The Event

We love beer festivals, but they can be overwhelming for the casual drinker and don’t always offer practical or local options for couples to incorporate into their wedding. Then there are the wedding expos that tend to be very “frilly” and don’t appeal to most couples. Wedtoberfest is a great way to have your cake, beer, and planning too!

With an evening of beer & bubbly, Wedtoberfest is an alternative wedding expo that includes all the fun of a beer festival. Attendees will receive a commemorative tasting glass at the beginning of the event and tickets to enjoy beverage flights and pours from the featured breweries. We’ll also offer some other boozy drinks for those who appreciate more than just craft beer.

Beyond the beer, Wedtoberfest presents some of the best wedding vendors and artisans in their town. These hand-picked small businesses show off their products and services in a casual, no-pressure environment. In addition to all the beer & bubbly, attendees will sample delicious food, get tons of Pinterst-worthy inspiration, and unwind to some amazing tunes.

For more information about attending an event, check out the FAQ. For more details on how to join as a vendor, check out these FAQ. For questions about being a national sponsor, please email us at hello@wedtoberfest.com

Wedtoberfest Event. A Highlight Video by LEAP Weddings. from LEAP Weddings on Vimeo.

The History

On October 12, 1810 the Crown Prince Ludwig and his lovely new bride celebrated their royal wedding with the people of Munich. This huge celebration has been a beloved event called Oktoberfest ever since. Usually this party is a 16-day festival starting in September that includes horse races and tree climbing. While we don’t plan on any making any couples climb trees, Wedtoberfest will keep the spirit of that first Oktoberfest with one fun night of drinking, music, and wedding planning. We think King Ludwig would approve!

Wedtoberfest started in 2013 as a collaboration between Carlene of Naturally Yours Events and the Green Wedding Alliance. The two annual events focused on supporting local breweries and greener wedding vendors through a beer festival style event and pop-up planning lounge. Originally dubbed ‘Bridetoberfest’, the event was later rebranded to Wedtoberfest to be more inclusive and gender neutral.

With two awesome Wedtoberfest events under her belt, in 2015 Carlene enlisted Kelly of Indie Wed to help grow the Chicago event even more. Indie Wed is one of the largest and longest running non-traditional weddings expos in the country and we couldn’t be more lucky to have Kelly on our advisory team!

The Team

Wedtoberfest is brought to you by the Naturally Yours Events team! We are the masterminds behind the original concept of Wedtoberfest. Our company specializes in events that are eco-friendly, memorable, and absolutely fun. So of course, a non-traditional, beer-themed wedding expo fits into the Naturally Yours Events spirit effortlessly. Since 2013, we have grown Wedtoberfest from a small expo in Chicago to a large national event in multiple cities. We can’t wait to prost with you, grow our brands, and have fun with our clients together!

About the Design

The artwork and design for the site were created by Kelly with additional web development provided by Jonathan Poole and SoloPine.  Site images by Cage & AquariumEd and Aileen Photography, Ingrid Bonne Photography, Ryan Moore Photography, and Tuan B & Co.