Music, laughter, hugs, and tears: the ways I honored my dad on our wedding day
Then the more our wedding plans coalesced, the more I needed Dad to have a role, somehow, in our wedding. Some friends suggested that we include a prayer in our ceremony to acknowledge him, but this seemed out of character for us. Others proposed placing an empty chair next to my mother to symbolize both his presence and absence, but this didn’t seem right, either. So, to create a space for Dad, Nick and I decided on the following. They may seem minute, but to me, they were huge…
Losing my mother and honoring her memory through my own offbeat wedding
I have taken so much joy (if that’s even the right word) in seeing how other Offbeat Brides have made touching, bittersweet acknowledgements of those who can only be there with them in spirit. It seems that those rituals are surprisingly absent from “traditional” wedding magazines and blogs. My mom passed away almost two years ago, but my parents didn’t get married until four days before she died. And I know that being a part of that wedding has empowered me to craft an offbeat wedding that I can proudly take ownership of.
Honor your pet by wearing their name tag to your wedding
For a lot of people pets are family… so it makes sense that many couples want to include their fave furry sidekick on their wedding day. At their courthouse elopement, Cullie and Chris came up with a subtle way to honor their recently deceased cat: Cullie wore the cat’s collar and name tag on her wrist.
Turtles, starfish, and sailboats: a sun-filled aquarium wedding from New Jersey
Ben and Erin hosted their ceremony and reception at New Jersey’s Atlantic City Aquarium. The pair included a ton of darling details like blue and teal striped pinwheels and planting a tree together for their unity ceremony. They also opted to leave several seats intentionally empty during the ceremony, and marked these spots with a handwritten tribute to family and friends who couldn’t be there to celebrate.
Lauren & Marco’s offbeat lite Filipino American wedding
This pair wanted to mix some traditions with offbeat ways. So get ready for traditional Filipino food, invitations, barongs, and 35 sponsors! They also opted for a Unitarian ceremony, which presented its own challenge for the bride’s Catholic family. You’ll definitely want to heed her advice when it comes to that. So head in and ogle the gorgeous Wai-Ching and Unique Vintage dresses, the purple glow-y tent, and the choreographed first dance story.
Scooter & Robert’s small rustic wedding
With a fabulous green house and garden venue, bread baked in flower pots, and a bonfire with s’mores, what could possibly go wrong? Just a too-large guest list. So this pair decided on a family-only celebration with lots of DIYed and adorable log details that totally played off the rustic vibe of the venue. Plus, you’ll love how the bride celebrates her departed dad and her three-generation ring photo.