Offbeat weddings and where to get inspired!

Jo_R_2

Hi all!

After completely revising our wedding plans, I am all here and there!

We originally decided to get married this December in a winter wedding, but after deciding we wanted something a little more than we could afford, we put it off for a while to save up.

I've still been browsing online and have completely changed my mind (nothing new there then!) After reading so much on www.rockandrollbride.com and www.offbeatbride.com I have fallen in love with the idea of a real DIY wedding, something very individual that is basically the essence of who me and OH are. Although I have continued to look at the more 'traditional' wedding venues locally, I am seeing that they appear very restrictive in terms of stamping individuality on our wedding.

I have a 'vision' (LOL that sounds really pretentious but that's the last thing I am, honest!:D) of how I would like things to go. It's not a complete picture in my head yet but it involves 50s style dress handmade from Etsy, relaxed but cute suits for the OH and the boys with Converse (not sure how old the boy kiddies will be as one's not even born yet!), funky flowers (real or fake) for the girls, a real local influence (would love some wedding photos around the city centre as v. important place for me and OH), some kind of cheap-but-cheerful reception involving handmade decorations (cheesy bunting, colourful balloons, black-and-white photos of us and guests), a handmadephoto booth (got this idea from fly dragon fly and have read of couples doing it also), almost a 50s prom-type reception (not sure of what venue yet with this) with lots of 'our' kind of music (punky poppy/rock/really reflecting us and our social group and scene.)

How I go about achieving this seems a mammoth task at the mo, really exciting though as I keep reading of couples organising their dream weddings in a similar vein - it's amazing the end result some couples have achieved that I've seen on a budget and with such heartfelt help from friends and family.

I feel a LOT of lists coming on, but in the meantime, I'd love to know where people have got their inspiration from for ideas (anything that's really been food for thought for them) and any slightly more offbeat ideas (again, anything that's really sparked their interest), how people got the idea and how they're going about realising them, from 'unusual' dresses, colour themes, flowers, decorations, food and cake, and unusual venues - any inspiration at all!

bigmomma051204

I am having images in my head of a cross between the Grease school hall and the Superman school hall (at the reunion!) .... how about town hall or maybe even a local high school hall????? How ace would that be!? :j Then decorate with bunting, big streamers and balloons! You could even have one of those American Prom style end of night balloon nets on ceiling which releases all the balloons at end of night... :j And you could see if there are any local amateur dramatic groups who might have 50s style props etc ... you could hire a 50s cadillac and have it in the hall and use THAT as the photobooth thingy so people can use props and take the photos in the car! Ooooh and hire a jukebox and use that for the music!! Or a 50s style rock n roll band!

I love this idea!

Jo_R_2

I've thought about town hall-type places, and school halls did cross my mind...

I explained my thinking behind the ideas I've had to OH earlier and he interestingly was the first one of us to say a while ago that he wasn't keen on the idea of doing the wedding/reception in the 'usual' places - there's been three weddings he's had recently at the local football stadium and he loves the idea of thinking outside the box sort of thing!

He's come up with a couple of suggestions which were great - so so pleased

The Grease school hall is one of the sorts of ideas I had in mind, a hall with a stage and love the idea of bunting and streamers and balloons! Also both liked the idea of an old Art Deco cinema, and beautiful old buildings/rooms which we can basically hire out then just do whatever we like with.

fly_dragon_fly

Jo_R you are a woman after my own heart!


We originally decided to get married this December in a winter wedding, but after deciding we wanted something a little more than we could afford, we put it off for a while to save up. - oh you so should still have a December its very easy to do and can easily be done with a small budget

I've still been browsing online and have completely changed my mind (nothing new there then!) After reading so much on www.rockandrollbride.com and www.offbeatbride.com I have fallen in love with the idea of a real DIY wedding, something very individual that is basically the essence of who me and OH are. Although I have continued to look at the more 'traditional' wedding venues locally, I am seeing that they appear very restrictive in terms of stamping individuality on our wedding. - those two blogs are amazing aren't they!

I have a 'vision' (LOL that sounds really pretentious but that's the last thing I am, honest!:D) of how I would like things to go. It's not a complete picture in my head yet but it involves 50s style dress handmade from Etsy, - i dont know your budget but if i dont win the dolly comp this is who i am getting my dress from http://www.etsy.com/listing/46203569/polka-dot-wedding-dress but not sure whether i want it long or short she can do both and shares the same passion and excitement as me! relaxed but cute suits for the OH and the boys with Converse i love the converse idea but other half is more of a skater trainer rather than the slim line ones (not sure how old the boy kiddies will be as one's not even born yet!), funky flowers (real or fake) for the girls,- i'm having a button bouque but there is the felt ones out there and fake ones a real local influence (would love some wedding photos around the city centre as v. important place for me and OH), some kind of cheap-but-cheerful reception involving handmade decorations (cheesy bunting, colourful balloons, black-and-white photos of us and guests), a handmadephoto booth (got this idea from fly dragon fly and have read of couples doing it also)love being mentioned hehe , almost a 50s prom-type reception (not sure of what venue yet with this) with lots of 'our' kind of music (punky poppy/rock/really reflecting us and our social group and scene.)

How I go about achieving this seems a mammoth task at the mo, really exciting though as I keep reading of couples organising their dream weddings in a similar vein - it's amazing the end result some couples have achieved that I've seen on a budget and with such heartfelt help from friends and family.

I feel a LOT of lists coming on, but in the meantime, I'd love to know where people have got their inspiration from for ideas (anything that's really been food for thought for them) and any slightly more offbeat ideas (again, anything that's really sparked their interest), how people got the idea and how they're going about realising them, from 'unusual' dresses, colour themes, flowers, decorations, food and cake, and unusual venues - any inspiration at all!

i got my ideas from websites and just random things , like i'd walk down the town see something with polka dots and be oooh that would be amazing as a wedding thing!

if i had endless money i would have popcorn candy floss ice cream stands sun on a winters day lol

to play on christmas our goldfish bowls are full of white and red xmas baubles to tie in with the polka dot theme, place names are being made so are invites and menus and the rest lol

i didn't really do much exciting with the venue just wanted one with photo ops x

we are requesting people to select songs and remember to dress in 50's theme!
oh its going to be soooo fun! x

MissLibertine

Jo_R

I'm getting married (eloping) in Coney Island, New York in 3 weeks. I got a 50's style custom made dress from etsy shop jacksdaughter (cant post links as I'm a newbie) She was really helpful and made the perfect dress for me. She can custom make any 50's stlye dress in any fabric she can get her hands on, my dress including shipping from Australia was about £160. I did buy a cheaper back up dress from pacifcplex.com/formals through amazon.com

My OH bought a really cool tie from etsy shop toybreaker