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The Offbeat Bride: Kristen
Her offbeat partner: Jet
Date and location of wedding: Alice in Wonderland statue, Central Park, NYC — October 31, 2011
Our offbeat wedding at a glance: Our wedding was a fully DIY wedding. We made the bouquets, the party favors, our wedding cake… we even dug out old clothing and revamped them to accommodate our outfits. We were married in front of the Alice in Wonderland statue in Central Park because we both believe in thinking six impossible things before breakfast each day. And really, who thought it would ever be possible for us to get married legally, anyway? For me and Jet, the highlight of our day was that it was a true wedding and not just a commitment ceremony!
Tell us about the ceremony: The Reverend D was the best, and very accommodating. At my request, the Reverend D arranged for the intro to Prince's “Let's go Crazy” to be played just before the ceremony. Also at my request, the Reverend D began the ceremony with the Princess Bride's wedding speech by Peter Cook. We did a handfasting ritual, and wrote our own vows and promises to one another.
Our last promise to one another included lines from one our favorite poems, “Funeral Blues” by W.H. Auden:
May you, as Auden stated, ‘always be one another's North, South, East, and West, working week and Sunday rest.'
Our biggest challenge: Our biggest challenge was location and finding an officiant. We searched for an officiant for what seemed like forever. We really wanted someone who could understand us and have fun. Just as we were about to give up, we found The Reverend D. She is wickedly affordable and fantastically accommodating, and just an all-round great person. She married us dressed up as Elvira — who could ask for anything more?
My favorite moment: My father walking both of us down the aisle was definitely a favorite moment. During our vows, the whole world disappeared and the only ones in it were us… but when we turned to face our wedding party, only then did we realize that the audience had tripled in size. Apparently people who were walking through the park that morning stopped to watch, and when we were announced as officially married, we heard all these strangers clapping and whistling and congratulating us. The support we received from complete strangers was amazing.
My funniest moment: “Ricky the Wall Street Zombie” crashed the wedding! Ricky is the Reverend D's husband who likes to “crash” all her weddings, and the two of them are awesome. My father, niece, and nephew were dropped on the wrong side of the park, which meant Ricky and I had to go and find them at Belvedere Castle. Running through the park in a very tight corset with a zombie in tow (doing his best zombie walk) was hysterical.
Was there anything you were sure was going to be a total disaster that unexpectedly turned out great? It snowed ten inches the weekend of our wedding, which was very unexpected. At the time we lived in rural Chester County Pennsylvania, in a house that would lose electricity with even the slightest of wind. Needless to say, in the middle of baking our wedding cake, the power went out and we had to quickly pack all that we would need for our trip up to NYC and head over to my parents' house to complete the cake. It took many hours and trials and tribulations to get it done, but we finally managed.
When we arrived in New York City, we immediately went to Central Park to check on our location. We saw felled trees everywhere in the park and yellow caution tape. It was a mess. But when we arrived at the Alice in Wonderland statue, there was minimal damage in that area, and we were relieved.
My advice for Offbeat Brides: Be true to yourself and your expectations. If you can't find what you want right away, keep looking. There are amazing vendors out there. Stay positive and think at least six impossible things before breakfast each day!
Care to share a few vendor/shopping links?
- Photography: Whitney Foote
- Officiant: The Reverend D
- Venue: Alice in Wonderland statue, Central Park, NYC
Enough talk — show me the wedding inspo!
officiants: The Reverend D
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Beautiful! I LOVE the Elvira officiant! And all that black velvet? I just want to reach out and pet them through my computer screen.
*sniffle* is someone chopping onions? This is beautiful. I love the fact that you got so much support from random strangers in the park. And may I say wow to both outfits 🙂
I’m actually a little surprised black hasn’t become a more popular wedding dress color in NY, aren’t they obcessed with black any way? Why not continue the theme with their wedding dress.
On another note, is it just me or is that Alice statue CREEPY?
I don’t see creepy, just awesome!
PS. I adore creepy so my perspective may be skewed.
Love this! Congratulations! I’ve worked with the Reverend D and Ricky before; they are awesome!
Everything about your ceremony is awesome! I saw your photos on Rev D’s site, and now here you are on OBB. (Rev D is doing my ceremony in NYC in July, and I couldn’t be more excited.) Congrats to both of you!!
Love you, Jet & Boo! Thank you so much for allowing me to take part in your special day. xoxo
We love you DM and are so happy that you were part of our big day! You are awesome!
Omg you two are such a beautiful couple! Congratulations on having an amazing and fun wedding that’s all your own!
I absolutely must have that bouquet for my wedding. It’s absolutely perfect!
Omg love the vail!!! Instructions???