This elegant Halloween wedding had an ofrenda and money dance

Posted by
 | Photography by Luis Martinez Photography

In honor of Hispanic and Latin Heritage Month, we asked our Offbeat Wed vendors to submit their favorite weddings with Hispanic/Latin wedding traditions and Dragonfly Events OC flew in with a celebration that checks off everything we love–an elegant Halloween wedding that celebrates the marriers' culture plus a wardrobe change into a black wedding dress!

There's so much to love about this elegant Halloween wedding, but we'll let this Offbeat Wed wedding planner, Libby Martin of Dragonfly Events OC, tell you herself!

Let's see this elegant Halloween wedding!

Melissa and Ruben were dead set on an elegant Halloween wedding as it was their favorite time of year! To keep it as elegant as possible, we decorated the dessert table with scary movie posters and gory cupcakes and left the elegance to the centerpieces. 

Elegant Halloween wedding ofrenda and money dance Luis Martinez Photography11 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)
Elegant Halloween wedding ofrenda and money dance Luis Martinez Photography9 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Steal this music idea for your elegant Halloween wedding

When the guests arrived 15 minutes before the wedding ceremony the DJ played the whole Haunted Mansion ride intro and Grim Grinning Ghosts song.  The cocktail hour consisted of mostly Disney Halloween songs and the Goosebumps theme.

Elegant Halloween wedding ofrenda and money dance Luis Martinez Photography12 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)
Elegant Halloween wedding ofrenda and money dance Luis Martinez Photography14 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)
Elegant Halloween wedding ofrenda and money dance Luis Martinez Photography13 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

The florals for this elegant Halloween wedding were aptly named

Red amaranthus, appropriately named Love Lies Bleeding, were hung on black manzanita branches with votive candles in glass bulbs. The table numbers were elegantly outlined with a coffin design and flowers. 

Elegant Halloween wedding ofrenda and money dance Luis Martinez Photography8 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)
Elegant Halloween wedding ofrenda and money dance Luis Martinez Photography6 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

This Hispanic/Latin wedding tradition will make you cry

We had an ofrenda at this Halloween wedding. Melissa wanted to honor her Dad and Grandma, and this was the most appropriate way, especially for this time of year. The ofrenda is a very special table and usually has traditional marigold flowers and photos of the family. The table also has traditional foods as offerings, as well as mirrors. The mirrors are there for the living to look into and see their resemblance to past family members.

Elegant Halloween wedding ofrenda and money dance Luis Martinez Photography1 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)
Elegant Halloween wedding ofrenda and money dance Luis Martinez Photography2 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)
Elegant Halloween wedding ofrenda and money dance Luis Martinez Photography3 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)
Editor's note: I did not know about the use of mirrors in ofrendas and now I'm totally tearing up. What a beautiful tradition!

Check out the wardrobe change at this elegant Halloween wedding

Melissa originally wanted to wear a black gown, but her mother pleaded with her to wear white. She compromised and changed to a black dress during the reception. 

Elegant Halloween wedding ofrenda and money dance Luis Martinez Photography17 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Now for the money dance at this elegant Halloween wedding

Melissa and Ruben had a traditional money dance. This tradition is still alive and thriving in the Hispanic community. Libby even says:

I have not had or seen one single Hispanic wedding eliminate this part of the reception.  

Libby Martin, Planner at Dragonfly Events OC
Elegant Halloween wedding ofrenda and money dance Luis Martinez Photography16 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

There was even a spooky surprise at this elegant Halloween wedding

Libby (the planner) was able to get them an autographed item from Robert Englund to surprise them at their Halloween wedding! 

Elegant Halloween wedding ofrenda and money dance Luis Martinez Photography10 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)
Get yourself a planner who goes the extra mile for you like Libby did!

Vendors behind this Halloween wedding:

Halloween wedding gallery:

  • Elegant Halloween wedding ofrenda and money dance Luis Martinez Photography14 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)
  • Elegant Halloween wedding ofrenda and money dance Luis Martinez Photography12 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)
  • Elegant Halloween wedding ofrenda and money dance Luis Martinez Photography13 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)
  • Elegant Halloween wedding ofrenda and money dance Luis Martinez Photography11 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)
  • Elegant Halloween wedding ofrenda and money dance Luis Martinez Photography2 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)
  • Elegant Halloween wedding ofrenda and money dance Luis Martinez Photography10 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)
  • Elegant Halloween wedding ofrenda and money dance Luis Martinez Photography9 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)
  • Elegant Halloween wedding ofrenda and money dance Luis Martinez Photography8 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)
  • Elegant Halloween wedding ofrenda and money dance Luis Martinez Photography5 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)
  • Elegant Halloween wedding ofrenda and money dance Luis Martinez Photography17 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)
  • Elegant Halloween wedding ofrenda and money dance Luis Martinez Photography7 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)
  • Elegant Halloween wedding ofrenda and money dance Luis Martinez Photography6 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)
  • Elegant Halloween wedding ofrenda and money dance Luis Martinez Photography4 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)
  • Elegant Halloween wedding ofrenda and money dance Luis Martinez Photography3 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)
  • Elegant Halloween wedding ofrenda and money dance Luis Martinez Photography1 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)
  • Elegant Halloween wedding ofrenda and money dance Luis Martinez Photography15 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)
  • Elegant Halloween wedding ofrenda and money dance Luis Martinez Photography16 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Offbeat Wed Vendor

This page features vendors from our curated Offbeat Wed Vendor Directory. They're awesome and we love them. If you're a vendor let's get you in here!

Meet our fave wedding vendors