Posted byIf Paisley and Gene couldn't go to Coney Island, Paisley and Gene brought Coney Island to them! Complete with sweet rides and sweet treats on day four of Candy Week.
The Offbeat Bride: Paisley, Holistic Esthetician, Makeup Artist, and Reiki Master (and OBT member “Paisleycat“)
Her Offbeat Partner: Gene, Digital Artist and Wedding Officiant
Location & date of wedding: Goodale Park Gazebo and Skully's Music DIner in Columbus, OH — July 25, 2009
What made our wedding offbeat: We live in Brooklyn, NY and were engaged near the Wonder Wheel in Coney Island (which is one of our favorite places due to its unique and vibrant spirit). Although our wedding took place in Columbus, Ohio we wanted to bring that Carnival aspect to our wedding day.
We chose Skully's Music Diner for our reception because there was a rock ‘n' roll warehouse feel to the space. It was the first wedding they had ever hosted.
We projected images of Coney Island on a backdrop, we had a few carnival games for the kids, and the men wore Coney Island screen printed ties. Everyone kept asking us our color scheme, but how can you put a color scheme to a Carnival?!?
We had an amazing time using our creativity to design our save the dates, invites, and hand-make the decor for the reception which included mustaches on sticks (which were a huge hit in the photobooth) and an old fashioned candy table.
The music consisted of lots of Ditty Bops, our first dance was to “Sea of Love” by Catpower, and our last dance was to “I and Love and You” by The Avett Brothers (which we love for it's Brooklyn reference).
The day was topped off by my Father surprising us with an old Rocket Ship car to escort us. It used to be an amusement park ride that he rode when he was a child. A perfect surprise!!!!
Our biggest challenge: Initially, we really wanted to get married in NYC, but we knew it would be more cost effective to do it in Ohio. Our biggest challenge was planning from long distance. My family helped out a great deal, but we had to give up a few things we would have probably liked to have more control over. In the end it didn't matter, but amidst it all it felt a bit stressful.
What were the most meaningful moments of your wedding? I was overwhelmed with all of the love from friends and family I felt surrounding me. It was an amazing feeling to know so many people that we cared about were all in one place. It was also really special to share Columbus, Ohio (my hometown) with our friends and family from NYC and all over the world.
What was the funniest moment of your wedding or reception? We almost knocked our cake over — I wrapped my hands around it to catch it.
Also, I am horrible at all sports and was terrified about throwing the bouquet. Instead of tossing it I whacked it at my sister and it left a bruise, but she ended up getting engaged that night.
Advice for other offbeat brides: We handmade or bought local Brooklyn goods for all of our gifts. We tried to be eco-friendly and economical at the same time. I think our wedding meant so much to us partly because we put so much of our creative spirit into it and we really tried to collaborate as a couple on what we wanted. I think it says a lot that both of us wish we could go back and do it all over again! We did our very best to make it fun, creative, and uniquely us!
What was the most important lesson you learned from your wedding? I was terrified to be a bride (it holds such a lofty old fashioned meaning), but I ended up having so much fun by finding a way to make it creative and unique.
Care to share a few vendor/shopping links?
- Photographers: Picture the Love
- Nicole Miller designed my dress.
- We utilized Etsy for the ties and hair pieces.
Enough talk — show me the wedding inspo!:
About the Author: Offbeat Weditors
Working tirelessly to bring you stimulating content day after day, the Offbeat Wed editors will not sleep until you've gotten your offbeat fix.
This is the most unique and fun wedding blog that I have ever seen!
I like the combo of wacky and elegant.
And that dress… wow. Just wow.
I recognize Toybreaker’s work on those marvelous ties! Isn’t she a delight to work with? Beautiful wedding. You look like you had so much fun!
Loved the car and your advise on working together.
I’m geeking out a little, not only at the amazing wedding you had but because we live less than 5minutes from there and pass it everyday! Congrats all over the place!!!
I LOVE seeing awesome weddings that take place in my hometown! Go C-bus, and Skully’s is AWESOME!!!
How totally awesome!! And Columbus is my hometown, too – we thought about using the Goodale park gazebo. 🙂
Love the rocket ship car. Might be the coolest wedding day transportation I’ve seen.
That’s the best getaway car ever. Love it.
Thank you for all of the lovely comments!
Here is a link to our amazing photographers work. A lot of what is coming up on the flickr stream are photos taken by friends and family – which is great, but our photographers got some amazing shots also.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10656726@N05/sets/72157622083362853/
As one of the very lucky “honored guests,” I can honestly say that this was one of my top three favorite weddings EVER! It was so beautifully done, so characteristic of Paisley and Gene and SUCH a good time. I never imagined we would have so much fun in Columbus (my hometown too) but the four day wedding extravaganza turned out to be a blast. Paisley and Gene put so much love and care into all of the details and it all came together beautifully. Absolutely amazing!
That’s the “Euclid Beach Rocket Car”, owned by a gentleman from Cleveland. Euclid Beach was an amusement park in suburban Cleveland from the 1890s until it closed around 1980. The Rocket Car was an aerial ride; the owner bought the car, added a 455 Rocket V8 Olds engine, had it declared street worthy by the highway patrol and rents it out for parades, weddings or other special events. It also plays caliope music and has lights on the side. Our thanks to him for driving it down to Columbus on the morning of the wedding. We also added a police escort which took it all “way over the top”! By the way, the “rocket” can really move with that engine!
Loving that my Dad is on Offbeat Bride!
I cannot believe that “lucky whack” on the head from the bouquet led to an engagement that night! If that is not fate, I don’t know what is, haha.
Awesome wedding! I lived in Columbus for 6 years and spent many Thursday nights at Skully’s.
Oh my goodness. Columbus! Skully’s! Goodale! The Euclid Beach Rocket! Seeing such a delightful Midwestern wedding gives me great hope for my own Ohio-tastic wedding someday. And it gives me such pride for my so often hated-on state.
Aww, the slideshow is gone. 🙁 Sad! I’m planning a Cbs wedding so I was really excited to see how they handled Goodale Park. Oh well! What I can see in the post looks awesome!
Yeah, this post is almost four years old at this point…and sometimes the old slideshows poop out. You can see all the photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/10656726@N05/sets/72157622083362853 🙂