The Offbeat Bride: Mandy, Railway Signaller (and Tribesmaid)

Her offbeat partner: Nathan, Storeman

Date and location of wedding: Yarra Ranges Estate, Monbulk, Victoria, Australia - October 27, 2013

Our offbeat wedding at a glance:
We wanted a fun day, not just for us, but for everyone who came to celebrate the day with us. That's why we included things like the photo booth, a candy bar, personalised crosswords and find-a-words, and fun "did you know?" facts on the back of each place card. We also wanted no white dress, no long ceremony, no bouquet toss or garter throw, and we definitely wanted to see each other before the ceremony.

Tell us about the ceremony:
We kept our ceremony short and sweet because neither of us really enjoy being up in front of people. These were our cheesy vows we wrote:

Nathan: I choose to live with you and laugh with you.
Amanda: To stand by your side, and sleep in your arms.
Nathan: To be joy to your heart and food for your soul.
Amanda: To help you love life and to always hold you with tenderness.
Nathan: To bring out the best in you always, and, for you, to be the most that I can.
Amanda: To love you for all that you are, all that you have been, and all you're yet to be.
Nathan: I promise to love you, even when you're in a bad mood, not just when you're fun to be with.
Amanda: I promise to laugh with you in good times, to support with you in bad.
Nathan: To speak words when words are needed.
Amanda: And to share silence when they are not.
Nathan: To always listen to what you have to say, even when we don't see eye to eye.
Amanda: And to remember love is saying 'I feel differently' instead of 'you're wrong.'
Nathan: I vow to trust and value your opinions, and stand by your actions.
Amanda: I vow to always treat you as my best friend and equal.
Nathan: My heart will be your shelter and my arms will be your home. As I have given you my hand to hold, I give you my life to keep.
Amanda: My heart will be your shelter and my arms will be your home. As I have given you my hand to hold, I give you my life to keep.
Nathan: May this ring forever be to you, the symbol of my endless love.
Amanda: May this ring forever be to you, the symbol of my endless love.

We also had a rose ceremony, exchanging a single white rose each, our first gifts to each other as husband and wife. This meant a lot to me, as it is now a symbol for each of us to say we love each other. So if we ever have a fight, we can remind each other of our love, with a single white rose.

Our biggest challenge:
The only challenge I had was my corset. When it was first done up, clearly it was done too tight. I was fine at first, but once we got in the limo to go to the venue, I started having trouble breathing. Once we got to the venue, I just wanted to get out only the limo driver wouldn't let me. Once I eventually got out, the girls fixed up my dress and I could breathe again!

My funniest moment:
The funniest moment has to have been our first dance. Neither of us are big dancers, but especially Nathan - he hates being in front of people. We did our awkward sway to"Still Into You" by Paramore, but once the bridal party came up to join us, Nathan decided to have a little fun. He had so much fun dancing with his best mates. It was one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

My favorite moment:
The first look was so meaningful for us. Sneaking up to Nathan, and just being able to hug and kiss him, knowing what the rest of the day would bring, was incredible. While people were taking photos around us, we got to just stand with each other and talk a little bit.

Enough talk - show me the wedding porn!

Care to share a few vendor/shopping links?

This post features Offbeat Vendors! Check out their vendor listing to see how they cater to Offbeat Brides: