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Features

When we want to get more thoughtful, this is the spot for our feature articles. Sometimes we talk big-picture philosophies, other times we discuss wedding trends, and every once and a while we just go ape-shit over a wedding WTF?!

carrie jenkins ariel stallings e1505851490481 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Offbeat Bride on Labels of Love

Philosopher Carrie Jenkins recently interviewed me for her podcast, Labels of Love. In the six-minute segment, I talk about people’s concerns over both halves of the Offbeat Bride name (there are problems with OFFBEAT and problems with BRIDE!), as well as why people prioritize wedding photography so much. The piece finishes a discussion of my work on my second book, and why I hope no one ever needs to read it.

Getting back on the (literal) horse: the unexpected can be what makes a wedding a success

I got bucked off a horse at my own wedding!

When I recently got married, I thought that I would be brave and try something a bit different at my wedding. Given that I am a celebrant, it made sense to take a small risk and do something a bit wild. So, I asked a friend with a beautiful horse if I could come in on the horse to the ceremony. But then, what happened next shocked everyone. I was BUCKED OFF THE HORSE! Here’s how I handled it and how it made the wedding a success…

A Chicago bookstore wedding with Hamilton and Santas...? Oh hell yes.

A Chicago bookstore wedding with Hamilton and Santas…? Oh hell yes.

Tana and Zeb and twelve of their closest friends and family met at Powell’s Bookstore in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. They got married surrounded by books and then it off to explore Chicago. That meant famous places, Hamilton portraits, and some Santas? Yep, you’ll have to see this one to believe it…

Why my spouse's $20 wedding gift made me cry

Why my spouse’s $20 wedding gift made me cry

The morning of our wedding, my fiance and I exchanged our wedding gifts. I gave my spouse-to-be an Apple watch; I received a $20 t-shirt. My eyes got watery when I saw the shirt, and I couldn’t help but cry. Fortunately, they were happy tears. For me, this t-shirt meant so much more than a fun shirt to wear on our honeymoon. It represented our shared struggles with gender identity… and that I was marrying the right partner for me.