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Offbeat partner: Hillary, Travel Agent
Offbeat partner: Daric, Convention Operations Manager
Date and location of wedding: Hug Point Beach in Arch Cape, Oregon — July 7, 2017
Budget: $9,000 (Inclusive of everything — outfits, rings, plane tickets, fun money, photography, etc)
Our offbeat wedding at a glance:
We technically weren’t even engaged, but decided together that we were ready to get married. We had been together for seven years and both have large extended families. We knew that we wanted to pay for our own wedding but we had different ideas of what we wanted as far as size and location. We deliberated for about a week before deciding that eloping was the best decision for us. We made a list of what was important to us which included: photography, a coastal location, and our mutual love for Star Wars.
We had always wanted our friends Danny and Stephanie, who are professional wedding photographers, to shoot our wedding. It took us about five months to plan our trip which consisted of an elopement and a honeymoon all in one. We decided on the Pacific Northwest, and both got second jobs on the weekends to cover our costs. The rest is history!
Tell us about the ceremony:
We got married at our local court house before we left for our trip. Our ceremony in Oregon was just the two of us and our photographers. No officiant, no rules, just us. We got ready together at our bed and breakfast and Daric left to let me finish getting ready so that we could do a first look. Daric read his vows that he had written 20 minutes before our “First Look” and I wrote nothing and spewed some stuff of the top of my head, to which I cannot remember at all.
The coolest part about our ceremony were the rings. Neither of us knew what our own rings looked like. I bought his, he bought mine, and we kept them hidden until we were in the moment. His is a handsome, black on black tungsten ring with the Galactic Empire symbol engraved on the inside. Mine is an amazingly gorgeous, rose gold halo setting with a diamond that shines like the sun. He also engraved mine and it says “I Know” — referencing Han & Leia in The Empire Strikes Back. We didn’t tell each other we were doing this… our nerd hearts just spoke to each other. I also made his boutonniere which was a simple leaf and flower with Kylo Ren’s lightsaber. Daric fashioned some killer Lego Kylo Ren head cufflinks as well.
After our ceremony, we danced on the beach to Judah & The Lion’s “Take It All Back” String Quartet Version. We spent nearly 14 hours with Danny and Steph that day venturing all over the coast for amazing photo opportunities.
Tell us about your reception:
We got married in July and had a reception party in September over Labor Day weekend at our favorite local brewery, Catawba Island Brewing Co. It was strictly cake, beer and music with about 70 of our closest friends and family. It was so relaxed and that was the best thing about it. People could come and go as they pleased, have some drinks on us, and just chat, laugh, and celebrate. We even replicated our first dance in the taproom for people to see.
What was your most important lesson learned?
The absolute hardest thing was not having our parents at our ceremony. I am my mother’s only child and Daric is the oldest of four children. My mom definitely went back and forth with her emotions on not being there. I kept her involved with every decision I made so that she would still be part of the planning process.
Our biggest advice to all of you out there is: do this for YOU and for no one else. A marriage is not about a wedding. It’s not about the colors, seat covers, or menu. It’s about two people who have an undying love for each other. You are sharing the rest of your life with this person — make the moment memorable and make it count. There is no right or wrong way to do a wedding, don’t let anyone talk you into something that your heart doesn’t sing for.
We announced that we had gotten married the next morning via calls, Facetimes, group texts, and social media — the feedback we received was amazing. We got a lot of comments from married couples wishing they had done what we did. Looking back on the whole experience, there is not a thing we would change. The photography speaks volumes. We are so in love with each other and the way we did things.
Vendors
- Photographer: Danny Gorman Photography
- Dress: Keisha Ransome at 2live2love
- Suit: ASOS
- Accommodations: Arch Cape Inn & Retreat
- Reception Venue: Catawba Island Brewing Co.
Gallery
About the Author: Offbeat Weditors
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I am absolutely in love with all of this. Your locations, outfits, absolute radiation of emotions, I love all of it. The photography is stunning and it looks like it captured the day wonderfully!! This is exactly what I would want to do in a perfect world.