Quinn & Michael's relaxed DIY Oregon coast affair • Offbeat Wed (was Offbeat Bride)

The offbeat bride: Quinn, artist, writer, musician all around crafty lady, Celebrant (and OBT member)

Her offbeat partner: Michael, woodworker, clever fellow

Location & date of wedding: Yachats Inn, Teahouse Pavilion, Yachats, Oregon. 03/01/08

What made our wedding offbeat: Our wedding was SOOOO made by our own hands that you could see the callouses a mile away! (really.) From making my own dress, to the lanterns and lantern stands, the tablecloths, the namecards, seed packet favors, cupcake stand, programs, invitations, tea light stands, thank you gifts (and bags, and boxes for them), alter table… and i am sure i am forgetting something.

We also took super special time and effort to write the exact ceremony we wanted, and handpick rituals and traditions that spoke to us.

My incredible ex-boss catered a meal of bacon-cheeseburgers, salad, and fries that was mostly local, sustainably raised, organic, and seasonal. Our couples counselor officiated! My boss' partner did my hair. Our friends bartended, and served food, and another friend of a friend did childcare during the party. And my brother-in-law was the party dj.

We also had liquor donated by a local distiller, and home-brewed ALL the beer we served! It was truly a community event. And even though i was puking my guts out with food poisoning the whole day before, and after … it was the perfect day!

Our biggest challenge: Really? Having too many fun ideas that we wanted to do. And not enough time or energy. In the end, I just had to let some stuff go. And we didn't miss a thing, in the end.

My favorite moment: My sweet partner said in his vows, “in good times, and in awesome!”

Also, the ease of the whole day. I felt calm and happy and felt like I had taken are of all the details in advance, so I didn't feel worried.

My offbeat advice: Think about the things in your daily life that make you happy and feel inspired, and then magnify them. Your wedding does not HAVE to be anything. Your wedding day should be representative of who YOU are.

Enough talk — show me the wedding porn: If you're looking for wedding craft porn, YOU GOT IT!