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Author of three editions of the Offbeat Bride book and its sequel (From Shitshow To Afterglow, the ultimate offbeat breakup book) Ariel Meadow Stallings is the publisher of all the Offbeat Empire web properties. She lives in Seattle with her son. To read her latest writing, follow @arielist on Medium.
8567012810 a31788863b alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Give your attendants rainbow umbrellas

Katherine & James’ barefoot eco-friendly forest wedding was amazing for a whole bunch of reasons (seed bombs! teepees! a VW bus!), but I especially love how they gave their attendants rainbow umbrellas. Yes, rain happens… but when your wedding party has brightly colored full-spectrum umbrellas, rain becomes an opportunity instead of a hassle.

emilythumb alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Reader photo from someone who’s been following my weird-ass advice for 15 years

You guys, we all know I’m a sucker for reader photos of folks with my book, but this one has extra special meaning for me because Emily, the bride pictured, explained: “I’ve been taking your advice since the Lotus Magazine days. My wedding planning wouldn’t have been nearly as fun without you.”

o face groomsmen photo alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Loosen up your groomsmen with this funny, mildly-NSFW photo op

Photographer Peter A. Charlesworth shared this new groomsman pose he’s starting suggesting at his weddings: “New wedding photography technique for loosening up the groom and his off-siders: Show us your cum face.”

5658994959 7f7034d1f8 b alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

How to get your wedding party involved (and not hate you afterwards)

We’ve talked many times about the challenges that can arise when your wedding attendants are helping you organize your wedding, but I’m not sure we’ve ever addressed how you can get help from your bridesmaids or other wedding party members. It’s a delicate dance, to be sure… you want help with your wedding, and ideally you want the people helping you not to hate you after it’s all done. You can totally do it. Here’s how.