21440693394 62c6b6270f c

Jessica & Tyler’s bow-tied puppy, board games, and Magic the Gathering wedding

At a Glance

This sweet and geeky pair had a surprise Magic the Gathering cake, lots of board games and other nerdy bits, and an epic fireworks exit with requisite make outs. Add in the puppy ring bearer, Star Wars bow ties, and sunflowers, and you’ve got a wedding to make you shiver. So cute, so geeky, so US.

 Magic the Gathering wedding

The Offbeat Bride: Jessica

Her offbeat partner: Tyler, lab tech

Date and location of wedding: The Brick, South Bend Indiana — September 27, 2015

Our offbeat wedding at a glance:

We wanted the wedding to involve everything that we loved and that was related to us as a couple. We skipped some of the traditional stuff, much to our relatives’ chagrin, but we believe it all paid off,including when I surprised Tyler with a Magic The Gathering cake (he lives for this game).

 Magic the Gathering wedding

 Magic the Gathering wedding

 Magic the Gathering wedding

 Magic the Gathering wedding

 Magic the Gathering wedding

 Magic the Gathering wedding

Tell us about the ceremony:

Our family dog, Potter, a Bernese Mountain Dog, was co-ring bearer (complete with GoPro). My fantastic bridesman Jason made our arch by hand, twice (it fell off his truck on the way to the venue and he had to start it all over!).

 Magic the Gathering wedding

One of our good friends officiated. We locked a love lock around a metal tree that we purchased from an at-home store. Finally, we exited to “Raining Tacos.”

 Magic the Gathering wedding

 Magic the Gathering wedding

 Magic the Gathering wedding

 Magic the Gathering wedding

Tell us about your reception:

We had board games, Magic the Gathering games, card games, and the band that was playing while we first met. We served “hippie hash,” one of the meals (a breakfast dish) we used to get when we first started dating from a greasy spoon sort of place. It’s also veggie-friendly for all of our vegetarian friends.

 Magic the Gathering wedding

 Magic the Gathering wedding

 Magic the Gathering wedding

 Magic the Gathering wedding

What was your most important lesson learned?

Despite all my worst fears, things will be forgotten or break, your dress might miss the clasp it needs to close, and your friends might have to sew you in, but the people who really care about you will shine through, and some might surprise you. People will let you down, but focus on what goes right and the people who love you.

 Magic the Gathering wedding

 Magic the Gathering wedding

 Magic the Gathering wedding

 Magic the Gathering wedding

 Magic the Gathering wedding

 Magic the Gathering wedding

Vendors

• Photography: Stacie Doi

Find Your Vendor Team

Our Offbeat Wed Vendor Collective features wedding professionals identifying as neurodivergent, BIPOC, disabled, and more. Explore wedding pros who get you.