The Offbeat Bride: Jessica

Her offbeat partner: Tyler, lab tech

Date and location of wedding: The Brick, South Bend Indiana - September 27, 2015

Our offbeat wedding at a glance:

We wanted the wedding to involve everything that we loved and that was related to us as a couple. We skipped some of the traditional stuff, much to our relatives' chagrin, but we believe it all paid off,including when I surprised Tyler with a Magic The Gathering cake (he lives for this game).

Tell us about the ceremony:

Our family dog, Potter, a Bernese Mountain Dog, was co-ring bearer (complete with GoPro). My fantastic bridesman Jason made our arch by hand, twice (it fell off his truck on the way to the venue and he had to start it all over!).

One of our good friends officiated. We locked a love lock around a metal tree that we purchased from an at-home store. Finally, we exited to "Raining Tacos."

Tell us about your reception:

We had board games, Magic the Gathering games, card games, and the band that was playing while we first met. We served "hippie hash," one of the meals (a breakfast dish) we used to get when we first started dating from a greasy spoon sort of place. It's also veggie-friendly for all of our vegetarian friends.

What was your most important lesson learned?

Despite all my worst fears, things will be forgotten or break, your dress might miss the clasp it needs to close, and your friends might have to sew you in, but the people who really care about you will shine through, and some might surprise you. People will let you down, but focus on what goes right and the people who love you.

Vendors

* Photography: Stacie Doi