Unconventional Nuptials: Contacting The Offbeat Wedding Bride

Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride) is a website that provides resources and tools for couples looking to plan non-traditional weddings. The website was launched in 2007 by Seattle-based author Ariel Meadow Stallings, alongside the release of her book, Offbeat Bride: Creative Alternatives for Independent Brides. Offbeat Wed offers a range of wedding planning advice, including tips on writing vows, creating a timeline, and finding inclusive vendors. The website also features real weddings for inspiration and aims to amplify the visibility of those who feel left out of traditional wedding media. While the website primarily focuses on wedding planning, it also has a sister site, Offbeat Home & Life, which offers similar content for other areas of life. Offbeat Wed encourages couples to create weddings that reflect their authentic selves and celebrates diversity and inclusivity.

Offbeat wedding planning resources and tools

Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride) is a treasure trove of resources and tools for planning a unique and memorable wedding that celebrates your individuality. From setting a budget and choosing a venue to crafting a ceremony that reflects your values, they've got you covered. Here are some of the standout features to help you plan your special day:

Wedding Planning Basics

Offbeat Wed provides comprehensive guidance on the early steps of wedding planning, such as setting a budget, deciding on a date and venue, creating a guest list, and choosing a theme. They emphasize that there are no rules and that you can make your wedding your own.

Vendor Resources

One of the key features of Offbeat Wed is its extensive directory of offbeat-friendly vendors. You can find photographers, planners, dressmakers, caterers, and more who align with your values and embrace your nontraditional vision. Some vendors even offer special discounts for Offbeat Wed readers!

Wedding Websites

Offbeat Wed has partnered with Joy to offer free wedding websites tailored to nontraditional couples. You can create a unique and informative website that reflects your style and keeps your guests informed and excited.

Wedding Planning Binder

The Offbeat Wedding Planning Binder is a comprehensive organizational tool. It includes wedding planning spreadsheets, checklists, and a beloved printable checklist that has helped countless nontraditional couples plan their special day.

City Wedding Guides

For couples in their top cities, like London, Sydney, and Melbourne, Offbeat Wed provides local expertise to help navigate the nitty-gritty details of getting married in your city.

Invitation Design and Advice

With Offbeat Wed's resources, you can design and create wedding invitations that set the tone for your big day. They offer advice on everything from design apps to printing techniques and wording basics.

Budgeting Tools

Offbeat Wed provides a wedding budget calculator and budgeting advice to help you plan and allocate funds effectively. They also offer tips on saving money, such as opting for package deals or choosing a less expensive venue.

Timeline Spreadsheets and Advice

From the early morning preparations to the reception, Offbeat Wed helps you organize your wedding day timeline with spreadsheets and advice. They offer tips on creating a "less worry, more party" timeline and provide an insider's view of wedding photography timing.

Ceremony and Vows

Offbeat Wed shines in helping couples craft meaningful and personalized wedding ceremonies. They offer a wealth of resources, including ceremony scripts, vow examples, and guidance on involving your loved ones in the ceremony.

Reception Ideas

From Spotify playlists to DIY photobooths and unique food ideas, Offbeat Wed provides inspiration for a fun and memorable reception.

With these tools and resources, Offbeat Wed empowers couples to plan a wedding that celebrates their individuality and amplifies their visibility, ensuring that their special day is anything but ordinary.

Offbeat wedding vendors

Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride) is a website that provides resources and tools for couples looking to plan an alternative wedding. The website includes a vendor directory that helps couples find inclusive wedding vendors who share their values.

The Offbeat Wed Vendor Guide makes it easy for vendors to identify as LGBTQ, BIPOC, or neurodivergent, allowing couples to find vendors who align with their identity and needs. The guide includes vendors from a range of categories, such as alternative wedding dresses, honeymoons and registries, and videography and filmmaking.

Some of the vendors listed in the Offbeat Wed Vendor Guide offer special discounts for Offbeat Wed readers. The website also provides a range of other wedding planning resources, such as wedding planning spreadsheets, city wedding guides, and advice on how to find a wedding reception venue and choose a wedding photographer.

In addition to the online vendors, Offbeat Wed also provides resources for couples looking for destination vendors, with specific mentions of Australia and New Zealand. The website also offers advice for vendors who want to get listed in their directory.

Overall, Offbeat Wed is a comprehensive resource for couples looking to plan an alternative wedding, connecting them with inclusive vendors and providing a range of tools and advice to make the planning process easier.

Offbeat wedding websites

Offbeat Bride has rebranded to Offbeat Wed, reflecting its commitment to inclusivity and shedding the gendered connotations of its previous name. The website has been a source of alternative wedding ideas and advice since 2007, with its content ranging from wedding planning basics to unique wedding themes and real-world inspiration.

Offbeat Wed provides free wedding websites with offbeat templates, in partnership with Joy. These websites are customisable and mobile-friendly, with features such as multiple layouts, event RSVPs, guest list import, maps and directions, photo galleries, and gift registries. The designs are tailored to various aesthetics, from retro and rustic to geeky and goth.

The Offbeat Wed website also offers a range of wedding planning resources and tools, including vendor resources, a wedding checklist, city wedding guides, and wedding planning spreadsheets. It provides advice on topics such as wedding budgets, decor, playlists, and reception ideas. Additionally, Offbeat Wed showcases real weddings and engagement shoots, like a Halloween Horror Nights engagement shoot and a witchy elopement in the Alaskan wilderness.

The website has a Vendor Guide, featuring offbeat-friendly vendors who embrace nontraditional wedding plans. It also includes a Wedding Shop with unique engagement rings, veils, wedding bands, and suits.

Offbeat Wed aims to amplify the visibility of those who feel left out of traditional wedding media, providing a space for couples daring to walk off the beaten aisle.

Offbeat wedding day timelines

Planning an offbeat wedding? Here are some tips for creating a timeline for your special day.

A wedding timeline is a great way to ensure your event runs smoothly and that you and your guests have an enjoyable and memorable experience. While it's not set in stone and things might not always go exactly according to plan, having a timeline helps you, your vendors, and your wedding party know what to expect and when.

Who is a wedding timeline for?

It's important to remember that a wedding timeline is primarily designed for the vendors and the wedding party, rather than the guests. Professional photographers, DJs, caterers, and other vendors will often touch base with you before the wedding to discuss timing. A timeline helps them be in position, ready to go when you are.

Basic wedding timeline overview:

The majority of weddings tend to follow a natural arc, which you can use as a starting point for creating your own timeline. Here's a basic breakdown:

3:00 pm: First look and other scheduled photos

4:00 pm: Ceremony starts

4:30 pm - 5:30 pm: Cocktail hour

5:30 pm - 7:00 pm: Dinner

7:00 pm - 10:00 pm: Party (dancing, bouquet toss, etc.)

Adding unique touches:

In the world of offbeat weddings, there are no hard and fast rules. You can add special touches and unique moments throughout your timeline. Here are some examples:

• Grand entrance
• Toasts: Consider the number of toasters and whether you want to place them before or during dinner.
• Cake cutting: You can cut the cake right after dinner or wait about 45 minutes to prolong the display.
• First dance: This can be right after the grand entrance or after dinner to kick off the dancing.
• Sunset photos: If you're having an early evening wedding, don't miss the opportunity for some romantic sunset shots.

Tips for creating a realistic timeline:

• Buffer time: Build in pockets of buffer time throughout your timeline to account for potential delays.
• Round up: Always round up your time estimates. It's easier to bump up the timing than to stop a spectacular domino effect once it's begun.
• Be flexible: Remember, your timeline is a guideline. Go with the flow and make adjustments as needed to ensure you're following the timeline in a way that feels appropriate and comfortable.

Sample wedding day timeline:

4:00 pm: Ceremony start time

4:30 pm - 5:30 pm: Cocktail hour

5:30 pm: Grand entrance to first dance

5:45 pm: Toasts by best man, maid of honor, father of the groom, etc.

6:00 pm - 7:30 pm: Dinner

7:30 pm: First dance, followed by father/daughter dance

7:45 pm: Open dancing begins

9:30 pm: Bouquet toss/garter toss

9:55 pm: Last song

10:00 pm: Grand exit and departure in the getaway car

Additional considerations:

• Create a detailed timeline for the wedding coordinator: This can include vendor arrival times, as well as the expected arrival times for the couple, bridal party, and VIP family members.
• Include contact information: Add columns to your timeline with the names and contact information of those responsible for various tasks. This can be distributed to the bridal party, parents, vendors, and coordinator, so everyone knows who to contact if someone is missing.
• Photography timeline: Discuss with your photographer to understand their own timeline and ensure it aligns with your overall wedding day timeline.

Remember, your wedding day timeline is a tool to help you stay organized and ensure a smooth flow to your special day. Don't be afraid to make adjustments and stay flexible to create a natural, comfortable, and fun atmosphere for you and your guests!

Offbeat wedding attire

Offbeat weddings are about embracing your uniqueness and creating a day that authentically reflects you and your partner. This extends to the wedding attire, where you can expect to see looks that break away from the traditional.

For brides, this might mean wearing a wedding dress in a colour other than white. A black wedding dress, for example, was featured in a dark gothic wedding, while a Halloween-themed wedding saw the bride embrace the spooky season with her outfit.

Grooms can also have fun with their wedding attire, especially if the wedding has a unique theme. For instance, a Halloween Horror Nights-themed engagement shoot featured a couple who loved all things Halloween and horror. The groom-to-be could have chosen an outfit that reflected this, such as a dark suit with subtle horror-themed accessories.

When it comes to the wedding party, offbeat weddings encourage unique expressions of style. Bridesmaids can expect to ditch the traditional matching dresses and instead embrace colours and themes that align with the couple's vision. For example, a Dr. Who-themed wedding might see the bridesmaids in blue, reflecting the Tardis theme. Groomsmen can also join in on the fun, with suits or accessories that nod to the unique theme.

Guests attending an offbeat wedding should feel free to embrace their personal style while still respecting the formality of the event. A smart-casual blazer, pops of colour, and unique accessories can be a great way to celebrate the couple's special day while standing out from the typical wedding attire.

Ultimately, offbeat wedding attire is about embracing your individuality and expressing your authentic style. Whether you're the happy couple, in the wedding party, or a guest, feel free to break free from the traditional and embrace your unique sense of fashion.

Frequently asked questions