhere, from their outfits (that veil!) to their pup to their sweet outdoor ceremony. Don't miss the rainbow wedding party, floral "hey you" themed table names, and sparkler exit. You'll be bowled over with cuteness with this one… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice Jan. 24, 2020 How I handled pressure from family during wedding planning We just have so many people who are SO STOKED to FINALLY be able to do things that they've always wanted and expected to be able to do at a wedding! As wedding planning went on, juggling all of those dearly held expectations and figuring out how to handle pressure from family became more and more a part of our wedding planning process… Read More Jan. 22, 2020 How to have an unplugged wedding in 2020 An unplugged wedding isn’t for everyone — some couples want to skip a professional photog in favor of guests capturing the moments, while others simply aren’t bothered by the idea of devices pointed at them while they say their I dos. But if you feel irked by the idea of friends and family taking in your big day from behind a screen, consider the following… Read More Jan. 17, 2020 Why doesn't anyone talk about how AWKWARD weddings feel? I think everyone needs to talk more about the real feeling of a wedding ceremony. Hello, people: HUSHED SILENCE AND STANDING IN FRONT OF A CROWD OF PEOPLE IS AWKWARD. Read More Jan. 15, 2020 My Vows-First Wedding I'm soooo tired of the wedding thing: the planning, the stressing, the fears that I'm not doing it right…and for what? By making my wedding unusual, authentic, personal, and different — okay, offbeat — I'm already almost guaranteeing that it won't meet everyone's expectations. That's why I'm making mine a vows-first wedding. Read More Dec. 27, 2019 Our Unceremonious Ceremony: yes, you can improv wedding vows! I scrawled some vows on notepaper the morning of the wedding, and my partner 100% winged it in the moment. I'm sharing these really just to reiterate what Offbeat Bride is all about: I hope you get to do whatever you want on your day. Read More Dec. 20, 2019 How many stamps to put on your wedding invitations? Learn from my mistake! I learned that about half of our invitations arrived with a "postage due" stamp on the envelope and a smaller second envelope soliciting $0.15 from the recipient. What did I do wrong!? Read More More Advice > Recent DIY Jan. 8, 2020 Should you DIY wedding flowers? What to know before you say GO It's way too easy to think, "It's just flowers. I can do thaaaat!" as a favorite florist once said… Possibly because she had heard brides say that before! …A lot. But you need to make sure you're ready for all that's involved when you DIY your wedding flowers. Read More Sep. 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 8.9k Jul. 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 2.8k Jun. 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 3.3k 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 3.4k Apr. 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 Dec. 13, 2019 These stunning email invitation suites make digital look like print Emailing your wedding invitations is an eco-friendly AND budget-friendly wedding choice. Plus, they're getting to be just as lovely as printed invitations so you can still keep it as classy and avant-garde as you like. Read More 1.1k Dec. 3, 2019 Not your average celebrity rings: imagining the engagement rings of our favorite fictional characters Let's just have some fun today, imagining the engagement rings of a few of our favorite fictional characters. We're talking about everyone from the all-grown-up versions of Harry Potter characters like Luna Lovegood or Hermione Granger, to Star Wars characters, to movie faves like Lydia Dietz from Beetlejuice to Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, to comic book bad-asses like Wonder Woman, and Gamora… Read More 1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
Dec. 2, 2019 Red lips, red cars, & '50s Style at this retro wedding inspiration This stunning retro wedding inspiration at 28 Event Space in Kansas City was inspired by planning a fab wedding on a more modest budget. Polaroids as favors, sweet and simple retro-inspired decor, a focus on delicious desserts — it can all be done without having a huge budget. Don't miss the red lips with matching flowers, loving gazes, cocktail-length dress, the fancy vintage car, and all the fairy lights you could want… Read More 1.5k Nov. 6, 2019 6 brides, 6 styles: there's no one way to be a bride Y'all know we've never taken the stance that there's one kind of bride or one way to be a bride. There's enough pressure to fit into a mold (emotionally AND physically!), and so much pressure not to be a certain way (pushy, a "bridezilla," a pushover, whatever). So when we spied this shoot showcasing six real brides rocking their own styles from traditional and whimsical to tattooed to sporting a dapper suit, we were SO in. Read More Oct. 10, 2019 A celebration of Neo-Soul with rich florals, jumpsuits, & tulle skirts A Neo-Soul inspired wedding shoot? YES PLEASE. Hints of Maxwell and Erykah Badu, with decor that goes earthy, moody, and a bit gritty… Read More 2.3k Oct. 3, 2019 This pair met Toothless at their How to Train Your Dragon-themed forest engagement shoot Dorothy and Matthew are BIG fans of the How To Train Your Dragon movies and wanted to have some great couples photos with the feel of some of the scenes from the first movie, where Hiccup and Astrid are in the woods with Toothless… Read More Sep. 16, 2019 The venue at this black & white pop art-themed wedding inspiration is SO FUN What’s black, white and red all over? This amazing pop art-themed wedding inspiration at the Joshua Vides Chapel installation at the Palms Hotel and Casino. Using his signature black and white sketch motif, Vides converted 800 square feet of the Palms into this fun interactive art space he titled, "Til Death Do Us Part." Guests are welcome to participate in multiple ways including everything from taking photos for their social media to actually getting married in the space. Read More More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings Jan. 20, 2020 A laid-back, multicultural Olin Park wedding with a surprise dress swap They decided on a laid-back BBQ-style wedding, with a twist: Lia, whose mom is Chinese, wanted to surprise her with an outfit change into a traditional Chinese gown at the reception, and the results were stunning. Her mom was super surprised, and Lia looked amazing in both her traditional Western dress AND her traditional Chinese gown. Read More Jan. 13, 2020 A sweet Philadelphia elopement with an homage to some of the best photo spots in Philly Angela and Vojtech are planning a larger wedding next year overseas with family, but they wanted a Philadelphia elopement just for the two of them beforehand. They had a sweet private ceremony and lots of street photography in the city they love. They chose the Philadelphia Wedding Chapel for the wedding and then we went to Philadelphia's Broad Street for some romantic photos. Read More Jan. 6, 2020 Sunflowers, video games, and ribbon wands at this Kentucky mansion wedding A little rain, a lot of love! Deja and William included a bit of everything they love into their Kentucky wedding day at Wiedemann Hill Mansion including video games, sunflowers, ribbon wands, and tons of meaningful moments. Don't miss the gorgeous photos in front of the Eastern Redbud trees native to Kentucky, where the wedding took place… Read More Dec. 30, 2019 Vinyl, brass bands, & epic food made this music lovers' Sonoma wedding rock Rebecca and Oren are super music lovers, so when they were planning their Sonoma wedding, adding musical elements was a no-brainer. Here's more from the bride on how it all came to be… Read More Dec. 16, 2019 A soon-to-be mama & her handsome groom elope in the mountains of Glacier National Park As Mary's due date approached, her fiance Kristian told her out of the blue that he wanted to marry her before the baby came. So with short notice, they high-tailed it to Glacier National Park in Montana to celebrate their love, their baby, and make their marriage official. It was a truly glorious landscape to have a ceremony. Huge vistas, vast mountains, waterfalls, and a golden hour to end all golden hours… Read More 1.4k Dec. 9, 2019 This quirky Austin wedding had tons of color & even more style Tara and Steven have a quirky sense of personal style and they brought that into their wedding. This meant fun colors everywhere, from their outfits (that veil!) to their pup to their sweet outdoor ceremony. Don't miss the rainbow wedding party, floral "hey you" themed table names, and sparkler exit. You'll be bowled over with cuteness with this one… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice Jan. 24, 2020 How I handled pressure from family during wedding planning We just have so many people who are SO STOKED to FINALLY be able to do things that they've always wanted and expected to be able to do at a wedding! As wedding planning went on, juggling all of those dearly held expectations and figuring out how to handle pressure from family became more and more a part of our wedding planning process… Read More Jan. 22, 2020 How to have an unplugged wedding in 2020 An unplugged wedding isn’t for everyone — some couples want to skip a professional photog in favor of guests capturing the moments, while others simply aren’t bothered by the idea of devices pointed at them while they say their I dos. But if you feel irked by the idea of friends and family taking in your big day from behind a screen, consider the following… Read More Jan. 17, 2020 Why doesn't anyone talk about how AWKWARD weddings feel? I think everyone needs to talk more about the real feeling of a wedding ceremony. Hello, people: HUSHED SILENCE AND STANDING IN FRONT OF A CROWD OF PEOPLE IS AWKWARD. Read More Jan. 15, 2020 My Vows-First Wedding I'm soooo tired of the wedding thing: the planning, the stressing, the fears that I'm not doing it right…and for what? By making my wedding unusual, authentic, personal, and different — okay, offbeat — I'm already almost guaranteeing that it won't meet everyone's expectations. That's why I'm making mine a vows-first wedding. Read More Dec. 27, 2019 Our Unceremonious Ceremony: yes, you can improv wedding vows! I scrawled some vows on notepaper the morning of the wedding, and my partner 100% winged it in the moment. I'm sharing these really just to reiterate what Offbeat Bride is all about: I hope you get to do whatever you want on your day. Read More Dec. 20, 2019 How many stamps to put on your wedding invitations? Learn from my mistake! I learned that about half of our invitations arrived with a "postage due" stamp on the envelope and a smaller second envelope soliciting $0.15 from the recipient. What did I do wrong!? Read More More Advice > Recent DIY Jan. 8, 2020 Should you DIY wedding flowers? What to know before you say GO It's way too easy to think, "It's just flowers. I can do thaaaat!" as a favorite florist once said… Possibly because she had heard brides say that before! …A lot. But you need to make sure you're ready for all that's involved when you DIY your wedding flowers. Read More Sep. 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 8.9k Jul. 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 2.8k Jun. 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 3.3k 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 3.4k Apr. 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 Dec. 13, 2019 These stunning email invitation suites make digital look like print Emailing your wedding invitations is an eco-friendly AND budget-friendly wedding choice. Plus, they're getting to be just as lovely as printed invitations so you can still keep it as classy and avant-garde as you like. Read More 1.1k Dec. 3, 2019 Not your average celebrity rings: imagining the engagement rings of our favorite fictional characters Let's just have some fun today, imagining the engagement rings of a few of our favorite fictional characters. We're talking about everyone from the all-grown-up versions of Harry Potter characters like Luna Lovegood or Hermione Granger, to Star Wars characters, to movie faves like Lydia Dietz from Beetlejuice to Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, to comic book bad-asses like Wonder Woman, and Gamora… Read More 1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
1.5k Nov. 6, 2019 6 brides, 6 styles: there's no one way to be a bride Y'all know we've never taken the stance that there's one kind of bride or one way to be a bride. There's enough pressure to fit into a mold (emotionally AND physically!), and so much pressure not to be a certain way (pushy, a "bridezilla," a pushover, whatever). So when we spied this shoot showcasing six real brides rocking their own styles from traditional and whimsical to tattooed to sporting a dapper suit, we were SO in. Read More Oct. 10, 2019 A celebration of Neo-Soul with rich florals, jumpsuits, & tulle skirts A Neo-Soul inspired wedding shoot? YES PLEASE. Hints of Maxwell and Erykah Badu, with decor that goes earthy, moody, and a bit gritty… Read More 2.3k Oct. 3, 2019 This pair met Toothless at their How to Train Your Dragon-themed forest engagement shoot Dorothy and Matthew are BIG fans of the How To Train Your Dragon movies and wanted to have some great couples photos with the feel of some of the scenes from the first movie, where Hiccup and Astrid are in the woods with Toothless… Read More Sep. 16, 2019 The venue at this black & white pop art-themed wedding inspiration is SO FUN What’s black, white and red all over? This amazing pop art-themed wedding inspiration at the Joshua Vides Chapel installation at the Palms Hotel and Casino. Using his signature black and white sketch motif, Vides converted 800 square feet of the Palms into this fun interactive art space he titled, "Til Death Do Us Part." Guests are welcome to participate in multiple ways including everything from taking photos for their social media to actually getting married in the space. Read More More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings Jan. 20, 2020 A laid-back, multicultural Olin Park wedding with a surprise dress swap They decided on a laid-back BBQ-style wedding, with a twist: Lia, whose mom is Chinese, wanted to surprise her with an outfit change into a traditional Chinese gown at the reception, and the results were stunning. Her mom was super surprised, and Lia looked amazing in both her traditional Western dress AND her traditional Chinese gown. Read More Jan. 13, 2020 A sweet Philadelphia elopement with an homage to some of the best photo spots in Philly Angela and Vojtech are planning a larger wedding next year overseas with family, but they wanted a Philadelphia elopement just for the two of them beforehand. They had a sweet private ceremony and lots of street photography in the city they love. They chose the Philadelphia Wedding Chapel for the wedding and then we went to Philadelphia's Broad Street for some romantic photos. Read More Jan. 6, 2020 Sunflowers, video games, and ribbon wands at this Kentucky mansion wedding A little rain, a lot of love! Deja and William included a bit of everything they love into their Kentucky wedding day at Wiedemann Hill Mansion including video games, sunflowers, ribbon wands, and tons of meaningful moments. Don't miss the gorgeous photos in front of the Eastern Redbud trees native to Kentucky, where the wedding took place… Read More Dec. 30, 2019 Vinyl, brass bands, & epic food made this music lovers' Sonoma wedding rock Rebecca and Oren are super music lovers, so when they were planning their Sonoma wedding, adding musical elements was a no-brainer. Here's more from the bride on how it all came to be… Read More Dec. 16, 2019 A soon-to-be mama & her handsome groom elope in the mountains of Glacier National Park As Mary's due date approached, her fiance Kristian told her out of the blue that he wanted to marry her before the baby came. So with short notice, they high-tailed it to Glacier National Park in Montana to celebrate their love, their baby, and make their marriage official. It was a truly glorious landscape to have a ceremony. Huge vistas, vast mountains, waterfalls, and a golden hour to end all golden hours… Read More 1.4k Dec. 9, 2019 This quirky Austin wedding had tons of color & even more style Tara and Steven have a quirky sense of personal style and they brought that into their wedding. This meant fun colors everywhere, from their outfits (that veil!) to their pup to their sweet outdoor ceremony. Don't miss the rainbow wedding party, floral "hey you" themed table names, and sparkler exit. You'll be bowled over with cuteness with this one… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice Jan. 24, 2020 How I handled pressure from family during wedding planning We just have so many people who are SO STOKED to FINALLY be able to do things that they've always wanted and expected to be able to do at a wedding! As wedding planning went on, juggling all of those dearly held expectations and figuring out how to handle pressure from family became more and more a part of our wedding planning process… Read More Jan. 22, 2020 How to have an unplugged wedding in 2020 An unplugged wedding isn’t for everyone — some couples want to skip a professional photog in favor of guests capturing the moments, while others simply aren’t bothered by the idea of devices pointed at them while they say their I dos. But if you feel irked by the idea of friends and family taking in your big day from behind a screen, consider the following… Read More Jan. 17, 2020 Why doesn't anyone talk about how AWKWARD weddings feel? I think everyone needs to talk more about the real feeling of a wedding ceremony. Hello, people: HUSHED SILENCE AND STANDING IN FRONT OF A CROWD OF PEOPLE IS AWKWARD. Read More Jan. 15, 2020 My Vows-First Wedding I'm soooo tired of the wedding thing: the planning, the stressing, the fears that I'm not doing it right…and for what? By making my wedding unusual, authentic, personal, and different — okay, offbeat — I'm already almost guaranteeing that it won't meet everyone's expectations. That's why I'm making mine a vows-first wedding. Read More Dec. 27, 2019 Our Unceremonious Ceremony: yes, you can improv wedding vows! I scrawled some vows on notepaper the morning of the wedding, and my partner 100% winged it in the moment. I'm sharing these really just to reiterate what Offbeat Bride is all about: I hope you get to do whatever you want on your day. Read More Dec. 20, 2019 How many stamps to put on your wedding invitations? Learn from my mistake! I learned that about half of our invitations arrived with a "postage due" stamp on the envelope and a smaller second envelope soliciting $0.15 from the recipient. What did I do wrong!? Read More More Advice > Recent DIY Jan. 8, 2020 Should you DIY wedding flowers? What to know before you say GO It's way too easy to think, "It's just flowers. I can do thaaaat!" as a favorite florist once said… Possibly because she had heard brides say that before! …A lot. But you need to make sure you're ready for all that's involved when you DIY your wedding flowers. Read More Sep. 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 8.9k Jul. 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 2.8k Jun. 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 3.3k 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 3.4k Apr. 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 Dec. 13, 2019 These stunning email invitation suites make digital look like print Emailing your wedding invitations is an eco-friendly AND budget-friendly wedding choice. Plus, they're getting to be just as lovely as printed invitations so you can still keep it as classy and avant-garde as you like. Read More 1.1k Dec. 3, 2019 Not your average celebrity rings: imagining the engagement rings of our favorite fictional characters Let's just have some fun today, imagining the engagement rings of a few of our favorite fictional characters. We're talking about everyone from the all-grown-up versions of Harry Potter characters like Luna Lovegood or Hermione Granger, to Star Wars characters, to movie faves like Lydia Dietz from Beetlejuice to Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, to comic book bad-asses like Wonder Woman, and Gamora… Read More 1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
Oct. 10, 2019 A celebration of Neo-Soul with rich florals, jumpsuits, & tulle skirts A Neo-Soul inspired wedding shoot? YES PLEASE. Hints of Maxwell and Erykah Badu, with decor that goes earthy, moody, and a bit gritty… Read More 2.3k Oct. 3, 2019 This pair met Toothless at their How to Train Your Dragon-themed forest engagement shoot Dorothy and Matthew are BIG fans of the How To Train Your Dragon movies and wanted to have some great couples photos with the feel of some of the scenes from the first movie, where Hiccup and Astrid are in the woods with Toothless… Read More Sep. 16, 2019 The venue at this black & white pop art-themed wedding inspiration is SO FUN What’s black, white and red all over? This amazing pop art-themed wedding inspiration at the Joshua Vides Chapel installation at the Palms Hotel and Casino. Using his signature black and white sketch motif, Vides converted 800 square feet of the Palms into this fun interactive art space he titled, "Til Death Do Us Part." Guests are welcome to participate in multiple ways including everything from taking photos for their social media to actually getting married in the space. Read More More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings Jan. 20, 2020 A laid-back, multicultural Olin Park wedding with a surprise dress swap They decided on a laid-back BBQ-style wedding, with a twist: Lia, whose mom is Chinese, wanted to surprise her with an outfit change into a traditional Chinese gown at the reception, and the results were stunning. Her mom was super surprised, and Lia looked amazing in both her traditional Western dress AND her traditional Chinese gown. Read More Jan. 13, 2020 A sweet Philadelphia elopement with an homage to some of the best photo spots in Philly Angela and Vojtech are planning a larger wedding next year overseas with family, but they wanted a Philadelphia elopement just for the two of them beforehand. They had a sweet private ceremony and lots of street photography in the city they love. They chose the Philadelphia Wedding Chapel for the wedding and then we went to Philadelphia's Broad Street for some romantic photos. Read More Jan. 6, 2020 Sunflowers, video games, and ribbon wands at this Kentucky mansion wedding A little rain, a lot of love! Deja and William included a bit of everything they love into their Kentucky wedding day at Wiedemann Hill Mansion including video games, sunflowers, ribbon wands, and tons of meaningful moments. Don't miss the gorgeous photos in front of the Eastern Redbud trees native to Kentucky, where the wedding took place… Read More Dec. 30, 2019 Vinyl, brass bands, & epic food made this music lovers' Sonoma wedding rock Rebecca and Oren are super music lovers, so when they were planning their Sonoma wedding, adding musical elements was a no-brainer. Here's more from the bride on how it all came to be… Read More Dec. 16, 2019 A soon-to-be mama & her handsome groom elope in the mountains of Glacier National Park As Mary's due date approached, her fiance Kristian told her out of the blue that he wanted to marry her before the baby came. So with short notice, they high-tailed it to Glacier National Park in Montana to celebrate their love, their baby, and make their marriage official. It was a truly glorious landscape to have a ceremony. Huge vistas, vast mountains, waterfalls, and a golden hour to end all golden hours… Read More 1.4k Dec. 9, 2019 This quirky Austin wedding had tons of color & even more style Tara and Steven have a quirky sense of personal style and they brought that into their wedding. This meant fun colors everywhere, from their outfits (that veil!) to their pup to their sweet outdoor ceremony. Don't miss the rainbow wedding party, floral "hey you" themed table names, and sparkler exit. You'll be bowled over with cuteness with this one… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice Jan. 24, 2020 How I handled pressure from family during wedding planning We just have so many people who are SO STOKED to FINALLY be able to do things that they've always wanted and expected to be able to do at a wedding! As wedding planning went on, juggling all of those dearly held expectations and figuring out how to handle pressure from family became more and more a part of our wedding planning process… Read More Jan. 22, 2020 How to have an unplugged wedding in 2020 An unplugged wedding isn’t for everyone — some couples want to skip a professional photog in favor of guests capturing the moments, while others simply aren’t bothered by the idea of devices pointed at them while they say their I dos. But if you feel irked by the idea of friends and family taking in your big day from behind a screen, consider the following… Read More Jan. 17, 2020 Why doesn't anyone talk about how AWKWARD weddings feel? I think everyone needs to talk more about the real feeling of a wedding ceremony. Hello, people: HUSHED SILENCE AND STANDING IN FRONT OF A CROWD OF PEOPLE IS AWKWARD. Read More Jan. 15, 2020 My Vows-First Wedding I'm soooo tired of the wedding thing: the planning, the stressing, the fears that I'm not doing it right…and for what? By making my wedding unusual, authentic, personal, and different — okay, offbeat — I'm already almost guaranteeing that it won't meet everyone's expectations. That's why I'm making mine a vows-first wedding. Read More Dec. 27, 2019 Our Unceremonious Ceremony: yes, you can improv wedding vows! I scrawled some vows on notepaper the morning of the wedding, and my partner 100% winged it in the moment. I'm sharing these really just to reiterate what Offbeat Bride is all about: I hope you get to do whatever you want on your day. Read More Dec. 20, 2019 How many stamps to put on your wedding invitations? Learn from my mistake! I learned that about half of our invitations arrived with a "postage due" stamp on the envelope and a smaller second envelope soliciting $0.15 from the recipient. What did I do wrong!? Read More More Advice > Recent DIY Jan. 8, 2020 Should you DIY wedding flowers? What to know before you say GO It's way too easy to think, "It's just flowers. I can do thaaaat!" as a favorite florist once said… Possibly because she had heard brides say that before! …A lot. But you need to make sure you're ready for all that's involved when you DIY your wedding flowers. Read More Sep. 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 8.9k Jul. 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 2.8k Jun. 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 3.3k 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 3.4k Apr. 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 Dec. 13, 2019 These stunning email invitation suites make digital look like print Emailing your wedding invitations is an eco-friendly AND budget-friendly wedding choice. Plus, they're getting to be just as lovely as printed invitations so you can still keep it as classy and avant-garde as you like. Read More 1.1k Dec. 3, 2019 Not your average celebrity rings: imagining the engagement rings of our favorite fictional characters Let's just have some fun today, imagining the engagement rings of a few of our favorite fictional characters. We're talking about everyone from the all-grown-up versions of Harry Potter characters like Luna Lovegood or Hermione Granger, to Star Wars characters, to movie faves like Lydia Dietz from Beetlejuice to Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, to comic book bad-asses like Wonder Woman, and Gamora… Read More 1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 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 Oct. 3, 2019 This pair met Toothless at their How to Train Your Dragon-themed forest engagement shoot Dorothy and Matthew are BIG fans of the How To Train Your Dragon movies and wanted to have some great couples photos with the feel of some of the scenes from the first movie, where Hiccup and Astrid are in the woods with Toothless… Read More Sep. 16, 2019 The venue at this black & white pop art-themed wedding inspiration is SO FUN What’s black, white and red all over? This amazing pop art-themed wedding inspiration at the Joshua Vides Chapel installation at the Palms Hotel and Casino. Using his signature black and white sketch motif, Vides converted 800 square feet of the Palms into this fun interactive art space he titled, "Til Death Do Us Part." Guests are welcome to participate in multiple ways including everything from taking photos for their social media to actually getting married in the space. Read More More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings Jan. 20, 2020 A laid-back, multicultural Olin Park wedding with a surprise dress swap They decided on a laid-back BBQ-style wedding, with a twist: Lia, whose mom is Chinese, wanted to surprise her with an outfit change into a traditional Chinese gown at the reception, and the results were stunning. Her mom was super surprised, and Lia looked amazing in both her traditional Western dress AND her traditional Chinese gown. Read More Jan. 13, 2020 A sweet Philadelphia elopement with an homage to some of the best photo spots in Philly Angela and Vojtech are planning a larger wedding next year overseas with family, but they wanted a Philadelphia elopement just for the two of them beforehand. They had a sweet private ceremony and lots of street photography in the city they love. They chose the Philadelphia Wedding Chapel for the wedding and then we went to Philadelphia's Broad Street for some romantic photos. Read More Jan. 6, 2020 Sunflowers, video games, and ribbon wands at this Kentucky mansion wedding A little rain, a lot of love! Deja and William included a bit of everything they love into their Kentucky wedding day at Wiedemann Hill Mansion including video games, sunflowers, ribbon wands, and tons of meaningful moments. Don't miss the gorgeous photos in front of the Eastern Redbud trees native to Kentucky, where the wedding took place… Read More Dec. 30, 2019 Vinyl, brass bands, & epic food made this music lovers' Sonoma wedding rock Rebecca and Oren are super music lovers, so when they were planning their Sonoma wedding, adding musical elements was a no-brainer. Here's more from the bride on how it all came to be… Read More Dec. 16, 2019 A soon-to-be mama & her handsome groom elope in the mountains of Glacier National Park As Mary's due date approached, her fiance Kristian told her out of the blue that he wanted to marry her before the baby came. So with short notice, they high-tailed it to Glacier National Park in Montana to celebrate their love, their baby, and make their marriage official. It was a truly glorious landscape to have a ceremony. Huge vistas, vast mountains, waterfalls, and a golden hour to end all golden hours… Read More 1.4k Dec. 9, 2019 This quirky Austin wedding had tons of color & even more style Tara and Steven have a quirky sense of personal style and they brought that into their wedding. This meant fun colors everywhere, from their outfits (that veil!) to their pup to their sweet outdoor ceremony. Don't miss the rainbow wedding party, floral "hey you" themed table names, and sparkler exit. You'll be bowled over with cuteness with this one… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice Jan. 24, 2020 How I handled pressure from family during wedding planning We just have so many people who are SO STOKED to FINALLY be able to do things that they've always wanted and expected to be able to do at a wedding! As wedding planning went on, juggling all of those dearly held expectations and figuring out how to handle pressure from family became more and more a part of our wedding planning process… Read More Jan. 22, 2020 How to have an unplugged wedding in 2020 An unplugged wedding isn’t for everyone — some couples want to skip a professional photog in favor of guests capturing the moments, while others simply aren’t bothered by the idea of devices pointed at them while they say their I dos. But if you feel irked by the idea of friends and family taking in your big day from behind a screen, consider the following… Read More Jan. 17, 2020 Why doesn't anyone talk about how AWKWARD weddings feel? I think everyone needs to talk more about the real feeling of a wedding ceremony. Hello, people: HUSHED SILENCE AND STANDING IN FRONT OF A CROWD OF PEOPLE IS AWKWARD. Read More Jan. 15, 2020 My Vows-First Wedding I'm soooo tired of the wedding thing: the planning, the stressing, the fears that I'm not doing it right…and for what? By making my wedding unusual, authentic, personal, and different — okay, offbeat — I'm already almost guaranteeing that it won't meet everyone's expectations. That's why I'm making mine a vows-first wedding. Read More Dec. 27, 2019 Our Unceremonious Ceremony: yes, you can improv wedding vows! I scrawled some vows on notepaper the morning of the wedding, and my partner 100% winged it in the moment. I'm sharing these really just to reiterate what Offbeat Bride is all about: I hope you get to do whatever you want on your day. Read More Dec. 20, 2019 How many stamps to put on your wedding invitations? Learn from my mistake! I learned that about half of our invitations arrived with a "postage due" stamp on the envelope and a smaller second envelope soliciting $0.15 from the recipient. What did I do wrong!? Read More More Advice > Recent DIY Jan. 8, 2020 Should you DIY wedding flowers? What to know before you say GO It's way too easy to think, "It's just flowers. I can do thaaaat!" as a favorite florist once said… Possibly because she had heard brides say that before! …A lot. But you need to make sure you're ready for all that's involved when you DIY your wedding flowers. Read More Sep. 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 8.9k Jul. 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 2.8k Jun. 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 3.3k 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 3.4k Apr. 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 Dec. 13, 2019 These stunning email invitation suites make digital look like print Emailing your wedding invitations is an eco-friendly AND budget-friendly wedding choice. Plus, they're getting to be just as lovely as printed invitations so you can still keep it as classy and avant-garde as you like. Read More 1.1k Dec. 3, 2019 Not your average celebrity rings: imagining the engagement rings of our favorite fictional characters Let's just have some fun today, imagining the engagement rings of a few of our favorite fictional characters. We're talking about everyone from the all-grown-up versions of Harry Potter characters like Luna Lovegood or Hermione Granger, to Star Wars characters, to movie faves like Lydia Dietz from Beetlejuice to Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, to comic book bad-asses like Wonder Woman, and Gamora… Read More 1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
Sep. 16, 2019 The venue at this black & white pop art-themed wedding inspiration is SO FUN What’s black, white and red all over? This amazing pop art-themed wedding inspiration at the Joshua Vides Chapel installation at the Palms Hotel and Casino. Using his signature black and white sketch motif, Vides converted 800 square feet of the Palms into this fun interactive art space he titled, "Til Death Do Us Part." Guests are welcome to participate in multiple ways including everything from taking photos for their social media to actually getting married in the space. Read More More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings Jan. 20, 2020 A laid-back, multicultural Olin Park wedding with a surprise dress swap They decided on a laid-back BBQ-style wedding, with a twist: Lia, whose mom is Chinese, wanted to surprise her with an outfit change into a traditional Chinese gown at the reception, and the results were stunning. Her mom was super surprised, and Lia looked amazing in both her traditional Western dress AND her traditional Chinese gown. Read More Jan. 13, 2020 A sweet Philadelphia elopement with an homage to some of the best photo spots in Philly Angela and Vojtech are planning a larger wedding next year overseas with family, but they wanted a Philadelphia elopement just for the two of them beforehand. They had a sweet private ceremony and lots of street photography in the city they love. They chose the Philadelphia Wedding Chapel for the wedding and then we went to Philadelphia's Broad Street for some romantic photos. Read More Jan. 6, 2020 Sunflowers, video games, and ribbon wands at this Kentucky mansion wedding A little rain, a lot of love! Deja and William included a bit of everything they love into their Kentucky wedding day at Wiedemann Hill Mansion including video games, sunflowers, ribbon wands, and tons of meaningful moments. Don't miss the gorgeous photos in front of the Eastern Redbud trees native to Kentucky, where the wedding took place… Read More Dec. 30, 2019 Vinyl, brass bands, & epic food made this music lovers' Sonoma wedding rock Rebecca and Oren are super music lovers, so when they were planning their Sonoma wedding, adding musical elements was a no-brainer. Here's more from the bride on how it all came to be… Read More Dec. 16, 2019 A soon-to-be mama & her handsome groom elope in the mountains of Glacier National Park As Mary's due date approached, her fiance Kristian told her out of the blue that he wanted to marry her before the baby came. So with short notice, they high-tailed it to Glacier National Park in Montana to celebrate their love, their baby, and make their marriage official. It was a truly glorious landscape to have a ceremony. Huge vistas, vast mountains, waterfalls, and a golden hour to end all golden hours… Read More 1.4k Dec. 9, 2019 This quirky Austin wedding had tons of color & even more style Tara and Steven have a quirky sense of personal style and they brought that into their wedding. This meant fun colors everywhere, from their outfits (that veil!) to their pup to their sweet outdoor ceremony. Don't miss the rainbow wedding party, floral "hey you" themed table names, and sparkler exit. You'll be bowled over with cuteness with this one… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice Jan. 24, 2020 How I handled pressure from family during wedding planning We just have so many people who are SO STOKED to FINALLY be able to do things that they've always wanted and expected to be able to do at a wedding! As wedding planning went on, juggling all of those dearly held expectations and figuring out how to handle pressure from family became more and more a part of our wedding planning process… Read More Jan. 22, 2020 How to have an unplugged wedding in 2020 An unplugged wedding isn’t for everyone — some couples want to skip a professional photog in favor of guests capturing the moments, while others simply aren’t bothered by the idea of devices pointed at them while they say their I dos. But if you feel irked by the idea of friends and family taking in your big day from behind a screen, consider the following… Read More Jan. 17, 2020 Why doesn't anyone talk about how AWKWARD weddings feel? I think everyone needs to talk more about the real feeling of a wedding ceremony. Hello, people: HUSHED SILENCE AND STANDING IN FRONT OF A CROWD OF PEOPLE IS AWKWARD. Read More Jan. 15, 2020 My Vows-First Wedding I'm soooo tired of the wedding thing: the planning, the stressing, the fears that I'm not doing it right…and for what? By making my wedding unusual, authentic, personal, and different — okay, offbeat — I'm already almost guaranteeing that it won't meet everyone's expectations. That's why I'm making mine a vows-first wedding. Read More Dec. 27, 2019 Our Unceremonious Ceremony: yes, you can improv wedding vows! I scrawled some vows on notepaper the morning of the wedding, and my partner 100% winged it in the moment. I'm sharing these really just to reiterate what Offbeat Bride is all about: I hope you get to do whatever you want on your day. Read More Dec. 20, 2019 How many stamps to put on your wedding invitations? Learn from my mistake! I learned that about half of our invitations arrived with a "postage due" stamp on the envelope and a smaller second envelope soliciting $0.15 from the recipient. What did I do wrong!? Read More More Advice > Recent DIY Jan. 8, 2020 Should you DIY wedding flowers? What to know before you say GO It's way too easy to think, "It's just flowers. I can do thaaaat!" as a favorite florist once said… Possibly because she had heard brides say that before! …A lot. But you need to make sure you're ready for all that's involved when you DIY your wedding flowers. Read More Sep. 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 8.9k Jul. 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 2.8k Jun. 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 3.3k 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 3.4k Apr. 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 Dec. 13, 2019 These stunning email invitation suites make digital look like print Emailing your wedding invitations is an eco-friendly AND budget-friendly wedding choice. Plus, they're getting to be just as lovely as printed invitations so you can still keep it as classy and avant-garde as you like. Read More 1.1k Dec. 3, 2019 Not your average celebrity rings: imagining the engagement rings of our favorite fictional characters Let's just have some fun today, imagining the engagement rings of a few of our favorite fictional characters. We're talking about everyone from the all-grown-up versions of Harry Potter characters like Luna Lovegood or Hermione Granger, to Star Wars characters, to movie faves like Lydia Dietz from Beetlejuice to Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, to comic book bad-asses like Wonder Woman, and Gamora… Read More 1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
Jan. 20, 2020 A laid-back, multicultural Olin Park wedding with a surprise dress swap They decided on a laid-back BBQ-style wedding, with a twist: Lia, whose mom is Chinese, wanted to surprise her with an outfit change into a traditional Chinese gown at the reception, and the results were stunning. Her mom was super surprised, and Lia looked amazing in both her traditional Western dress AND her traditional Chinese gown. Read More Jan. 13, 2020 A sweet Philadelphia elopement with an homage to some of the best photo spots in Philly Angela and Vojtech are planning a larger wedding next year overseas with family, but they wanted a Philadelphia elopement just for the two of them beforehand. They had a sweet private ceremony and lots of street photography in the city they love. They chose the Philadelphia Wedding Chapel for the wedding and then we went to Philadelphia's Broad Street for some romantic photos. Read More Jan. 6, 2020 Sunflowers, video games, and ribbon wands at this Kentucky mansion wedding A little rain, a lot of love! Deja and William included a bit of everything they love into their Kentucky wedding day at Wiedemann Hill Mansion including video games, sunflowers, ribbon wands, and tons of meaningful moments. Don't miss the gorgeous photos in front of the Eastern Redbud trees native to Kentucky, where the wedding took place… Read More Dec. 30, 2019 Vinyl, brass bands, & epic food made this music lovers' Sonoma wedding rock Rebecca and Oren are super music lovers, so when they were planning their Sonoma wedding, adding musical elements was a no-brainer. Here's more from the bride on how it all came to be… Read More Dec. 16, 2019 A soon-to-be mama & her handsome groom elope in the mountains of Glacier National Park As Mary's due date approached, her fiance Kristian told her out of the blue that he wanted to marry her before the baby came. So with short notice, they high-tailed it to Glacier National Park in Montana to celebrate their love, their baby, and make their marriage official. It was a truly glorious landscape to have a ceremony. Huge vistas, vast mountains, waterfalls, and a golden hour to end all golden hours… Read More 1.4k Dec. 9, 2019 This quirky Austin wedding had tons of color & even more style Tara and Steven have a quirky sense of personal style and they brought that into their wedding. This meant fun colors everywhere, from their outfits (that veil!) to their pup to their sweet outdoor ceremony. Don't miss the rainbow wedding party, floral "hey you" themed table names, and sparkler exit. You'll be bowled over with cuteness with this one… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice Jan. 24, 2020 How I handled pressure from family during wedding planning We just have so many people who are SO STOKED to FINALLY be able to do things that they've always wanted and expected to be able to do at a wedding! As wedding planning went on, juggling all of those dearly held expectations and figuring out how to handle pressure from family became more and more a part of our wedding planning process… Read More Jan. 22, 2020 How to have an unplugged wedding in 2020 An unplugged wedding isn’t for everyone — some couples want to skip a professional photog in favor of guests capturing the moments, while others simply aren’t bothered by the idea of devices pointed at them while they say their I dos. But if you feel irked by the idea of friends and family taking in your big day from behind a screen, consider the following… Read More Jan. 17, 2020 Why doesn't anyone talk about how AWKWARD weddings feel? I think everyone needs to talk more about the real feeling of a wedding ceremony. Hello, people: HUSHED SILENCE AND STANDING IN FRONT OF A CROWD OF PEOPLE IS AWKWARD. Read More Jan. 15, 2020 My Vows-First Wedding I'm soooo tired of the wedding thing: the planning, the stressing, the fears that I'm not doing it right…and for what? By making my wedding unusual, authentic, personal, and different — okay, offbeat — I'm already almost guaranteeing that it won't meet everyone's expectations. That's why I'm making mine a vows-first wedding. Read More Dec. 27, 2019 Our Unceremonious Ceremony: yes, you can improv wedding vows! I scrawled some vows on notepaper the morning of the wedding, and my partner 100% winged it in the moment. I'm sharing these really just to reiterate what Offbeat Bride is all about: I hope you get to do whatever you want on your day. Read More Dec. 20, 2019 How many stamps to put on your wedding invitations? Learn from my mistake! I learned that about half of our invitations arrived with a "postage due" stamp on the envelope and a smaller second envelope soliciting $0.15 from the recipient. What did I do wrong!? Read More More Advice > Recent DIY Jan. 8, 2020 Should you DIY wedding flowers? What to know before you say GO It's way too easy to think, "It's just flowers. I can do thaaaat!" as a favorite florist once said… Possibly because she had heard brides say that before! …A lot. But you need to make sure you're ready for all that's involved when you DIY your wedding flowers. Read More Sep. 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 8.9k Jul. 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 2.8k Jun. 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 3.3k 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 3.4k Apr. 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 Dec. 13, 2019 These stunning email invitation suites make digital look like print Emailing your wedding invitations is an eco-friendly AND budget-friendly wedding choice. Plus, they're getting to be just as lovely as printed invitations so you can still keep it as classy and avant-garde as you like. Read More 1.1k Dec. 3, 2019 Not your average celebrity rings: imagining the engagement rings of our favorite fictional characters Let's just have some fun today, imagining the engagement rings of a few of our favorite fictional characters. We're talking about everyone from the all-grown-up versions of Harry Potter characters like Luna Lovegood or Hermione Granger, to Star Wars characters, to movie faves like Lydia Dietz from Beetlejuice to Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, to comic book bad-asses like Wonder Woman, and Gamora… Read More 1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
Jan. 13, 2020 A sweet Philadelphia elopement with an homage to some of the best photo spots in Philly Angela and Vojtech are planning a larger wedding next year overseas with family, but they wanted a Philadelphia elopement just for the two of them beforehand. They had a sweet private ceremony and lots of street photography in the city they love. They chose the Philadelphia Wedding Chapel for the wedding and then we went to Philadelphia's Broad Street for some romantic photos. Read More Jan. 6, 2020 Sunflowers, video games, and ribbon wands at this Kentucky mansion wedding A little rain, a lot of love! Deja and William included a bit of everything they love into their Kentucky wedding day at Wiedemann Hill Mansion including video games, sunflowers, ribbon wands, and tons of meaningful moments. Don't miss the gorgeous photos in front of the Eastern Redbud trees native to Kentucky, where the wedding took place… Read More Dec. 30, 2019 Vinyl, brass bands, & epic food made this music lovers' Sonoma wedding rock Rebecca and Oren are super music lovers, so when they were planning their Sonoma wedding, adding musical elements was a no-brainer. Here's more from the bride on how it all came to be… Read More Dec. 16, 2019 A soon-to-be mama & her handsome groom elope in the mountains of Glacier National Park As Mary's due date approached, her fiance Kristian told her out of the blue that he wanted to marry her before the baby came. So with short notice, they high-tailed it to Glacier National Park in Montana to celebrate their love, their baby, and make their marriage official. It was a truly glorious landscape to have a ceremony. Huge vistas, vast mountains, waterfalls, and a golden hour to end all golden hours… Read More 1.4k Dec. 9, 2019 This quirky Austin wedding had tons of color & even more style Tara and Steven have a quirky sense of personal style and they brought that into their wedding. This meant fun colors everywhere, from their outfits (that veil!) to their pup to their sweet outdoor ceremony. Don't miss the rainbow wedding party, floral "hey you" themed table names, and sparkler exit. You'll be bowled over with cuteness with this one… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice Jan. 24, 2020 How I handled pressure from family during wedding planning We just have so many people who are SO STOKED to FINALLY be able to do things that they've always wanted and expected to be able to do at a wedding! As wedding planning went on, juggling all of those dearly held expectations and figuring out how to handle pressure from family became more and more a part of our wedding planning process… Read More Jan. 22, 2020 How to have an unplugged wedding in 2020 An unplugged wedding isn’t for everyone — some couples want to skip a professional photog in favor of guests capturing the moments, while others simply aren’t bothered by the idea of devices pointed at them while they say their I dos. But if you feel irked by the idea of friends and family taking in your big day from behind a screen, consider the following… Read More Jan. 17, 2020 Why doesn't anyone talk about how AWKWARD weddings feel? I think everyone needs to talk more about the real feeling of a wedding ceremony. Hello, people: HUSHED SILENCE AND STANDING IN FRONT OF A CROWD OF PEOPLE IS AWKWARD. Read More Jan. 15, 2020 My Vows-First Wedding I'm soooo tired of the wedding thing: the planning, the stressing, the fears that I'm not doing it right…and for what? By making my wedding unusual, authentic, personal, and different — okay, offbeat — I'm already almost guaranteeing that it won't meet everyone's expectations. That's why I'm making mine a vows-first wedding. Read More Dec. 27, 2019 Our Unceremonious Ceremony: yes, you can improv wedding vows! I scrawled some vows on notepaper the morning of the wedding, and my partner 100% winged it in the moment. I'm sharing these really just to reiterate what Offbeat Bride is all about: I hope you get to do whatever you want on your day. Read More Dec. 20, 2019 How many stamps to put on your wedding invitations? Learn from my mistake! I learned that about half of our invitations arrived with a "postage due" stamp on the envelope and a smaller second envelope soliciting $0.15 from the recipient. What did I do wrong!? Read More More Advice > Recent DIY Jan. 8, 2020 Should you DIY wedding flowers? What to know before you say GO It's way too easy to think, "It's just flowers. I can do thaaaat!" as a favorite florist once said… Possibly because she had heard brides say that before! …A lot. But you need to make sure you're ready for all that's involved when you DIY your wedding flowers. Read More Sep. 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 8.9k Jul. 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 2.8k Jun. 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 3.3k 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 3.4k Apr. 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 Dec. 13, 2019 These stunning email invitation suites make digital look like print Emailing your wedding invitations is an eco-friendly AND budget-friendly wedding choice. Plus, they're getting to be just as lovely as printed invitations so you can still keep it as classy and avant-garde as you like. Read More 1.1k Dec. 3, 2019 Not your average celebrity rings: imagining the engagement rings of our favorite fictional characters Let's just have some fun today, imagining the engagement rings of a few of our favorite fictional characters. We're talking about everyone from the all-grown-up versions of Harry Potter characters like Luna Lovegood or Hermione Granger, to Star Wars characters, to movie faves like Lydia Dietz from Beetlejuice to Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, to comic book bad-asses like Wonder Woman, and Gamora… Read More 1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
Jan. 6, 2020 Sunflowers, video games, and ribbon wands at this Kentucky mansion wedding A little rain, a lot of love! Deja and William included a bit of everything they love into their Kentucky wedding day at Wiedemann Hill Mansion including video games, sunflowers, ribbon wands, and tons of meaningful moments. Don't miss the gorgeous photos in front of the Eastern Redbud trees native to Kentucky, where the wedding took place… Read More Dec. 30, 2019 Vinyl, brass bands, & epic food made this music lovers' Sonoma wedding rock Rebecca and Oren are super music lovers, so when they were planning their Sonoma wedding, adding musical elements was a no-brainer. Here's more from the bride on how it all came to be… Read More Dec. 16, 2019 A soon-to-be mama & her handsome groom elope in the mountains of Glacier National Park As Mary's due date approached, her fiance Kristian told her out of the blue that he wanted to marry her before the baby came. So with short notice, they high-tailed it to Glacier National Park in Montana to celebrate their love, their baby, and make their marriage official. It was a truly glorious landscape to have a ceremony. Huge vistas, vast mountains, waterfalls, and a golden hour to end all golden hours… Read More 1.4k Dec. 9, 2019 This quirky Austin wedding had tons of color & even more style Tara and Steven have a quirky sense of personal style and they brought that into their wedding. This meant fun colors everywhere, from their outfits (that veil!) to their pup to their sweet outdoor ceremony. Don't miss the rainbow wedding party, floral "hey you" themed table names, and sparkler exit. You'll be bowled over with cuteness with this one… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice Jan. 24, 2020 How I handled pressure from family during wedding planning We just have so many people who are SO STOKED to FINALLY be able to do things that they've always wanted and expected to be able to do at a wedding! As wedding planning went on, juggling all of those dearly held expectations and figuring out how to handle pressure from family became more and more a part of our wedding planning process… Read More Jan. 22, 2020 How to have an unplugged wedding in 2020 An unplugged wedding isn’t for everyone — some couples want to skip a professional photog in favor of guests capturing the moments, while others simply aren’t bothered by the idea of devices pointed at them while they say their I dos. But if you feel irked by the idea of friends and family taking in your big day from behind a screen, consider the following… Read More Jan. 17, 2020 Why doesn't anyone talk about how AWKWARD weddings feel? I think everyone needs to talk more about the real feeling of a wedding ceremony. Hello, people: HUSHED SILENCE AND STANDING IN FRONT OF A CROWD OF PEOPLE IS AWKWARD. Read More Jan. 15, 2020 My Vows-First Wedding I'm soooo tired of the wedding thing: the planning, the stressing, the fears that I'm not doing it right…and for what? By making my wedding unusual, authentic, personal, and different — okay, offbeat — I'm already almost guaranteeing that it won't meet everyone's expectations. That's why I'm making mine a vows-first wedding. Read More Dec. 27, 2019 Our Unceremonious Ceremony: yes, you can improv wedding vows! I scrawled some vows on notepaper the morning of the wedding, and my partner 100% winged it in the moment. I'm sharing these really just to reiterate what Offbeat Bride is all about: I hope you get to do whatever you want on your day. Read More Dec. 20, 2019 How many stamps to put on your wedding invitations? Learn from my mistake! I learned that about half of our invitations arrived with a "postage due" stamp on the envelope and a smaller second envelope soliciting $0.15 from the recipient. What did I do wrong!? Read More More Advice > Recent DIY Jan. 8, 2020 Should you DIY wedding flowers? What to know before you say GO It's way too easy to think, "It's just flowers. I can do thaaaat!" as a favorite florist once said… Possibly because she had heard brides say that before! …A lot. But you need to make sure you're ready for all that's involved when you DIY your wedding flowers. Read More Sep. 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 8.9k Jul. 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 2.8k Jun. 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 3.3k 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 3.4k Apr. 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 Dec. 13, 2019 These stunning email invitation suites make digital look like print Emailing your wedding invitations is an eco-friendly AND budget-friendly wedding choice. Plus, they're getting to be just as lovely as printed invitations so you can still keep it as classy and avant-garde as you like. Read More 1.1k Dec. 3, 2019 Not your average celebrity rings: imagining the engagement rings of our favorite fictional characters Let's just have some fun today, imagining the engagement rings of a few of our favorite fictional characters. We're talking about everyone from the all-grown-up versions of Harry Potter characters like Luna Lovegood or Hermione Granger, to Star Wars characters, to movie faves like Lydia Dietz from Beetlejuice to Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, to comic book bad-asses like Wonder Woman, and Gamora… Read More 1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
Dec. 30, 2019 Vinyl, brass bands, & epic food made this music lovers' Sonoma wedding rock Rebecca and Oren are super music lovers, so when they were planning their Sonoma wedding, adding musical elements was a no-brainer. Here's more from the bride on how it all came to be… Read More Dec. 16, 2019 A soon-to-be mama & her handsome groom elope in the mountains of Glacier National Park As Mary's due date approached, her fiance Kristian told her out of the blue that he wanted to marry her before the baby came. So with short notice, they high-tailed it to Glacier National Park in Montana to celebrate their love, their baby, and make their marriage official. It was a truly glorious landscape to have a ceremony. Huge vistas, vast mountains, waterfalls, and a golden hour to end all golden hours… Read More 1.4k Dec. 9, 2019 This quirky Austin wedding had tons of color & even more style Tara and Steven have a quirky sense of personal style and they brought that into their wedding. This meant fun colors everywhere, from their outfits (that veil!) to their pup to their sweet outdoor ceremony. Don't miss the rainbow wedding party, floral "hey you" themed table names, and sparkler exit. You'll be bowled over with cuteness with this one… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice Jan. 24, 2020 How I handled pressure from family during wedding planning We just have so many people who are SO STOKED to FINALLY be able to do things that they've always wanted and expected to be able to do at a wedding! As wedding planning went on, juggling all of those dearly held expectations and figuring out how to handle pressure from family became more and more a part of our wedding planning process… Read More Jan. 22, 2020 How to have an unplugged wedding in 2020 An unplugged wedding isn’t for everyone — some couples want to skip a professional photog in favor of guests capturing the moments, while others simply aren’t bothered by the idea of devices pointed at them while they say their I dos. But if you feel irked by the idea of friends and family taking in your big day from behind a screen, consider the following… Read More Jan. 17, 2020 Why doesn't anyone talk about how AWKWARD weddings feel? I think everyone needs to talk more about the real feeling of a wedding ceremony. Hello, people: HUSHED SILENCE AND STANDING IN FRONT OF A CROWD OF PEOPLE IS AWKWARD. Read More Jan. 15, 2020 My Vows-First Wedding I'm soooo tired of the wedding thing: the planning, the stressing, the fears that I'm not doing it right…and for what? By making my wedding unusual, authentic, personal, and different — okay, offbeat — I'm already almost guaranteeing that it won't meet everyone's expectations. That's why I'm making mine a vows-first wedding. Read More Dec. 27, 2019 Our Unceremonious Ceremony: yes, you can improv wedding vows! I scrawled some vows on notepaper the morning of the wedding, and my partner 100% winged it in the moment. I'm sharing these really just to reiterate what Offbeat Bride is all about: I hope you get to do whatever you want on your day. Read More Dec. 20, 2019 How many stamps to put on your wedding invitations? Learn from my mistake! I learned that about half of our invitations arrived with a "postage due" stamp on the envelope and a smaller second envelope soliciting $0.15 from the recipient. What did I do wrong!? Read More More Advice > Recent DIY Jan. 8, 2020 Should you DIY wedding flowers? What to know before you say GO It's way too easy to think, "It's just flowers. I can do thaaaat!" as a favorite florist once said… Possibly because she had heard brides say that before! …A lot. But you need to make sure you're ready for all that's involved when you DIY your wedding flowers. Read More Sep. 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 8.9k Jul. 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 2.8k Jun. 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 3.3k 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 3.4k Apr. 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 Dec. 13, 2019 These stunning email invitation suites make digital look like print Emailing your wedding invitations is an eco-friendly AND budget-friendly wedding choice. Plus, they're getting to be just as lovely as printed invitations so you can still keep it as classy and avant-garde as you like. Read More 1.1k Dec. 3, 2019 Not your average celebrity rings: imagining the engagement rings of our favorite fictional characters Let's just have some fun today, imagining the engagement rings of a few of our favorite fictional characters. We're talking about everyone from the all-grown-up versions of Harry Potter characters like Luna Lovegood or Hermione Granger, to Star Wars characters, to movie faves like Lydia Dietz from Beetlejuice to Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, to comic book bad-asses like Wonder Woman, and Gamora… Read More 1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
Dec. 16, 2019 A soon-to-be mama & her handsome groom elope in the mountains of Glacier National Park As Mary's due date approached, her fiance Kristian told her out of the blue that he wanted to marry her before the baby came. So with short notice, they high-tailed it to Glacier National Park in Montana to celebrate their love, their baby, and make their marriage official. It was a truly glorious landscape to have a ceremony. Huge vistas, vast mountains, waterfalls, and a golden hour to end all golden hours… Read More 1.4k Dec. 9, 2019 This quirky Austin wedding had tons of color & even more style Tara and Steven have a quirky sense of personal style and they brought that into their wedding. This meant fun colors everywhere, from their outfits (that veil!) to their pup to their sweet outdoor ceremony. Don't miss the rainbow wedding party, floral "hey you" themed table names, and sparkler exit. You'll be bowled over with cuteness with this one… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice Jan. 24, 2020 How I handled pressure from family during wedding planning We just have so many people who are SO STOKED to FINALLY be able to do things that they've always wanted and expected to be able to do at a wedding! As wedding planning went on, juggling all of those dearly held expectations and figuring out how to handle pressure from family became more and more a part of our wedding planning process… Read More Jan. 22, 2020 How to have an unplugged wedding in 2020 An unplugged wedding isn’t for everyone — some couples want to skip a professional photog in favor of guests capturing the moments, while others simply aren’t bothered by the idea of devices pointed at them while they say their I dos. But if you feel irked by the idea of friends and family taking in your big day from behind a screen, consider the following… Read More Jan. 17, 2020 Why doesn't anyone talk about how AWKWARD weddings feel? I think everyone needs to talk more about the real feeling of a wedding ceremony. Hello, people: HUSHED SILENCE AND STANDING IN FRONT OF A CROWD OF PEOPLE IS AWKWARD. Read More Jan. 15, 2020 My Vows-First Wedding I'm soooo tired of the wedding thing: the planning, the stressing, the fears that I'm not doing it right…and for what? By making my wedding unusual, authentic, personal, and different — okay, offbeat — I'm already almost guaranteeing that it won't meet everyone's expectations. That's why I'm making mine a vows-first wedding. Read More Dec. 27, 2019 Our Unceremonious Ceremony: yes, you can improv wedding vows! I scrawled some vows on notepaper the morning of the wedding, and my partner 100% winged it in the moment. I'm sharing these really just to reiterate what Offbeat Bride is all about: I hope you get to do whatever you want on your day. Read More Dec. 20, 2019 How many stamps to put on your wedding invitations? Learn from my mistake! I learned that about half of our invitations arrived with a "postage due" stamp on the envelope and a smaller second envelope soliciting $0.15 from the recipient. What did I do wrong!? Read More More Advice > Recent DIY Jan. 8, 2020 Should you DIY wedding flowers? What to know before you say GO It's way too easy to think, "It's just flowers. I can do thaaaat!" as a favorite florist once said… Possibly because she had heard brides say that before! …A lot. But you need to make sure you're ready for all that's involved when you DIY your wedding flowers. Read More Sep. 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 8.9k Jul. 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 2.8k Jun. 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 3.3k 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 3.4k Apr. 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 Dec. 13, 2019 These stunning email invitation suites make digital look like print Emailing your wedding invitations is an eco-friendly AND budget-friendly wedding choice. Plus, they're getting to be just as lovely as printed invitations so you can still keep it as classy and avant-garde as you like. Read More 1.1k Dec. 3, 2019 Not your average celebrity rings: imagining the engagement rings of our favorite fictional characters Let's just have some fun today, imagining the engagement rings of a few of our favorite fictional characters. We're talking about everyone from the all-grown-up versions of Harry Potter characters like Luna Lovegood or Hermione Granger, to Star Wars characters, to movie faves like Lydia Dietz from Beetlejuice to Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, to comic book bad-asses like Wonder Woman, and Gamora… Read More 1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 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 Dec. 9, 2019 This quirky Austin wedding had tons of color & even more style Tara and Steven have a quirky sense of personal style and they brought that into their wedding. This meant fun colors everywhere, from their outfits (that veil!) to their pup to their sweet outdoor ceremony. Don't miss the rainbow wedding party, floral "hey you" themed table names, and sparkler exit. You'll be bowled over with cuteness with this one… Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice Jan. 24, 2020 How I handled pressure from family during wedding planning We just have so many people who are SO STOKED to FINALLY be able to do things that they've always wanted and expected to be able to do at a wedding! As wedding planning went on, juggling all of those dearly held expectations and figuring out how to handle pressure from family became more and more a part of our wedding planning process… Read More Jan. 22, 2020 How to have an unplugged wedding in 2020 An unplugged wedding isn’t for everyone — some couples want to skip a professional photog in favor of guests capturing the moments, while others simply aren’t bothered by the idea of devices pointed at them while they say their I dos. But if you feel irked by the idea of friends and family taking in your big day from behind a screen, consider the following… Read More Jan. 17, 2020 Why doesn't anyone talk about how AWKWARD weddings feel? I think everyone needs to talk more about the real feeling of a wedding ceremony. Hello, people: HUSHED SILENCE AND STANDING IN FRONT OF A CROWD OF PEOPLE IS AWKWARD. Read More Jan. 15, 2020 My Vows-First Wedding I'm soooo tired of the wedding thing: the planning, the stressing, the fears that I'm not doing it right…and for what? By making my wedding unusual, authentic, personal, and different — okay, offbeat — I'm already almost guaranteeing that it won't meet everyone's expectations. That's why I'm making mine a vows-first wedding. Read More Dec. 27, 2019 Our Unceremonious Ceremony: yes, you can improv wedding vows! I scrawled some vows on notepaper the morning of the wedding, and my partner 100% winged it in the moment. I'm sharing these really just to reiterate what Offbeat Bride is all about: I hope you get to do whatever you want on your day. Read More Dec. 20, 2019 How many stamps to put on your wedding invitations? Learn from my mistake! I learned that about half of our invitations arrived with a "postage due" stamp on the envelope and a smaller second envelope soliciting $0.15 from the recipient. What did I do wrong!? Read More More Advice > Recent DIY Jan. 8, 2020 Should you DIY wedding flowers? What to know before you say GO It's way too easy to think, "It's just flowers. I can do thaaaat!" as a favorite florist once said… Possibly because she had heard brides say that before! …A lot. But you need to make sure you're ready for all that's involved when you DIY your wedding flowers. Read More Sep. 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 8.9k Jul. 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 2.8k Jun. 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 3.3k 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 3.4k Apr. 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 Dec. 13, 2019 These stunning email invitation suites make digital look like print Emailing your wedding invitations is an eco-friendly AND budget-friendly wedding choice. Plus, they're getting to be just as lovely as printed invitations so you can still keep it as classy and avant-garde as you like. Read More 1.1k Dec. 3, 2019 Not your average celebrity rings: imagining the engagement rings of our favorite fictional characters Let's just have some fun today, imagining the engagement rings of a few of our favorite fictional characters. We're talking about everyone from the all-grown-up versions of Harry Potter characters like Luna Lovegood or Hermione Granger, to Star Wars characters, to movie faves like Lydia Dietz from Beetlejuice to Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, to comic book bad-asses like Wonder Woman, and Gamora… Read More 1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
Jan. 24, 2020 How I handled pressure from family during wedding planning We just have so many people who are SO STOKED to FINALLY be able to do things that they've always wanted and expected to be able to do at a wedding! As wedding planning went on, juggling all of those dearly held expectations and figuring out how to handle pressure from family became more and more a part of our wedding planning process… Read More Jan. 22, 2020 How to have an unplugged wedding in 2020 An unplugged wedding isn’t for everyone — some couples want to skip a professional photog in favor of guests capturing the moments, while others simply aren’t bothered by the idea of devices pointed at them while they say their I dos. But if you feel irked by the idea of friends and family taking in your big day from behind a screen, consider the following… Read More Jan. 17, 2020 Why doesn't anyone talk about how AWKWARD weddings feel? I think everyone needs to talk more about the real feeling of a wedding ceremony. Hello, people: HUSHED SILENCE AND STANDING IN FRONT OF A CROWD OF PEOPLE IS AWKWARD. Read More Jan. 15, 2020 My Vows-First Wedding I'm soooo tired of the wedding thing: the planning, the stressing, the fears that I'm not doing it right…and for what? By making my wedding unusual, authentic, personal, and different — okay, offbeat — I'm already almost guaranteeing that it won't meet everyone's expectations. That's why I'm making mine a vows-first wedding. Read More Dec. 27, 2019 Our Unceremonious Ceremony: yes, you can improv wedding vows! I scrawled some vows on notepaper the morning of the wedding, and my partner 100% winged it in the moment. I'm sharing these really just to reiterate what Offbeat Bride is all about: I hope you get to do whatever you want on your day. Read More Dec. 20, 2019 How many stamps to put on your wedding invitations? Learn from my mistake! I learned that about half of our invitations arrived with a "postage due" stamp on the envelope and a smaller second envelope soliciting $0.15 from the recipient. What did I do wrong!? Read More More Advice > Recent DIY Jan. 8, 2020 Should you DIY wedding flowers? What to know before you say GO It's way too easy to think, "It's just flowers. I can do thaaaat!" as a favorite florist once said… Possibly because she had heard brides say that before! …A lot. But you need to make sure you're ready for all that's involved when you DIY your wedding flowers. Read More Sep. 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 8.9k Jul. 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 2.8k Jun. 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 3.3k 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 3.4k Apr. 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 Dec. 13, 2019 These stunning email invitation suites make digital look like print Emailing your wedding invitations is an eco-friendly AND budget-friendly wedding choice. Plus, they're getting to be just as lovely as printed invitations so you can still keep it as classy and avant-garde as you like. Read More 1.1k Dec. 3, 2019 Not your average celebrity rings: imagining the engagement rings of our favorite fictional characters Let's just have some fun today, imagining the engagement rings of a few of our favorite fictional characters. We're talking about everyone from the all-grown-up versions of Harry Potter characters like Luna Lovegood or Hermione Granger, to Star Wars characters, to movie faves like Lydia Dietz from Beetlejuice to Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, to comic book bad-asses like Wonder Woman, and Gamora… Read More 1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
Jan. 22, 2020 How to have an unplugged wedding in 2020 An unplugged wedding isn’t for everyone — some couples want to skip a professional photog in favor of guests capturing the moments, while others simply aren’t bothered by the idea of devices pointed at them while they say their I dos. But if you feel irked by the idea of friends and family taking in your big day from behind a screen, consider the following… Read More Jan. 17, 2020 Why doesn't anyone talk about how AWKWARD weddings feel? I think everyone needs to talk more about the real feeling of a wedding ceremony. Hello, people: HUSHED SILENCE AND STANDING IN FRONT OF A CROWD OF PEOPLE IS AWKWARD. Read More Jan. 15, 2020 My Vows-First Wedding I'm soooo tired of the wedding thing: the planning, the stressing, the fears that I'm not doing it right…and for what? By making my wedding unusual, authentic, personal, and different — okay, offbeat — I'm already almost guaranteeing that it won't meet everyone's expectations. That's why I'm making mine a vows-first wedding. Read More Dec. 27, 2019 Our Unceremonious Ceremony: yes, you can improv wedding vows! I scrawled some vows on notepaper the morning of the wedding, and my partner 100% winged it in the moment. I'm sharing these really just to reiterate what Offbeat Bride is all about: I hope you get to do whatever you want on your day. Read More Dec. 20, 2019 How many stamps to put on your wedding invitations? Learn from my mistake! I learned that about half of our invitations arrived with a "postage due" stamp on the envelope and a smaller second envelope soliciting $0.15 from the recipient. What did I do wrong!? Read More More Advice > Recent DIY Jan. 8, 2020 Should you DIY wedding flowers? What to know before you say GO It's way too easy to think, "It's just flowers. I can do thaaaat!" as a favorite florist once said… Possibly because she had heard brides say that before! …A lot. But you need to make sure you're ready for all that's involved when you DIY your wedding flowers. Read More Sep. 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 8.9k Jul. 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 2.8k Jun. 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 3.3k 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 3.4k Apr. 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 Dec. 13, 2019 These stunning email invitation suites make digital look like print Emailing your wedding invitations is an eco-friendly AND budget-friendly wedding choice. Plus, they're getting to be just as lovely as printed invitations so you can still keep it as classy and avant-garde as you like. Read More 1.1k Dec. 3, 2019 Not your average celebrity rings: imagining the engagement rings of our favorite fictional characters Let's just have some fun today, imagining the engagement rings of a few of our favorite fictional characters. We're talking about everyone from the all-grown-up versions of Harry Potter characters like Luna Lovegood or Hermione Granger, to Star Wars characters, to movie faves like Lydia Dietz from Beetlejuice to Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, to comic book bad-asses like Wonder Woman, and Gamora… Read More 1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
Jan. 17, 2020 Why doesn't anyone talk about how AWKWARD weddings feel? I think everyone needs to talk more about the real feeling of a wedding ceremony. Hello, people: HUSHED SILENCE AND STANDING IN FRONT OF A CROWD OF PEOPLE IS AWKWARD. Read More Jan. 15, 2020 My Vows-First Wedding I'm soooo tired of the wedding thing: the planning, the stressing, the fears that I'm not doing it right…and for what? By making my wedding unusual, authentic, personal, and different — okay, offbeat — I'm already almost guaranteeing that it won't meet everyone's expectations. That's why I'm making mine a vows-first wedding. Read More Dec. 27, 2019 Our Unceremonious Ceremony: yes, you can improv wedding vows! I scrawled some vows on notepaper the morning of the wedding, and my partner 100% winged it in the moment. I'm sharing these really just to reiterate what Offbeat Bride is all about: I hope you get to do whatever you want on your day. Read More Dec. 20, 2019 How many stamps to put on your wedding invitations? Learn from my mistake! I learned that about half of our invitations arrived with a "postage due" stamp on the envelope and a smaller second envelope soliciting $0.15 from the recipient. What did I do wrong!? Read More More Advice > Recent DIY Jan. 8, 2020 Should you DIY wedding flowers? What to know before you say GO It's way too easy to think, "It's just flowers. I can do thaaaat!" as a favorite florist once said… Possibly because she had heard brides say that before! …A lot. But you need to make sure you're ready for all that's involved when you DIY your wedding flowers. Read More Sep. 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 8.9k Jul. 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 2.8k Jun. 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 3.3k 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 3.4k Apr. 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 Dec. 13, 2019 These stunning email invitation suites make digital look like print Emailing your wedding invitations is an eco-friendly AND budget-friendly wedding choice. Plus, they're getting to be just as lovely as printed invitations so you can still keep it as classy and avant-garde as you like. Read More 1.1k Dec. 3, 2019 Not your average celebrity rings: imagining the engagement rings of our favorite fictional characters Let's just have some fun today, imagining the engagement rings of a few of our favorite fictional characters. We're talking about everyone from the all-grown-up versions of Harry Potter characters like Luna Lovegood or Hermione Granger, to Star Wars characters, to movie faves like Lydia Dietz from Beetlejuice to Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, to comic book bad-asses like Wonder Woman, and Gamora… Read More 1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
Jan. 15, 2020 My Vows-First Wedding I'm soooo tired of the wedding thing: the planning, the stressing, the fears that I'm not doing it right…and for what? By making my wedding unusual, authentic, personal, and different — okay, offbeat — I'm already almost guaranteeing that it won't meet everyone's expectations. That's why I'm making mine a vows-first wedding. Read More Dec. 27, 2019 Our Unceremonious Ceremony: yes, you can improv wedding vows! I scrawled some vows on notepaper the morning of the wedding, and my partner 100% winged it in the moment. I'm sharing these really just to reiterate what Offbeat Bride is all about: I hope you get to do whatever you want on your day. Read More Dec. 20, 2019 How many stamps to put on your wedding invitations? Learn from my mistake! I learned that about half of our invitations arrived with a "postage due" stamp on the envelope and a smaller second envelope soliciting $0.15 from the recipient. What did I do wrong!? Read More More Advice > Recent DIY Jan. 8, 2020 Should you DIY wedding flowers? What to know before you say GO It's way too easy to think, "It's just flowers. I can do thaaaat!" as a favorite florist once said… Possibly because she had heard brides say that before! …A lot. But you need to make sure you're ready for all that's involved when you DIY your wedding flowers. Read More Sep. 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 8.9k Jul. 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 2.8k Jun. 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 3.3k 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 3.4k Apr. 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 Dec. 13, 2019 These stunning email invitation suites make digital look like print Emailing your wedding invitations is an eco-friendly AND budget-friendly wedding choice. Plus, they're getting to be just as lovely as printed invitations so you can still keep it as classy and avant-garde as you like. Read More 1.1k Dec. 3, 2019 Not your average celebrity rings: imagining the engagement rings of our favorite fictional characters Let's just have some fun today, imagining the engagement rings of a few of our favorite fictional characters. We're talking about everyone from the all-grown-up versions of Harry Potter characters like Luna Lovegood or Hermione Granger, to Star Wars characters, to movie faves like Lydia Dietz from Beetlejuice to Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, to comic book bad-asses like Wonder Woman, and Gamora… Read More 1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
Dec. 27, 2019 Our Unceremonious Ceremony: yes, you can improv wedding vows! I scrawled some vows on notepaper the morning of the wedding, and my partner 100% winged it in the moment. I'm sharing these really just to reiterate what Offbeat Bride is all about: I hope you get to do whatever you want on your day. Read More Dec. 20, 2019 How many stamps to put on your wedding invitations? Learn from my mistake! I learned that about half of our invitations arrived with a "postage due" stamp on the envelope and a smaller second envelope soliciting $0.15 from the recipient. What did I do wrong!? Read More More Advice > Recent DIY Jan. 8, 2020 Should you DIY wedding flowers? What to know before you say GO It's way too easy to think, "It's just flowers. I can do thaaaat!" as a favorite florist once said… Possibly because she had heard brides say that before! …A lot. But you need to make sure you're ready for all that's involved when you DIY your wedding flowers. Read More Sep. 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 8.9k Jul. 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 2.8k Jun. 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 3.3k 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 3.4k Apr. 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 Dec. 13, 2019 These stunning email invitation suites make digital look like print Emailing your wedding invitations is an eco-friendly AND budget-friendly wedding choice. Plus, they're getting to be just as lovely as printed invitations so you can still keep it as classy and avant-garde as you like. Read More 1.1k Dec. 3, 2019 Not your average celebrity rings: imagining the engagement rings of our favorite fictional characters Let's just have some fun today, imagining the engagement rings of a few of our favorite fictional characters. We're talking about everyone from the all-grown-up versions of Harry Potter characters like Luna Lovegood or Hermione Granger, to Star Wars characters, to movie faves like Lydia Dietz from Beetlejuice to Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, to comic book bad-asses like Wonder Woman, and Gamora… Read More 1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
Dec. 20, 2019 How many stamps to put on your wedding invitations? Learn from my mistake! I learned that about half of our invitations arrived with a "postage due" stamp on the envelope and a smaller second envelope soliciting $0.15 from the recipient. What did I do wrong!? Read More More Advice > Recent DIY Jan. 8, 2020 Should you DIY wedding flowers? What to know before you say GO It's way too easy to think, "It's just flowers. I can do thaaaat!" as a favorite florist once said… Possibly because she had heard brides say that before! …A lot. But you need to make sure you're ready for all that's involved when you DIY your wedding flowers. Read More Sep. 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 8.9k Jul. 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 2.8k Jun. 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 3.3k 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 3.4k Apr. 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 Dec. 13, 2019 These stunning email invitation suites make digital look like print Emailing your wedding invitations is an eco-friendly AND budget-friendly wedding choice. Plus, they're getting to be just as lovely as printed invitations so you can still keep it as classy and avant-garde as you like. Read More 1.1k Dec. 3, 2019 Not your average celebrity rings: imagining the engagement rings of our favorite fictional characters Let's just have some fun today, imagining the engagement rings of a few of our favorite fictional characters. We're talking about everyone from the all-grown-up versions of Harry Potter characters like Luna Lovegood or Hermione Granger, to Star Wars characters, to movie faves like Lydia Dietz from Beetlejuice to Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, to comic book bad-asses like Wonder Woman, and Gamora… Read More 1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
Jan. 8, 2020 Should you DIY wedding flowers? What to know before you say GO It's way too easy to think, "It's just flowers. I can do thaaaat!" as a favorite florist once said… Possibly because she had heard brides say that before! …A lot. But you need to make sure you're ready for all that's involved when you DIY your wedding flowers. Read More Sep. 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 8.9k Jul. 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 2.8k Jun. 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 3.3k 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 3.4k Apr. 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 Dec. 13, 2019 These stunning email invitation suites make digital look like print Emailing your wedding invitations is an eco-friendly AND budget-friendly wedding choice. Plus, they're getting to be just as lovely as printed invitations so you can still keep it as classy and avant-garde as you like. Read More 1.1k Dec. 3, 2019 Not your average celebrity rings: imagining the engagement rings of our favorite fictional characters Let's just have some fun today, imagining the engagement rings of a few of our favorite fictional characters. We're talking about everyone from the all-grown-up versions of Harry Potter characters like Luna Lovegood or Hermione Granger, to Star Wars characters, to movie faves like Lydia Dietz from Beetlejuice to Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, to comic book bad-asses like Wonder Woman, and Gamora… Read More 1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
Sep. 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 8.9k Jul. 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 2.8k Jun. 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 3.3k 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 3.4k Apr. 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 Dec. 13, 2019 These stunning email invitation suites make digital look like print Emailing your wedding invitations is an eco-friendly AND budget-friendly wedding choice. Plus, they're getting to be just as lovely as printed invitations so you can still keep it as classy and avant-garde as you like. Read More 1.1k Dec. 3, 2019 Not your average celebrity rings: imagining the engagement rings of our favorite fictional characters Let's just have some fun today, imagining the engagement rings of a few of our favorite fictional characters. We're talking about everyone from the all-grown-up versions of Harry Potter characters like Luna Lovegood or Hermione Granger, to Star Wars characters, to movie faves like Lydia Dietz from Beetlejuice to Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, to comic book bad-asses like Wonder Woman, and Gamora… Read More 1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
8.9k Jul. 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 2.8k Jun. 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 3.3k 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 3.4k Apr. 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 Dec. 13, 2019 These stunning email invitation suites make digital look like print Emailing your wedding invitations is an eco-friendly AND budget-friendly wedding choice. Plus, they're getting to be just as lovely as printed invitations so you can still keep it as classy and avant-garde as you like. Read More 1.1k Dec. 3, 2019 Not your average celebrity rings: imagining the engagement rings of our favorite fictional characters Let's just have some fun today, imagining the engagement rings of a few of our favorite fictional characters. We're talking about everyone from the all-grown-up versions of Harry Potter characters like Luna Lovegood or Hermione Granger, to Star Wars characters, to movie faves like Lydia Dietz from Beetlejuice to Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, to comic book bad-asses like Wonder Woman, and Gamora… Read More 1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
2.8k Jun. 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 3.3k 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 3.4k Apr. 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 Dec. 13, 2019 These stunning email invitation suites make digital look like print Emailing your wedding invitations is an eco-friendly AND budget-friendly wedding choice. Plus, they're getting to be just as lovely as printed invitations so you can still keep it as classy and avant-garde as you like. Read More 1.1k Dec. 3, 2019 Not your average celebrity rings: imagining the engagement rings of our favorite fictional characters Let's just have some fun today, imagining the engagement rings of a few of our favorite fictional characters. We're talking about everyone from the all-grown-up versions of Harry Potter characters like Luna Lovegood or Hermione Granger, to Star Wars characters, to movie faves like Lydia Dietz from Beetlejuice to Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, to comic book bad-asses like Wonder Woman, and Gamora… Read More 1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
3.3k 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 3.4k Apr. 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 Dec. 13, 2019 These stunning email invitation suites make digital look like print Emailing your wedding invitations is an eco-friendly AND budget-friendly wedding choice. Plus, they're getting to be just as lovely as printed invitations so you can still keep it as classy and avant-garde as you like. Read More 1.1k Dec. 3, 2019 Not your average celebrity rings: imagining the engagement rings of our favorite fictional characters Let's just have some fun today, imagining the engagement rings of a few of our favorite fictional characters. We're talking about everyone from the all-grown-up versions of Harry Potter characters like Luna Lovegood or Hermione Granger, to Star Wars characters, to movie faves like Lydia Dietz from Beetlejuice to Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, to comic book bad-asses like Wonder Woman, and Gamora… Read More 1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
3.4k Apr. 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 Dec. 13, 2019 These stunning email invitation suites make digital look like print Emailing your wedding invitations is an eco-friendly AND budget-friendly wedding choice. Plus, they're getting to be just as lovely as printed invitations so you can still keep it as classy and avant-garde as you like. Read More 1.1k Dec. 3, 2019 Not your average celebrity rings: imagining the engagement rings of our favorite fictional characters Let's just have some fun today, imagining the engagement rings of a few of our favorite fictional characters. We're talking about everyone from the all-grown-up versions of Harry Potter characters like Luna Lovegood or Hermione Granger, to Star Wars characters, to movie faves like Lydia Dietz from Beetlejuice to Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, to comic book bad-asses like Wonder Woman, and Gamora… Read More 1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
Dec. 13, 2019 These stunning email invitation suites make digital look like print Emailing your wedding invitations is an eco-friendly AND budget-friendly wedding choice. Plus, they're getting to be just as lovely as printed invitations so you can still keep it as classy and avant-garde as you like. Read More 1.1k Dec. 3, 2019 Not your average celebrity rings: imagining the engagement rings of our favorite fictional characters Let's just have some fun today, imagining the engagement rings of a few of our favorite fictional characters. We're talking about everyone from the all-grown-up versions of Harry Potter characters like Luna Lovegood or Hermione Granger, to Star Wars characters, to movie faves like Lydia Dietz from Beetlejuice to Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, to comic book bad-asses like Wonder Woman, and Gamora… Read More 1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
1.1k Dec. 3, 2019 Not your average celebrity rings: imagining the engagement rings of our favorite fictional characters Let's just have some fun today, imagining the engagement rings of a few of our favorite fictional characters. We're talking about everyone from the all-grown-up versions of Harry Potter characters like Luna Lovegood or Hermione Granger, to Star Wars characters, to movie faves like Lydia Dietz from Beetlejuice to Princess Buttercup from The Princess Bride, to comic book bad-asses like Wonder Woman, and Gamora… Read More 1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
1.1k Nov. 5, 2019 DARK SPARKLE: 11 black wedding rings Today we're going to browse some of our favorite black engagement rings from our longtime friends and sponsors, Joseph Jewelry. We're talking all black material, black gemstones, or just more subtle black accents… Read More 1.3k Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 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 Oct. 22, 2019 PEAK HALLOWEDDING: When you propose with a coffin ring at a pumpkin patch Some of you may remember Laurie and Andrew's moody halloween wedding which featured a ton of classy but macabre morbid details, complete with the bride and groom driving off in a hearse. But wait, did you notice that ring Laurie's wearing? Did you think to yourself, hey wait a minute — is that a FREAKING COFFIN RING!? Read More Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
Oct. 15, 2019 A chat with Chicago photographer Emma Mullins (& why I chose her to capture my own wedding!) Some of y'all may know that I recently got married in Chicago! We got our photos and video from our amazing photographer, Emma Mullins Photography, and I decided to ask her a few questions… Read More Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
Oct. 8, 2019 These chic wooden wedding rings are our newest obsession & totally budget-friendly If you're into a natural, rustic, or boho look that fits both your style and especially your budget, you're going to flip when you see these rings from Wooden Rings. They've got that gorgeous organic feel that we ADORE and you can make them totally your own. And that rainbow layered wood is calling someone's name, I just know it. Let's see a few of our favorites and learn how you can snag 10% off of their already super affordable pricing… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
1.5k Jul. 29, 2019 I bought my wedding dress on Etsy! Here are my tips for buying a custom dress online One element of my wedding with which I was fairly obsessed was finding a fun dress. I'm not a white gown kinda gal, so I was on the hunt for something colorful. I decided to test the waters in customizing a dress online. There are lots of stores that do that theses days, but I knew I wanted something from an independent seller who could really personalize the look itself. I'm already an avid Etsy window shopper, so it was all just a matter of narrowing down the search to a reputable designer who made dresses I liked. Easier said than done? Actually, it was pretty easy… Read More 1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
1.1k Jul. 24, 2019 9 hidden benefits of hiring a day-of coordinator (that I learned at my wedding!) You're in the thick of wedding planning and it's starting to get hairy. Maybe you've hired an event planner, maybe a day-of coordinator, maybe a friend willing to lend a hand, or maybe you're going hard at it by yourself. If you're in the latter two camps, you may be thinking, "do I need to hire a day-of coordinator?" Here are a few of the benefits, hidden and otherwise, that I discovered when I hired a day-of coordinator for my wedding… Read More 1.2k Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 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 Mar. 27, 2019 5 ways to save the planet (& your wallet!) while wedding planning Trying to find sustainable solutions for an eco-friendly wedding isn't always easy, especially when you're on a budget and trying not to over-complicate things. But hosting an eco-conscious event doesn't have to be impossible. And making sustainable choices isn't just for tree-huggers. Here are five Earth-friendly ideas that won't put any additional burden on your wallet or your special day… Read More 1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
1.0k Jan. 23, 2019 6 tips for making your wedding website useful AND stylish Are you engaged? YAY! I have a feeling that a lot of you are thinking about wedding hashtags and websites and social media, oh my. Weddings are way more high tech these days and a wedding website is pretty standard fare now. Here's how to make yours great… Read More 2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
2.8k Jul. 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 2.5k Jun. 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 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 planning your weird wedding easier and fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need tools like wedding planning checklist and wedding spreadsheets Help me write my wedding ceremony or give me vow examples NEW Offbeat Bride City Guides: the nitty-gritty of how to get married in your city Atlanta • Chicago • Dallas • DC • Houston • LA • NYC • Philly • SF • Seattle What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? Ceremony Script Dress Shopping Eloping Etiquette Family Drama Feminism Geeky Weddings LGBTQ No Wedding Party Omg Dresses Readings Writing Vows A few of our fave wedding vendors Tia Nash Photography Read More Sharma Shari Photography Read More Aaron Kes Photography Read More Garret Torres Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Copyright © 2003 - 2020 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
2.5k Jun. 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 More Wedding 101 >