The Offbeat Bride: Candice, massage therapy student and full-time Mom
Her Offbeat Partner: Greg, security guard
Location & date of wedding: Waterloo Park petting zoo, Waterloo, ON — October 18, 2008
What made our wedding offbeat: We planned the entire thing in two weeks, and executed everything on a miniscule budget, covering ourselves in blood and gore and joining an already public event — the beginning of the Waterloo Zombie Walk in Waterloo Park. The few little details were DIY, and we skipped the majority of tradition, including invitations and a reception.
Our biggest challenge: Family!
Originally, we were planning a somewhat offbeat wedding that would fulfill our family member’s ideals, but still be an expression of our lifestyle, and love for each other. After reading “Offbeat Bride” the book, I spoke to Greg and we decided that we didn’t have to do what everyone else wanted, and just did things our own way.
We made phone calls to immediate family and a few friends, letting them know the when and where, and left it up to them to decide if they wanted to be a part of our celebration done our own way. The people that were dissaproving and causing problems all opted not to come.
My favorite moment: Showing up to the park, with my tattered, torn, stained and blood-drenched groom, and seeing this crowd of strangers stop and stare as I looked into my grooms eyes filled with love (and a few tears).
My advice for other offbeat brides: If you want something bad enough, don’t let anyone talk you out of it. Just remember that this day is YOURS. YOU are the one who will have to look back on this day for the rest of your life; you will always have your love for each other, but the images and memories are the ones you can cherish and share. I’d rather remember a happy day filled with my own personal ideas, than a cookie-cutter ceremony that is planned for me.
