December 7, 2018 Never considered a wedding band? This UK company may just change your mind UK couples: if you're thinking that DJs are the only option for your wedding soundtrack, then I need to let you in on a little secret. Wedding bands are totally a thing, can fit within your budget, and you don't have to do any work at all to find a band who fits your wedding theme. How the heck can this be? It's time you met Entertainment Nation. Read More December 7, 2018 A most "strange and unusual" Beetlejuice wedding (officiated by Miss Argentina!) We had a Beetlejuice themed wedding! It's a movie we both love and enjoyed growing up (my family used to call me Beetlejuice!) and when we got engaged, we both knew we wanted to do something different since Ryan's a musician and graphic designer, and I love to cosplay and make teeth for a living. In with the theme of Beetlejuice, we got Ryan a burgundy suit, his groompeople's outfits were inspired by Otho, while my scouts (I am a HUGE Sailor Moon fan) wore black and white dresses with accents of red… Read More December 6, 2018 D&D, costumes, & epic music at this heavy metal wedding in Utah Our wedding theme was Dungeons & Dragons! It's not just a game to us, it's a lifestyle. I have been playing since I was 12 — my dad Dungeon Mastered a group for me and my best girlfriends. Later, I met my husband through D&D. I have developed the most amazing friendships and family relationships through D&D and it only made sense to make it our wedding theme. We even picked character classes for the event. I was a Paladin and Henry was a Wizard… Read More December 5, 2018 Why I'm putting down the wedding clickbait It's not too long now until the love of my life and I get married and promise to tolerate one another until one of us dies, and I have reached the conclusion that I need to stop reading wedding clickbait. They're making anything other than a courthouse wedding seem ill-advised. You know that I wasn't ready for? "What's your wedding hashtag going to be?" Read More 1.0k December 5, 2018 Two brides, air plants, and Dr. Seuss at this modern boho wedding on Lake Michigan Marta and Christine celebrated their wedding with an intimate gathering of friends and family at Camp Blodgett on Lake Michigan. The day was characterized by opposites coming together: boho meets Ikea, with fun color details and a simple, modern look. The ceremony revolved around Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” and was written by Marta and Christine. Instead of a first dance, they led their their guests in a sing-along. Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Wedding Porn November 22, 2018 This edgy wedding inspiration had a crochet dress AND a mirrored dress This edgy wedding inspiration is like something out of an industrial dream. The softness of the bride's black and white crochet dress highlighted her amazing ink, but then the second mirrored dress? DIVINE. Plus, everything had a very organic meets geometric vibe that I just loved. Don't miss the three geometric cakes (one which mimics the angles of the mirror dress!), the air plant bouquet and greenery, and the beauty of the wedding party. Read More 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 1.1k 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 More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings December 7, 2018 A most "strange and unusual" Beetlejuice wedding (officiated by Miss Argentina!) We had a Beetlejuice themed wedding! It's a movie we both love and enjoyed growing up (my family used to call me Beetlejuice!) and when we got engaged, we both knew we wanted to do something different since Ryan's a musician and graphic designer, and I love to cosplay and make teeth for a living. In with the theme of Beetlejuice, we got Ryan a burgundy suit, his groompeople's outfits were inspired by Otho, while my scouts (I am a HUGE Sailor Moon fan) wore black and white dresses with accents of red… Read More December 6, 2018 D&D, costumes, & epic music at this heavy metal wedding in Utah Our wedding theme was Dungeons & Dragons! It's not just a game to us, it's a lifestyle. I have been playing since I was 12 — my dad Dungeon Mastered a group for me and my best girlfriends. Later, I met my husband through D&D. I have developed the most amazing friendships and family relationships through D&D and it only made sense to make it our wedding theme. We even picked character classes for the event. I was a Paladin and Henry was a Wizard… Read More 1.0k December 5, 2018 Two brides, air plants, and Dr. Seuss at this modern boho wedding on Lake Michigan Marta and Christine celebrated their wedding with an intimate gathering of friends and family at Camp Blodgett on Lake Michigan. The day was characterized by opposites coming together: boho meets Ikea, with fun color details and a simple, modern look. The ceremony revolved around Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” and was written by Marta and Christine. Instead of a first dance, they led their their guests in a sing-along. Read More December 4, 2018 Blueberries & strawberry pink hair at this berry sweet handmade wedding in Arkansas Zac and Tiffany had a super sweet handmade wedding in Springdale, Arkansas that gave us huge heart eyes. From the homemade blueberry cake to the bride's strawberry pink hair, everything was made with love and care by their whole community. Don't miss all the thrifted decor, taco bar, and stunning florals. Read More December 3, 2018 Venus flytraps and forever love at this haunting inspiration wedding This haunting inspiration wedding is truly a dark and glam look at goth weddings (and Halloween, if you're planning one for 2019!). The floral pieces on the table and bouquet were designed out of silk flowers, which are ideal for repurposing, preserving as a keepsake, or turned into a family heirloom. Did you notice the Venus Flytraps in the bouquet and centerpiece?! 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 December 7, 2018 Never considered a wedding band? This UK company may just change your mind UK couples: if you're thinking that DJs are the only option for your wedding soundtrack, then I need to let you in on a little secret. Wedding bands are totally a thing, can fit within your budget, and you don't have to do any work at all to find a band who fits your wedding theme. How the heck can this be? It's time you met Entertainment Nation. Read More November 30, 2018 Every little thing you do is magic when captured by DIWAS Photography Longtime photography partners of ours, DIWAS Photography, have been rolling up with stellar shots that continue to wow us every time we see a new one. Here's a wee look into one of our favorite weddings from the globetrotting pair to show you just how amazing their photographer skills are AND how good your wedding could look in photos, too… Read More November 27, 2018 Chicago couples: want a rad music venue with award winning food? Lincoln Hall is the ONE As a Chicagoan myself, I know the north side's Lincoln Hall as a city classic that's one of the best music venues in the city. Lincoln Hall has also been placed in the top 20 best music venues in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine, and previously voted #1 music venue in Chicago by TimeOut Chicago Magazine. It also has award winning food and one of the most impressive spaces to host a wedding I've ever seen. Read More November 23, 2018 Shop small this weekend and score BIG with your wedding vendors his coming weekend (you know, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Hangover Tuesday, Back in the Game Wednesday, etc.) may not seem like the time to snag discounts from wedding vendors, but it actually really is. Not only can you find the obvious stuff like decor items or gifts, but you can get discounts from photographers, coordinators, venues, dress makers, and more. Every little bit helps when it comes to your wedding budget, so snag those deals when you can. Read More 1.4k November 21, 2018 Now is the time to grab a STEAL on chic & affordable wedding dresses (including the rainbow dress of your dreams!) You might not think of the post-Thanksgiving weekend as the time to score deals on a wedding dress (or bridesmaids dresses, accessories, etc.), but it actually really is. In particular, we've got a huge promotion from dress makers Coco Melody that I couldn't wait to share. Let's see a few of them AND find out how you can save mad cash in your wedding budget (and maybe even a RAINBOW one!)… 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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
December 7, 2018 A most "strange and unusual" Beetlejuice wedding (officiated by Miss Argentina!) We had a Beetlejuice themed wedding! It's a movie we both love and enjoyed growing up (my family used to call me Beetlejuice!) and when we got engaged, we both knew we wanted to do something different since Ryan's a musician and graphic designer, and I love to cosplay and make teeth for a living. In with the theme of Beetlejuice, we got Ryan a burgundy suit, his groompeople's outfits were inspired by Otho, while my scouts (I am a HUGE Sailor Moon fan) wore black and white dresses with accents of red… Read More December 6, 2018 D&D, costumes, & epic music at this heavy metal wedding in Utah Our wedding theme was Dungeons & Dragons! It's not just a game to us, it's a lifestyle. I have been playing since I was 12 — my dad Dungeon Mastered a group for me and my best girlfriends. Later, I met my husband through D&D. I have developed the most amazing friendships and family relationships through D&D and it only made sense to make it our wedding theme. We even picked character classes for the event. I was a Paladin and Henry was a Wizard… Read More December 5, 2018 Why I'm putting down the wedding clickbait It's not too long now until the love of my life and I get married and promise to tolerate one another until one of us dies, and I have reached the conclusion that I need to stop reading wedding clickbait. They're making anything other than a courthouse wedding seem ill-advised. You know that I wasn't ready for? "What's your wedding hashtag going to be?" Read More 1.0k December 5, 2018 Two brides, air plants, and Dr. Seuss at this modern boho wedding on Lake Michigan Marta and Christine celebrated their wedding with an intimate gathering of friends and family at Camp Blodgett on Lake Michigan. The day was characterized by opposites coming together: boho meets Ikea, with fun color details and a simple, modern look. The ceremony revolved around Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” and was written by Marta and Christine. Instead of a first dance, they led their their guests in a sing-along. Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Wedding Porn November 22, 2018 This edgy wedding inspiration had a crochet dress AND a mirrored dress This edgy wedding inspiration is like something out of an industrial dream. The softness of the bride's black and white crochet dress highlighted her amazing ink, but then the second mirrored dress? DIVINE. Plus, everything had a very organic meets geometric vibe that I just loved. Don't miss the three geometric cakes (one which mimics the angles of the mirror dress!), the air plant bouquet and greenery, and the beauty of the wedding party. Read More 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 1.1k 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 More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings December 7, 2018 A most "strange and unusual" Beetlejuice wedding (officiated by Miss Argentina!) We had a Beetlejuice themed wedding! It's a movie we both love and enjoyed growing up (my family used to call me Beetlejuice!) and when we got engaged, we both knew we wanted to do something different since Ryan's a musician and graphic designer, and I love to cosplay and make teeth for a living. In with the theme of Beetlejuice, we got Ryan a burgundy suit, his groompeople's outfits were inspired by Otho, while my scouts (I am a HUGE Sailor Moon fan) wore black and white dresses with accents of red… Read More December 6, 2018 D&D, costumes, & epic music at this heavy metal wedding in Utah Our wedding theme was Dungeons & Dragons! It's not just a game to us, it's a lifestyle. I have been playing since I was 12 — my dad Dungeon Mastered a group for me and my best girlfriends. Later, I met my husband through D&D. I have developed the most amazing friendships and family relationships through D&D and it only made sense to make it our wedding theme. We even picked character classes for the event. I was a Paladin and Henry was a Wizard… Read More 1.0k December 5, 2018 Two brides, air plants, and Dr. Seuss at this modern boho wedding on Lake Michigan Marta and Christine celebrated their wedding with an intimate gathering of friends and family at Camp Blodgett on Lake Michigan. The day was characterized by opposites coming together: boho meets Ikea, with fun color details and a simple, modern look. The ceremony revolved around Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” and was written by Marta and Christine. Instead of a first dance, they led their their guests in a sing-along. Read More December 4, 2018 Blueberries & strawberry pink hair at this berry sweet handmade wedding in Arkansas Zac and Tiffany had a super sweet handmade wedding in Springdale, Arkansas that gave us huge heart eyes. From the homemade blueberry cake to the bride's strawberry pink hair, everything was made with love and care by their whole community. Don't miss all the thrifted decor, taco bar, and stunning florals. Read More December 3, 2018 Venus flytraps and forever love at this haunting inspiration wedding This haunting inspiration wedding is truly a dark and glam look at goth weddings (and Halloween, if you're planning one for 2019!). The floral pieces on the table and bouquet were designed out of silk flowers, which are ideal for repurposing, preserving as a keepsake, or turned into a family heirloom. Did you notice the Venus Flytraps in the bouquet and centerpiece?! 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 December 7, 2018 Never considered a wedding band? This UK company may just change your mind UK couples: if you're thinking that DJs are the only option for your wedding soundtrack, then I need to let you in on a little secret. Wedding bands are totally a thing, can fit within your budget, and you don't have to do any work at all to find a band who fits your wedding theme. How the heck can this be? It's time you met Entertainment Nation. Read More November 30, 2018 Every little thing you do is magic when captured by DIWAS Photography Longtime photography partners of ours, DIWAS Photography, have been rolling up with stellar shots that continue to wow us every time we see a new one. Here's a wee look into one of our favorite weddings from the globetrotting pair to show you just how amazing their photographer skills are AND how good your wedding could look in photos, too… Read More November 27, 2018 Chicago couples: want a rad music venue with award winning food? Lincoln Hall is the ONE As a Chicagoan myself, I know the north side's Lincoln Hall as a city classic that's one of the best music venues in the city. Lincoln Hall has also been placed in the top 20 best music venues in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine, and previously voted #1 music venue in Chicago by TimeOut Chicago Magazine. It also has award winning food and one of the most impressive spaces to host a wedding I've ever seen. Read More November 23, 2018 Shop small this weekend and score BIG with your wedding vendors his coming weekend (you know, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Hangover Tuesday, Back in the Game Wednesday, etc.) may not seem like the time to snag discounts from wedding vendors, but it actually really is. Not only can you find the obvious stuff like decor items or gifts, but you can get discounts from photographers, coordinators, venues, dress makers, and more. Every little bit helps when it comes to your wedding budget, so snag those deals when you can. Read More 1.4k November 21, 2018 Now is the time to grab a STEAL on chic & affordable wedding dresses (including the rainbow dress of your dreams!) You might not think of the post-Thanksgiving weekend as the time to score deals on a wedding dress (or bridesmaids dresses, accessories, etc.), but it actually really is. In particular, we've got a huge promotion from dress makers Coco Melody that I couldn't wait to share. Let's see a few of them AND find out how you can save mad cash in your wedding budget (and maybe even a RAINBOW one!)… 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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
December 6, 2018 D&D, costumes, & epic music at this heavy metal wedding in Utah Our wedding theme was Dungeons & Dragons! It's not just a game to us, it's a lifestyle. I have been playing since I was 12 — my dad Dungeon Mastered a group for me and my best girlfriends. Later, I met my husband through D&D. I have developed the most amazing friendships and family relationships through D&D and it only made sense to make it our wedding theme. We even picked character classes for the event. I was a Paladin and Henry was a Wizard… Read More December 5, 2018 Why I'm putting down the wedding clickbait It's not too long now until the love of my life and I get married and promise to tolerate one another until one of us dies, and I have reached the conclusion that I need to stop reading wedding clickbait. They're making anything other than a courthouse wedding seem ill-advised. You know that I wasn't ready for? "What's your wedding hashtag going to be?" Read More 1.0k December 5, 2018 Two brides, air plants, and Dr. Seuss at this modern boho wedding on Lake Michigan Marta and Christine celebrated their wedding with an intimate gathering of friends and family at Camp Blodgett on Lake Michigan. The day was characterized by opposites coming together: boho meets Ikea, with fun color details and a simple, modern look. The ceremony revolved around Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” and was written by Marta and Christine. Instead of a first dance, they led their their guests in a sing-along. Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Wedding Porn November 22, 2018 This edgy wedding inspiration had a crochet dress AND a mirrored dress This edgy wedding inspiration is like something out of an industrial dream. The softness of the bride's black and white crochet dress highlighted her amazing ink, but then the second mirrored dress? DIVINE. Plus, everything had a very organic meets geometric vibe that I just loved. Don't miss the three geometric cakes (one which mimics the angles of the mirror dress!), the air plant bouquet and greenery, and the beauty of the wedding party. Read More 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 1.1k 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 More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings December 7, 2018 A most "strange and unusual" Beetlejuice wedding (officiated by Miss Argentina!) We had a Beetlejuice themed wedding! It's a movie we both love and enjoyed growing up (my family used to call me Beetlejuice!) and when we got engaged, we both knew we wanted to do something different since Ryan's a musician and graphic designer, and I love to cosplay and make teeth for a living. In with the theme of Beetlejuice, we got Ryan a burgundy suit, his groompeople's outfits were inspired by Otho, while my scouts (I am a HUGE Sailor Moon fan) wore black and white dresses with accents of red… Read More December 6, 2018 D&D, costumes, & epic music at this heavy metal wedding in Utah Our wedding theme was Dungeons & Dragons! It's not just a game to us, it's a lifestyle. I have been playing since I was 12 — my dad Dungeon Mastered a group for me and my best girlfriends. Later, I met my husband through D&D. I have developed the most amazing friendships and family relationships through D&D and it only made sense to make it our wedding theme. We even picked character classes for the event. I was a Paladin and Henry was a Wizard… Read More 1.0k December 5, 2018 Two brides, air plants, and Dr. Seuss at this modern boho wedding on Lake Michigan Marta and Christine celebrated their wedding with an intimate gathering of friends and family at Camp Blodgett on Lake Michigan. The day was characterized by opposites coming together: boho meets Ikea, with fun color details and a simple, modern look. The ceremony revolved around Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” and was written by Marta and Christine. Instead of a first dance, they led their their guests in a sing-along. Read More December 4, 2018 Blueberries & strawberry pink hair at this berry sweet handmade wedding in Arkansas Zac and Tiffany had a super sweet handmade wedding in Springdale, Arkansas that gave us huge heart eyes. From the homemade blueberry cake to the bride's strawberry pink hair, everything was made with love and care by their whole community. Don't miss all the thrifted decor, taco bar, and stunning florals. Read More December 3, 2018 Venus flytraps and forever love at this haunting inspiration wedding This haunting inspiration wedding is truly a dark and glam look at goth weddings (and Halloween, if you're planning one for 2019!). The floral pieces on the table and bouquet were designed out of silk flowers, which are ideal for repurposing, preserving as a keepsake, or turned into a family heirloom. Did you notice the Venus Flytraps in the bouquet and centerpiece?! 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 December 7, 2018 Never considered a wedding band? This UK company may just change your mind UK couples: if you're thinking that DJs are the only option for your wedding soundtrack, then I need to let you in on a little secret. Wedding bands are totally a thing, can fit within your budget, and you don't have to do any work at all to find a band who fits your wedding theme. How the heck can this be? It's time you met Entertainment Nation. Read More November 30, 2018 Every little thing you do is magic when captured by DIWAS Photography Longtime photography partners of ours, DIWAS Photography, have been rolling up with stellar shots that continue to wow us every time we see a new one. Here's a wee look into one of our favorite weddings from the globetrotting pair to show you just how amazing their photographer skills are AND how good your wedding could look in photos, too… Read More November 27, 2018 Chicago couples: want a rad music venue with award winning food? Lincoln Hall is the ONE As a Chicagoan myself, I know the north side's Lincoln Hall as a city classic that's one of the best music venues in the city. Lincoln Hall has also been placed in the top 20 best music venues in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine, and previously voted #1 music venue in Chicago by TimeOut Chicago Magazine. It also has award winning food and one of the most impressive spaces to host a wedding I've ever seen. Read More November 23, 2018 Shop small this weekend and score BIG with your wedding vendors his coming weekend (you know, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Hangover Tuesday, Back in the Game Wednesday, etc.) may not seem like the time to snag discounts from wedding vendors, but it actually really is. Not only can you find the obvious stuff like decor items or gifts, but you can get discounts from photographers, coordinators, venues, dress makers, and more. Every little bit helps when it comes to your wedding budget, so snag those deals when you can. Read More 1.4k November 21, 2018 Now is the time to grab a STEAL on chic & affordable wedding dresses (including the rainbow dress of your dreams!) You might not think of the post-Thanksgiving weekend as the time to score deals on a wedding dress (or bridesmaids dresses, accessories, etc.), but it actually really is. In particular, we've got a huge promotion from dress makers Coco Melody that I couldn't wait to share. Let's see a few of them AND find out how you can save mad cash in your wedding budget (and maybe even a RAINBOW one!)… 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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
December 5, 2018 Why I'm putting down the wedding clickbait It's not too long now until the love of my life and I get married and promise to tolerate one another until one of us dies, and I have reached the conclusion that I need to stop reading wedding clickbait. They're making anything other than a courthouse wedding seem ill-advised. You know that I wasn't ready for? "What's your wedding hashtag going to be?" Read More 1.0k December 5, 2018 Two brides, air plants, and Dr. Seuss at this modern boho wedding on Lake Michigan Marta and Christine celebrated their wedding with an intimate gathering of friends and family at Camp Blodgett on Lake Michigan. The day was characterized by opposites coming together: boho meets Ikea, with fun color details and a simple, modern look. The ceremony revolved around Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” and was written by Marta and Christine. Instead of a first dance, they led their their guests in a sing-along. Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Wedding Porn November 22, 2018 This edgy wedding inspiration had a crochet dress AND a mirrored dress This edgy wedding inspiration is like something out of an industrial dream. The softness of the bride's black and white crochet dress highlighted her amazing ink, but then the second mirrored dress? DIVINE. Plus, everything had a very organic meets geometric vibe that I just loved. Don't miss the three geometric cakes (one which mimics the angles of the mirror dress!), the air plant bouquet and greenery, and the beauty of the wedding party. Read More 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 1.1k 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 More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings December 7, 2018 A most "strange and unusual" Beetlejuice wedding (officiated by Miss Argentina!) We had a Beetlejuice themed wedding! It's a movie we both love and enjoyed growing up (my family used to call me Beetlejuice!) and when we got engaged, we both knew we wanted to do something different since Ryan's a musician and graphic designer, and I love to cosplay and make teeth for a living. In with the theme of Beetlejuice, we got Ryan a burgundy suit, his groompeople's outfits were inspired by Otho, while my scouts (I am a HUGE Sailor Moon fan) wore black and white dresses with accents of red… Read More December 6, 2018 D&D, costumes, & epic music at this heavy metal wedding in Utah Our wedding theme was Dungeons & Dragons! It's not just a game to us, it's a lifestyle. I have been playing since I was 12 — my dad Dungeon Mastered a group for me and my best girlfriends. Later, I met my husband through D&D. I have developed the most amazing friendships and family relationships through D&D and it only made sense to make it our wedding theme. We even picked character classes for the event. I was a Paladin and Henry was a Wizard… Read More 1.0k December 5, 2018 Two brides, air plants, and Dr. Seuss at this modern boho wedding on Lake Michigan Marta and Christine celebrated their wedding with an intimate gathering of friends and family at Camp Blodgett on Lake Michigan. The day was characterized by opposites coming together: boho meets Ikea, with fun color details and a simple, modern look. The ceremony revolved around Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” and was written by Marta and Christine. Instead of a first dance, they led their their guests in a sing-along. Read More December 4, 2018 Blueberries & strawberry pink hair at this berry sweet handmade wedding in Arkansas Zac and Tiffany had a super sweet handmade wedding in Springdale, Arkansas that gave us huge heart eyes. From the homemade blueberry cake to the bride's strawberry pink hair, everything was made with love and care by their whole community. Don't miss all the thrifted decor, taco bar, and stunning florals. Read More December 3, 2018 Venus flytraps and forever love at this haunting inspiration wedding This haunting inspiration wedding is truly a dark and glam look at goth weddings (and Halloween, if you're planning one for 2019!). The floral pieces on the table and bouquet were designed out of silk flowers, which are ideal for repurposing, preserving as a keepsake, or turned into a family heirloom. Did you notice the Venus Flytraps in the bouquet and centerpiece?! 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 December 7, 2018 Never considered a wedding band? This UK company may just change your mind UK couples: if you're thinking that DJs are the only option for your wedding soundtrack, then I need to let you in on a little secret. Wedding bands are totally a thing, can fit within your budget, and you don't have to do any work at all to find a band who fits your wedding theme. How the heck can this be? It's time you met Entertainment Nation. Read More November 30, 2018 Every little thing you do is magic when captured by DIWAS Photography Longtime photography partners of ours, DIWAS Photography, have been rolling up with stellar shots that continue to wow us every time we see a new one. Here's a wee look into one of our favorite weddings from the globetrotting pair to show you just how amazing their photographer skills are AND how good your wedding could look in photos, too… Read More November 27, 2018 Chicago couples: want a rad music venue with award winning food? Lincoln Hall is the ONE As a Chicagoan myself, I know the north side's Lincoln Hall as a city classic that's one of the best music venues in the city. Lincoln Hall has also been placed in the top 20 best music venues in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine, and previously voted #1 music venue in Chicago by TimeOut Chicago Magazine. It also has award winning food and one of the most impressive spaces to host a wedding I've ever seen. Read More November 23, 2018 Shop small this weekend and score BIG with your wedding vendors his coming weekend (you know, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Hangover Tuesday, Back in the Game Wednesday, etc.) may not seem like the time to snag discounts from wedding vendors, but it actually really is. Not only can you find the obvious stuff like decor items or gifts, but you can get discounts from photographers, coordinators, venues, dress makers, and more. Every little bit helps when it comes to your wedding budget, so snag those deals when you can. Read More 1.4k November 21, 2018 Now is the time to grab a STEAL on chic & affordable wedding dresses (including the rainbow dress of your dreams!) You might not think of the post-Thanksgiving weekend as the time to score deals on a wedding dress (or bridesmaids dresses, accessories, etc.), but it actually really is. In particular, we've got a huge promotion from dress makers Coco Melody that I couldn't wait to share. Let's see a few of them AND find out how you can save mad cash in your wedding budget (and maybe even a RAINBOW one!)… 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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 December 5, 2018 Two brides, air plants, and Dr. Seuss at this modern boho wedding on Lake Michigan Marta and Christine celebrated their wedding with an intimate gathering of friends and family at Camp Blodgett on Lake Michigan. The day was characterized by opposites coming together: boho meets Ikea, with fun color details and a simple, modern look. The ceremony revolved around Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” and was written by Marta and Christine. Instead of a first dance, they led their their guests in a sing-along. Read More More Recent Posts > Recent Wedding Porn November 22, 2018 This edgy wedding inspiration had a crochet dress AND a mirrored dress This edgy wedding inspiration is like something out of an industrial dream. The softness of the bride's black and white crochet dress highlighted her amazing ink, but then the second mirrored dress? DIVINE. Plus, everything had a very organic meets geometric vibe that I just loved. Don't miss the three geometric cakes (one which mimics the angles of the mirror dress!), the air plant bouquet and greenery, and the beauty of the wedding party. Read More 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 1.1k 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 More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings December 7, 2018 A most "strange and unusual" Beetlejuice wedding (officiated by Miss Argentina!) We had a Beetlejuice themed wedding! It's a movie we both love and enjoyed growing up (my family used to call me Beetlejuice!) and when we got engaged, we both knew we wanted to do something different since Ryan's a musician and graphic designer, and I love to cosplay and make teeth for a living. In with the theme of Beetlejuice, we got Ryan a burgundy suit, his groompeople's outfits were inspired by Otho, while my scouts (I am a HUGE Sailor Moon fan) wore black and white dresses with accents of red… Read More December 6, 2018 D&D, costumes, & epic music at this heavy metal wedding in Utah Our wedding theme was Dungeons & Dragons! It's not just a game to us, it's a lifestyle. I have been playing since I was 12 — my dad Dungeon Mastered a group for me and my best girlfriends. Later, I met my husband through D&D. I have developed the most amazing friendships and family relationships through D&D and it only made sense to make it our wedding theme. We even picked character classes for the event. I was a Paladin and Henry was a Wizard… Read More 1.0k December 5, 2018 Two brides, air plants, and Dr. Seuss at this modern boho wedding on Lake Michigan Marta and Christine celebrated their wedding with an intimate gathering of friends and family at Camp Blodgett on Lake Michigan. The day was characterized by opposites coming together: boho meets Ikea, with fun color details and a simple, modern look. The ceremony revolved around Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” and was written by Marta and Christine. Instead of a first dance, they led their their guests in a sing-along. Read More December 4, 2018 Blueberries & strawberry pink hair at this berry sweet handmade wedding in Arkansas Zac and Tiffany had a super sweet handmade wedding in Springdale, Arkansas that gave us huge heart eyes. From the homemade blueberry cake to the bride's strawberry pink hair, everything was made with love and care by their whole community. Don't miss all the thrifted decor, taco bar, and stunning florals. Read More December 3, 2018 Venus flytraps and forever love at this haunting inspiration wedding This haunting inspiration wedding is truly a dark and glam look at goth weddings (and Halloween, if you're planning one for 2019!). The floral pieces on the table and bouquet were designed out of silk flowers, which are ideal for repurposing, preserving as a keepsake, or turned into a family heirloom. Did you notice the Venus Flytraps in the bouquet and centerpiece?! 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 December 7, 2018 Never considered a wedding band? This UK company may just change your mind UK couples: if you're thinking that DJs are the only option for your wedding soundtrack, then I need to let you in on a little secret. Wedding bands are totally a thing, can fit within your budget, and you don't have to do any work at all to find a band who fits your wedding theme. How the heck can this be? It's time you met Entertainment Nation. Read More November 30, 2018 Every little thing you do is magic when captured by DIWAS Photography Longtime photography partners of ours, DIWAS Photography, have been rolling up with stellar shots that continue to wow us every time we see a new one. Here's a wee look into one of our favorite weddings from the globetrotting pair to show you just how amazing their photographer skills are AND how good your wedding could look in photos, too… Read More November 27, 2018 Chicago couples: want a rad music venue with award winning food? Lincoln Hall is the ONE As a Chicagoan myself, I know the north side's Lincoln Hall as a city classic that's one of the best music venues in the city. Lincoln Hall has also been placed in the top 20 best music venues in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine, and previously voted #1 music venue in Chicago by TimeOut Chicago Magazine. It also has award winning food and one of the most impressive spaces to host a wedding I've ever seen. Read More November 23, 2018 Shop small this weekend and score BIG with your wedding vendors his coming weekend (you know, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Hangover Tuesday, Back in the Game Wednesday, etc.) may not seem like the time to snag discounts from wedding vendors, but it actually really is. Not only can you find the obvious stuff like decor items or gifts, but you can get discounts from photographers, coordinators, venues, dress makers, and more. Every little bit helps when it comes to your wedding budget, so snag those deals when you can. Read More 1.4k November 21, 2018 Now is the time to grab a STEAL on chic & affordable wedding dresses (including the rainbow dress of your dreams!) You might not think of the post-Thanksgiving weekend as the time to score deals on a wedding dress (or bridesmaids dresses, accessories, etc.), but it actually really is. In particular, we've got a huge promotion from dress makers Coco Melody that I couldn't wait to share. Let's see a few of them AND find out how you can save mad cash in your wedding budget (and maybe even a RAINBOW one!)… 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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 22, 2018 This edgy wedding inspiration had a crochet dress AND a mirrored dress This edgy wedding inspiration is like something out of an industrial dream. The softness of the bride's black and white crochet dress highlighted her amazing ink, but then the second mirrored dress? DIVINE. Plus, everything had a very organic meets geometric vibe that I just loved. Don't miss the three geometric cakes (one which mimics the angles of the mirror dress!), the air plant bouquet and greenery, and the beauty of the wedding party. Read More 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 1.1k 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 More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings December 7, 2018 A most "strange and unusual" Beetlejuice wedding (officiated by Miss Argentina!) We had a Beetlejuice themed wedding! It's a movie we both love and enjoyed growing up (my family used to call me Beetlejuice!) and when we got engaged, we both knew we wanted to do something different since Ryan's a musician and graphic designer, and I love to cosplay and make teeth for a living. In with the theme of Beetlejuice, we got Ryan a burgundy suit, his groompeople's outfits were inspired by Otho, while my scouts (I am a HUGE Sailor Moon fan) wore black and white dresses with accents of red… Read More December 6, 2018 D&D, costumes, & epic music at this heavy metal wedding in Utah Our wedding theme was Dungeons & Dragons! It's not just a game to us, it's a lifestyle. I have been playing since I was 12 — my dad Dungeon Mastered a group for me and my best girlfriends. Later, I met my husband through D&D. I have developed the most amazing friendships and family relationships through D&D and it only made sense to make it our wedding theme. We even picked character classes for the event. I was a Paladin and Henry was a Wizard… Read More 1.0k December 5, 2018 Two brides, air plants, and Dr. Seuss at this modern boho wedding on Lake Michigan Marta and Christine celebrated their wedding with an intimate gathering of friends and family at Camp Blodgett on Lake Michigan. The day was characterized by opposites coming together: boho meets Ikea, with fun color details and a simple, modern look. The ceremony revolved around Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” and was written by Marta and Christine. Instead of a first dance, they led their their guests in a sing-along. Read More December 4, 2018 Blueberries & strawberry pink hair at this berry sweet handmade wedding in Arkansas Zac and Tiffany had a super sweet handmade wedding in Springdale, Arkansas that gave us huge heart eyes. From the homemade blueberry cake to the bride's strawberry pink hair, everything was made with love and care by their whole community. Don't miss all the thrifted decor, taco bar, and stunning florals. Read More December 3, 2018 Venus flytraps and forever love at this haunting inspiration wedding This haunting inspiration wedding is truly a dark and glam look at goth weddings (and Halloween, if you're planning one for 2019!). The floral pieces on the table and bouquet were designed out of silk flowers, which are ideal for repurposing, preserving as a keepsake, or turned into a family heirloom. Did you notice the Venus Flytraps in the bouquet and centerpiece?! 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 December 7, 2018 Never considered a wedding band? This UK company may just change your mind UK couples: if you're thinking that DJs are the only option for your wedding soundtrack, then I need to let you in on a little secret. Wedding bands are totally a thing, can fit within your budget, and you don't have to do any work at all to find a band who fits your wedding theme. How the heck can this be? It's time you met Entertainment Nation. Read More November 30, 2018 Every little thing you do is magic when captured by DIWAS Photography Longtime photography partners of ours, DIWAS Photography, have been rolling up with stellar shots that continue to wow us every time we see a new one. Here's a wee look into one of our favorite weddings from the globetrotting pair to show you just how amazing their photographer skills are AND how good your wedding could look in photos, too… Read More November 27, 2018 Chicago couples: want a rad music venue with award winning food? Lincoln Hall is the ONE As a Chicagoan myself, I know the north side's Lincoln Hall as a city classic that's one of the best music venues in the city. Lincoln Hall has also been placed in the top 20 best music venues in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine, and previously voted #1 music venue in Chicago by TimeOut Chicago Magazine. It also has award winning food and one of the most impressive spaces to host a wedding I've ever seen. Read More November 23, 2018 Shop small this weekend and score BIG with your wedding vendors his coming weekend (you know, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Hangover Tuesday, Back in the Game Wednesday, etc.) may not seem like the time to snag discounts from wedding vendors, but it actually really is. Not only can you find the obvious stuff like decor items or gifts, but you can get discounts from photographers, coordinators, venues, dress makers, and more. Every little bit helps when it comes to your wedding budget, so snag those deals when you can. Read More 1.4k November 21, 2018 Now is the time to grab a STEAL on chic & affordable wedding dresses (including the rainbow dress of your dreams!) You might not think of the post-Thanksgiving weekend as the time to score deals on a wedding dress (or bridesmaids dresses, accessories, etc.), but it actually really is. In particular, we've got a huge promotion from dress makers Coco Melody that I couldn't wait to share. Let's see a few of them AND find out how you can save mad cash in your wedding budget (and maybe even a RAINBOW one!)… 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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 1.1k 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 More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings December 7, 2018 A most "strange and unusual" Beetlejuice wedding (officiated by Miss Argentina!) We had a Beetlejuice themed wedding! It's a movie we both love and enjoyed growing up (my family used to call me Beetlejuice!) and when we got engaged, we both knew we wanted to do something different since Ryan's a musician and graphic designer, and I love to cosplay and make teeth for a living. In with the theme of Beetlejuice, we got Ryan a burgundy suit, his groompeople's outfits were inspired by Otho, while my scouts (I am a HUGE Sailor Moon fan) wore black and white dresses with accents of red… Read More December 6, 2018 D&D, costumes, & epic music at this heavy metal wedding in Utah Our wedding theme was Dungeons & Dragons! It's not just a game to us, it's a lifestyle. I have been playing since I was 12 — my dad Dungeon Mastered a group for me and my best girlfriends. Later, I met my husband through D&D. I have developed the most amazing friendships and family relationships through D&D and it only made sense to make it our wedding theme. We even picked character classes for the event. I was a Paladin and Henry was a Wizard… Read More 1.0k December 5, 2018 Two brides, air plants, and Dr. Seuss at this modern boho wedding on Lake Michigan Marta and Christine celebrated their wedding with an intimate gathering of friends and family at Camp Blodgett on Lake Michigan. The day was characterized by opposites coming together: boho meets Ikea, with fun color details and a simple, modern look. The ceremony revolved around Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” and was written by Marta and Christine. Instead of a first dance, they led their their guests in a sing-along. Read More December 4, 2018 Blueberries & strawberry pink hair at this berry sweet handmade wedding in Arkansas Zac and Tiffany had a super sweet handmade wedding in Springdale, Arkansas that gave us huge heart eyes. From the homemade blueberry cake to the bride's strawberry pink hair, everything was made with love and care by their whole community. Don't miss all the thrifted decor, taco bar, and stunning florals. Read More December 3, 2018 Venus flytraps and forever love at this haunting inspiration wedding This haunting inspiration wedding is truly a dark and glam look at goth weddings (and Halloween, if you're planning one for 2019!). The floral pieces on the table and bouquet were designed out of silk flowers, which are ideal for repurposing, preserving as a keepsake, or turned into a family heirloom. Did you notice the Venus Flytraps in the bouquet and centerpiece?! 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 December 7, 2018 Never considered a wedding band? This UK company may just change your mind UK couples: if you're thinking that DJs are the only option for your wedding soundtrack, then I need to let you in on a little secret. Wedding bands are totally a thing, can fit within your budget, and you don't have to do any work at all to find a band who fits your wedding theme. How the heck can this be? It's time you met Entertainment Nation. Read More November 30, 2018 Every little thing you do is magic when captured by DIWAS Photography Longtime photography partners of ours, DIWAS Photography, have been rolling up with stellar shots that continue to wow us every time we see a new one. Here's a wee look into one of our favorite weddings from the globetrotting pair to show you just how amazing their photographer skills are AND how good your wedding could look in photos, too… Read More November 27, 2018 Chicago couples: want a rad music venue with award winning food? Lincoln Hall is the ONE As a Chicagoan myself, I know the north side's Lincoln Hall as a city classic that's one of the best music venues in the city. Lincoln Hall has also been placed in the top 20 best music venues in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine, and previously voted #1 music venue in Chicago by TimeOut Chicago Magazine. It also has award winning food and one of the most impressive spaces to host a wedding I've ever seen. Read More November 23, 2018 Shop small this weekend and score BIG with your wedding vendors his coming weekend (you know, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Hangover Tuesday, Back in the Game Wednesday, etc.) may not seem like the time to snag discounts from wedding vendors, but it actually really is. Not only can you find the obvious stuff like decor items or gifts, but you can get discounts from photographers, coordinators, venues, dress makers, and more. Every little bit helps when it comes to your wedding budget, so snag those deals when you can. Read More 1.4k November 21, 2018 Now is the time to grab a STEAL on chic & affordable wedding dresses (including the rainbow dress of your dreams!) You might not think of the post-Thanksgiving weekend as the time to score deals on a wedding dress (or bridesmaids dresses, accessories, etc.), but it actually really is. In particular, we've got a huge promotion from dress makers Coco Melody that I couldn't wait to share. Let's see a few of them AND find out how you can save mad cash in your wedding budget (and maybe even a RAINBOW one!)… 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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 1.1k 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 More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings December 7, 2018 A most "strange and unusual" Beetlejuice wedding (officiated by Miss Argentina!) We had a Beetlejuice themed wedding! It's a movie we both love and enjoyed growing up (my family used to call me Beetlejuice!) and when we got engaged, we both knew we wanted to do something different since Ryan's a musician and graphic designer, and I love to cosplay and make teeth for a living. In with the theme of Beetlejuice, we got Ryan a burgundy suit, his groompeople's outfits were inspired by Otho, while my scouts (I am a HUGE Sailor Moon fan) wore black and white dresses with accents of red… Read More December 6, 2018 D&D, costumes, & epic music at this heavy metal wedding in Utah Our wedding theme was Dungeons & Dragons! It's not just a game to us, it's a lifestyle. I have been playing since I was 12 — my dad Dungeon Mastered a group for me and my best girlfriends. Later, I met my husband through D&D. I have developed the most amazing friendships and family relationships through D&D and it only made sense to make it our wedding theme. We even picked character classes for the event. I was a Paladin and Henry was a Wizard… Read More 1.0k December 5, 2018 Two brides, air plants, and Dr. Seuss at this modern boho wedding on Lake Michigan Marta and Christine celebrated their wedding with an intimate gathering of friends and family at Camp Blodgett on Lake Michigan. The day was characterized by opposites coming together: boho meets Ikea, with fun color details and a simple, modern look. The ceremony revolved around Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” and was written by Marta and Christine. Instead of a first dance, they led their their guests in a sing-along. Read More December 4, 2018 Blueberries & strawberry pink hair at this berry sweet handmade wedding in Arkansas Zac and Tiffany had a super sweet handmade wedding in Springdale, Arkansas that gave us huge heart eyes. From the homemade blueberry cake to the bride's strawberry pink hair, everything was made with love and care by their whole community. Don't miss all the thrifted decor, taco bar, and stunning florals. Read More December 3, 2018 Venus flytraps and forever love at this haunting inspiration wedding This haunting inspiration wedding is truly a dark and glam look at goth weddings (and Halloween, if you're planning one for 2019!). The floral pieces on the table and bouquet were designed out of silk flowers, which are ideal for repurposing, preserving as a keepsake, or turned into a family heirloom. Did you notice the Venus Flytraps in the bouquet and centerpiece?! 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 December 7, 2018 Never considered a wedding band? This UK company may just change your mind UK couples: if you're thinking that DJs are the only option for your wedding soundtrack, then I need to let you in on a little secret. Wedding bands are totally a thing, can fit within your budget, and you don't have to do any work at all to find a band who fits your wedding theme. How the heck can this be? It's time you met Entertainment Nation. Read More November 30, 2018 Every little thing you do is magic when captured by DIWAS Photography Longtime photography partners of ours, DIWAS Photography, have been rolling up with stellar shots that continue to wow us every time we see a new one. Here's a wee look into one of our favorite weddings from the globetrotting pair to show you just how amazing their photographer skills are AND how good your wedding could look in photos, too… Read More November 27, 2018 Chicago couples: want a rad music venue with award winning food? Lincoln Hall is the ONE As a Chicagoan myself, I know the north side's Lincoln Hall as a city classic that's one of the best music venues in the city. Lincoln Hall has also been placed in the top 20 best music venues in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine, and previously voted #1 music venue in Chicago by TimeOut Chicago Magazine. It also has award winning food and one of the most impressive spaces to host a wedding I've ever seen. Read More November 23, 2018 Shop small this weekend and score BIG with your wedding vendors his coming weekend (you know, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Hangover Tuesday, Back in the Game Wednesday, etc.) may not seem like the time to snag discounts from wedding vendors, but it actually really is. Not only can you find the obvious stuff like decor items or gifts, but you can get discounts from photographers, coordinators, venues, dress makers, and more. Every little bit helps when it comes to your wedding budget, so snag those deals when you can. Read More 1.4k November 21, 2018 Now is the time to grab a STEAL on chic & affordable wedding dresses (including the rainbow dress of your dreams!) You might not think of the post-Thanksgiving weekend as the time to score deals on a wedding dress (or bridesmaids dresses, accessories, etc.), but it actually really is. In particular, we've got a huge promotion from dress makers Coco Melody that I couldn't wait to share. Let's see a few of them AND find out how you can save mad cash in your wedding budget (and maybe even a RAINBOW one!)… 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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 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 More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings December 7, 2018 A most "strange and unusual" Beetlejuice wedding (officiated by Miss Argentina!) We had a Beetlejuice themed wedding! It's a movie we both love and enjoyed growing up (my family used to call me Beetlejuice!) and when we got engaged, we both knew we wanted to do something different since Ryan's a musician and graphic designer, and I love to cosplay and make teeth for a living. In with the theme of Beetlejuice, we got Ryan a burgundy suit, his groompeople's outfits were inspired by Otho, while my scouts (I am a HUGE Sailor Moon fan) wore black and white dresses with accents of red… Read More December 6, 2018 D&D, costumes, & epic music at this heavy metal wedding in Utah Our wedding theme was Dungeons & Dragons! It's not just a game to us, it's a lifestyle. I have been playing since I was 12 — my dad Dungeon Mastered a group for me and my best girlfriends. Later, I met my husband through D&D. I have developed the most amazing friendships and family relationships through D&D and it only made sense to make it our wedding theme. We even picked character classes for the event. I was a Paladin and Henry was a Wizard… Read More 1.0k December 5, 2018 Two brides, air plants, and Dr. Seuss at this modern boho wedding on Lake Michigan Marta and Christine celebrated their wedding with an intimate gathering of friends and family at Camp Blodgett on Lake Michigan. The day was characterized by opposites coming together: boho meets Ikea, with fun color details and a simple, modern look. The ceremony revolved around Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” and was written by Marta and Christine. Instead of a first dance, they led their their guests in a sing-along. Read More December 4, 2018 Blueberries & strawberry pink hair at this berry sweet handmade wedding in Arkansas Zac and Tiffany had a super sweet handmade wedding in Springdale, Arkansas that gave us huge heart eyes. From the homemade blueberry cake to the bride's strawberry pink hair, everything was made with love and care by their whole community. Don't miss all the thrifted decor, taco bar, and stunning florals. Read More December 3, 2018 Venus flytraps and forever love at this haunting inspiration wedding This haunting inspiration wedding is truly a dark and glam look at goth weddings (and Halloween, if you're planning one for 2019!). The floral pieces on the table and bouquet were designed out of silk flowers, which are ideal for repurposing, preserving as a keepsake, or turned into a family heirloom. Did you notice the Venus Flytraps in the bouquet and centerpiece?! 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 December 7, 2018 Never considered a wedding band? This UK company may just change your mind UK couples: if you're thinking that DJs are the only option for your wedding soundtrack, then I need to let you in on a little secret. Wedding bands are totally a thing, can fit within your budget, and you don't have to do any work at all to find a band who fits your wedding theme. How the heck can this be? It's time you met Entertainment Nation. Read More November 30, 2018 Every little thing you do is magic when captured by DIWAS Photography Longtime photography partners of ours, DIWAS Photography, have been rolling up with stellar shots that continue to wow us every time we see a new one. Here's a wee look into one of our favorite weddings from the globetrotting pair to show you just how amazing their photographer skills are AND how good your wedding could look in photos, too… Read More November 27, 2018 Chicago couples: want a rad music venue with award winning food? Lincoln Hall is the ONE As a Chicagoan myself, I know the north side's Lincoln Hall as a city classic that's one of the best music venues in the city. Lincoln Hall has also been placed in the top 20 best music venues in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine, and previously voted #1 music venue in Chicago by TimeOut Chicago Magazine. It also has award winning food and one of the most impressive spaces to host a wedding I've ever seen. Read More November 23, 2018 Shop small this weekend and score BIG with your wedding vendors his coming weekend (you know, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Hangover Tuesday, Back in the Game Wednesday, etc.) may not seem like the time to snag discounts from wedding vendors, but it actually really is. Not only can you find the obvious stuff like decor items or gifts, but you can get discounts from photographers, coordinators, venues, dress makers, and more. Every little bit helps when it comes to your wedding budget, so snag those deals when you can. Read More 1.4k November 21, 2018 Now is the time to grab a STEAL on chic & affordable wedding dresses (including the rainbow dress of your dreams!) You might not think of the post-Thanksgiving weekend as the time to score deals on a wedding dress (or bridesmaids dresses, accessories, etc.), but it actually really is. In particular, we've got a huge promotion from dress makers Coco Melody that I couldn't wait to share. Let's see a few of them AND find out how you can save mad cash in your wedding budget (and maybe even a RAINBOW one!)… 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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 More Wedding Porn > Recent Real Weddings December 7, 2018 A most "strange and unusual" Beetlejuice wedding (officiated by Miss Argentina!) We had a Beetlejuice themed wedding! It's a movie we both love and enjoyed growing up (my family used to call me Beetlejuice!) and when we got engaged, we both knew we wanted to do something different since Ryan's a musician and graphic designer, and I love to cosplay and make teeth for a living. In with the theme of Beetlejuice, we got Ryan a burgundy suit, his groompeople's outfits were inspired by Otho, while my scouts (I am a HUGE Sailor Moon fan) wore black and white dresses with accents of red… Read More December 6, 2018 D&D, costumes, & epic music at this heavy metal wedding in Utah Our wedding theme was Dungeons & Dragons! It's not just a game to us, it's a lifestyle. I have been playing since I was 12 — my dad Dungeon Mastered a group for me and my best girlfriends. Later, I met my husband through D&D. I have developed the most amazing friendships and family relationships through D&D and it only made sense to make it our wedding theme. We even picked character classes for the event. I was a Paladin and Henry was a Wizard… Read More 1.0k December 5, 2018 Two brides, air plants, and Dr. Seuss at this modern boho wedding on Lake Michigan Marta and Christine celebrated their wedding with an intimate gathering of friends and family at Camp Blodgett on Lake Michigan. The day was characterized by opposites coming together: boho meets Ikea, with fun color details and a simple, modern look. The ceremony revolved around Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” and was written by Marta and Christine. Instead of a first dance, they led their their guests in a sing-along. Read More December 4, 2018 Blueberries & strawberry pink hair at this berry sweet handmade wedding in Arkansas Zac and Tiffany had a super sweet handmade wedding in Springdale, Arkansas that gave us huge heart eyes. From the homemade blueberry cake to the bride's strawberry pink hair, everything was made with love and care by their whole community. Don't miss all the thrifted decor, taco bar, and stunning florals. Read More December 3, 2018 Venus flytraps and forever love at this haunting inspiration wedding This haunting inspiration wedding is truly a dark and glam look at goth weddings (and Halloween, if you're planning one for 2019!). The floral pieces on the table and bouquet were designed out of silk flowers, which are ideal for repurposing, preserving as a keepsake, or turned into a family heirloom. Did you notice the Venus Flytraps in the bouquet and centerpiece?! 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 December 7, 2018 Never considered a wedding band? This UK company may just change your mind UK couples: if you're thinking that DJs are the only option for your wedding soundtrack, then I need to let you in on a little secret. Wedding bands are totally a thing, can fit within your budget, and you don't have to do any work at all to find a band who fits your wedding theme. How the heck can this be? It's time you met Entertainment Nation. Read More November 30, 2018 Every little thing you do is magic when captured by DIWAS Photography Longtime photography partners of ours, DIWAS Photography, have been rolling up with stellar shots that continue to wow us every time we see a new one. Here's a wee look into one of our favorite weddings from the globetrotting pair to show you just how amazing their photographer skills are AND how good your wedding could look in photos, too… Read More November 27, 2018 Chicago couples: want a rad music venue with award winning food? Lincoln Hall is the ONE As a Chicagoan myself, I know the north side's Lincoln Hall as a city classic that's one of the best music venues in the city. Lincoln Hall has also been placed in the top 20 best music venues in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine, and previously voted #1 music venue in Chicago by TimeOut Chicago Magazine. It also has award winning food and one of the most impressive spaces to host a wedding I've ever seen. Read More November 23, 2018 Shop small this weekend and score BIG with your wedding vendors his coming weekend (you know, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Hangover Tuesday, Back in the Game Wednesday, etc.) may not seem like the time to snag discounts from wedding vendors, but it actually really is. Not only can you find the obvious stuff like decor items or gifts, but you can get discounts from photographers, coordinators, venues, dress makers, and more. Every little bit helps when it comes to your wedding budget, so snag those deals when you can. Read More 1.4k November 21, 2018 Now is the time to grab a STEAL on chic & affordable wedding dresses (including the rainbow dress of your dreams!) You might not think of the post-Thanksgiving weekend as the time to score deals on a wedding dress (or bridesmaids dresses, accessories, etc.), but it actually really is. In particular, we've got a huge promotion from dress makers Coco Melody that I couldn't wait to share. Let's see a few of them AND find out how you can save mad cash in your wedding budget (and maybe even a RAINBOW one!)… 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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
December 7, 2018 A most "strange and unusual" Beetlejuice wedding (officiated by Miss Argentina!) We had a Beetlejuice themed wedding! It's a movie we both love and enjoyed growing up (my family used to call me Beetlejuice!) and when we got engaged, we both knew we wanted to do something different since Ryan's a musician and graphic designer, and I love to cosplay and make teeth for a living. In with the theme of Beetlejuice, we got Ryan a burgundy suit, his groompeople's outfits were inspired by Otho, while my scouts (I am a HUGE Sailor Moon fan) wore black and white dresses with accents of red… Read More December 6, 2018 D&D, costumes, & epic music at this heavy metal wedding in Utah Our wedding theme was Dungeons & Dragons! It's not just a game to us, it's a lifestyle. I have been playing since I was 12 — my dad Dungeon Mastered a group for me and my best girlfriends. Later, I met my husband through D&D. I have developed the most amazing friendships and family relationships through D&D and it only made sense to make it our wedding theme. We even picked character classes for the event. I was a Paladin and Henry was a Wizard… Read More 1.0k December 5, 2018 Two brides, air plants, and Dr. Seuss at this modern boho wedding on Lake Michigan Marta and Christine celebrated their wedding with an intimate gathering of friends and family at Camp Blodgett on Lake Michigan. The day was characterized by opposites coming together: boho meets Ikea, with fun color details and a simple, modern look. The ceremony revolved around Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” and was written by Marta and Christine. Instead of a first dance, they led their their guests in a sing-along. Read More December 4, 2018 Blueberries & strawberry pink hair at this berry sweet handmade wedding in Arkansas Zac and Tiffany had a super sweet handmade wedding in Springdale, Arkansas that gave us huge heart eyes. From the homemade blueberry cake to the bride's strawberry pink hair, everything was made with love and care by their whole community. Don't miss all the thrifted decor, taco bar, and stunning florals. Read More December 3, 2018 Venus flytraps and forever love at this haunting inspiration wedding This haunting inspiration wedding is truly a dark and glam look at goth weddings (and Halloween, if you're planning one for 2019!). The floral pieces on the table and bouquet were designed out of silk flowers, which are ideal for repurposing, preserving as a keepsake, or turned into a family heirloom. Did you notice the Venus Flytraps in the bouquet and centerpiece?! 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 December 7, 2018 Never considered a wedding band? This UK company may just change your mind UK couples: if you're thinking that DJs are the only option for your wedding soundtrack, then I need to let you in on a little secret. Wedding bands are totally a thing, can fit within your budget, and you don't have to do any work at all to find a band who fits your wedding theme. How the heck can this be? It's time you met Entertainment Nation. Read More November 30, 2018 Every little thing you do is magic when captured by DIWAS Photography Longtime photography partners of ours, DIWAS Photography, have been rolling up with stellar shots that continue to wow us every time we see a new one. Here's a wee look into one of our favorite weddings from the globetrotting pair to show you just how amazing their photographer skills are AND how good your wedding could look in photos, too… Read More November 27, 2018 Chicago couples: want a rad music venue with award winning food? Lincoln Hall is the ONE As a Chicagoan myself, I know the north side's Lincoln Hall as a city classic that's one of the best music venues in the city. Lincoln Hall has also been placed in the top 20 best music venues in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine, and previously voted #1 music venue in Chicago by TimeOut Chicago Magazine. It also has award winning food and one of the most impressive spaces to host a wedding I've ever seen. Read More November 23, 2018 Shop small this weekend and score BIG with your wedding vendors his coming weekend (you know, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Hangover Tuesday, Back in the Game Wednesday, etc.) may not seem like the time to snag discounts from wedding vendors, but it actually really is. Not only can you find the obvious stuff like decor items or gifts, but you can get discounts from photographers, coordinators, venues, dress makers, and more. Every little bit helps when it comes to your wedding budget, so snag those deals when you can. Read More 1.4k November 21, 2018 Now is the time to grab a STEAL on chic & affordable wedding dresses (including the rainbow dress of your dreams!) You might not think of the post-Thanksgiving weekend as the time to score deals on a wedding dress (or bridesmaids dresses, accessories, etc.), but it actually really is. In particular, we've got a huge promotion from dress makers Coco Melody that I couldn't wait to share. Let's see a few of them AND find out how you can save mad cash in your wedding budget (and maybe even a RAINBOW one!)… 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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
December 6, 2018 D&D, costumes, & epic music at this heavy metal wedding in Utah Our wedding theme was Dungeons & Dragons! It's not just a game to us, it's a lifestyle. I have been playing since I was 12 — my dad Dungeon Mastered a group for me and my best girlfriends. Later, I met my husband through D&D. I have developed the most amazing friendships and family relationships through D&D and it only made sense to make it our wedding theme. We even picked character classes for the event. I was a Paladin and Henry was a Wizard… Read More 1.0k December 5, 2018 Two brides, air plants, and Dr. Seuss at this modern boho wedding on Lake Michigan Marta and Christine celebrated their wedding with an intimate gathering of friends and family at Camp Blodgett on Lake Michigan. The day was characterized by opposites coming together: boho meets Ikea, with fun color details and a simple, modern look. The ceremony revolved around Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” and was written by Marta and Christine. Instead of a first dance, they led their their guests in a sing-along. Read More December 4, 2018 Blueberries & strawberry pink hair at this berry sweet handmade wedding in Arkansas Zac and Tiffany had a super sweet handmade wedding in Springdale, Arkansas that gave us huge heart eyes. From the homemade blueberry cake to the bride's strawberry pink hair, everything was made with love and care by their whole community. Don't miss all the thrifted decor, taco bar, and stunning florals. Read More December 3, 2018 Venus flytraps and forever love at this haunting inspiration wedding This haunting inspiration wedding is truly a dark and glam look at goth weddings (and Halloween, if you're planning one for 2019!). The floral pieces on the table and bouquet were designed out of silk flowers, which are ideal for repurposing, preserving as a keepsake, or turned into a family heirloom. Did you notice the Venus Flytraps in the bouquet and centerpiece?! 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 December 7, 2018 Never considered a wedding band? This UK company may just change your mind UK couples: if you're thinking that DJs are the only option for your wedding soundtrack, then I need to let you in on a little secret. Wedding bands are totally a thing, can fit within your budget, and you don't have to do any work at all to find a band who fits your wedding theme. How the heck can this be? It's time you met Entertainment Nation. Read More November 30, 2018 Every little thing you do is magic when captured by DIWAS Photography Longtime photography partners of ours, DIWAS Photography, have been rolling up with stellar shots that continue to wow us every time we see a new one. Here's a wee look into one of our favorite weddings from the globetrotting pair to show you just how amazing their photographer skills are AND how good your wedding could look in photos, too… Read More November 27, 2018 Chicago couples: want a rad music venue with award winning food? Lincoln Hall is the ONE As a Chicagoan myself, I know the north side's Lincoln Hall as a city classic that's one of the best music venues in the city. Lincoln Hall has also been placed in the top 20 best music venues in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine, and previously voted #1 music venue in Chicago by TimeOut Chicago Magazine. It also has award winning food and one of the most impressive spaces to host a wedding I've ever seen. Read More November 23, 2018 Shop small this weekend and score BIG with your wedding vendors his coming weekend (you know, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Hangover Tuesday, Back in the Game Wednesday, etc.) may not seem like the time to snag discounts from wedding vendors, but it actually really is. Not only can you find the obvious stuff like decor items or gifts, but you can get discounts from photographers, coordinators, venues, dress makers, and more. Every little bit helps when it comes to your wedding budget, so snag those deals when you can. Read More 1.4k November 21, 2018 Now is the time to grab a STEAL on chic & affordable wedding dresses (including the rainbow dress of your dreams!) You might not think of the post-Thanksgiving weekend as the time to score deals on a wedding dress (or bridesmaids dresses, accessories, etc.), but it actually really is. In particular, we've got a huge promotion from dress makers Coco Melody that I couldn't wait to share. Let's see a few of them AND find out how you can save mad cash in your wedding budget (and maybe even a RAINBOW one!)… 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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 December 5, 2018 Two brides, air plants, and Dr. Seuss at this modern boho wedding on Lake Michigan Marta and Christine celebrated their wedding with an intimate gathering of friends and family at Camp Blodgett on Lake Michigan. The day was characterized by opposites coming together: boho meets Ikea, with fun color details and a simple, modern look. The ceremony revolved around Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” and was written by Marta and Christine. Instead of a first dance, they led their their guests in a sing-along. Read More December 4, 2018 Blueberries & strawberry pink hair at this berry sweet handmade wedding in Arkansas Zac and Tiffany had a super sweet handmade wedding in Springdale, Arkansas that gave us huge heart eyes. From the homemade blueberry cake to the bride's strawberry pink hair, everything was made with love and care by their whole community. Don't miss all the thrifted decor, taco bar, and stunning florals. Read More December 3, 2018 Venus flytraps and forever love at this haunting inspiration wedding This haunting inspiration wedding is truly a dark and glam look at goth weddings (and Halloween, if you're planning one for 2019!). The floral pieces on the table and bouquet were designed out of silk flowers, which are ideal for repurposing, preserving as a keepsake, or turned into a family heirloom. Did you notice the Venus Flytraps in the bouquet and centerpiece?! 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 December 7, 2018 Never considered a wedding band? This UK company may just change your mind UK couples: if you're thinking that DJs are the only option for your wedding soundtrack, then I need to let you in on a little secret. Wedding bands are totally a thing, can fit within your budget, and you don't have to do any work at all to find a band who fits your wedding theme. How the heck can this be? It's time you met Entertainment Nation. Read More November 30, 2018 Every little thing you do is magic when captured by DIWAS Photography Longtime photography partners of ours, DIWAS Photography, have been rolling up with stellar shots that continue to wow us every time we see a new one. Here's a wee look into one of our favorite weddings from the globetrotting pair to show you just how amazing their photographer skills are AND how good your wedding could look in photos, too… Read More November 27, 2018 Chicago couples: want a rad music venue with award winning food? Lincoln Hall is the ONE As a Chicagoan myself, I know the north side's Lincoln Hall as a city classic that's one of the best music venues in the city. Lincoln Hall has also been placed in the top 20 best music venues in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine, and previously voted #1 music venue in Chicago by TimeOut Chicago Magazine. It also has award winning food and one of the most impressive spaces to host a wedding I've ever seen. Read More November 23, 2018 Shop small this weekend and score BIG with your wedding vendors his coming weekend (you know, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Hangover Tuesday, Back in the Game Wednesday, etc.) may not seem like the time to snag discounts from wedding vendors, but it actually really is. Not only can you find the obvious stuff like decor items or gifts, but you can get discounts from photographers, coordinators, venues, dress makers, and more. Every little bit helps when it comes to your wedding budget, so snag those deals when you can. Read More 1.4k November 21, 2018 Now is the time to grab a STEAL on chic & affordable wedding dresses (including the rainbow dress of your dreams!) You might not think of the post-Thanksgiving weekend as the time to score deals on a wedding dress (or bridesmaids dresses, accessories, etc.), but it actually really is. In particular, we've got a huge promotion from dress makers Coco Melody that I couldn't wait to share. Let's see a few of them AND find out how you can save mad cash in your wedding budget (and maybe even a RAINBOW one!)… 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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
December 4, 2018 Blueberries & strawberry pink hair at this berry sweet handmade wedding in Arkansas Zac and Tiffany had a super sweet handmade wedding in Springdale, Arkansas that gave us huge heart eyes. From the homemade blueberry cake to the bride's strawberry pink hair, everything was made with love and care by their whole community. Don't miss all the thrifted decor, taco bar, and stunning florals. Read More December 3, 2018 Venus flytraps and forever love at this haunting inspiration wedding This haunting inspiration wedding is truly a dark and glam look at goth weddings (and Halloween, if you're planning one for 2019!). The floral pieces on the table and bouquet were designed out of silk flowers, which are ideal for repurposing, preserving as a keepsake, or turned into a family heirloom. Did you notice the Venus Flytraps in the bouquet and centerpiece?! 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 December 7, 2018 Never considered a wedding band? This UK company may just change your mind UK couples: if you're thinking that DJs are the only option for your wedding soundtrack, then I need to let you in on a little secret. Wedding bands are totally a thing, can fit within your budget, and you don't have to do any work at all to find a band who fits your wedding theme. How the heck can this be? It's time you met Entertainment Nation. Read More November 30, 2018 Every little thing you do is magic when captured by DIWAS Photography Longtime photography partners of ours, DIWAS Photography, have been rolling up with stellar shots that continue to wow us every time we see a new one. Here's a wee look into one of our favorite weddings from the globetrotting pair to show you just how amazing their photographer skills are AND how good your wedding could look in photos, too… Read More November 27, 2018 Chicago couples: want a rad music venue with award winning food? Lincoln Hall is the ONE As a Chicagoan myself, I know the north side's Lincoln Hall as a city classic that's one of the best music venues in the city. Lincoln Hall has also been placed in the top 20 best music venues in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine, and previously voted #1 music venue in Chicago by TimeOut Chicago Magazine. It also has award winning food and one of the most impressive spaces to host a wedding I've ever seen. Read More November 23, 2018 Shop small this weekend and score BIG with your wedding vendors his coming weekend (you know, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Hangover Tuesday, Back in the Game Wednesday, etc.) may not seem like the time to snag discounts from wedding vendors, but it actually really is. Not only can you find the obvious stuff like decor items or gifts, but you can get discounts from photographers, coordinators, venues, dress makers, and more. Every little bit helps when it comes to your wedding budget, so snag those deals when you can. Read More 1.4k November 21, 2018 Now is the time to grab a STEAL on chic & affordable wedding dresses (including the rainbow dress of your dreams!) You might not think of the post-Thanksgiving weekend as the time to score deals on a wedding dress (or bridesmaids dresses, accessories, etc.), but it actually really is. In particular, we've got a huge promotion from dress makers Coco Melody that I couldn't wait to share. Let's see a few of them AND find out how you can save mad cash in your wedding budget (and maybe even a RAINBOW one!)… 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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
December 3, 2018 Venus flytraps and forever love at this haunting inspiration wedding This haunting inspiration wedding is truly a dark and glam look at goth weddings (and Halloween, if you're planning one for 2019!). The floral pieces on the table and bouquet were designed out of silk flowers, which are ideal for repurposing, preserving as a keepsake, or turned into a family heirloom. Did you notice the Venus Flytraps in the bouquet and centerpiece?! 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 December 7, 2018 Never considered a wedding band? This UK company may just change your mind UK couples: if you're thinking that DJs are the only option for your wedding soundtrack, then I need to let you in on a little secret. Wedding bands are totally a thing, can fit within your budget, and you don't have to do any work at all to find a band who fits your wedding theme. How the heck can this be? It's time you met Entertainment Nation. Read More November 30, 2018 Every little thing you do is magic when captured by DIWAS Photography Longtime photography partners of ours, DIWAS Photography, have been rolling up with stellar shots that continue to wow us every time we see a new one. Here's a wee look into one of our favorite weddings from the globetrotting pair to show you just how amazing their photographer skills are AND how good your wedding could look in photos, too… Read More November 27, 2018 Chicago couples: want a rad music venue with award winning food? Lincoln Hall is the ONE As a Chicagoan myself, I know the north side's Lincoln Hall as a city classic that's one of the best music venues in the city. Lincoln Hall has also been placed in the top 20 best music venues in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine, and previously voted #1 music venue in Chicago by TimeOut Chicago Magazine. It also has award winning food and one of the most impressive spaces to host a wedding I've ever seen. Read More November 23, 2018 Shop small this weekend and score BIG with your wedding vendors his coming weekend (you know, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Hangover Tuesday, Back in the Game Wednesday, etc.) may not seem like the time to snag discounts from wedding vendors, but it actually really is. Not only can you find the obvious stuff like decor items or gifts, but you can get discounts from photographers, coordinators, venues, dress makers, and more. Every little bit helps when it comes to your wedding budget, so snag those deals when you can. Read More 1.4k November 21, 2018 Now is the time to grab a STEAL on chic & affordable wedding dresses (including the rainbow dress of your dreams!) You might not think of the post-Thanksgiving weekend as the time to score deals on a wedding dress (or bridesmaids dresses, accessories, etc.), but it actually really is. In particular, we've got a huge promotion from dress makers Coco Melody that I couldn't wait to share. Let's see a few of them AND find out how you can save mad cash in your wedding budget (and maybe even a RAINBOW one!)… 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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 December 7, 2018 Never considered a wedding band? This UK company may just change your mind UK couples: if you're thinking that DJs are the only option for your wedding soundtrack, then I need to let you in on a little secret. Wedding bands are totally a thing, can fit within your budget, and you don't have to do any work at all to find a band who fits your wedding theme. How the heck can this be? It's time you met Entertainment Nation. Read More November 30, 2018 Every little thing you do is magic when captured by DIWAS Photography Longtime photography partners of ours, DIWAS Photography, have been rolling up with stellar shots that continue to wow us every time we see a new one. Here's a wee look into one of our favorite weddings from the globetrotting pair to show you just how amazing their photographer skills are AND how good your wedding could look in photos, too… Read More November 27, 2018 Chicago couples: want a rad music venue with award winning food? Lincoln Hall is the ONE As a Chicagoan myself, I know the north side's Lincoln Hall as a city classic that's one of the best music venues in the city. Lincoln Hall has also been placed in the top 20 best music venues in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine, and previously voted #1 music venue in Chicago by TimeOut Chicago Magazine. It also has award winning food and one of the most impressive spaces to host a wedding I've ever seen. Read More November 23, 2018 Shop small this weekend and score BIG with your wedding vendors his coming weekend (you know, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Hangover Tuesday, Back in the Game Wednesday, etc.) may not seem like the time to snag discounts from wedding vendors, but it actually really is. Not only can you find the obvious stuff like decor items or gifts, but you can get discounts from photographers, coordinators, venues, dress makers, and more. Every little bit helps when it comes to your wedding budget, so snag those deals when you can. Read More 1.4k November 21, 2018 Now is the time to grab a STEAL on chic & affordable wedding dresses (including the rainbow dress of your dreams!) You might not think of the post-Thanksgiving weekend as the time to score deals on a wedding dress (or bridesmaids dresses, accessories, etc.), but it actually really is. In particular, we've got a huge promotion from dress makers Coco Melody that I couldn't wait to share. Let's see a few of them AND find out how you can save mad cash in your wedding budget (and maybe even a RAINBOW one!)… 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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 December 7, 2018 Never considered a wedding band? This UK company may just change your mind UK couples: if you're thinking that DJs are the only option for your wedding soundtrack, then I need to let you in on a little secret. Wedding bands are totally a thing, can fit within your budget, and you don't have to do any work at all to find a band who fits your wedding theme. How the heck can this be? It's time you met Entertainment Nation. Read More November 30, 2018 Every little thing you do is magic when captured by DIWAS Photography Longtime photography partners of ours, DIWAS Photography, have been rolling up with stellar shots that continue to wow us every time we see a new one. Here's a wee look into one of our favorite weddings from the globetrotting pair to show you just how amazing their photographer skills are AND how good your wedding could look in photos, too… Read More November 27, 2018 Chicago couples: want a rad music venue with award winning food? Lincoln Hall is the ONE As a Chicagoan myself, I know the north side's Lincoln Hall as a city classic that's one of the best music venues in the city. Lincoln Hall has also been placed in the top 20 best music venues in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine, and previously voted #1 music venue in Chicago by TimeOut Chicago Magazine. It also has award winning food and one of the most impressive spaces to host a wedding I've ever seen. Read More November 23, 2018 Shop small this weekend and score BIG with your wedding vendors his coming weekend (you know, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Hangover Tuesday, Back in the Game Wednesday, etc.) may not seem like the time to snag discounts from wedding vendors, but it actually really is. Not only can you find the obvious stuff like decor items or gifts, but you can get discounts from photographers, coordinators, venues, dress makers, and more. Every little bit helps when it comes to your wedding budget, so snag those deals when you can. Read More 1.4k November 21, 2018 Now is the time to grab a STEAL on chic & affordable wedding dresses (including the rainbow dress of your dreams!) You might not think of the post-Thanksgiving weekend as the time to score deals on a wedding dress (or bridesmaids dresses, accessories, etc.), but it actually really is. In particular, we've got a huge promotion from dress makers Coco Melody that I couldn't wait to share. Let's see a few of them AND find out how you can save mad cash in your wedding budget (and maybe even a RAINBOW one!)… 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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 December 7, 2018 Never considered a wedding band? This UK company may just change your mind UK couples: if you're thinking that DJs are the only option for your wedding soundtrack, then I need to let you in on a little secret. Wedding bands are totally a thing, can fit within your budget, and you don't have to do any work at all to find a band who fits your wedding theme. How the heck can this be? It's time you met Entertainment Nation. Read More November 30, 2018 Every little thing you do is magic when captured by DIWAS Photography Longtime photography partners of ours, DIWAS Photography, have been rolling up with stellar shots that continue to wow us every time we see a new one. Here's a wee look into one of our favorite weddings from the globetrotting pair to show you just how amazing their photographer skills are AND how good your wedding could look in photos, too… Read More November 27, 2018 Chicago couples: want a rad music venue with award winning food? Lincoln Hall is the ONE As a Chicagoan myself, I know the north side's Lincoln Hall as a city classic that's one of the best music venues in the city. Lincoln Hall has also been placed in the top 20 best music venues in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine, and previously voted #1 music venue in Chicago by TimeOut Chicago Magazine. It also has award winning food and one of the most impressive spaces to host a wedding I've ever seen. Read More November 23, 2018 Shop small this weekend and score BIG with your wedding vendors his coming weekend (you know, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Hangover Tuesday, Back in the Game Wednesday, etc.) may not seem like the time to snag discounts from wedding vendors, but it actually really is. Not only can you find the obvious stuff like decor items or gifts, but you can get discounts from photographers, coordinators, venues, dress makers, and more. Every little bit helps when it comes to your wedding budget, so snag those deals when you can. Read More 1.4k November 21, 2018 Now is the time to grab a STEAL on chic & affordable wedding dresses (including the rainbow dress of your dreams!) You might not think of the post-Thanksgiving weekend as the time to score deals on a wedding dress (or bridesmaids dresses, accessories, etc.), but it actually really is. In particular, we've got a huge promotion from dress makers Coco Melody that I couldn't wait to share. Let's see a few of them AND find out how you can save mad cash in your wedding budget (and maybe even a RAINBOW one!)… 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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 December 7, 2018 Never considered a wedding band? This UK company may just change your mind UK couples: if you're thinking that DJs are the only option for your wedding soundtrack, then I need to let you in on a little secret. Wedding bands are totally a thing, can fit within your budget, and you don't have to do any work at all to find a band who fits your wedding theme. How the heck can this be? It's time you met Entertainment Nation. Read More November 30, 2018 Every little thing you do is magic when captured by DIWAS Photography Longtime photography partners of ours, DIWAS Photography, have been rolling up with stellar shots that continue to wow us every time we see a new one. Here's a wee look into one of our favorite weddings from the globetrotting pair to show you just how amazing their photographer skills are AND how good your wedding could look in photos, too… Read More November 27, 2018 Chicago couples: want a rad music venue with award winning food? Lincoln Hall is the ONE As a Chicagoan myself, I know the north side's Lincoln Hall as a city classic that's one of the best music venues in the city. Lincoln Hall has also been placed in the top 20 best music venues in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine, and previously voted #1 music venue in Chicago by TimeOut Chicago Magazine. It also has award winning food and one of the most impressive spaces to host a wedding I've ever seen. Read More November 23, 2018 Shop small this weekend and score BIG with your wedding vendors his coming weekend (you know, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Hangover Tuesday, Back in the Game Wednesday, etc.) may not seem like the time to snag discounts from wedding vendors, but it actually really is. Not only can you find the obvious stuff like decor items or gifts, but you can get discounts from photographers, coordinators, venues, dress makers, and more. Every little bit helps when it comes to your wedding budget, so snag those deals when you can. Read More 1.4k November 21, 2018 Now is the time to grab a STEAL on chic & affordable wedding dresses (including the rainbow dress of your dreams!) You might not think of the post-Thanksgiving weekend as the time to score deals on a wedding dress (or bridesmaids dresses, accessories, etc.), but it actually really is. In particular, we've got a huge promotion from dress makers Coco Melody that I couldn't wait to share. Let's see a few of them AND find out how you can save mad cash in your wedding budget (and maybe even a RAINBOW one!)… 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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 December 7, 2018 Never considered a wedding band? This UK company may just change your mind UK couples: if you're thinking that DJs are the only option for your wedding soundtrack, then I need to let you in on a little secret. Wedding bands are totally a thing, can fit within your budget, and you don't have to do any work at all to find a band who fits your wedding theme. How the heck can this be? It's time you met Entertainment Nation. Read More November 30, 2018 Every little thing you do is magic when captured by DIWAS Photography Longtime photography partners of ours, DIWAS Photography, have been rolling up with stellar shots that continue to wow us every time we see a new one. Here's a wee look into one of our favorite weddings from the globetrotting pair to show you just how amazing their photographer skills are AND how good your wedding could look in photos, too… Read More November 27, 2018 Chicago couples: want a rad music venue with award winning food? Lincoln Hall is the ONE As a Chicagoan myself, I know the north side's Lincoln Hall as a city classic that's one of the best music venues in the city. Lincoln Hall has also been placed in the top 20 best music venues in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine, and previously voted #1 music venue in Chicago by TimeOut Chicago Magazine. It also has award winning food and one of the most impressive spaces to host a wedding I've ever seen. Read More November 23, 2018 Shop small this weekend and score BIG with your wedding vendors his coming weekend (you know, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Hangover Tuesday, Back in the Game Wednesday, etc.) may not seem like the time to snag discounts from wedding vendors, but it actually really is. Not only can you find the obvious stuff like decor items or gifts, but you can get discounts from photographers, coordinators, venues, dress makers, and more. Every little bit helps when it comes to your wedding budget, so snag those deals when you can. Read More 1.4k November 21, 2018 Now is the time to grab a STEAL on chic & affordable wedding dresses (including the rainbow dress of your dreams!) You might not think of the post-Thanksgiving weekend as the time to score deals on a wedding dress (or bridesmaids dresses, accessories, etc.), but it actually really is. In particular, we've got a huge promotion from dress makers Coco Melody that I couldn't wait to share. Let's see a few of them AND find out how you can save mad cash in your wedding budget (and maybe even a RAINBOW one!)… 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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 December 7, 2018 Never considered a wedding band? This UK company may just change your mind UK couples: if you're thinking that DJs are the only option for your wedding soundtrack, then I need to let you in on a little secret. Wedding bands are totally a thing, can fit within your budget, and you don't have to do any work at all to find a band who fits your wedding theme. How the heck can this be? It's time you met Entertainment Nation. Read More November 30, 2018 Every little thing you do is magic when captured by DIWAS Photography Longtime photography partners of ours, DIWAS Photography, have been rolling up with stellar shots that continue to wow us every time we see a new one. Here's a wee look into one of our favorite weddings from the globetrotting pair to show you just how amazing their photographer skills are AND how good your wedding could look in photos, too… Read More November 27, 2018 Chicago couples: want a rad music venue with award winning food? Lincoln Hall is the ONE As a Chicagoan myself, I know the north side's Lincoln Hall as a city classic that's one of the best music venues in the city. Lincoln Hall has also been placed in the top 20 best music venues in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine, and previously voted #1 music venue in Chicago by TimeOut Chicago Magazine. It also has award winning food and one of the most impressive spaces to host a wedding I've ever seen. Read More November 23, 2018 Shop small this weekend and score BIG with your wedding vendors his coming weekend (you know, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Hangover Tuesday, Back in the Game Wednesday, etc.) may not seem like the time to snag discounts from wedding vendors, but it actually really is. Not only can you find the obvious stuff like decor items or gifts, but you can get discounts from photographers, coordinators, venues, dress makers, and more. Every little bit helps when it comes to your wedding budget, so snag those deals when you can. Read More 1.4k November 21, 2018 Now is the time to grab a STEAL on chic & affordable wedding dresses (including the rainbow dress of your dreams!) You might not think of the post-Thanksgiving weekend as the time to score deals on a wedding dress (or bridesmaids dresses, accessories, etc.), but it actually really is. In particular, we've got a huge promotion from dress makers Coco Melody that I couldn't wait to share. Let's see a few of them AND find out how you can save mad cash in your wedding budget (and maybe even a RAINBOW one!)… 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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 December 7, 2018 Never considered a wedding band? This UK company may just change your mind UK couples: if you're thinking that DJs are the only option for your wedding soundtrack, then I need to let you in on a little secret. Wedding bands are totally a thing, can fit within your budget, and you don't have to do any work at all to find a band who fits your wedding theme. How the heck can this be? It's time you met Entertainment Nation. Read More November 30, 2018 Every little thing you do is magic when captured by DIWAS Photography Longtime photography partners of ours, DIWAS Photography, have been rolling up with stellar shots that continue to wow us every time we see a new one. Here's a wee look into one of our favorite weddings from the globetrotting pair to show you just how amazing their photographer skills are AND how good your wedding could look in photos, too… Read More November 27, 2018 Chicago couples: want a rad music venue with award winning food? Lincoln Hall is the ONE As a Chicagoan myself, I know the north side's Lincoln Hall as a city classic that's one of the best music venues in the city. Lincoln Hall has also been placed in the top 20 best music venues in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine, and previously voted #1 music venue in Chicago by TimeOut Chicago Magazine. It also has award winning food and one of the most impressive spaces to host a wedding I've ever seen. Read More November 23, 2018 Shop small this weekend and score BIG with your wedding vendors his coming weekend (you know, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Hangover Tuesday, Back in the Game Wednesday, etc.) may not seem like the time to snag discounts from wedding vendors, but it actually really is. Not only can you find the obvious stuff like decor items or gifts, but you can get discounts from photographers, coordinators, venues, dress makers, and more. Every little bit helps when it comes to your wedding budget, so snag those deals when you can. Read More 1.4k November 21, 2018 Now is the time to grab a STEAL on chic & affordable wedding dresses (including the rainbow dress of your dreams!) You might not think of the post-Thanksgiving weekend as the time to score deals on a wedding dress (or bridesmaids dresses, accessories, etc.), but it actually really is. In particular, we've got a huge promotion from dress makers Coco Melody that I couldn't wait to share. Let's see a few of them AND find out how you can save mad cash in your wedding budget (and maybe even a RAINBOW one!)… 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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 December 7, 2018 Never considered a wedding band? This UK company may just change your mind UK couples: if you're thinking that DJs are the only option for your wedding soundtrack, then I need to let you in on a little secret. Wedding bands are totally a thing, can fit within your budget, and you don't have to do any work at all to find a band who fits your wedding theme. How the heck can this be? It's time you met Entertainment Nation. Read More November 30, 2018 Every little thing you do is magic when captured by DIWAS Photography Longtime photography partners of ours, DIWAS Photography, have been rolling up with stellar shots that continue to wow us every time we see a new one. Here's a wee look into one of our favorite weddings from the globetrotting pair to show you just how amazing their photographer skills are AND how good your wedding could look in photos, too… Read More November 27, 2018 Chicago couples: want a rad music venue with award winning food? Lincoln Hall is the ONE As a Chicagoan myself, I know the north side's Lincoln Hall as a city classic that's one of the best music venues in the city. Lincoln Hall has also been placed in the top 20 best music venues in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine, and previously voted #1 music venue in Chicago by TimeOut Chicago Magazine. It also has award winning food and one of the most impressive spaces to host a wedding I've ever seen. Read More November 23, 2018 Shop small this weekend and score BIG with your wedding vendors his coming weekend (you know, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Hangover Tuesday, Back in the Game Wednesday, etc.) may not seem like the time to snag discounts from wedding vendors, but it actually really is. Not only can you find the obvious stuff like decor items or gifts, but you can get discounts from photographers, coordinators, venues, dress makers, and more. Every little bit helps when it comes to your wedding budget, so snag those deals when you can. Read More 1.4k November 21, 2018 Now is the time to grab a STEAL on chic & affordable wedding dresses (including the rainbow dress of your dreams!) You might not think of the post-Thanksgiving weekend as the time to score deals on a wedding dress (or bridesmaids dresses, accessories, etc.), but it actually really is. In particular, we've got a huge promotion from dress makers Coco Melody that I couldn't wait to share. Let's see a few of them AND find out how you can save mad cash in your wedding budget (and maybe even a RAINBOW one!)… 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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 December 7, 2018 Never considered a wedding band? This UK company may just change your mind UK couples: if you're thinking that DJs are the only option for your wedding soundtrack, then I need to let you in on a little secret. Wedding bands are totally a thing, can fit within your budget, and you don't have to do any work at all to find a band who fits your wedding theme. How the heck can this be? It's time you met Entertainment Nation. Read More November 30, 2018 Every little thing you do is magic when captured by DIWAS Photography Longtime photography partners of ours, DIWAS Photography, have been rolling up with stellar shots that continue to wow us every time we see a new one. Here's a wee look into one of our favorite weddings from the globetrotting pair to show you just how amazing their photographer skills are AND how good your wedding could look in photos, too… Read More November 27, 2018 Chicago couples: want a rad music venue with award winning food? Lincoln Hall is the ONE As a Chicagoan myself, I know the north side's Lincoln Hall as a city classic that's one of the best music venues in the city. Lincoln Hall has also been placed in the top 20 best music venues in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine, and previously voted #1 music venue in Chicago by TimeOut Chicago Magazine. It also has award winning food and one of the most impressive spaces to host a wedding I've ever seen. Read More November 23, 2018 Shop small this weekend and score BIG with your wedding vendors his coming weekend (you know, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Hangover Tuesday, Back in the Game Wednesday, etc.) may not seem like the time to snag discounts from wedding vendors, but it actually really is. Not only can you find the obvious stuff like decor items or gifts, but you can get discounts from photographers, coordinators, venues, dress makers, and more. Every little bit helps when it comes to your wedding budget, so snag those deals when you can. Read More 1.4k November 21, 2018 Now is the time to grab a STEAL on chic & affordable wedding dresses (including the rainbow dress of your dreams!) You might not think of the post-Thanksgiving weekend as the time to score deals on a wedding dress (or bridesmaids dresses, accessories, etc.), but it actually really is. In particular, we've got a huge promotion from dress makers Coco Melody that I couldn't wait to share. Let's see a few of them AND find out how you can save mad cash in your wedding budget (and maybe even a RAINBOW one!)… 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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 December 7, 2018 Never considered a wedding band? This UK company may just change your mind UK couples: if you're thinking that DJs are the only option for your wedding soundtrack, then I need to let you in on a little secret. Wedding bands are totally a thing, can fit within your budget, and you don't have to do any work at all to find a band who fits your wedding theme. How the heck can this be? It's time you met Entertainment Nation. Read More November 30, 2018 Every little thing you do is magic when captured by DIWAS Photography Longtime photography partners of ours, DIWAS Photography, have been rolling up with stellar shots that continue to wow us every time we see a new one. Here's a wee look into one of our favorite weddings from the globetrotting pair to show you just how amazing their photographer skills are AND how good your wedding could look in photos, too… Read More November 27, 2018 Chicago couples: want a rad music venue with award winning food? Lincoln Hall is the ONE As a Chicagoan myself, I know the north side's Lincoln Hall as a city classic that's one of the best music venues in the city. Lincoln Hall has also been placed in the top 20 best music venues in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine, and previously voted #1 music venue in Chicago by TimeOut Chicago Magazine. It also has award winning food and one of the most impressive spaces to host a wedding I've ever seen. Read More November 23, 2018 Shop small this weekend and score BIG with your wedding vendors his coming weekend (you know, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Hangover Tuesday, Back in the Game Wednesday, etc.) may not seem like the time to snag discounts from wedding vendors, but it actually really is. Not only can you find the obvious stuff like decor items or gifts, but you can get discounts from photographers, coordinators, venues, dress makers, and more. Every little bit helps when it comes to your wedding budget, so snag those deals when you can. Read More 1.4k November 21, 2018 Now is the time to grab a STEAL on chic & affordable wedding dresses (including the rainbow dress of your dreams!) You might not think of the post-Thanksgiving weekend as the time to score deals on a wedding dress (or bridesmaids dresses, accessories, etc.), but it actually really is. In particular, we've got a huge promotion from dress makers Coco Melody that I couldn't wait to share. Let's see a few of them AND find out how you can save mad cash in your wedding budget (and maybe even a RAINBOW one!)… 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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
December 7, 2018 Never considered a wedding band? This UK company may just change your mind UK couples: if you're thinking that DJs are the only option for your wedding soundtrack, then I need to let you in on a little secret. Wedding bands are totally a thing, can fit within your budget, and you don't have to do any work at all to find a band who fits your wedding theme. How the heck can this be? It's time you met Entertainment Nation. Read More November 30, 2018 Every little thing you do is magic when captured by DIWAS Photography Longtime photography partners of ours, DIWAS Photography, have been rolling up with stellar shots that continue to wow us every time we see a new one. Here's a wee look into one of our favorite weddings from the globetrotting pair to show you just how amazing their photographer skills are AND how good your wedding could look in photos, too… Read More November 27, 2018 Chicago couples: want a rad music venue with award winning food? Lincoln Hall is the ONE As a Chicagoan myself, I know the north side's Lincoln Hall as a city classic that's one of the best music venues in the city. Lincoln Hall has also been placed in the top 20 best music venues in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine, and previously voted #1 music venue in Chicago by TimeOut Chicago Magazine. It also has award winning food and one of the most impressive spaces to host a wedding I've ever seen. Read More November 23, 2018 Shop small this weekend and score BIG with your wedding vendors his coming weekend (you know, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Hangover Tuesday, Back in the Game Wednesday, etc.) may not seem like the time to snag discounts from wedding vendors, but it actually really is. Not only can you find the obvious stuff like decor items or gifts, but you can get discounts from photographers, coordinators, venues, dress makers, and more. Every little bit helps when it comes to your wedding budget, so snag those deals when you can. Read More 1.4k November 21, 2018 Now is the time to grab a STEAL on chic & affordable wedding dresses (including the rainbow dress of your dreams!) You might not think of the post-Thanksgiving weekend as the time to score deals on a wedding dress (or bridesmaids dresses, accessories, etc.), but it actually really is. In particular, we've got a huge promotion from dress makers Coco Melody that I couldn't wait to share. Let's see a few of them AND find out how you can save mad cash in your wedding budget (and maybe even a RAINBOW one!)… 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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 30, 2018 Every little thing you do is magic when captured by DIWAS Photography Longtime photography partners of ours, DIWAS Photography, have been rolling up with stellar shots that continue to wow us every time we see a new one. Here's a wee look into one of our favorite weddings from the globetrotting pair to show you just how amazing their photographer skills are AND how good your wedding could look in photos, too… Read More November 27, 2018 Chicago couples: want a rad music venue with award winning food? Lincoln Hall is the ONE As a Chicagoan myself, I know the north side's Lincoln Hall as a city classic that's one of the best music venues in the city. Lincoln Hall has also been placed in the top 20 best music venues in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine, and previously voted #1 music venue in Chicago by TimeOut Chicago Magazine. It also has award winning food and one of the most impressive spaces to host a wedding I've ever seen. Read More November 23, 2018 Shop small this weekend and score BIG with your wedding vendors his coming weekend (you know, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Hangover Tuesday, Back in the Game Wednesday, etc.) may not seem like the time to snag discounts from wedding vendors, but it actually really is. Not only can you find the obvious stuff like decor items or gifts, but you can get discounts from photographers, coordinators, venues, dress makers, and more. Every little bit helps when it comes to your wedding budget, so snag those deals when you can. Read More 1.4k November 21, 2018 Now is the time to grab a STEAL on chic & affordable wedding dresses (including the rainbow dress of your dreams!) You might not think of the post-Thanksgiving weekend as the time to score deals on a wedding dress (or bridesmaids dresses, accessories, etc.), but it actually really is. In particular, we've got a huge promotion from dress makers Coco Melody that I couldn't wait to share. Let's see a few of them AND find out how you can save mad cash in your wedding budget (and maybe even a RAINBOW one!)… 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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 27, 2018 Chicago couples: want a rad music venue with award winning food? Lincoln Hall is the ONE As a Chicagoan myself, I know the north side's Lincoln Hall as a city classic that's one of the best music venues in the city. Lincoln Hall has also been placed in the top 20 best music venues in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine, and previously voted #1 music venue in Chicago by TimeOut Chicago Magazine. It also has award winning food and one of the most impressive spaces to host a wedding I've ever seen. Read More November 23, 2018 Shop small this weekend and score BIG with your wedding vendors his coming weekend (you know, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Hangover Tuesday, Back in the Game Wednesday, etc.) may not seem like the time to snag discounts from wedding vendors, but it actually really is. Not only can you find the obvious stuff like decor items or gifts, but you can get discounts from photographers, coordinators, venues, dress makers, and more. Every little bit helps when it comes to your wedding budget, so snag those deals when you can. Read More 1.4k November 21, 2018 Now is the time to grab a STEAL on chic & affordable wedding dresses (including the rainbow dress of your dreams!) You might not think of the post-Thanksgiving weekend as the time to score deals on a wedding dress (or bridesmaids dresses, accessories, etc.), but it actually really is. In particular, we've got a huge promotion from dress makers Coco Melody that I couldn't wait to share. Let's see a few of them AND find out how you can save mad cash in your wedding budget (and maybe even a RAINBOW one!)… 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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 23, 2018 Shop small this weekend and score BIG with your wedding vendors his coming weekend (you know, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Hangover Tuesday, Back in the Game Wednesday, etc.) may not seem like the time to snag discounts from wedding vendors, but it actually really is. Not only can you find the obvious stuff like decor items or gifts, but you can get discounts from photographers, coordinators, venues, dress makers, and more. Every little bit helps when it comes to your wedding budget, so snag those deals when you can. Read More 1.4k November 21, 2018 Now is the time to grab a STEAL on chic & affordable wedding dresses (including the rainbow dress of your dreams!) You might not think of the post-Thanksgiving weekend as the time to score deals on a wedding dress (or bridesmaids dresses, accessories, etc.), but it actually really is. In particular, we've got a huge promotion from dress makers Coco Melody that I couldn't wait to share. Let's see a few of them AND find out how you can save mad cash in your wedding budget (and maybe even a RAINBOW one!)… 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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 November 21, 2018 Now is the time to grab a STEAL on chic & affordable wedding dresses (including the rainbow dress of your dreams!) You might not think of the post-Thanksgiving weekend as the time to score deals on a wedding dress (or bridesmaids dresses, accessories, etc.), but it actually really is. In particular, we've got a huge promotion from dress makers Coco Melody that I couldn't wait to share. Let's see a few of them AND find out how you can save mad cash in your wedding budget (and maybe even a RAINBOW one!)… 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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 Newly engaged? Cover your ass and save some cash with these honeymoon planning tips How to keep dry during a rainy wedding day When is too soon to book a venue? If you set it, they will come: 7 questions to ask before picking the wedding date Impress their asses off: 5 tips for hosting out-of-town wedding guests in your home The drama-minimizing guide to not inviting family members to your wedding The mother of all "Oh-Shit!" Kits, featuring the Decormergency Kit From zombies to nudie times: 15 unconventional bachelorette party ideas (great for bachelor parties, too!) Read More > A few of our fave wedding vendors Northwic Read More Jonas Seaman Read More Kate Merrill Photography Read More Studio A Images Read More Browse our vendor guide > Our infamous spreadsheets & checklists 6 vital things you need to know when working with a wedding florist Planning tools 101: your wedding vendor contact sheet How I used Google Sheets to lay out my wedding floorplan Playlists, requests, and backup plans: What to ask your wedding DJ Planning tools 101: hotel block comparison chart Safeguard your important details with an "oh shit list" Our GIANT list of important questions to ask wedding venues Marriage legal changes you NEED to know about (in plain English, we promise!) 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 >