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The Offbeat Bride: Sharla, newspaper production designer (and OBT member “Firecracker“)
Her Offbeat Partner: Kris, engineer
Location & date of wedding: Moab, Utah — April 25, 2009
What made our wedding offbeat: We love Moab for its scenery and fantastic trails, so we chose to get married there. We had about 23 guests, no attendants, and very little of the traditional trappings. I made my own gown in blue silk, and I had orange crinoline, orange shoes, orange fishnets, flowers, etc.
Our table decorations featured local rock arrangements, handmade tablecloths & runners, thrift store bowls with miniature Jeeps and chocolate rocks. And we served gourmet sandwiches and cheesecake to our guests. I walked down the aisle to Funtwo's electric guitar rendition of the Canon in D, and our ceremony was brief and nonreligious. The town mayor performed the ceremony, which included a Native American wedding blessing as well as just the right touch of humor.
Immediately after the wedding we led a Jeep ride on one of Moab's most famous Jeep trails. I rode with my new husband to the trail head, but from there I drove my own Jeep–still in my wedding dress.
Our biggest challenge: Planning a nontraditional wedding at a distance was a bit tough. Our original site was reserved 15 minutes before I called, and I was very ill the weekend my then fiance drove over to find a new site. So until three days before the wedding, I'd only seen our site in pictures.
We had such a low-key event, however, that I really didn't run into any major snags. The weather was very windy and began to rain, but that's the chance you take with any outdoor event.
Our family was all very supportive and enjoyed themselves, even though they probably would have rather seen us have a more traditional event.
My favorite moment: I'm sure this is cliche and unoriginal, but kissing my husband for the first time.
And driving my Jeep in my wedding dress afterward.
My advice to other brides: ‘It is easier to ask forgiveness than permission.' We didn't ask our parents and friends what they wanted — we just told them what our plans were. Some things we didn't tell them at all. Maybe that is rude, but I felt it was easier than explaining to my religious in-laws that I didn't want a church wedding. They were all very supportive, and if they had any objections they didn't spoil our day by saying anything.
Care to share a few vendor/shopping links?:
Most of them were handmade or purchased at thrift stores!
Enough talk — show me the wedding inspo!:
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