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The offbeat bride: Tiffany, Teen Services Librarian
Her offbeat partner: Nick, Musician/Retail Associate/Student/Gamer/Graphic Designer
Location & date of wedding: Frankenmuth, Michigan (Little Bavaria!) — June 27, 2009
What made our wedding offbeat: We wanted to make sure our wedding was as fun as possible — for us and for our guests! Our motto was Nick and Tiffany: 2Legit2Quit.
We were on a strict budget. We wanted a fun party that no one would forget for less than $1,500.
Our venue was unique in that it was in a kitschy Bavarian town in Michigan.
We made sure all the details had our own unique twist from the book centerpieces to the birdcake with man/bunny cake topper to the groom's stepfather bartending.
Our ceremony was in a Rose Garden overlooking a discgolf course.
We made sure to have a wedding photojournalist to truly document the wedding.
Our wedding party danced to “The Time Warp” from The Rocky Horror Picture Show and many told us that it was the most GLBTQ friendly wedding that they've ever been to.
We included many traditions, but with our own twists and turns. The ceremony was completely written by us, quoting The Velveteen Rabbit and playing “First Day of My Life” by Bright Eyes. The bride walked down the aisle to “Don't Stop Believin'” instrumental covered by Vitamin String Quartet.
The wedding party walked in to “Brand New Colony” by The Postal Service while the bride and groom walked in to “2 Legit 2 Quit” by MC Hammer.
Our family helped us so much! It became a giant party where everyone could just let loose and have a great time!
Our biggest challenge: Our biggest challenge was the whole saving money thing and planning a wedding in Michigan from our home in another state.
We knew EVERYONE in our families loved Frankenmuth, but we didn't know the cost of vendors there. It took lots of dilligent research and many hours spent scouring websites and Craigslist, as well as enlisting in the help of our friends and family, but it was all worth it in the end.
More traditional family members questioned the fact that we weren't getting married in a church. My grandmother finally came to terms by deciding that “God is everywhere,” so it was okay that we were getting married outside.
We are both vegetarians, so it was difficult for us to have meat at the reception; however, we felt that the guests would expect it. Frankenmuth, Michigan is known for serving chicken, so people would wonder where it was if we didn't have it, but we made sure to have plenty vegetarian and vegan options!
My favorite moment: The most meaningful would be our vows — especially when Nick said that he promises to always put up with my love for NPR and progressive Icelandic Rock. Our vows were very heartfelt. We kept them as a surprise and I think everyone got swept up in that moment.
The entire reception was just so much fun, from the wedding party dancing on stage to later in the evening when all the guests jumped on stage to dance to “Baby Got Back.” Lots of surprise moments really made the day special.
My funniest moment: Both the garter and bouquet toss ended up in play-fights on the floor.
Another funny moment would be when the best man lead an impromptu strip tease late in the evening.
We also had little cards at each table describing an author and their drink of choice. Unfortunately, we forgot to let the bartender (the groom's stepfather) know about these drinks and he only knew how to make half of them! Improvision was key!
Was there anything you were sure was going to be a total disaster that unexpectedly turned out great? Originally, we were supposed to do Michael Jackson's “Thriller” dance with the wedding party. Then Michael Jackson died the week of the wedding, and we realized it was maybe too much all at once. At the last minute, the day before the wedding, we decided to do “The Time Warp” from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. We only practiced once, but it ended up being awesome! My sister decided to do a last minute tap dance routine as Columbia and everyone just loved it!
My advice for offbeat brides: Once family and friends realize that you're doing things a bit differently, it sometimes takes them a while to come to terms with your decision making process. It takes a lot of grace to listen to their ideas or questions on why you are doing things a certain way, and the Offbeat Bride website definitely helped with how to approach this!
We, also, kind of kept our families in the dark a bit about some of our decisions as to not upset or worry them because we knew they'd love it once they saw it all together! We were truly lucky that we have a wedding photographer, event planner, graphic designer, and generally awesome people in our families that helped us out!
What was the most important lesson you learned from your wedding? I am a huge planner, and I learned that sometimes you just have to decide to go with the flow — you can't plan everything! I also had to work really hard not to lose it when things go wrong. My family actually hates to give me bad news — I am that bad!
So, when the caterer forgot the champagne fountain, no one wanted to give me the “bad” news, but I was so elated from just getting married and having a great time that I could care less about the champagne fountain!
Little things like happen throughout the entire planning process. You can't expect everything to be perfect, but it ends up being perfect in its own way.
I also learned that I love planning projects and working together with my husband! We make an awesome team!
Care to share a few vendor/shopping links?
- Groom's Tie: Cyber Optix
- Veil: Something Bold
- Photographer: David Crane
- Cake topper: Melabo
- Bride's Make-Up: Arbonne
Enough talk — show me the wedding inspo!
About the Author: Offbeat Weditors
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I considered having our wedding in Frankenmuth as well, but didn’t want to have the reception so far from home. Great to see someone making use of our little Michigan gem!
I work in Frankenmuth selling this ‘world famous chicken”. Also, the theater where you had your reception is where I performed in 2 or 3 musicals when I was in high school. Frankenmuth is an adorable little tourist town.
Great! Time Warp forever in the world!
Haha! We are DEFINITELY playing Baby Got Back at our reception!
🙂
I’m trying to figure out how you did all that with a $1500 budget! Does that include everything? Did people contribute services gifts?
I have the same question as Jessi – I really loved your photos and am also getting married in MI and having a hard time coming up with an inexpensive photographer. I went on David Crane’s website and his prices look like they are more than your whole budget! Was the $1500 just for the reception?
Hi everyone! Thanks for the comments! Our budget did not include some services because we are lucky enough to have family involved in the wedding industry – David Crane is a family member and contributed the photos as his gift to us. My grandmother kindly paid for the catering as a gift to us. The venue itself was very inexpensive as was the ceremony venue. The cake was made by a student and the flowers were by a florist just starting her business -Floral Sense). I didn’t mean for this to seem like I was stretching the truth on the overall budget, like I said, I’m so lucky to have awesome people in my life that can help us out!
Oh That makes more sense. I allocated $1500 for carry-out catering for my wedding and I think I’m being super cheap! I was wondering how you could have fed all those people. ha! You are lucky! Photography and Food are the bulk of my budget.
Oh and I should have said in the first post that I think your wedding looks gorgeous! Which is why I made the budget comment. Congrats!
Haha! Yay, Frankenmuth! My FH is from Michigan and I’ve been there with his family a couple of times. It’s really cute!
“Don’t Stop Believin'” AND “Brand New Colony” … You guys are awesome 😀
The FH and I LOVE Frankenmuth, but since we wanted our wedding to be in our hometown, we decided against it. Didn’t stop us from celebrating our engagement there, though.
Got to say I giggled quite a bit with the “God is everywhere” comment. What a great attitude to have!
This wedding looks like SO MUCH FUN! So wish I could have seen the Time Warp dance (Rocky Horrow Show FTW!), especially the Colombia tap routine! Aw, and I love all the little touches of blue- eg the cake, Tiffany’s shoes and that stunning blue beaded necklace. 😀 I’m definitely a fan of big beaded necklaces, so that was awesome!
Tiffany, you look stunning- awesome dress and birdcage veil! All the best for a long an happy marriage. 😀
Tiffany! I had my offbeat wedding in Saginaw one week before yours, and in a short dress no less! It made my heart sing to see a Michigan girl on here, especially one who’s not from Detroit area. Maybe this will give me the courage to submit my own soiree. Looks like you had a fantastic day. Congratulations!