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The offbeat bride: Surya, Researcher/Writer/Storyteller
Her offbeat partner: Kelsey, Automotive Engineer and Owner of a Manufacturing Co.
Location & date of wedding: Crescent Beach Neighbourhood House, White Rock, British Columbia, on August 30th, 2008
What made our wedding offbeat: Well, we asked people to dress in a magic circus theme. We had a circus tent, hula hoops, face painting and various other activities.
We went mostly DIY, including designing and printing the invitations. There were about 40 kids running around and loving it. The cake was made by my cousin and was fantabulous! We made it a weekend party and there was a variety show instead of speeches.
We ended with a fire dance performance and we included a non-traditional adaptation of an Indian ceremony including a fire bowl that just about had my sari up in flames! The food was delicious and everyone, including me and my husband, had an excellent time. Okay, that's my pitch!
Our biggest challenge: Food! We had about 200 guests and I couldn't face a potluck, so we explored a number of catering options while still trying not to spend too much. In the end we went with a fairly pricey option (it came to about $9,000), and did our own rentals and cake. We had hors d'oeuvres in lieu of dinner, but plenty of them, and it turned out to be one of the best meals I've ever eaten, not to mention one of the best looking!
My favorite moment: Setting up the tent. It was just before the event, and it was crazy with everyone trying to get everything ready, but the sun was coming out after two weeks of rain and cloud, and the tent was so colourful – just the way we'd imagined! It was a moment full of anticipation.
My offbeat advice: Get lots of help! And especially, have a plan for how things are going to come together on the day. I guess that sounds obvious, but I was so focused on all the pieces, I feel like I missed the part about bringing it all together. I went incredibly well, but I think that was mostly because everyone pitched in and the sun was shining! Lots of what I had planned never happened, though. The good news is that I have activities ready for pretty much every party we will ever have from now on!
Enough talk — show me that wedding porn: Click on the picture below to see lovely photos from Surya & Kelsey's Magic Two Ring Circus Wedding!
And DEFINITELY check out Surya & Kelsey's magical wedsite!
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Way out on an aside – White Rock! WHITE ROCK! It’s this tiny four square blocks city on a peninsula. The beach is always used for weddings, some because of the pier, the odd-shaped houses (e.g., someone stuck turrets on their house and did the front in stone), the beach facing the US beach in Washington state with the Canadian/American islands in the background, Mount Baker in the background, and the train that goes by…
Okay, sorry, I used to live there, as an amateur wedding crasher. I think I’ve seen this wedding!