Nonreligious wedding poems are such an interesting balancing act... You want something emotional and heartfelt, but also a little not too heavy. You want a dash of funny, and a hint of modern -- I mean, not that Robert Fulghum and Captain Corelli’s Mandolin aren't great, but it's nice to introduce your guests to something they haven't heard before
One of the best ways to show your uniqueness on your wedding day is in the wedding attire. Being an offbeat bride doesn’t mean that you have to forgo
Earlier this year we shared JP and Scott's incredible queer groom fashion. Now they've returned with their queer wedding in all it's glory! The couple described their wedding as "Skeletor & Dolly Get Hitched Via Trolley" and if that doesn't give you a sense of how fun their wedding was, then...
It is completely possible to buy a pattern to make a corset for yourself, but if you have non-standard measurements, there is a decent chance that the pattern will require a high amount of alteration anyway. So why not just make a completely custom pattern, fitted exactly to you, with duct tape? I did and it has been awesome!
Do you need a seating chart? For the answer to that, we turned to offbeat bride and frequent guest poster, Channamasala. The answer isn't as simple as you might think...
I wrote this ceremony script with the help of Offbeat Bride, and I am really happy with the results. My very non-religious, scientific-minded fiancé is very happy with it as well. My mom, who has always told me that we are made of star dust, is absolutely in love with the Carl Sagan reading we selected for her. I am really excited about the music sections, and to share my ceremony with you…
There are awesome wedding readings that can empower everyone of all genders. Let's see what gender neutral and feminist wedding readings we found.
We had a Lasso Ceremony which was new for my family, but common in Latin American Catholic weddings. The lasso is a large, double looped rosary, which is placed over the shoulders of the couple after their vows. A prayer is said about how the lasso represents two parts bound together while sharing equally in the responsibilities of the marriage.
You guys don't even know how much we squeed when we saw these stunning pin-up boudoir photos from our sponsor, Shameless Photography. Let's talk about why Shameless is the photography studio who will fully embrace your curves, your edges, and the specific beauty unique to you.
In particular, I wanted to highlight the importance of nature and beauty in my ceremony, and I couldn't find anything that addressed that. So, I decided to write those sections myself. If other couples are looking for something similar, I wanted to offer what I came up with as inspiration. Feel free to copy or use this as a basis for your own ceremony scripts...
Planning a wedding around issues like social anxieties, ASD, and disabilities can create unique challenges. Here's how one bride worked with her partner to create an accessible wedding that felt safe and fun for both of them all their guests...
Nonbinary theybies and enbys, this one is for you! If you're looking for gender-fluid wedding outfit inspo, we've gathered some of the very best looks.
Silvia is from Barcelona and will be doing the bulk of her ceremony in Catalan. But what about the guests that don't speak that language? That's where her bilingual wedding programs come in…
Offbeat Bride partied like it was the BeforeTimes! Scroll through the photos from Offbeat Bride's Minglefest, and learn more about why we're changing our name later this year...
When it comes to "elements to include in a wedding," one of the first things that many people think of are readings. And there's a good reason why -- so many of us have such a strong connection with words. Finding the right quotes, poems, or passages, that capture a feeling or a moment, can help us when we aren't feeling especially creative, or can't find our own words to share how we feel. But where can you find these perfect words to include in your ceremony? And how can you include them?
From David Bowie to Paul Simon and the Decemberists to Metallica, there's are wedding readings from songs for every music fan from any generation.
We take to the skies in this high-flyin', flight-simulatin', bride-trippin', aviation-themed shindig. The bride sewed 1,000 organza flowers, her sister wrote and sang an original song, and you're not going to want to miss it.
Etoiledunord created this how-to for creating a Duct Tape dress form, complete with silly pictures of her all mummified in neon pink Duct Tape! This has got to be one of our favorite DIY experiments ever.
Sample wedding budgets and wedding budget breakdowns for a variety of wedding budgets.
David, Jolene, and Stephani had their polyamorous triad wedding in Austin, TX. The three partners have been together for six years, functioning as an open triad. The wedding was a celebration of their ideals, with a very special first look and a carefully designed ceremony.... And lots of butt grabbing!
No one ever thought I would get married. Except I actually love weddings! I watch bridal shows and browse the stories and DIY projects on Offbeat Bride. When friends get married I'm super happy for them. But I can't stand the thought of having a big wedding party for myself or see myself as a princess in white. We decided to get married anddecided to throw a party. Therein we have our challenge...
I've attended events where I had trouble accessing information, or was entirely excluded, because of my blindness, auditory processing disorder, or food intolerances. I want to ensure our friends and family are included and accommodated at our wedding in the ways that work for them. How do we make it accessible for everyone?
You may recall Tribe member monicawesome from when we featured her offbeat bride's vows to herself. Well, she's back with a great bridesmaid's contract that isn't nuts and is perfect to send to your bridesmaids to make sure they don't go nuts.
Our wedding was VERY unapologetically us. I love books and reading, my husband loves D&D and roleplaying, and we both love puzzles and escape rooms -- so our wedding encompassed all of it. Everywhere we could infuse a bit of flavor to fit these themes, we did. From my bridesmaid's book-bouquets and the groomsmen's d20 boutonnieres, to our wedding arch made of repurposed books, to the actual puzzles guests could solve.
Jess and Sarah's handfasting script was inspired by their love for Middle Earth and Tolkien. Lord of the Rings fans will love how the four elements are symbolized in the four cords this couple used for their handfasting ceremony.
We have a post about non-sappy father/daughter dance songs, but we don't have one about mother/son dances. Let's rectify this!
Ah, the "wedding shower" -- A wonderful tradition rife with feminist solidarity and celebrations of love, marriage and family bonding? ...Or torture in the form of humiliating games and awkward, voyeuristic present-opening rituals?
I know everyone wants to have their own photo with the couple, but when you multiply the time it takes by 150 guests, it can quickly eat up your whole wedding day.But I also know that the idea of having an unplugged wedding may freak you out a bit. What if the photographer doesn't capture every single guest? What if people don't get it? What if everyone judges your choice? Here are a few tips to assuage your fears of an unplugged wedding...
Tribe member Kristen shows us how to make a sewing pattern from your favorite piece of clothing, without ruining the existing piece. It came in real handy for her post-ceremony rocking party outfit (which looks amazing with her kick-ass wedding boots).
Over the years, I've seen something come up time and time again from Offbeat Bride readers: people will send an email, post on the Tribe, or leave a comment that basically amounts to, "Do I REALLY count as an Offbeat Bride? Do I really belong here?" I think of it as the Offbeat Bride's version of othering: this way those of us who've defined ourselves as non-normative have of pushing ourselves away from other people. The push makes sense, of course -- if you live in a region where your politics aren't aligned with those around you, of course you're going to feel a push, and like you need to clearly define yourself as "not that." There are a lot of social and cultural contexts where it makes perfect sense that people who feel a little bit off the beaten path would push against the people and society around them. What makes less sense to me is when I see us push against each other...
Our chuppah's design was inspired by the Jetsons cartoons, 50s-era "googie" architecture like the Theme Building at LAX, and movies like Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow and Fritz Lang's Metropolis.
Still have questions?
Just wait until you see this science-themed wedding inspiration in Seattle. Two breathtaking dresses & nature-meets-science decor.
In particular, I wanted to highlight the importance of nature and beauty in my ceremony, and I couldn't find anything that addressed that. So, I decided to write those sections myself. If other couples are looking for something similar, I wanted to offer what I came up with as inspiration. Feel free to copy or use this as a basis for your own ceremony scripts...
Creating a wedding day timeline is a great way to make sure your event runs smoothly. Sometimes, however, weddings have a mind of their own and don’t particularly enjoy being held to a precise schedule. Here are a few tips and tricks to help create a realistic timeline that leads to less worry and more party.
So you're going to sit through a wedding: this funny wedding program wins the internet today. You can steal (er, BORROW!) the idea for your wedding day.
Tribe member Kristen shows us how to make a sewing pattern from your favorite piece of clothing, without ruining the existing piece. It came in real handy for her post-ceremony rocking party outfit (which looks amazing with her kick-ass wedding boots).
We're the sister site of Offbeat Bride, and we're committed to helping you create a comfortable space in this world.
Nancy Lee, president of universal gift-registry site MyRegistry.com, shared some of the craziest items she's seen brides-to-be choose — and then we asked real women to dish about the crazy stuff they've seen on their friends' (or their own!) registries.
