Baily & Martyn’s DIY rock ‘n’ roll Halloween wedding

Boys and girls of every age, wouldn't you like to see something strange? This is Halloween… week! One of our favorite theme weeks is here and you're in for a (trick or) treat.

The Offbeat Bride: Bailey, sign artist at Trader Joe's

Her offbeat partner: Martyn, sign artist at Trader Joe's

Date and location of wedding: The Solarium in Decatur, GA — October 31, 2012

Our offbeat wedding at a glance: Martyn knew even before he proposed that I would want to get married on Halloween night. Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. My parents used to throw major Halloween parties at our house when I was a kid and everyone in the whole neighborhood would come in costume. I decided that I mostly wanted to use the wedding as an excuse to throw the biggest comeback/reunion Halloween party that I could muster up.

We DIYed a lot and didn't need to hire a florist, a baker, a photographer, a decorator, a band, or an officiant because my friends collectively contributed so much. We were really lucky to have so many talented friends and family helping.

I didn't even need to buy a wedding gown because my mom made me a dress from scratch based on my design (which was based off of my moonstone engagement ring).

We asked everyone to wear a costume, and didn't want anyone in our wedding party to match. Some guests chose costumes that expressed their love for us as a couple and dressed up as a lot of our favorite things.

Tell us about the ceremony: A friend of ours officiated, and wore a priest robe and a Jafar hat. He read his script that Martyn had written from a Weddings For Dummies book.

Our biggest challenge:
Martyn had some groomsmen drop out at the last minute, but luckily we had some other friends that would walk in their stead, including our three-legged dog. My mom also left my wedding jacket at her house which was forty-five minutes away from the venue, and I didn't realize this until right before I was meant to walk down the aisle (which was unfortunate, because a lot of the wedding was meant to be outside and it was freezing out!). Some amazing friends actually drove all the way there and back during the reception to retrieve the jacket so I wouldn't freeze. Any obstacle we faced was resolved because we have really awesome, high-quality friends all around us.

My favorite moment:
My dad passed away the year before, so my grandpa walked me down the aisle in his place. My dad was in the Navy and was gone a lot when I was a kid, so my grandpa used to take me to the Girl Scout's father/daughter dances when my dad couldn't, so it was only appropriate.

Martyn and I have some best friends who we set up together after we first got together, and they are now engaged. They served as our maid of honor/best man couple duo and dressed like Beetlejuice and Lydia. They each made a really meaningful toast during the reception.

My funniest moment:
My three-legged puppy, Grendel, was dressed up as the disarmed Black Knight from Monty Python, fake blood spurt and all.

Our officiant played with a band in which everyone dressed as brides called LUST. I requested that the band wear wedding gowns for their stage attire. I mostly just wanted to see a large, black metal singer in a wedding gown playing a cover of “The Power Of Love.”

When we danced to our first dance song, “Don't You Pay Them No Mind” by Nina Simone, Jay and Silent Bob were slow dancing with each other beside us. I really liked that.

Care to share a few vendor/shopping links?

• Photography: Arnold Caylakyan
• Bride's dress: made by the bride's mother, inspired by Gibbous Fashions
• Moonstone and wishbone charm necklace: Orchid and Reptile
• Flower headband: Which Goose
• Embroidered felt masks: Embrant
• Boots: Doc Marten

Enough talk — show me the wedding inspo!

About the Author: Offbeat Weditors

@offbeatbride @offbeatwed

Working tirelessly to bring you stimulating content day after day, the Offbeat Wed editors will not sleep until you've gotten your offbeat fix.