Category Archive

Real Weddings: Midwest US

There are some people who think offbeat weddings don’t happen in the fly-over states. These people will be surprised. Behold a few of our favorite weddings from the Midwest including Chicago weddings, Iowa weddings, Ohio weddings, Michigan weddings, and more. Submit your wedding for consideration via offbeatwed.com/submissions.

Pastel suits & a surprise drag show at this two groom fête in Chicago

Pastel suits & a surprise drag show at this two groom fête in Chicago

You’re going to fall straight into love with the baby blue and sea foam green suits on these grooms. And once you’ve fallen hard for them, get ready to fall even harder for their colorful reception with a surprise drag show.

Feast your eyes on this joyful Chicago elopement with donuts & dogs

Feast your eyes on this joyful Chicago elopement with donuts & dogs

Chris and Anne’s Chicago elopement took place one April afternoon on the six year anniversary of the day they met. The guest list included immediate family, including their adorable pups, Coorah and Luka. Anne’s sister officiated the intimate lakefront ceremony on Lake Michigan underneath two budding trees.

Afterward, they hopped on a trolley and headed downtown to Stan’s Donuts for some Raspberry Bismarks.

Untitled 1 alternative wedding ideas from Offbeat Wed (formerly Offbeat Bride)

Rainbows & dinos at this magical queer wedding in Madison, WI

Sarah and Mabel make a great team in life and in planning their dinosaurs meets Tetris meets rainbows wedding.

Do not miss their colorful and lush bouquets (with rainbow ribbons!), their rainbow cake with gold dino toppers, delish treats bar, and “perfect blend” favors.

Get ready to be blown away by this queer AF musical theater wedding

Get ready to be blown away by this queer AF musical theater wedding

We had a ceremony musical theater interlude, a Stevie Nicks themed cocktail hour, social justice and queer themed tables, bomb food, bomb dancing, and homemade wedding cakes. Our theme was to have a queer AF wedding that was hopefully as much a gift to the people we love as it was to us. We were rounding out an ambitious year: cross country move, new jobs, new careers, and a wedding all happening within a few weeks.

Sci-fi meets romance at this Chicago artist loft wedding

Sci-fi meets romance at this Chicago artist loft wedding

Leah and Amanda planned their wedding in just a few short months, but you’d never know it by it’s loveliness. They love sci-fi movies and have sci-fi posters all over their house which inspired the reception decor — from table numbers, guestbook, and florals in science beakers as bud vases. Leah likes crafting and designed all the personalized signage for the wedding. The food at reception was fall festive and included a s’mores bar!

This edgy Chicago wedding combined ultra glam with street art and ring tattoos

This creative & edgy wedding combined ultra glam with street art and ring tattoos

Brooke and JD has mutual passions for Halloween and haunted houses and are incredibly talented and artistic. Their edgy Chicago wedding gorgeously combined total glam, gritty street art, sweet greenery, an epic flower crown, and moody meets colorful decor. You won’t want to miss their inked-up style and killer photos in a drainage pipe!

Everything was DIYed based on their creative vision which included forgoing the ring exchange for mutual ring tattoos. This one is a must-see…