Posted byYou may remember this one from the post about their awesome drumming session!
The offbeat bride: Joey, OBT Member
Her offbeat partner: Maxine
Location & date of wedding: St Audries Park, Somerset, UK — May 16th, 2010
What made our wedding offbeat: We chose to throw caution to the wind and have the big white wedding many dream of – that however is where the traditional aspect ended! We are two gay girls who wanted to firmly stamp our own mark onto our wedding as well as stick to a very tight budget. We made every thing that could possibly be made ourselves. I have renamed our wedding build up as “adventures with a glue gun!”
I looked everywhere for a cake topper that would represent us as a couple. No joy with finding a fat red headed bride and the stud with locks! So I made it myself. I was so chuffed when people asked where I brought it!
We decided to jump the broom, something not really heard of in the UK. Our best friends held this part of the ceremony for us. It was so personal, spiritual and lovely. All of our guests received a miniature broom that we had decorated ourselves as a favor. 
We had arranged a confetti moment where we made our grand entrance down the stair case and our five bridesmaids showered us with confetti from the balcony above, great photo opportunity.
After the wedding breakfast we had a surprise for our guests, we put on a drum workshop. It was a great bonding experience and we made a whole heap of noise!
It was great for us to see our friends and family getting on so well and having a great time.
Tell us about your ceremony: Our Young neice and nephew wrote these words and read them to us during the ceremony. We were so touched.
Richards are royal
I believe this is true
kind and successful
and happy people too
So now you are a Richards, Joanne
although you've always been
welcome to our family
your now part of our family tree
Maxine is my Aunty and like my big sister too
she is always playing and having fun with us.
　
Joanne is so sweet and lovely like a sunrise.
She makes cakes for us all we think thats great.
I love having two aunties as its double the love.
Our biggest challenge: Being a big girl (UK size twenty-four) I was worried that I wouldn't feel confident on my wedding day. I however made the decision not to diet before the wedding. My glorious partner told me that no one is expecting a size eight woman to come walking down the aisle. This helped me to put into perspective the fact that my friends and family love me the way I am and I suppose I do too! I'm so happy I was able to be a big beautiful sexy bride!
We had a strong army of bridesmaids around us, it was so precious to us that they shared in our big day. 
My funniest moment: I was surprised when my extremly shy studsband (wife) stood to make a speech- This was not in the script! She took my hand and asked me to stand. I stood, then a small envelope was slipped into my hand with the words “read me” written on the front! Then she promptly sat down!
My advice for offbeat brides: Dont be afraid to DIY, we fully enjoyed the experience and it was so awsome to see our mark stamped onto everything.
Barter with vendors! I told our photographer I loved his work but we could not afford him – He halved the price.
Get your priorities right. This is your big day, yes it's great to consider everyone coming to your wedding, but don't forget about you!
What was the most important lesson you learned from your wedding? That our wedding has only confirmed the love we have for each other and for our friends and family.
Care to share a few vendor/shopping links?
- My dress was brought from a local weddinng fayre and was an absolute bargain at £300
- My hair and makeup was done by a local, Lady Fiona – she was amazing
- Flowers hand tied and from a local supermarket!
- I made my hair peice from a tiara- I chopped it up and started again!
Enough talk — show me the wedding inspo!
About the Author: Offbeat Weditors
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