November 20, 2018 Heroes in love: a comic book themed microwedding in Chicago Marcus and Rigo are comic book super fans and it showed in their spectacular comic book themed microwedding. There were loads of DIYed details like the paper flowers, table runners, and centerpieces all made from comic book pages. Even their programs had a caricature illustration done of the two of them to look like a comic book cover. Don't miss the superhero-themed sweets table, taco bar buffet (with rosemart margaritas!), and their unity margarita ceremony. Read More November 19, 2018 DIY for days at this laid-back Pennsylvania wedding on a working farm Molly and Clement’s amazing laid-back Pennsylvania wedding was at a working farm, Mountain Dale farm in Central Pennsylvania. It was a full-on DIYed event with decor make by Molly, found from thrift stores and exchanges. Think flag garlands, silk flower garlands, old map signs, and real flowers provided by friends and family. Don't miss the "event barn" that featured knickknacks, old furniture, the DIYed photo booth, and so much more. Read More 11 Comments November 16, 2018 From Brooklyn to Iceland, this globetrotting wedding photographer electrifies your wedding When I was introduced to our super talented photography partner, Steph of Zakas Photography, I spent WAY too much time digging into all of the weddings in her portfolio. They were all swoon-worthy and majestic and romantic, but they were also super duper adventurous and interesting… Read More November 16, 2018 Adventure & glory await at this Medieval Times wedding in California Two years after their elopement, Emily and Travis decided to have a second celebration that really fit their personalities. So it was all about the fantasy at Medieval Times! They had a beautiful ceremony followed by eating chicken with their hands, cheering on the green knight (who won and gave his sash to the bride!), a Last Supper-esque recreation photo, and an arena full of Medieval fun times. Read More 1.1k November 15, 2018 This Atlanta goth chic wedding had a headpiece to die for When I first saw this wedding come in, my eyes were darting around the screen like a bat in a cave. The black and white gown, the seriously chic goth Halloween vibe, the skelly decor, the red and black flowers, the Morticia Addams-channeling bridesmaids, the black pumpkin guest "book" — it was intense. Oh, and of course, THAT HEADPIECE. Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Wedding Porn November 13, 2018 Hearts are full after seeing the family candy jar ceremony at this Paris vow renewal This was the vow renewal dream come true for Mehek and Lokesh who, seven years earlier, had a very traditional Indian wedding. They said they felt like they were living their own Bollywood dream by renewing their vows in Paris. You'll definitely want to see the bright pink details and a fabulously detailed bouquet. They toasted with rosé champagne and ate cake on the Champ de Mars after the ceremony. Read More November 8, 2018 It's vintage love at this quirky thrift shop engagement shoot We dreaded the idea of a lovey-dovey shoot with butterfly kisses, so we agreed to just not have engagement photos done. BUT then we were granted this really awesome opportunity to shoot our engagement session with an awesome photographer who loves out-of-the-norm wedding photos, and we had the idea to shoot at Goodwill. It was like a giant closet to play in for the day… Read More November 2, 2018 17 winter wedding headpieces & veils to transform you into a snow queen Winter weddings are, in my opinion, the unsung heroes of the wedding world, especially when it comes to fashion. I mean, is there anything more lovely than a wedding portrait in the snow?! So gorg. And when you're hauling your butt out into said snow, you might want a matching winter wedding headpiece, veil, crown, or even a woolly hat to match. I did some digging to find snowflakes, crystals, juniper, and more in hats, crowns, headpieces, and veils to adorn your wintry noggin. Read More November 2, 2018 Retro cars, popcorn, & an adorable pair at this vintage drive-in movie engagement session An old vintage sofa, a hot retro car, Coca Cola, popcorn, and an adorable couple perfectly combine for this vintage drive-in movie engagement session. Dara and Michael are perfectly adorable in their subtly retro outfits at the Dixie Twin Drive-In in Dayton, Ohio with shots in the car, in front of a huge sign featuring them(!), and some dramatic poses. Read More 1.0k November 1, 2018 It's a color explosion of papel picado & flowers at this Dia De Los Muertos wedding Look, I love Halloween week, but when I see some super colorful Dia de los Muertos wedding inspiration, I know I'm in for a spectacular show. And in this case, that show is bright papel picado strung up in trees, rainbow ribbons, multicolored bouquets, a sexy glam wedding dress, a hot AF couple how rock that ink, and a gorgeous matte black meets colorful flowers cake. Read More More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings November 20, 2018 Heroes in love: a comic book themed microwedding in Chicago Marcus and Rigo are comic book super fans and it showed in their spectacular comic book themed microwedding. There were loads of DIYed details like the paper flowers, table runners, and centerpieces all made from comic book pages. Even their programs had a caricature illustration done of the two of them to look like a comic book cover. Don't miss the superhero-themed sweets table, taco bar buffet (with rosemart margaritas!), and their unity margarita ceremony. Read More November 19, 2018 DIY for days at this laid-back Pennsylvania wedding on a working farm Molly and Clement’s amazing laid-back Pennsylvania wedding was at a working farm, Mountain Dale farm in Central Pennsylvania. It was a full-on DIYed event with decor make by Molly, found from thrift stores and exchanges. Think flag garlands, silk flower garlands, old map signs, and real flowers provided by friends and family. Don't miss the "event barn" that featured knickknacks, old furniture, the DIYed photo booth, and so much more. Read More November 16, 2018 Adventure & glory await at this Medieval Times wedding in California Two years after their elopement, Emily and Travis decided to have a second celebration that really fit their personalities. So it was all about the fantasy at Medieval Times! They had a beautiful ceremony followed by eating chicken with their hands, cheering on the green knight (who won and gave his sash to the bride!), a Last Supper-esque recreation photo, and an arena full of Medieval fun times. Read More 1.1k November 15, 2018 This Atlanta goth chic wedding had a headpiece to die for When I first saw this wedding come in, my eyes were darting around the screen like a bat in a cave. The black and white gown, the seriously chic goth Halloween vibe, the skelly decor, the red and black flowers, the Morticia Addams-channeling bridesmaids, the black pumpkin guest "book" — it was intense. Oh, and of course, THAT HEADPIECE. Read More November 14, 2018 Batman married the Joker at this Marvel meets DC wedding It was a comic book themed wedding in which Batman married the Joker at Villa Antonia. I was the Joker, draped in a purple, detachable train wedding gown that I designed and had made. The gown was accessorized by a top hat veil. The groom was Batman, the best man was Superman, and the maid of honor was Catwoman. The other groomsmen where the Green Lantern, Iron Man, Captain America, The Riddler, and Deadpool. The bridesmaids were Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, The Flash, and Storm. Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice October 17, 2018 How to avoid your email save-the-date going to spam My partner and I decided to send out email save-the-dates instead of a physical card. I do, however, have a warning for you if you are planning on going the green route with your save-the-date by sending out electronic ones. If you send an email with an image, you may hit your guests' spam folders. Here are some pros and cons of going green with your save-the-dates and how you can avoid your save-the-date going to spam… Read More October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love 11 Comments November 16, 2018 From Brooklyn to Iceland, this globetrotting wedding photographer electrifies your wedding When I was introduced to our super talented photography partner, Steph of Zakas Photography, I spent WAY too much time digging into all of the weddings in her portfolio. They were all swoon-worthy and majestic and romantic, but they were also super duper adventurous and interesting… Read More November 13, 2018 Having the talk: How to tell a compelling story during your wedding ceremony Telling your story is the key to creating a memorable wedding ceremony, but many couples struggle to translate their love and shared experiences into words. You might be one of them. To help couples, American Marriage Ministries (AMM) has expanded its online tools to make this task a meaningful yet easy part of wedding preparation. Read More November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
November 19, 2018 DIY for days at this laid-back Pennsylvania wedding on a working farm Molly and Clement’s amazing laid-back Pennsylvania wedding was at a working farm, Mountain Dale farm in Central Pennsylvania. It was a full-on DIYed event with decor make by Molly, found from thrift stores and exchanges. Think flag garlands, silk flower garlands, old map signs, and real flowers provided by friends and family. Don't miss the "event barn" that featured knickknacks, old furniture, the DIYed photo booth, and so much more. Read More 11 Comments November 16, 2018 From Brooklyn to Iceland, this globetrotting wedding photographer electrifies your wedding When I was introduced to our super talented photography partner, Steph of Zakas Photography, I spent WAY too much time digging into all of the weddings in her portfolio. They were all swoon-worthy and majestic and romantic, but they were also super duper adventurous and interesting… Read More November 16, 2018 Adventure & glory await at this Medieval Times wedding in California Two years after their elopement, Emily and Travis decided to have a second celebration that really fit their personalities. So it was all about the fantasy at Medieval Times! They had a beautiful ceremony followed by eating chicken with their hands, cheering on the green knight (who won and gave his sash to the bride!), a Last Supper-esque recreation photo, and an arena full of Medieval fun times. Read More 1.1k November 15, 2018 This Atlanta goth chic wedding had a headpiece to die for When I first saw this wedding come in, my eyes were darting around the screen like a bat in a cave. The black and white gown, the seriously chic goth Halloween vibe, the skelly decor, the red and black flowers, the Morticia Addams-channeling bridesmaids, the black pumpkin guest "book" — it was intense. Oh, and of course, THAT HEADPIECE. Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Wedding Porn November 13, 2018 Hearts are full after seeing the family candy jar ceremony at this Paris vow renewal This was the vow renewal dream come true for Mehek and Lokesh who, seven years earlier, had a very traditional Indian wedding. They said they felt like they were living their own Bollywood dream by renewing their vows in Paris. You'll definitely want to see the bright pink details and a fabulously detailed bouquet. They toasted with rosé champagne and ate cake on the Champ de Mars after the ceremony. Read More November 8, 2018 It's vintage love at this quirky thrift shop engagement shoot We dreaded the idea of a lovey-dovey shoot with butterfly kisses, so we agreed to just not have engagement photos done. BUT then we were granted this really awesome opportunity to shoot our engagement session with an awesome photographer who loves out-of-the-norm wedding photos, and we had the idea to shoot at Goodwill. It was like a giant closet to play in for the day… Read More November 2, 2018 17 winter wedding headpieces & veils to transform you into a snow queen Winter weddings are, in my opinion, the unsung heroes of the wedding world, especially when it comes to fashion. I mean, is there anything more lovely than a wedding portrait in the snow?! So gorg. And when you're hauling your butt out into said snow, you might want a matching winter wedding headpiece, veil, crown, or even a woolly hat to match. I did some digging to find snowflakes, crystals, juniper, and more in hats, crowns, headpieces, and veils to adorn your wintry noggin. Read More November 2, 2018 Retro cars, popcorn, & an adorable pair at this vintage drive-in movie engagement session An old vintage sofa, a hot retro car, Coca Cola, popcorn, and an adorable couple perfectly combine for this vintage drive-in movie engagement session. Dara and Michael are perfectly adorable in their subtly retro outfits at the Dixie Twin Drive-In in Dayton, Ohio with shots in the car, in front of a huge sign featuring them(!), and some dramatic poses. Read More 1.0k November 1, 2018 It's a color explosion of papel picado & flowers at this Dia De Los Muertos wedding Look, I love Halloween week, but when I see some super colorful Dia de los Muertos wedding inspiration, I know I'm in for a spectacular show. And in this case, that show is bright papel picado strung up in trees, rainbow ribbons, multicolored bouquets, a sexy glam wedding dress, a hot AF couple how rock that ink, and a gorgeous matte black meets colorful flowers cake. Read More More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings November 20, 2018 Heroes in love: a comic book themed microwedding in Chicago Marcus and Rigo are comic book super fans and it showed in their spectacular comic book themed microwedding. There were loads of DIYed details like the paper flowers, table runners, and centerpieces all made from comic book pages. Even their programs had a caricature illustration done of the two of them to look like a comic book cover. Don't miss the superhero-themed sweets table, taco bar buffet (with rosemart margaritas!), and their unity margarita ceremony. Read More November 19, 2018 DIY for days at this laid-back Pennsylvania wedding on a working farm Molly and Clement’s amazing laid-back Pennsylvania wedding was at a working farm, Mountain Dale farm in Central Pennsylvania. It was a full-on DIYed event with decor make by Molly, found from thrift stores and exchanges. Think flag garlands, silk flower garlands, old map signs, and real flowers provided by friends and family. Don't miss the "event barn" that featured knickknacks, old furniture, the DIYed photo booth, and so much more. Read More November 16, 2018 Adventure & glory await at this Medieval Times wedding in California Two years after their elopement, Emily and Travis decided to have a second celebration that really fit their personalities. So it was all about the fantasy at Medieval Times! They had a beautiful ceremony followed by eating chicken with their hands, cheering on the green knight (who won and gave his sash to the bride!), a Last Supper-esque recreation photo, and an arena full of Medieval fun times. Read More 1.1k November 15, 2018 This Atlanta goth chic wedding had a headpiece to die for When I first saw this wedding come in, my eyes were darting around the screen like a bat in a cave. The black and white gown, the seriously chic goth Halloween vibe, the skelly decor, the red and black flowers, the Morticia Addams-channeling bridesmaids, the black pumpkin guest "book" — it was intense. Oh, and of course, THAT HEADPIECE. Read More November 14, 2018 Batman married the Joker at this Marvel meets DC wedding It was a comic book themed wedding in which Batman married the Joker at Villa Antonia. I was the Joker, draped in a purple, detachable train wedding gown that I designed and had made. The gown was accessorized by a top hat veil. The groom was Batman, the best man was Superman, and the maid of honor was Catwoman. The other groomsmen where the Green Lantern, Iron Man, Captain America, The Riddler, and Deadpool. The bridesmaids were Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, The Flash, and Storm. Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice October 17, 2018 How to avoid your email save-the-date going to spam My partner and I decided to send out email save-the-dates instead of a physical card. I do, however, have a warning for you if you are planning on going the green route with your save-the-date by sending out electronic ones. If you send an email with an image, you may hit your guests' spam folders. Here are some pros and cons of going green with your save-the-dates and how you can avoid your save-the-date going to spam… Read More October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love 11 Comments November 16, 2018 From Brooklyn to Iceland, this globetrotting wedding photographer electrifies your wedding When I was introduced to our super talented photography partner, Steph of Zakas Photography, I spent WAY too much time digging into all of the weddings in her portfolio. They were all swoon-worthy and majestic and romantic, but they were also super duper adventurous and interesting… Read More November 13, 2018 Having the talk: How to tell a compelling story during your wedding ceremony Telling your story is the key to creating a memorable wedding ceremony, but many couples struggle to translate their love and shared experiences into words. You might be one of them. To help couples, American Marriage Ministries (AMM) has expanded its online tools to make this task a meaningful yet easy part of wedding preparation. Read More November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
11 Comments November 16, 2018 From Brooklyn to Iceland, this globetrotting wedding photographer electrifies your wedding When I was introduced to our super talented photography partner, Steph of Zakas Photography, I spent WAY too much time digging into all of the weddings in her portfolio. They were all swoon-worthy and majestic and romantic, but they were also super duper adventurous and interesting… Read More November 16, 2018 Adventure & glory await at this Medieval Times wedding in California Two years after their elopement, Emily and Travis decided to have a second celebration that really fit their personalities. So it was all about the fantasy at Medieval Times! They had a beautiful ceremony followed by eating chicken with their hands, cheering on the green knight (who won and gave his sash to the bride!), a Last Supper-esque recreation photo, and an arena full of Medieval fun times. Read More 1.1k November 15, 2018 This Atlanta goth chic wedding had a headpiece to die for When I first saw this wedding come in, my eyes were darting around the screen like a bat in a cave. The black and white gown, the seriously chic goth Halloween vibe, the skelly decor, the red and black flowers, the Morticia Addams-channeling bridesmaids, the black pumpkin guest "book" — it was intense. Oh, and of course, THAT HEADPIECE. Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Wedding Porn November 13, 2018 Hearts are full after seeing the family candy jar ceremony at this Paris vow renewal This was the vow renewal dream come true for Mehek and Lokesh who, seven years earlier, had a very traditional Indian wedding. They said they felt like they were living their own Bollywood dream by renewing their vows in Paris. You'll definitely want to see the bright pink details and a fabulously detailed bouquet. They toasted with rosé champagne and ate cake on the Champ de Mars after the ceremony. Read More November 8, 2018 It's vintage love at this quirky thrift shop engagement shoot We dreaded the idea of a lovey-dovey shoot with butterfly kisses, so we agreed to just not have engagement photos done. BUT then we were granted this really awesome opportunity to shoot our engagement session with an awesome photographer who loves out-of-the-norm wedding photos, and we had the idea to shoot at Goodwill. It was like a giant closet to play in for the day… Read More November 2, 2018 17 winter wedding headpieces & veils to transform you into a snow queen Winter weddings are, in my opinion, the unsung heroes of the wedding world, especially when it comes to fashion. I mean, is there anything more lovely than a wedding portrait in the snow?! So gorg. And when you're hauling your butt out into said snow, you might want a matching winter wedding headpiece, veil, crown, or even a woolly hat to match. I did some digging to find snowflakes, crystals, juniper, and more in hats, crowns, headpieces, and veils to adorn your wintry noggin. Read More November 2, 2018 Retro cars, popcorn, & an adorable pair at this vintage drive-in movie engagement session An old vintage sofa, a hot retro car, Coca Cola, popcorn, and an adorable couple perfectly combine for this vintage drive-in movie engagement session. Dara and Michael are perfectly adorable in their subtly retro outfits at the Dixie Twin Drive-In in Dayton, Ohio with shots in the car, in front of a huge sign featuring them(!), and some dramatic poses. Read More 1.0k November 1, 2018 It's a color explosion of papel picado & flowers at this Dia De Los Muertos wedding Look, I love Halloween week, but when I see some super colorful Dia de los Muertos wedding inspiration, I know I'm in for a spectacular show. And in this case, that show is bright papel picado strung up in trees, rainbow ribbons, multicolored bouquets, a sexy glam wedding dress, a hot AF couple how rock that ink, and a gorgeous matte black meets colorful flowers cake. Read More More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings November 20, 2018 Heroes in love: a comic book themed microwedding in Chicago Marcus and Rigo are comic book super fans and it showed in their spectacular comic book themed microwedding. There were loads of DIYed details like the paper flowers, table runners, and centerpieces all made from comic book pages. Even their programs had a caricature illustration done of the two of them to look like a comic book cover. Don't miss the superhero-themed sweets table, taco bar buffet (with rosemart margaritas!), and their unity margarita ceremony. Read More November 19, 2018 DIY for days at this laid-back Pennsylvania wedding on a working farm Molly and Clement’s amazing laid-back Pennsylvania wedding was at a working farm, Mountain Dale farm in Central Pennsylvania. It was a full-on DIYed event with decor make by Molly, found from thrift stores and exchanges. Think flag garlands, silk flower garlands, old map signs, and real flowers provided by friends and family. Don't miss the "event barn" that featured knickknacks, old furniture, the DIYed photo booth, and so much more. Read More November 16, 2018 Adventure & glory await at this Medieval Times wedding in California Two years after their elopement, Emily and Travis decided to have a second celebration that really fit their personalities. So it was all about the fantasy at Medieval Times! They had a beautiful ceremony followed by eating chicken with their hands, cheering on the green knight (who won and gave his sash to the bride!), a Last Supper-esque recreation photo, and an arena full of Medieval fun times. Read More 1.1k November 15, 2018 This Atlanta goth chic wedding had a headpiece to die for When I first saw this wedding come in, my eyes were darting around the screen like a bat in a cave. The black and white gown, the seriously chic goth Halloween vibe, the skelly decor, the red and black flowers, the Morticia Addams-channeling bridesmaids, the black pumpkin guest "book" — it was intense. Oh, and of course, THAT HEADPIECE. Read More November 14, 2018 Batman married the Joker at this Marvel meets DC wedding It was a comic book themed wedding in which Batman married the Joker at Villa Antonia. I was the Joker, draped in a purple, detachable train wedding gown that I designed and had made. The gown was accessorized by a top hat veil. The groom was Batman, the best man was Superman, and the maid of honor was Catwoman. The other groomsmen where the Green Lantern, Iron Man, Captain America, The Riddler, and Deadpool. The bridesmaids were Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, The Flash, and Storm. Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice October 17, 2018 How to avoid your email save-the-date going to spam My partner and I decided to send out email save-the-dates instead of a physical card. I do, however, have a warning for you if you are planning on going the green route with your save-the-date by sending out electronic ones. If you send an email with an image, you may hit your guests' spam folders. Here are some pros and cons of going green with your save-the-dates and how you can avoid your save-the-date going to spam… Read More October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love 11 Comments November 16, 2018 From Brooklyn to Iceland, this globetrotting wedding photographer electrifies your wedding When I was introduced to our super talented photography partner, Steph of Zakas Photography, I spent WAY too much time digging into all of the weddings in her portfolio. They were all swoon-worthy and majestic and romantic, but they were also super duper adventurous and interesting… Read More November 13, 2018 Having the talk: How to tell a compelling story during your wedding ceremony Telling your story is the key to creating a memorable wedding ceremony, but many couples struggle to translate their love and shared experiences into words. You might be one of them. To help couples, American Marriage Ministries (AMM) has expanded its online tools to make this task a meaningful yet easy part of wedding preparation. Read More November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
November 16, 2018 Adventure & glory await at this Medieval Times wedding in California Two years after their elopement, Emily and Travis decided to have a second celebration that really fit their personalities. So it was all about the fantasy at Medieval Times! They had a beautiful ceremony followed by eating chicken with their hands, cheering on the green knight (who won and gave his sash to the bride!), a Last Supper-esque recreation photo, and an arena full of Medieval fun times. Read More 1.1k November 15, 2018 This Atlanta goth chic wedding had a headpiece to die for When I first saw this wedding come in, my eyes were darting around the screen like a bat in a cave. The black and white gown, the seriously chic goth Halloween vibe, the skelly decor, the red and black flowers, the Morticia Addams-channeling bridesmaids, the black pumpkin guest "book" — it was intense. Oh, and of course, THAT HEADPIECE. Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Wedding Porn November 13, 2018 Hearts are full after seeing the family candy jar ceremony at this Paris vow renewal This was the vow renewal dream come true for Mehek and Lokesh who, seven years earlier, had a very traditional Indian wedding. They said they felt like they were living their own Bollywood dream by renewing their vows in Paris. You'll definitely want to see the bright pink details and a fabulously detailed bouquet. They toasted with rosé champagne and ate cake on the Champ de Mars after the ceremony. Read More November 8, 2018 It's vintage love at this quirky thrift shop engagement shoot We dreaded the idea of a lovey-dovey shoot with butterfly kisses, so we agreed to just not have engagement photos done. BUT then we were granted this really awesome opportunity to shoot our engagement session with an awesome photographer who loves out-of-the-norm wedding photos, and we had the idea to shoot at Goodwill. It was like a giant closet to play in for the day… Read More November 2, 2018 17 winter wedding headpieces & veils to transform you into a snow queen Winter weddings are, in my opinion, the unsung heroes of the wedding world, especially when it comes to fashion. I mean, is there anything more lovely than a wedding portrait in the snow?! So gorg. And when you're hauling your butt out into said snow, you might want a matching winter wedding headpiece, veil, crown, or even a woolly hat to match. I did some digging to find snowflakes, crystals, juniper, and more in hats, crowns, headpieces, and veils to adorn your wintry noggin. Read More November 2, 2018 Retro cars, popcorn, & an adorable pair at this vintage drive-in movie engagement session An old vintage sofa, a hot retro car, Coca Cola, popcorn, and an adorable couple perfectly combine for this vintage drive-in movie engagement session. Dara and Michael are perfectly adorable in their subtly retro outfits at the Dixie Twin Drive-In in Dayton, Ohio with shots in the car, in front of a huge sign featuring them(!), and some dramatic poses. Read More 1.0k November 1, 2018 It's a color explosion of papel picado & flowers at this Dia De Los Muertos wedding Look, I love Halloween week, but when I see some super colorful Dia de los Muertos wedding inspiration, I know I'm in for a spectacular show. And in this case, that show is bright papel picado strung up in trees, rainbow ribbons, multicolored bouquets, a sexy glam wedding dress, a hot AF couple how rock that ink, and a gorgeous matte black meets colorful flowers cake. Read More More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings November 20, 2018 Heroes in love: a comic book themed microwedding in Chicago Marcus and Rigo are comic book super fans and it showed in their spectacular comic book themed microwedding. There were loads of DIYed details like the paper flowers, table runners, and centerpieces all made from comic book pages. Even their programs had a caricature illustration done of the two of them to look like a comic book cover. Don't miss the superhero-themed sweets table, taco bar buffet (with rosemart margaritas!), and their unity margarita ceremony. Read More November 19, 2018 DIY for days at this laid-back Pennsylvania wedding on a working farm Molly and Clement’s amazing laid-back Pennsylvania wedding was at a working farm, Mountain Dale farm in Central Pennsylvania. It was a full-on DIYed event with decor make by Molly, found from thrift stores and exchanges. Think flag garlands, silk flower garlands, old map signs, and real flowers provided by friends and family. Don't miss the "event barn" that featured knickknacks, old furniture, the DIYed photo booth, and so much more. Read More November 16, 2018 Adventure & glory await at this Medieval Times wedding in California Two years after their elopement, Emily and Travis decided to have a second celebration that really fit their personalities. So it was all about the fantasy at Medieval Times! They had a beautiful ceremony followed by eating chicken with their hands, cheering on the green knight (who won and gave his sash to the bride!), a Last Supper-esque recreation photo, and an arena full of Medieval fun times. Read More 1.1k November 15, 2018 This Atlanta goth chic wedding had a headpiece to die for When I first saw this wedding come in, my eyes were darting around the screen like a bat in a cave. The black and white gown, the seriously chic goth Halloween vibe, the skelly decor, the red and black flowers, the Morticia Addams-channeling bridesmaids, the black pumpkin guest "book" — it was intense. Oh, and of course, THAT HEADPIECE. Read More November 14, 2018 Batman married the Joker at this Marvel meets DC wedding It was a comic book themed wedding in which Batman married the Joker at Villa Antonia. I was the Joker, draped in a purple, detachable train wedding gown that I designed and had made. The gown was accessorized by a top hat veil. The groom was Batman, the best man was Superman, and the maid of honor was Catwoman. The other groomsmen where the Green Lantern, Iron Man, Captain America, The Riddler, and Deadpool. The bridesmaids were Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, The Flash, and Storm. Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice October 17, 2018 How to avoid your email save-the-date going to spam My partner and I decided to send out email save-the-dates instead of a physical card. I do, however, have a warning for you if you are planning on going the green route with your save-the-date by sending out electronic ones. If you send an email with an image, you may hit your guests' spam folders. Here are some pros and cons of going green with your save-the-dates and how you can avoid your save-the-date going to spam… Read More October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love 11 Comments November 16, 2018 From Brooklyn to Iceland, this globetrotting wedding photographer electrifies your wedding When I was introduced to our super talented photography partner, Steph of Zakas Photography, I spent WAY too much time digging into all of the weddings in her portfolio. They were all swoon-worthy and majestic and romantic, but they were also super duper adventurous and interesting… Read More November 13, 2018 Having the talk: How to tell a compelling story during your wedding ceremony Telling your story is the key to creating a memorable wedding ceremony, but many couples struggle to translate their love and shared experiences into words. You might be one of them. To help couples, American Marriage Ministries (AMM) has expanded its online tools to make this task a meaningful yet easy part of wedding preparation. Read More November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
1.1k November 15, 2018 This Atlanta goth chic wedding had a headpiece to die for When I first saw this wedding come in, my eyes were darting around the screen like a bat in a cave. The black and white gown, the seriously chic goth Halloween vibe, the skelly decor, the red and black flowers, the Morticia Addams-channeling bridesmaids, the black pumpkin guest "book" — it was intense. Oh, and of course, THAT HEADPIECE. Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Wedding Porn November 13, 2018 Hearts are full after seeing the family candy jar ceremony at this Paris vow renewal This was the vow renewal dream come true for Mehek and Lokesh who, seven years earlier, had a very traditional Indian wedding. They said they felt like they were living their own Bollywood dream by renewing their vows in Paris. You'll definitely want to see the bright pink details and a fabulously detailed bouquet. They toasted with rosé champagne and ate cake on the Champ de Mars after the ceremony. Read More November 8, 2018 It's vintage love at this quirky thrift shop engagement shoot We dreaded the idea of a lovey-dovey shoot with butterfly kisses, so we agreed to just not have engagement photos done. BUT then we were granted this really awesome opportunity to shoot our engagement session with an awesome photographer who loves out-of-the-norm wedding photos, and we had the idea to shoot at Goodwill. It was like a giant closet to play in for the day… Read More November 2, 2018 17 winter wedding headpieces & veils to transform you into a snow queen Winter weddings are, in my opinion, the unsung heroes of the wedding world, especially when it comes to fashion. I mean, is there anything more lovely than a wedding portrait in the snow?! So gorg. And when you're hauling your butt out into said snow, you might want a matching winter wedding headpiece, veil, crown, or even a woolly hat to match. I did some digging to find snowflakes, crystals, juniper, and more in hats, crowns, headpieces, and veils to adorn your wintry noggin. Read More November 2, 2018 Retro cars, popcorn, & an adorable pair at this vintage drive-in movie engagement session An old vintage sofa, a hot retro car, Coca Cola, popcorn, and an adorable couple perfectly combine for this vintage drive-in movie engagement session. Dara and Michael are perfectly adorable in their subtly retro outfits at the Dixie Twin Drive-In in Dayton, Ohio with shots in the car, in front of a huge sign featuring them(!), and some dramatic poses. Read More 1.0k November 1, 2018 It's a color explosion of papel picado & flowers at this Dia De Los Muertos wedding Look, I love Halloween week, but when I see some super colorful Dia de los Muertos wedding inspiration, I know I'm in for a spectacular show. And in this case, that show is bright papel picado strung up in trees, rainbow ribbons, multicolored bouquets, a sexy glam wedding dress, a hot AF couple how rock that ink, and a gorgeous matte black meets colorful flowers cake. Read More More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings November 20, 2018 Heroes in love: a comic book themed microwedding in Chicago Marcus and Rigo are comic book super fans and it showed in their spectacular comic book themed microwedding. There were loads of DIYed details like the paper flowers, table runners, and centerpieces all made from comic book pages. Even their programs had a caricature illustration done of the two of them to look like a comic book cover. Don't miss the superhero-themed sweets table, taco bar buffet (with rosemart margaritas!), and their unity margarita ceremony. Read More November 19, 2018 DIY for days at this laid-back Pennsylvania wedding on a working farm Molly and Clement’s amazing laid-back Pennsylvania wedding was at a working farm, Mountain Dale farm in Central Pennsylvania. It was a full-on DIYed event with decor make by Molly, found from thrift stores and exchanges. Think flag garlands, silk flower garlands, old map signs, and real flowers provided by friends and family. Don't miss the "event barn" that featured knickknacks, old furniture, the DIYed photo booth, and so much more. Read More November 16, 2018 Adventure & glory await at this Medieval Times wedding in California Two years after their elopement, Emily and Travis decided to have a second celebration that really fit their personalities. So it was all about the fantasy at Medieval Times! They had a beautiful ceremony followed by eating chicken with their hands, cheering on the green knight (who won and gave his sash to the bride!), a Last Supper-esque recreation photo, and an arena full of Medieval fun times. Read More 1.1k November 15, 2018 This Atlanta goth chic wedding had a headpiece to die for When I first saw this wedding come in, my eyes were darting around the screen like a bat in a cave. The black and white gown, the seriously chic goth Halloween vibe, the skelly decor, the red and black flowers, the Morticia Addams-channeling bridesmaids, the black pumpkin guest "book" — it was intense. Oh, and of course, THAT HEADPIECE. Read More November 14, 2018 Batman married the Joker at this Marvel meets DC wedding It was a comic book themed wedding in which Batman married the Joker at Villa Antonia. I was the Joker, draped in a purple, detachable train wedding gown that I designed and had made. The gown was accessorized by a top hat veil. The groom was Batman, the best man was Superman, and the maid of honor was Catwoman. The other groomsmen where the Green Lantern, Iron Man, Captain America, The Riddler, and Deadpool. The bridesmaids were Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, The Flash, and Storm. Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice October 17, 2018 How to avoid your email save-the-date going to spam My partner and I decided to send out email save-the-dates instead of a physical card. I do, however, have a warning for you if you are planning on going the green route with your save-the-date by sending out electronic ones. If you send an email with an image, you may hit your guests' spam folders. Here are some pros and cons of going green with your save-the-dates and how you can avoid your save-the-date going to spam… Read More October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love 11 Comments November 16, 2018 From Brooklyn to Iceland, this globetrotting wedding photographer electrifies your wedding When I was introduced to our super talented photography partner, Steph of Zakas Photography, I spent WAY too much time digging into all of the weddings in her portfolio. They were all swoon-worthy and majestic and romantic, but they were also super duper adventurous and interesting… Read More November 13, 2018 Having the talk: How to tell a compelling story during your wedding ceremony Telling your story is the key to creating a memorable wedding ceremony, but many couples struggle to translate their love and shared experiences into words. You might be one of them. To help couples, American Marriage Ministries (AMM) has expanded its online tools to make this task a meaningful yet easy part of wedding preparation. Read More November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
November 13, 2018 Hearts are full after seeing the family candy jar ceremony at this Paris vow renewal This was the vow renewal dream come true for Mehek and Lokesh who, seven years earlier, had a very traditional Indian wedding. They said they felt like they were living their own Bollywood dream by renewing their vows in Paris. You'll definitely want to see the bright pink details and a fabulously detailed bouquet. They toasted with rosé champagne and ate cake on the Champ de Mars after the ceremony. Read More November 8, 2018 It's vintage love at this quirky thrift shop engagement shoot We dreaded the idea of a lovey-dovey shoot with butterfly kisses, so we agreed to just not have engagement photos done. BUT then we were granted this really awesome opportunity to shoot our engagement session with an awesome photographer who loves out-of-the-norm wedding photos, and we had the idea to shoot at Goodwill. It was like a giant closet to play in for the day… Read More November 2, 2018 17 winter wedding headpieces & veils to transform you into a snow queen Winter weddings are, in my opinion, the unsung heroes of the wedding world, especially when it comes to fashion. I mean, is there anything more lovely than a wedding portrait in the snow?! So gorg. And when you're hauling your butt out into said snow, you might want a matching winter wedding headpiece, veil, crown, or even a woolly hat to match. I did some digging to find snowflakes, crystals, juniper, and more in hats, crowns, headpieces, and veils to adorn your wintry noggin. Read More November 2, 2018 Retro cars, popcorn, & an adorable pair at this vintage drive-in movie engagement session An old vintage sofa, a hot retro car, Coca Cola, popcorn, and an adorable couple perfectly combine for this vintage drive-in movie engagement session. Dara and Michael are perfectly adorable in their subtly retro outfits at the Dixie Twin Drive-In in Dayton, Ohio with shots in the car, in front of a huge sign featuring them(!), and some dramatic poses. Read More 1.0k November 1, 2018 It's a color explosion of papel picado & flowers at this Dia De Los Muertos wedding Look, I love Halloween week, but when I see some super colorful Dia de los Muertos wedding inspiration, I know I'm in for a spectacular show. And in this case, that show is bright papel picado strung up in trees, rainbow ribbons, multicolored bouquets, a sexy glam wedding dress, a hot AF couple how rock that ink, and a gorgeous matte black meets colorful flowers cake. Read More More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings November 20, 2018 Heroes in love: a comic book themed microwedding in Chicago Marcus and Rigo are comic book super fans and it showed in their spectacular comic book themed microwedding. There were loads of DIYed details like the paper flowers, table runners, and centerpieces all made from comic book pages. Even their programs had a caricature illustration done of the two of them to look like a comic book cover. Don't miss the superhero-themed sweets table, taco bar buffet (with rosemart margaritas!), and their unity margarita ceremony. Read More November 19, 2018 DIY for days at this laid-back Pennsylvania wedding on a working farm Molly and Clement’s amazing laid-back Pennsylvania wedding was at a working farm, Mountain Dale farm in Central Pennsylvania. It was a full-on DIYed event with decor make by Molly, found from thrift stores and exchanges. Think flag garlands, silk flower garlands, old map signs, and real flowers provided by friends and family. Don't miss the "event barn" that featured knickknacks, old furniture, the DIYed photo booth, and so much more. Read More November 16, 2018 Adventure & glory await at this Medieval Times wedding in California Two years after their elopement, Emily and Travis decided to have a second celebration that really fit their personalities. So it was all about the fantasy at Medieval Times! They had a beautiful ceremony followed by eating chicken with their hands, cheering on the green knight (who won and gave his sash to the bride!), a Last Supper-esque recreation photo, and an arena full of Medieval fun times. Read More 1.1k November 15, 2018 This Atlanta goth chic wedding had a headpiece to die for When I first saw this wedding come in, my eyes were darting around the screen like a bat in a cave. The black and white gown, the seriously chic goth Halloween vibe, the skelly decor, the red and black flowers, the Morticia Addams-channeling bridesmaids, the black pumpkin guest "book" — it was intense. Oh, and of course, THAT HEADPIECE. Read More November 14, 2018 Batman married the Joker at this Marvel meets DC wedding It was a comic book themed wedding in which Batman married the Joker at Villa Antonia. I was the Joker, draped in a purple, detachable train wedding gown that I designed and had made. The gown was accessorized by a top hat veil. The groom was Batman, the best man was Superman, and the maid of honor was Catwoman. The other groomsmen where the Green Lantern, Iron Man, Captain America, The Riddler, and Deadpool. The bridesmaids were Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, The Flash, and Storm. Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice October 17, 2018 How to avoid your email save-the-date going to spam My partner and I decided to send out email save-the-dates instead of a physical card. I do, however, have a warning for you if you are planning on going the green route with your save-the-date by sending out electronic ones. If you send an email with an image, you may hit your guests' spam folders. Here are some pros and cons of going green with your save-the-dates and how you can avoid your save-the-date going to spam… Read More October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love 11 Comments November 16, 2018 From Brooklyn to Iceland, this globetrotting wedding photographer electrifies your wedding When I was introduced to our super talented photography partner, Steph of Zakas Photography, I spent WAY too much time digging into all of the weddings in her portfolio. They were all swoon-worthy and majestic and romantic, but they were also super duper adventurous and interesting… Read More November 13, 2018 Having the talk: How to tell a compelling story during your wedding ceremony Telling your story is the key to creating a memorable wedding ceremony, but many couples struggle to translate their love and shared experiences into words. You might be one of them. To help couples, American Marriage Ministries (AMM) has expanded its online tools to make this task a meaningful yet easy part of wedding preparation. Read More November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
November 8, 2018 It's vintage love at this quirky thrift shop engagement shoot We dreaded the idea of a lovey-dovey shoot with butterfly kisses, so we agreed to just not have engagement photos done. BUT then we were granted this really awesome opportunity to shoot our engagement session with an awesome photographer who loves out-of-the-norm wedding photos, and we had the idea to shoot at Goodwill. It was like a giant closet to play in for the day… Read More November 2, 2018 17 winter wedding headpieces & veils to transform you into a snow queen Winter weddings are, in my opinion, the unsung heroes of the wedding world, especially when it comes to fashion. I mean, is there anything more lovely than a wedding portrait in the snow?! So gorg. And when you're hauling your butt out into said snow, you might want a matching winter wedding headpiece, veil, crown, or even a woolly hat to match. I did some digging to find snowflakes, crystals, juniper, and more in hats, crowns, headpieces, and veils to adorn your wintry noggin. Read More November 2, 2018 Retro cars, popcorn, & an adorable pair at this vintage drive-in movie engagement session An old vintage sofa, a hot retro car, Coca Cola, popcorn, and an adorable couple perfectly combine for this vintage drive-in movie engagement session. Dara and Michael are perfectly adorable in their subtly retro outfits at the Dixie Twin Drive-In in Dayton, Ohio with shots in the car, in front of a huge sign featuring them(!), and some dramatic poses. Read More 1.0k November 1, 2018 It's a color explosion of papel picado & flowers at this Dia De Los Muertos wedding Look, I love Halloween week, but when I see some super colorful Dia de los Muertos wedding inspiration, I know I'm in for a spectacular show. And in this case, that show is bright papel picado strung up in trees, rainbow ribbons, multicolored bouquets, a sexy glam wedding dress, a hot AF couple how rock that ink, and a gorgeous matte black meets colorful flowers cake. Read More More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings November 20, 2018 Heroes in love: a comic book themed microwedding in Chicago Marcus and Rigo are comic book super fans and it showed in their spectacular comic book themed microwedding. There were loads of DIYed details like the paper flowers, table runners, and centerpieces all made from comic book pages. Even their programs had a caricature illustration done of the two of them to look like a comic book cover. Don't miss the superhero-themed sweets table, taco bar buffet (with rosemart margaritas!), and their unity margarita ceremony. Read More November 19, 2018 DIY for days at this laid-back Pennsylvania wedding on a working farm Molly and Clement’s amazing laid-back Pennsylvania wedding was at a working farm, Mountain Dale farm in Central Pennsylvania. It was a full-on DIYed event with decor make by Molly, found from thrift stores and exchanges. Think flag garlands, silk flower garlands, old map signs, and real flowers provided by friends and family. Don't miss the "event barn" that featured knickknacks, old furniture, the DIYed photo booth, and so much more. Read More November 16, 2018 Adventure & glory await at this Medieval Times wedding in California Two years after their elopement, Emily and Travis decided to have a second celebration that really fit their personalities. So it was all about the fantasy at Medieval Times! They had a beautiful ceremony followed by eating chicken with their hands, cheering on the green knight (who won and gave his sash to the bride!), a Last Supper-esque recreation photo, and an arena full of Medieval fun times. Read More 1.1k November 15, 2018 This Atlanta goth chic wedding had a headpiece to die for When I first saw this wedding come in, my eyes were darting around the screen like a bat in a cave. The black and white gown, the seriously chic goth Halloween vibe, the skelly decor, the red and black flowers, the Morticia Addams-channeling bridesmaids, the black pumpkin guest "book" — it was intense. Oh, and of course, THAT HEADPIECE. Read More November 14, 2018 Batman married the Joker at this Marvel meets DC wedding It was a comic book themed wedding in which Batman married the Joker at Villa Antonia. I was the Joker, draped in a purple, detachable train wedding gown that I designed and had made. The gown was accessorized by a top hat veil. The groom was Batman, the best man was Superman, and the maid of honor was Catwoman. The other groomsmen where the Green Lantern, Iron Man, Captain America, The Riddler, and Deadpool. The bridesmaids were Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, The Flash, and Storm. Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice October 17, 2018 How to avoid your email save-the-date going to spam My partner and I decided to send out email save-the-dates instead of a physical card. I do, however, have a warning for you if you are planning on going the green route with your save-the-date by sending out electronic ones. If you send an email with an image, you may hit your guests' spam folders. Here are some pros and cons of going green with your save-the-dates and how you can avoid your save-the-date going to spam… Read More October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love 11 Comments November 16, 2018 From Brooklyn to Iceland, this globetrotting wedding photographer electrifies your wedding When I was introduced to our super talented photography partner, Steph of Zakas Photography, I spent WAY too much time digging into all of the weddings in her portfolio. They were all swoon-worthy and majestic and romantic, but they were also super duper adventurous and interesting… Read More November 13, 2018 Having the talk: How to tell a compelling story during your wedding ceremony Telling your story is the key to creating a memorable wedding ceremony, but many couples struggle to translate their love and shared experiences into words. You might be one of them. To help couples, American Marriage Ministries (AMM) has expanded its online tools to make this task a meaningful yet easy part of wedding preparation. Read More November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
November 2, 2018 17 winter wedding headpieces & veils to transform you into a snow queen Winter weddings are, in my opinion, the unsung heroes of the wedding world, especially when it comes to fashion. I mean, is there anything more lovely than a wedding portrait in the snow?! So gorg. And when you're hauling your butt out into said snow, you might want a matching winter wedding headpiece, veil, crown, or even a woolly hat to match. I did some digging to find snowflakes, crystals, juniper, and more in hats, crowns, headpieces, and veils to adorn your wintry noggin. Read More November 2, 2018 Retro cars, popcorn, & an adorable pair at this vintage drive-in movie engagement session An old vintage sofa, a hot retro car, Coca Cola, popcorn, and an adorable couple perfectly combine for this vintage drive-in movie engagement session. Dara and Michael are perfectly adorable in their subtly retro outfits at the Dixie Twin Drive-In in Dayton, Ohio with shots in the car, in front of a huge sign featuring them(!), and some dramatic poses. Read More 1.0k November 1, 2018 It's a color explosion of papel picado & flowers at this Dia De Los Muertos wedding Look, I love Halloween week, but when I see some super colorful Dia de los Muertos wedding inspiration, I know I'm in for a spectacular show. And in this case, that show is bright papel picado strung up in trees, rainbow ribbons, multicolored bouquets, a sexy glam wedding dress, a hot AF couple how rock that ink, and a gorgeous matte black meets colorful flowers cake. Read More More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings November 20, 2018 Heroes in love: a comic book themed microwedding in Chicago Marcus and Rigo are comic book super fans and it showed in their spectacular comic book themed microwedding. There were loads of DIYed details like the paper flowers, table runners, and centerpieces all made from comic book pages. Even their programs had a caricature illustration done of the two of them to look like a comic book cover. Don't miss the superhero-themed sweets table, taco bar buffet (with rosemart margaritas!), and their unity margarita ceremony. Read More November 19, 2018 DIY for days at this laid-back Pennsylvania wedding on a working farm Molly and Clement’s amazing laid-back Pennsylvania wedding was at a working farm, Mountain Dale farm in Central Pennsylvania. It was a full-on DIYed event with decor make by Molly, found from thrift stores and exchanges. Think flag garlands, silk flower garlands, old map signs, and real flowers provided by friends and family. Don't miss the "event barn" that featured knickknacks, old furniture, the DIYed photo booth, and so much more. Read More November 16, 2018 Adventure & glory await at this Medieval Times wedding in California Two years after their elopement, Emily and Travis decided to have a second celebration that really fit their personalities. So it was all about the fantasy at Medieval Times! They had a beautiful ceremony followed by eating chicken with their hands, cheering on the green knight (who won and gave his sash to the bride!), a Last Supper-esque recreation photo, and an arena full of Medieval fun times. Read More 1.1k November 15, 2018 This Atlanta goth chic wedding had a headpiece to die for When I first saw this wedding come in, my eyes were darting around the screen like a bat in a cave. The black and white gown, the seriously chic goth Halloween vibe, the skelly decor, the red and black flowers, the Morticia Addams-channeling bridesmaids, the black pumpkin guest "book" — it was intense. Oh, and of course, THAT HEADPIECE. Read More November 14, 2018 Batman married the Joker at this Marvel meets DC wedding It was a comic book themed wedding in which Batman married the Joker at Villa Antonia. I was the Joker, draped in a purple, detachable train wedding gown that I designed and had made. The gown was accessorized by a top hat veil. The groom was Batman, the best man was Superman, and the maid of honor was Catwoman. The other groomsmen where the Green Lantern, Iron Man, Captain America, The Riddler, and Deadpool. The bridesmaids were Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, The Flash, and Storm. Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice October 17, 2018 How to avoid your email save-the-date going to spam My partner and I decided to send out email save-the-dates instead of a physical card. I do, however, have a warning for you if you are planning on going the green route with your save-the-date by sending out electronic ones. If you send an email with an image, you may hit your guests' spam folders. Here are some pros and cons of going green with your save-the-dates and how you can avoid your save-the-date going to spam… Read More October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love 11 Comments November 16, 2018 From Brooklyn to Iceland, this globetrotting wedding photographer electrifies your wedding When I was introduced to our super talented photography partner, Steph of Zakas Photography, I spent WAY too much time digging into all of the weddings in her portfolio. They were all swoon-worthy and majestic and romantic, but they were also super duper adventurous and interesting… Read More November 13, 2018 Having the talk: How to tell a compelling story during your wedding ceremony Telling your story is the key to creating a memorable wedding ceremony, but many couples struggle to translate their love and shared experiences into words. You might be one of them. To help couples, American Marriage Ministries (AMM) has expanded its online tools to make this task a meaningful yet easy part of wedding preparation. Read More November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
November 2, 2018 Retro cars, popcorn, & an adorable pair at this vintage drive-in movie engagement session An old vintage sofa, a hot retro car, Coca Cola, popcorn, and an adorable couple perfectly combine for this vintage drive-in movie engagement session. Dara and Michael are perfectly adorable in their subtly retro outfits at the Dixie Twin Drive-In in Dayton, Ohio with shots in the car, in front of a huge sign featuring them(!), and some dramatic poses. Read More 1.0k November 1, 2018 It's a color explosion of papel picado & flowers at this Dia De Los Muertos wedding Look, I love Halloween week, but when I see some super colorful Dia de los Muertos wedding inspiration, I know I'm in for a spectacular show. And in this case, that show is bright papel picado strung up in trees, rainbow ribbons, multicolored bouquets, a sexy glam wedding dress, a hot AF couple how rock that ink, and a gorgeous matte black meets colorful flowers cake. Read More More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings November 20, 2018 Heroes in love: a comic book themed microwedding in Chicago Marcus and Rigo are comic book super fans and it showed in their spectacular comic book themed microwedding. There were loads of DIYed details like the paper flowers, table runners, and centerpieces all made from comic book pages. Even their programs had a caricature illustration done of the two of them to look like a comic book cover. Don't miss the superhero-themed sweets table, taco bar buffet (with rosemart margaritas!), and their unity margarita ceremony. Read More November 19, 2018 DIY for days at this laid-back Pennsylvania wedding on a working farm Molly and Clement’s amazing laid-back Pennsylvania wedding was at a working farm, Mountain Dale farm in Central Pennsylvania. It was a full-on DIYed event with decor make by Molly, found from thrift stores and exchanges. Think flag garlands, silk flower garlands, old map signs, and real flowers provided by friends and family. Don't miss the "event barn" that featured knickknacks, old furniture, the DIYed photo booth, and so much more. Read More November 16, 2018 Adventure & glory await at this Medieval Times wedding in California Two years after their elopement, Emily and Travis decided to have a second celebration that really fit their personalities. So it was all about the fantasy at Medieval Times! They had a beautiful ceremony followed by eating chicken with their hands, cheering on the green knight (who won and gave his sash to the bride!), a Last Supper-esque recreation photo, and an arena full of Medieval fun times. Read More 1.1k November 15, 2018 This Atlanta goth chic wedding had a headpiece to die for When I first saw this wedding come in, my eyes were darting around the screen like a bat in a cave. The black and white gown, the seriously chic goth Halloween vibe, the skelly decor, the red and black flowers, the Morticia Addams-channeling bridesmaids, the black pumpkin guest "book" — it was intense. Oh, and of course, THAT HEADPIECE. Read More November 14, 2018 Batman married the Joker at this Marvel meets DC wedding It was a comic book themed wedding in which Batman married the Joker at Villa Antonia. I was the Joker, draped in a purple, detachable train wedding gown that I designed and had made. The gown was accessorized by a top hat veil. The groom was Batman, the best man was Superman, and the maid of honor was Catwoman. The other groomsmen where the Green Lantern, Iron Man, Captain America, The Riddler, and Deadpool. The bridesmaids were Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, The Flash, and Storm. Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice October 17, 2018 How to avoid your email save-the-date going to spam My partner and I decided to send out email save-the-dates instead of a physical card. I do, however, have a warning for you if you are planning on going the green route with your save-the-date by sending out electronic ones. If you send an email with an image, you may hit your guests' spam folders. Here are some pros and cons of going green with your save-the-dates and how you can avoid your save-the-date going to spam… Read More October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love 11 Comments November 16, 2018 From Brooklyn to Iceland, this globetrotting wedding photographer electrifies your wedding When I was introduced to our super talented photography partner, Steph of Zakas Photography, I spent WAY too much time digging into all of the weddings in her portfolio. They were all swoon-worthy and majestic and romantic, but they were also super duper adventurous and interesting… Read More November 13, 2018 Having the talk: How to tell a compelling story during your wedding ceremony Telling your story is the key to creating a memorable wedding ceremony, but many couples struggle to translate their love and shared experiences into words. You might be one of them. To help couples, American Marriage Ministries (AMM) has expanded its online tools to make this task a meaningful yet easy part of wedding preparation. Read More November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
1.0k November 1, 2018 It's a color explosion of papel picado & flowers at this Dia De Los Muertos wedding Look, I love Halloween week, but when I see some super colorful Dia de los Muertos wedding inspiration, I know I'm in for a spectacular show. And in this case, that show is bright papel picado strung up in trees, rainbow ribbons, multicolored bouquets, a sexy glam wedding dress, a hot AF couple how rock that ink, and a gorgeous matte black meets colorful flowers cake. Read More More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings November 20, 2018 Heroes in love: a comic book themed microwedding in Chicago Marcus and Rigo are comic book super fans and it showed in their spectacular comic book themed microwedding. There were loads of DIYed details like the paper flowers, table runners, and centerpieces all made from comic book pages. Even their programs had a caricature illustration done of the two of them to look like a comic book cover. Don't miss the superhero-themed sweets table, taco bar buffet (with rosemart margaritas!), and their unity margarita ceremony. Read More November 19, 2018 DIY for days at this laid-back Pennsylvania wedding on a working farm Molly and Clement’s amazing laid-back Pennsylvania wedding was at a working farm, Mountain Dale farm in Central Pennsylvania. It was a full-on DIYed event with decor make by Molly, found from thrift stores and exchanges. Think flag garlands, silk flower garlands, old map signs, and real flowers provided by friends and family. Don't miss the "event barn" that featured knickknacks, old furniture, the DIYed photo booth, and so much more. Read More November 16, 2018 Adventure & glory await at this Medieval Times wedding in California Two years after their elopement, Emily and Travis decided to have a second celebration that really fit their personalities. So it was all about the fantasy at Medieval Times! They had a beautiful ceremony followed by eating chicken with their hands, cheering on the green knight (who won and gave his sash to the bride!), a Last Supper-esque recreation photo, and an arena full of Medieval fun times. Read More 1.1k November 15, 2018 This Atlanta goth chic wedding had a headpiece to die for When I first saw this wedding come in, my eyes were darting around the screen like a bat in a cave. The black and white gown, the seriously chic goth Halloween vibe, the skelly decor, the red and black flowers, the Morticia Addams-channeling bridesmaids, the black pumpkin guest "book" — it was intense. Oh, and of course, THAT HEADPIECE. Read More November 14, 2018 Batman married the Joker at this Marvel meets DC wedding It was a comic book themed wedding in which Batman married the Joker at Villa Antonia. I was the Joker, draped in a purple, detachable train wedding gown that I designed and had made. The gown was accessorized by a top hat veil. The groom was Batman, the best man was Superman, and the maid of honor was Catwoman. The other groomsmen where the Green Lantern, Iron Man, Captain America, The Riddler, and Deadpool. The bridesmaids were Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, The Flash, and Storm. Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice October 17, 2018 How to avoid your email save-the-date going to spam My partner and I decided to send out email save-the-dates instead of a physical card. I do, however, have a warning for you if you are planning on going the green route with your save-the-date by sending out electronic ones. If you send an email with an image, you may hit your guests' spam folders. Here are some pros and cons of going green with your save-the-dates and how you can avoid your save-the-date going to spam… Read More October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love 11 Comments November 16, 2018 From Brooklyn to Iceland, this globetrotting wedding photographer electrifies your wedding When I was introduced to our super talented photography partner, Steph of Zakas Photography, I spent WAY too much time digging into all of the weddings in her portfolio. They were all swoon-worthy and majestic and romantic, but they were also super duper adventurous and interesting… Read More November 13, 2018 Having the talk: How to tell a compelling story during your wedding ceremony Telling your story is the key to creating a memorable wedding ceremony, but many couples struggle to translate their love and shared experiences into words. You might be one of them. To help couples, American Marriage Ministries (AMM) has expanded its online tools to make this task a meaningful yet easy part of wedding preparation. Read More November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
November 20, 2018 Heroes in love: a comic book themed microwedding in Chicago Marcus and Rigo are comic book super fans and it showed in their spectacular comic book themed microwedding. There were loads of DIYed details like the paper flowers, table runners, and centerpieces all made from comic book pages. Even their programs had a caricature illustration done of the two of them to look like a comic book cover. Don't miss the superhero-themed sweets table, taco bar buffet (with rosemart margaritas!), and their unity margarita ceremony. Read More November 19, 2018 DIY for days at this laid-back Pennsylvania wedding on a working farm Molly and Clement’s amazing laid-back Pennsylvania wedding was at a working farm, Mountain Dale farm in Central Pennsylvania. It was a full-on DIYed event with decor make by Molly, found from thrift stores and exchanges. Think flag garlands, silk flower garlands, old map signs, and real flowers provided by friends and family. Don't miss the "event barn" that featured knickknacks, old furniture, the DIYed photo booth, and so much more. Read More November 16, 2018 Adventure & glory await at this Medieval Times wedding in California Two years after their elopement, Emily and Travis decided to have a second celebration that really fit their personalities. So it was all about the fantasy at Medieval Times! They had a beautiful ceremony followed by eating chicken with their hands, cheering on the green knight (who won and gave his sash to the bride!), a Last Supper-esque recreation photo, and an arena full of Medieval fun times. Read More 1.1k November 15, 2018 This Atlanta goth chic wedding had a headpiece to die for When I first saw this wedding come in, my eyes were darting around the screen like a bat in a cave. The black and white gown, the seriously chic goth Halloween vibe, the skelly decor, the red and black flowers, the Morticia Addams-channeling bridesmaids, the black pumpkin guest "book" — it was intense. Oh, and of course, THAT HEADPIECE. Read More November 14, 2018 Batman married the Joker at this Marvel meets DC wedding It was a comic book themed wedding in which Batman married the Joker at Villa Antonia. I was the Joker, draped in a purple, detachable train wedding gown that I designed and had made. The gown was accessorized by a top hat veil. The groom was Batman, the best man was Superman, and the maid of honor was Catwoman. The other groomsmen where the Green Lantern, Iron Man, Captain America, The Riddler, and Deadpool. The bridesmaids were Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, The Flash, and Storm. Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice October 17, 2018 How to avoid your email save-the-date going to spam My partner and I decided to send out email save-the-dates instead of a physical card. I do, however, have a warning for you if you are planning on going the green route with your save-the-date by sending out electronic ones. If you send an email with an image, you may hit your guests' spam folders. Here are some pros and cons of going green with your save-the-dates and how you can avoid your save-the-date going to spam… Read More October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love 11 Comments November 16, 2018 From Brooklyn to Iceland, this globetrotting wedding photographer electrifies your wedding When I was introduced to our super talented photography partner, Steph of Zakas Photography, I spent WAY too much time digging into all of the weddings in her portfolio. They were all swoon-worthy and majestic and romantic, but they were also super duper adventurous and interesting… Read More November 13, 2018 Having the talk: How to tell a compelling story during your wedding ceremony Telling your story is the key to creating a memorable wedding ceremony, but many couples struggle to translate their love and shared experiences into words. You might be one of them. To help couples, American Marriage Ministries (AMM) has expanded its online tools to make this task a meaningful yet easy part of wedding preparation. Read More November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
November 19, 2018 DIY for days at this laid-back Pennsylvania wedding on a working farm Molly and Clement’s amazing laid-back Pennsylvania wedding was at a working farm, Mountain Dale farm in Central Pennsylvania. It was a full-on DIYed event with decor make by Molly, found from thrift stores and exchanges. Think flag garlands, silk flower garlands, old map signs, and real flowers provided by friends and family. Don't miss the "event barn" that featured knickknacks, old furniture, the DIYed photo booth, and so much more. Read More November 16, 2018 Adventure & glory await at this Medieval Times wedding in California Two years after their elopement, Emily and Travis decided to have a second celebration that really fit their personalities. So it was all about the fantasy at Medieval Times! They had a beautiful ceremony followed by eating chicken with their hands, cheering on the green knight (who won and gave his sash to the bride!), a Last Supper-esque recreation photo, and an arena full of Medieval fun times. Read More 1.1k November 15, 2018 This Atlanta goth chic wedding had a headpiece to die for When I first saw this wedding come in, my eyes were darting around the screen like a bat in a cave. The black and white gown, the seriously chic goth Halloween vibe, the skelly decor, the red and black flowers, the Morticia Addams-channeling bridesmaids, the black pumpkin guest "book" — it was intense. Oh, and of course, THAT HEADPIECE. Read More November 14, 2018 Batman married the Joker at this Marvel meets DC wedding It was a comic book themed wedding in which Batman married the Joker at Villa Antonia. I was the Joker, draped in a purple, detachable train wedding gown that I designed and had made. The gown was accessorized by a top hat veil. The groom was Batman, the best man was Superman, and the maid of honor was Catwoman. The other groomsmen where the Green Lantern, Iron Man, Captain America, The Riddler, and Deadpool. The bridesmaids were Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, The Flash, and Storm. Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice October 17, 2018 How to avoid your email save-the-date going to spam My partner and I decided to send out email save-the-dates instead of a physical card. I do, however, have a warning for you if you are planning on going the green route with your save-the-date by sending out electronic ones. If you send an email with an image, you may hit your guests' spam folders. Here are some pros and cons of going green with your save-the-dates and how you can avoid your save-the-date going to spam… Read More October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love 11 Comments November 16, 2018 From Brooklyn to Iceland, this globetrotting wedding photographer electrifies your wedding When I was introduced to our super talented photography partner, Steph of Zakas Photography, I spent WAY too much time digging into all of the weddings in her portfolio. They were all swoon-worthy and majestic and romantic, but they were also super duper adventurous and interesting… Read More November 13, 2018 Having the talk: How to tell a compelling story during your wedding ceremony Telling your story is the key to creating a memorable wedding ceremony, but many couples struggle to translate their love and shared experiences into words. You might be one of them. To help couples, American Marriage Ministries (AMM) has expanded its online tools to make this task a meaningful yet easy part of wedding preparation. Read More November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
November 16, 2018 Adventure & glory await at this Medieval Times wedding in California Two years after their elopement, Emily and Travis decided to have a second celebration that really fit their personalities. So it was all about the fantasy at Medieval Times! They had a beautiful ceremony followed by eating chicken with their hands, cheering on the green knight (who won and gave his sash to the bride!), a Last Supper-esque recreation photo, and an arena full of Medieval fun times. Read More 1.1k November 15, 2018 This Atlanta goth chic wedding had a headpiece to die for When I first saw this wedding come in, my eyes were darting around the screen like a bat in a cave. The black and white gown, the seriously chic goth Halloween vibe, the skelly decor, the red and black flowers, the Morticia Addams-channeling bridesmaids, the black pumpkin guest "book" — it was intense. Oh, and of course, THAT HEADPIECE. Read More November 14, 2018 Batman married the Joker at this Marvel meets DC wedding It was a comic book themed wedding in which Batman married the Joker at Villa Antonia. I was the Joker, draped in a purple, detachable train wedding gown that I designed and had made. The gown was accessorized by a top hat veil. The groom was Batman, the best man was Superman, and the maid of honor was Catwoman. The other groomsmen where the Green Lantern, Iron Man, Captain America, The Riddler, and Deadpool. The bridesmaids were Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, The Flash, and Storm. Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice October 17, 2018 How to avoid your email save-the-date going to spam My partner and I decided to send out email save-the-dates instead of a physical card. I do, however, have a warning for you if you are planning on going the green route with your save-the-date by sending out electronic ones. If you send an email with an image, you may hit your guests' spam folders. Here are some pros and cons of going green with your save-the-dates and how you can avoid your save-the-date going to spam… Read More October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love 11 Comments November 16, 2018 From Brooklyn to Iceland, this globetrotting wedding photographer electrifies your wedding When I was introduced to our super talented photography partner, Steph of Zakas Photography, I spent WAY too much time digging into all of the weddings in her portfolio. They were all swoon-worthy and majestic and romantic, but they were also super duper adventurous and interesting… Read More November 13, 2018 Having the talk: How to tell a compelling story during your wedding ceremony Telling your story is the key to creating a memorable wedding ceremony, but many couples struggle to translate their love and shared experiences into words. You might be one of them. To help couples, American Marriage Ministries (AMM) has expanded its online tools to make this task a meaningful yet easy part of wedding preparation. Read More November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
1.1k November 15, 2018 This Atlanta goth chic wedding had a headpiece to die for When I first saw this wedding come in, my eyes were darting around the screen like a bat in a cave. The black and white gown, the seriously chic goth Halloween vibe, the skelly decor, the red and black flowers, the Morticia Addams-channeling bridesmaids, the black pumpkin guest "book" — it was intense. Oh, and of course, THAT HEADPIECE. Read More November 14, 2018 Batman married the Joker at this Marvel meets DC wedding It was a comic book themed wedding in which Batman married the Joker at Villa Antonia. I was the Joker, draped in a purple, detachable train wedding gown that I designed and had made. The gown was accessorized by a top hat veil. The groom was Batman, the best man was Superman, and the maid of honor was Catwoman. The other groomsmen where the Green Lantern, Iron Man, Captain America, The Riddler, and Deadpool. The bridesmaids were Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, The Flash, and Storm. Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice October 17, 2018 How to avoid your email save-the-date going to spam My partner and I decided to send out email save-the-dates instead of a physical card. I do, however, have a warning for you if you are planning on going the green route with your save-the-date by sending out electronic ones. If you send an email with an image, you may hit your guests' spam folders. Here are some pros and cons of going green with your save-the-dates and how you can avoid your save-the-date going to spam… Read More October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love 11 Comments November 16, 2018 From Brooklyn to Iceland, this globetrotting wedding photographer electrifies your wedding When I was introduced to our super talented photography partner, Steph of Zakas Photography, I spent WAY too much time digging into all of the weddings in her portfolio. They were all swoon-worthy and majestic and romantic, but they were also super duper adventurous and interesting… Read More November 13, 2018 Having the talk: How to tell a compelling story during your wedding ceremony Telling your story is the key to creating a memorable wedding ceremony, but many couples struggle to translate their love and shared experiences into words. You might be one of them. To help couples, American Marriage Ministries (AMM) has expanded its online tools to make this task a meaningful yet easy part of wedding preparation. Read More November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
November 14, 2018 Batman married the Joker at this Marvel meets DC wedding It was a comic book themed wedding in which Batman married the Joker at Villa Antonia. I was the Joker, draped in a purple, detachable train wedding gown that I designed and had made. The gown was accessorized by a top hat veil. The groom was Batman, the best man was Superman, and the maid of honor was Catwoman. The other groomsmen where the Green Lantern, Iron Man, Captain America, The Riddler, and Deadpool. The bridesmaids were Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, The Flash, and Storm. Read More More Real Weddings > Recent Advice October 17, 2018 How to avoid your email save-the-date going to spam My partner and I decided to send out email save-the-dates instead of a physical card. I do, however, have a warning for you if you are planning on going the green route with your save-the-date by sending out electronic ones. If you send an email with an image, you may hit your guests' spam folders. Here are some pros and cons of going green with your save-the-dates and how you can avoid your save-the-date going to spam… Read More October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love 11 Comments November 16, 2018 From Brooklyn to Iceland, this globetrotting wedding photographer electrifies your wedding When I was introduced to our super talented photography partner, Steph of Zakas Photography, I spent WAY too much time digging into all of the weddings in her portfolio. They were all swoon-worthy and majestic and romantic, but they were also super duper adventurous and interesting… Read More November 13, 2018 Having the talk: How to tell a compelling story during your wedding ceremony Telling your story is the key to creating a memorable wedding ceremony, but many couples struggle to translate their love and shared experiences into words. You might be one of them. To help couples, American Marriage Ministries (AMM) has expanded its online tools to make this task a meaningful yet easy part of wedding preparation. Read More November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
October 17, 2018 How to avoid your email save-the-date going to spam My partner and I decided to send out email save-the-dates instead of a physical card. I do, however, have a warning for you if you are planning on going the green route with your save-the-date by sending out electronic ones. If you send an email with an image, you may hit your guests' spam folders. Here are some pros and cons of going green with your save-the-dates and how you can avoid your save-the-date going to spam… Read More October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love 11 Comments November 16, 2018 From Brooklyn to Iceland, this globetrotting wedding photographer electrifies your wedding When I was introduced to our super talented photography partner, Steph of Zakas Photography, I spent WAY too much time digging into all of the weddings in her portfolio. They were all swoon-worthy and majestic and romantic, but they were also super duper adventurous and interesting… Read More November 13, 2018 Having the talk: How to tell a compelling story during your wedding ceremony Telling your story is the key to creating a memorable wedding ceremony, but many couples struggle to translate their love and shared experiences into words. You might be one of them. To help couples, American Marriage Ministries (AMM) has expanded its online tools to make this task a meaningful yet easy part of wedding preparation. Read More November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
October 3, 2018 Our delicious unity beer ceremony was… hopping (plus our ceremony wording!) Craft beer has been such a huge part of our relationship that when we were planning our wedding (featured here!), we wanted to include it somehow. I suggested a unity beer ceremony, but we couldn't find any wording online that we liked. We ended up creating our own from scratch, complete with our own unique brand of humor. Read More September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love 11 Comments November 16, 2018 From Brooklyn to Iceland, this globetrotting wedding photographer electrifies your wedding When I was introduced to our super talented photography partner, Steph of Zakas Photography, I spent WAY too much time digging into all of the weddings in her portfolio. They were all swoon-worthy and majestic and romantic, but they were also super duper adventurous and interesting… Read More November 13, 2018 Having the talk: How to tell a compelling story during your wedding ceremony Telling your story is the key to creating a memorable wedding ceremony, but many couples struggle to translate their love and shared experiences into words. You might be one of them. To help couples, American Marriage Ministries (AMM) has expanded its online tools to make this task a meaningful yet easy part of wedding preparation. Read More November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
September 17, 2018 7 fur-tastic ways to include your pet in the wedding day Like all of us who follow famous animals on Instagram, I love seeing your ring dogs, cat save-the-dates, and guinea pig cake toppers. But are there MORE ways to include your pet in the wedding day? I decided to see what was new in the realm of wedding pets. And there was! I saw so many adorable ways to add some pet fur to your day (without wigging them out, of course). Let's get to the honorable wedding puppers and kittehs (and whatever other animals y'all love!)… Read More 1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love 11 Comments November 16, 2018 From Brooklyn to Iceland, this globetrotting wedding photographer electrifies your wedding When I was introduced to our super talented photography partner, Steph of Zakas Photography, I spent WAY too much time digging into all of the weddings in her portfolio. They were all swoon-worthy and majestic and romantic, but they were also super duper adventurous and interesting… Read More November 13, 2018 Having the talk: How to tell a compelling story during your wedding ceremony Telling your story is the key to creating a memorable wedding ceremony, but many couples struggle to translate their love and shared experiences into words. You might be one of them. To help couples, American Marriage Ministries (AMM) has expanded its online tools to make this task a meaningful yet easy part of wedding preparation. Read More November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
1.2k 21 Comments September 10, 2018 I am planning a pre-invitation survey to get a guest list headcount. Will this work? I have been scouring all the posts and comments threads about RSVPs and guest lists, and haven't seen an answer to a tricky question. How do you deal with guest list ambiguity when you live in an extremely expensive area, 2/3 of your desired invites are from out of town, and venues require guaranteed minimums on catering? Is it over okay to make a survey for your friends and family to gauge best-guesses for will they/won't theys for a wedding a year and a half or two years away? Read More September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love 11 Comments November 16, 2018 From Brooklyn to Iceland, this globetrotting wedding photographer electrifies your wedding When I was introduced to our super talented photography partner, Steph of Zakas Photography, I spent WAY too much time digging into all of the weddings in her portfolio. They were all swoon-worthy and majestic and romantic, but they were also super duper adventurous and interesting… Read More November 13, 2018 Having the talk: How to tell a compelling story during your wedding ceremony Telling your story is the key to creating a memorable wedding ceremony, but many couples struggle to translate their love and shared experiences into words. You might be one of them. To help couples, American Marriage Ministries (AMM) has expanded its online tools to make this task a meaningful yet easy part of wedding preparation. Read More November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
September 5, 2018 Be blown away by this wine country destination wedding itinerary (Part 2!) I'm continuing the lineup of amazing wedding events you can plan for a destination wine country wedding in Sonoma County, California. If you missed part one, it's here! Here are some of the highlights that I got to experience including some farm and winery tours, a pit stop for some soft serve, an outdoor boudoir session, cheese tastings, and of course, the main wedding event. Read More More Advice > Recent DIY September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love 11 Comments November 16, 2018 From Brooklyn to Iceland, this globetrotting wedding photographer electrifies your wedding When I was introduced to our super talented photography partner, Steph of Zakas Photography, I spent WAY too much time digging into all of the weddings in her portfolio. They were all swoon-worthy and majestic and romantic, but they were also super duper adventurous and interesting… Read More November 13, 2018 Having the talk: How to tell a compelling story during your wedding ceremony Telling your story is the key to creating a memorable wedding ceremony, but many couples struggle to translate their love and shared experiences into words. You might be one of them. To help couples, American Marriage Ministries (AMM) has expanded its online tools to make this task a meaningful yet easy part of wedding preparation. Read More November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
September 18, 2018 Eat 'em or take 'em: these s'mores wedding favors are a gooey gift guests will devour S'mores are a staple of outdoor weddings in any season, but especially in the fall when the weather gets chilly and a bonfire is apropos. You're cooking them up over a bonfire, adding them to your sweets table, and even making them into cakes! But a perfect way to provide a dessert AND a takeaway gift is an easy-to-make s'mores wedding favor. Here's how to make them super easily with a few staples from Michael's Weddings™… Read More 1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love 11 Comments November 16, 2018 From Brooklyn to Iceland, this globetrotting wedding photographer electrifies your wedding When I was introduced to our super talented photography partner, Steph of Zakas Photography, I spent WAY too much time digging into all of the weddings in her portfolio. They were all swoon-worthy and majestic and romantic, but they were also super duper adventurous and interesting… Read More November 13, 2018 Having the talk: How to tell a compelling story during your wedding ceremony Telling your story is the key to creating a memorable wedding ceremony, but many couples struggle to translate their love and shared experiences into words. You might be one of them. To help couples, American Marriage Ministries (AMM) has expanded its online tools to make this task a meaningful yet easy part of wedding preparation. Read More November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
1.4k July 11, 2018 A seriously easy way to make a cathedral veil from your favorite fabric About a month before my wedding, I became fascinated with a colorful floral veil in this post on my favorite wedding blog. I looked around for similar veils online, but couldn't find anything for a price I was willing to pay. So I decided to DIY my veil and it was surprisingly easy! Here's how I did it… Read More June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love 11 Comments November 16, 2018 From Brooklyn to Iceland, this globetrotting wedding photographer electrifies your wedding When I was introduced to our super talented photography partner, Steph of Zakas Photography, I spent WAY too much time digging into all of the weddings in her portfolio. They were all swoon-worthy and majestic and romantic, but they were also super duper adventurous and interesting… Read More November 13, 2018 Having the talk: How to tell a compelling story during your wedding ceremony Telling your story is the key to creating a memorable wedding ceremony, but many couples struggle to translate their love and shared experiences into words. You might be one of them. To help couples, American Marriage Ministries (AMM) has expanded its online tools to make this task a meaningful yet easy part of wedding preparation. Read More November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
June 11, 2018 Supersize your wedding flora with this big crepe paper flower tutorial We know HUGE bouquets are super popular right now, but what if we mega-size the actual flowers instead of just the bouquet size? We love a good huge flower bouquet, headpiece, centerpiece, or ceremony backdrop. The best part? You can totally make these yourself. Read More May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love 11 Comments November 16, 2018 From Brooklyn to Iceland, this globetrotting wedding photographer electrifies your wedding When I was introduced to our super talented photography partner, Steph of Zakas Photography, I spent WAY too much time digging into all of the weddings in her portfolio. They were all swoon-worthy and majestic and romantic, but they were also super duper adventurous and interesting… Read More November 13, 2018 Having the talk: How to tell a compelling story during your wedding ceremony Telling your story is the key to creating a memorable wedding ceremony, but many couples struggle to translate their love and shared experiences into words. You might be one of them. To help couples, American Marriage Ministries (AMM) has expanded its online tools to make this task a meaningful yet easy part of wedding preparation. Read More November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
May 30, 2018 Lush florals go ring-shaped with this DIY floral hoop backdrop I love a good hoop bouquet, but those handy floral hoops can be used for more than just a great alternative bouquet. I've created a series of hoops flowing with greenery and flora that can be used a wedding ceremony backdrop, reception decor, or even a place card holder. With this DIY floral hoop backdrop, you can add as many floral picks as you like to make it as lush as you can imagine. Artificial flowers let you create a backdrop that can go from wedding to living room permanently. It's the beauty of realistic artificial flowers! Here are the steps to go from a simple hoop to intricate backdrop in no time… Read More April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love 11 Comments November 16, 2018 From Brooklyn to Iceland, this globetrotting wedding photographer electrifies your wedding When I was introduced to our super talented photography partner, Steph of Zakas Photography, I spent WAY too much time digging into all of the weddings in her portfolio. They were all swoon-worthy and majestic and romantic, but they were also super duper adventurous and interesting… Read More November 13, 2018 Having the talk: How to tell a compelling story during your wedding ceremony Telling your story is the key to creating a memorable wedding ceremony, but many couples struggle to translate their love and shared experiences into words. You might be one of them. To help couples, American Marriage Ministries (AMM) has expanded its online tools to make this task a meaningful yet easy part of wedding preparation. Read More November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
April 5, 2018 In case of dementor attack, you'll need this Harry Potter wedding favor If you're a Potterphile, you know that chocolate bars have their own powers of soothing you after a dementor attack. So at a wedding with Harry Potter details (where a dementor could prey, naturally!), why not offer up some DIY Harry Potter wedding favors that will do the job nicely. Plus, it only takes some inexpensive chocolate bars, some printer paper, and a printable chocolate bar wrapper. Read More More DIY > Recent Stuff we love 11 Comments November 16, 2018 From Brooklyn to Iceland, this globetrotting wedding photographer electrifies your wedding When I was introduced to our super talented photography partner, Steph of Zakas Photography, I spent WAY too much time digging into all of the weddings in her portfolio. They were all swoon-worthy and majestic and romantic, but they were also super duper adventurous and interesting… Read More November 13, 2018 Having the talk: How to tell a compelling story during your wedding ceremony Telling your story is the key to creating a memorable wedding ceremony, but many couples struggle to translate their love and shared experiences into words. You might be one of them. To help couples, American Marriage Ministries (AMM) has expanded its online tools to make this task a meaningful yet easy part of wedding preparation. Read More November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
11 Comments November 16, 2018 From Brooklyn to Iceland, this globetrotting wedding photographer electrifies your wedding When I was introduced to our super talented photography partner, Steph of Zakas Photography, I spent WAY too much time digging into all of the weddings in her portfolio. They were all swoon-worthy and majestic and romantic, but they were also super duper adventurous and interesting… Read More November 13, 2018 Having the talk: How to tell a compelling story during your wedding ceremony Telling your story is the key to creating a memorable wedding ceremony, but many couples struggle to translate their love and shared experiences into words. You might be one of them. To help couples, American Marriage Ministries (AMM) has expanded its online tools to make this task a meaningful yet easy part of wedding preparation. Read More November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
November 13, 2018 Having the talk: How to tell a compelling story during your wedding ceremony Telling your story is the key to creating a memorable wedding ceremony, but many couples struggle to translate their love and shared experiences into words. You might be one of them. To help couples, American Marriage Ministries (AMM) has expanded its online tools to make this task a meaningful yet easy part of wedding preparation. Read More November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
November 9, 2018 Based on these reader Etsy purchases, y'all are having the most RAD weddings ever We've been trawling through all of the reader purchases from Etsy lately and they are AMAZING. I had no doubts that our readers would have great taste and style and these purchases prove it. Here are some of my favorite wedding wearables that readers have been purchasing (that you can totally nab!)… Read More November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
November 6, 2018 Geekiness, diversity, & authenticity: why offbeat couples are my happy place So it was ten years ago that I was planning my own offbeat lite wedding and my husband-then-fiance had a panic attack at a dance lesson to help us figure out what to do for first dance. I Googled “alternatives to first dance” and found Offbeat Bride. I felt heard. I felt understood. I felt like I found a community that would support me and my spouse… Read More October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
October 30, 2018 We scoured the galaxy for one of the most nerd-friendly photographers and WE FOUND HER It's been a minute since we caught up with one of our favorite offbeat and geeky wedding-loving photographers, Sharma Shari. Like me (and probably like you!), Sharma is a geek through and through and will absolutely wig out when you share your own geeky wedding ideas with her. She also has a soft spot for offbeat and creative weddings in general, be they geeky or otherwise. So if you don't already know this wizard of wedding photography, it's time you met her… Read More More Stuff we love > Recent Wedding 101 July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
July 12, 2018 Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart We launched a comprehensive and totally customizable document of wedding planning spreadsheets in Google Drive if you're the type to get down with spreadsheets like I am. Now we're sharing a chart that will help you compare hotel blocks if you're planning to provide that option to your guests. Hotel blocks allow you to block out some rooms and room rates to help guests grab a good deal on a hotel room. Read More June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
June 27, 2018 Avoiding wedding fights: how to plan your wedding planning Your engagement should be a joyful time. You have a lifetime ahead of you with the person you love. What could be better than to celebrate that love surrounded by friends and family? And yet, somehow things go awry. Conflicts flare. And the time that should be so happy — the build-up to your wedding — is fraught with possibilities for strife. The good news is you can avoid most of the problems by planning your wedding planning. That's right. Plan how you're going to plan. Read More 2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
2.6k April 18, 2018 I bought a colored wedding dress and now everyone's mad! What should I do? I come from a family of strict traditionalists when it comes to everything, especially weddings. I recently bought a peach wedding dress with no sleeves and expressed I wanted light blue hair and Converse to go with it. As you can imagine, things didn't go over well. When I try to stand up for my wedding choices, I'm shamed for it. Please help! Read More 4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
4.3k March 5, 2018 Wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and beyond I'm compiling this list of wedding dates to avoid in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in case you want to avoid holidays where family and friends might have conflicting events, holidays where vendors might be especially busy and/or expensive (think Valentine's Day for florists), or religious holidays where places might be closed or guests might have other plans. Does this mean you CAN'T book your wedding for one of these days? Hell no! Read More 2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 > Offbeat Bride: your source for wedding ideas and inclusive wedding planning We've got bajillions of creative wedding ideas, DIY projects, and wedding advice to make your wedding plans easier — and even fun! What do you need to do today? I have no idea. I need Wedding Planning 101! I need a wedding planning checklist (now in an interactive version, too!) Hook me up with free wedding fonts & printables I need offbeat wedding registry ideas I'm curious about offbeat wedding themes (geeky! boho! so many!) Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo What wedding planning advice & inspiration do you need today? DIY Dress Eloping Engagement Ring Feminism Geeky Harry Potter Invitation Wording Readings Ceremony Advice Fashion Reception Advice Super cute offbeat wedding invitations @offbeatbride on Insta Winter weddings Rome, Italy, Sorrento, and the Amalfi coast: Heidi & Erin show you how to rock your Italian honeymoon Julia & Brad's Presidents' Day weekend wedding Marina & Adam's vintage circus, crafty, kid-friendly wedding Anna & Charles' intimate vegan ice skating wedding Stephanie & Dave's vintage theater Beatles wedding Hilary & Isaac's serendipitous bookstore elopement Maria & Bob's snowboarding ski resort wedding Kristine & Doug's 12th Day of Christmas outdoor winter wedding Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Lincoln Hall Read More Brilliant Earth Read More DIWAS Photography Read More Zakas Photography Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How to change your name after the wedding (including an account checklist!) Planning tools 101: Your wedding timeline spreadsheet WTF is "scrumming" and how can it help you actually ENJOY wedding planning 80+ free wedding printables: a huge list of downloadable DIY wedding projects Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Your offbeat-friendly interactive wedding planning checklist is available! Get planning > We're everywhere! Follow us on social media. Get creative, offbeat wedding ideas delivered daily to your inbox! Join our newsletter SUBSCRIBE Copyright © 2003 - 2018 Offbeat Empire. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. Contact us Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Monetized by SkimLinks
2.3k January 24, 2018 Wedding venue search tips from the wedding ninjas: wedding planners Newly engaged folks: have you started your wedding venue search yet? Are you ready to pull your hair out or just the beginnings of a breakdown? Either you're in a town with so few offbeat options or you're in a big city with WAY too many options and no way to narrow it all down or find the perfect weird and wonderful venue for you between all the banquet halls. I decided to reach out to some of our favorite wedding coordinators to see what sage venue search wisdom they could impart on us to make the arduous search easier. Read More More Wedding 101 >