Ginny & Rob's no-budget, desert canyon, sci-fi wedding party • Offbeat Wed (was Offbeat Bride)

Did your jaw totally drop when you saw a sneak peak of Ginny & Rob's amazing red rock wedding last week? Perhaps it was the freakin' full-size TARDIS that blew your gourd? Or maybe you're a fan from way back when we featured her Star Wars poster STDs? All I can say is that this wedding is awesome and proves that you and/or your event can be both nerdy and incredibly gorgeous. – Becca

The offbeat bride: Ginny McQueen (Tribe member)

Her offbeat partner: Rob Kern

Location & date of wedding: Red Rock Canyon, Las Vegas, Nevada — October 2, 2010

What made our wedding offbeat: We had next to no money to pull this off. We had next to no planning go into it. And yet we still had a fun party and some unexpected thunderstorms in the middle of the desert to keep it interesting.

Tell us about the ceremony: It was just very short. The thing I really remember was something I would have bitched about if it wasn't in the middle of my wedding ceremony. My husband was in charge of finding a judge to marry us. And I guess he wasn't terribly clear about how I did *NOT* want any mention of god or religion in the ceremony. She said she used her “civil” script but I don't know. One of the first words out of her mouth was God and I was pretty pissed. But what can you do when you are in the middle of your wedding?

Our biggest challenge: The challenge was really getting my husband to understand that a wedding doesn't have to be some formal, boring thing. It can be fun and low-key. Much like with our [Intern's note: super rad Star Wars poster] invitations, I had to suggest things and be creative because he wasn't as open-minded at first about doing things differently.

My favorite moment: I was just glad to have my few close friends with me. Both of my parents died a while back and I don't have much in the way of family. My friends are my family and I was just happy to hang out with them.

Also our dance being to As The World Falls Down by David Bowie was awesome.

And having a TARDIS.

My funniest moment: We were married out in Red Rock Canyon here in Las Vegas. We had scouted out a place that was secluded yet easy enough to drive to. The weather all week was predicting 0% chance of precipitation. And then, the day of, random thunderstorms started popping up everywhere. I was so lucky I thought ahead and didn't bother to curl my hair or anything, because the wind was insane. I nearly keeled over a few times from the gusts of wind trying to get to the spot. And the whole time I was just laughing.

Was there anything you were sure was going to be a total disaster that unexpectedly turned out great? I didn't think anything would really go horribly. But I didn't think it would be some magical, wonderful day of bliss where everything should be perfect and I was a beautiful princess, either. So I think that kept everything pretty sane. I even broke the heel on one of my shoes and I just sat and glued it back on. No big deal!

My advice for offbeat brides: I didn't even want to have a wedding. I don't think it's something worth wasting money on and I think the marriage is important, not the wedding. So if you just view it as some party where you get to see your friends and wear a dress you like, you won't stress out.

What was the most important lesson you learned from your wedding? I think I just reaffirmed by belief that everything is better when you can laugh [Intern's note: AND when you have a TARDIS. For realz.].

Care to share a few vendor/shopping links?

Dress: I had my dress made overseas for under $200. I designed it and just sent those designs to the same people who are producing those designer gowns you pay up the butt for.
Decorations: All the decorations were just string lights and star garland you can get online for dirt cheap. I even found LED balloons (all of this you can just google and find), which were awesome, and they came with free glow bracelets.
Cupcakes: The cupcakes were from the grocery store.
Booze: I think the most expensive thing was the booze, and I don't drink!

Enough talk — show me the wedding inspo!