Marissa & Andrew’s pink-haired Vegas wedding with The Hoff

The Offbeat Bride: Marissa, pastry cook

Her offbeat partner: Andrew, retail

Date and location of wedding: Gazebo Chapel at the Flamingo and The Copa Room at The Bootlegger Bistro — January 29, 2014

Our offbeat wedding at a glance: I was the one to propose to Andrew (and I did it so badly that he thought I was breaking up with him), we knew our wedding wasn't going to be what everyone else was doing. So we obviously had to get a cardboard cut out of The Hoff, because who the hell doesn't want a brooding Hoff at your wedding? It was also a great way to get our guests to pose for a picture.

We also knew that having a wedding in our town wasn't for us since we live in a ski resort and have seen a lot of weddings take place and that just weren't us, nor was a wedding with a ton of snow. So we chose Las Vegas, with all the weddings taking place every day, and all the booze, gambling and strippers — that was right up our alley. I had considered dying my hair back to a more natural color, but then I found a picture of a woman with pink hair and in a big ball gown and thought, “hey I can do that too, but I'm gonna add a tiny crown cause I'm going to be a damn princess.” Andrew wanted to do 1920s gangster-style but with his favorite superhero, so we went on a hunt for some Green Lantern shoes and cufflinks. He looked rather dapper if I do say myself.

Tell us about the ceremony:
We had a handfasting, which I'd always wanted to do. Once I explained to Andrew what it was like, he was down for it, and we got to making our own handfasting cord. We had thought of writing our own vows, but in the end wound up finding vows, sayings, and a prayer that we liked and summed up all we ever felt and thought. While we know wasn't personalized for us, it felt like it was.

Our biggest challenge:
At first it was with Andrew's family, and then it was with mine. Some could not attend due to personal/financial/opposite views on life/and some we just did not invite. I had a moment of breaking down in a little heap and asked him if we should just cancel the wedding. He just said that all the people who are important to us will be there for us and that's all that really matters. He was right, of course, and we had a small and meaningful wedding full of people who we will continue to consider our family no matter if we are related to them by blood or not.

My favorite moment:
I think the moment that stuck out the most for us is having two our friends drop everything the day before the wedding and drive eight hours just to be there for us. They called out of work, and even though they don't have a car or any money, they somehow found a way to get some money and a car just be there for a few hours before heading back to their home. I cried like a little baby when I saw them, and it was that moment that we realized we have some of the best people we could ever have in our lives to share our day with.

My funniest moment:
It's either when I danced with The Hoff to the song “Community Property” by Steel Panther, or when the officiant said I could “kiss the groom.” The officiant had found out that I was the one to very badly propose.

Care to share a few vendor/shopping links?

• Bride's Dress: Tradesy
• Groom's Tux: Men's USA
• Crystal Bouquets: Crystal Wedding
• Hair: Bobby Pin Beauty
• Ceremony Venue: The Gazebo Chapel at the Flamingo
• Reception Venue: The Copa Room at the Bootlegger Bistro
• Cheesecakes: Just a Bite Cheesecakes
• Ceremony photography: The Flamingo
• Reception photography: Andrew Estey Photography

Enough talk — show me the wedding inspo!

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