A rockabilly love-fest with boxer briefs, night swims, and pin-up style

The Offbeat Bride: Louie, Teacher's Aide

Her offbeat partner: Jay, Labourer

Date and location of wedding: Parents' backyard, Victoria, Australia — March 13, 2016

Our offbeat wedding at a glance:

We wanted a relaxed and comfortable wedding, not just for us, but our guests as well. We also had a small budget to work with, so that dictated a lot of our choices. We didn't hire a venue, but instead using my parents' backyard. We also kept decorations to a minimum, DIYing most of them.

Jay's in a band and I am a pin-up girl, so we wanted to incorporate elements of those passions into the wedding. I used records glued to candle holders as cake stands, and added little bits of vintage flair by placing old crocheted tablecloths on all the drinks and snack tables. To keep everyone comfortable and the mood light, we had a box of blankets for when people got cold, a DIY photo booth with more props than we thought could possibly be used, and easily accessible drinks (including some nice T2 tea, for the non-drinkers).

Tell us about the ceremony:

Our celebrant really tailored the ceremony to suit us and our relationship. We had Game of Thrones references, read out an old love letter I wrote for Jay, and made a very clear point about our desire for marriage equality in Australia. Our celebrant also showed us a reading called “Everything about love, I learned from my dog” which we thought was perfect, as our dogs are absolutely part of our family. The only tradition we really stuck with for the ceremony was the kiss at the end, but we still managed to high-five as well.

I wore a knee-length dress that my friend designed and made for me, with a matching birdcage veil I made from the remnants of the fabric. I carried a paper rose bouquet that I made using the sheet music for “Pet” by A Perfect Circle. The bridesmaids all wore any black dress they wanted and carried paper rose bouquets made from patterned scrapbook paper.

Tell us about your reception:

We had a buffet-style dinner, to keep the cost low and the formalities lower. We hired caterers called The Flying Woks who do Asian-fusion food cooked in front of the guests. Everyone loved it, and even though everyone ate lots there were still leftovers (which we were allowed to keep!).

We didn't hire a DJ or band, instead opting for a Spotify playlist. We spent a few weeks before the wedding putting together a playlist that covered the tastes of everyone at the wedding. From metal, to punk, to the macarena, we had it all. The dance floor was full all night.

Our dogs got in on the dancing, too. Pip and I shared a few dances over the night, and she was always hanging around during the group dances.

The night ended with everyone who was still around stripping off and having a night swim in the dam. Before everyone got too cold, that is, when we moved to the back porch and lit a fire.

Vendors

• Photographer: Insight Photography
• Catering: The Flying Woks

About the Author: Offbeat Weditors

@offbeatbride @offbeatwed

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