My concerns with styled shoots, and why I publish them anyway

Are you familiar with this concept of styled shoots? It’s when wedding vendors team up together to create a fantasy weddings, showing off what they can do. I totally get why styled shoots are great for vendors — it gives folks a chance to show off the kind of work they WANT to do — but we have a clear policy to never ever feature them on Offbeat Bride, and here’s why…

Make your guests save the HECK out of your date with these Minted save the date designs (+ enter to win a $250 giveaway!)

As we head into the planning season for 2014’s winter and spring weddings, let’s take a peek at a few of the new Save The Date designs from Minted.com that are totally catching my eye… because, um hello, disco balls? Thigh-high striped socks? Old typewriters? Scrabble tiles!? These are designs that are practically ripped straight from the minds of Offbeat Brides.

PLUS, as an added bonus, I’ve got info from Minted about how you can enter to win $250 worth of FREE save the dates or invitations.

It should be obvious why I love these custom-painted Little Mermaid shoes

FINE YES, my name is Ariel and when The Little Mermaid came out, I was at the height of my high school musical theater career, and could not have been more pleased. To this day, “Part of Your World” is one of my top five karaoke jams. With this in mind, it is of course no surprised that I got a special feeling in my imaginary mermaid gills when I spotted the custom-painted Vans that Shondypie wore at her aquarium wedding. These were custom-painted by Etsy seller SomethingFromTheSun.

Two words for you: GOPRO BOUQUET

Really, the title and the photo says it all. This is a San Francisco bride named Danielle rocking her bridal bouquet — WHICH HAS A FUCKING GOPRO CAMERA BUILT IN. Can you even imagine your bouquet’s-eye-view of your wedding day? Hopefully we’ll have the full wedding profile to share soon…