- Paperback: 240 pages
- Publisher: Avalon Publishing Group; illustrated edition edition (22 Dec 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1580051804
- ISBN-13: 978-1580051804
- Product Dimensions: 20.6 x 14 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 401,805 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Offbeat Bride
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
Unenthused by a white wedding gown and bored by the hoopla of the Hollywood-style reception, Ariel Meadow Stallings found herself absolutely exhausted with the nuances of traditional nuptials. So, she chose to take a walk off the beaten aisle and embrace the non-traditional bride within. Through trial and error, Ariel and her fiance managed to crank out a budget wedding with all-night dancing, guests toasting champagne in mismatched mugs, gorgeous gardens, no monogrammed napkins, no garter, no bridesmaids, and lots of lesbians. Shortly after her 2004 matrimony, Ariel began searching for other brides whose ceremonies defied age-old tradition and reflected who they are. From there, she developed the idea for a guide for the offbeat couple. Offbeat Bride serves as an inspiration for those who are interested in a vegan buffet, avoiding bouquet tossing, doing away with the elitist guest list and being a control freak without becoming a Bridezilla. Filled with sidebars, tips, tricks and planner encouragement (all taffeta-free) to help you figure out your special day, this book sees couples through the wedding process from ideas on how to announce their engagement to answering the question, "So, how's married life?" and everything in between. "
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I've been flicking through a lot of wedding books/mags and sites and have not been inspired by any of them. Realising that I may not be your average bride... and by 'average' I mean I don't fit the 'projected corporate ideal' of what a bride/wedding should be... this book suits me just dandy.
Trying on big white pouffy dresses, I soon became aware that my 'bridentity' is actually just a spruced up version of the everyday me... not a fairy tale image for one time only. 'Offbeat Bride' encourages you to embrace that idea and to run with it! Ariel's funny, heartwarming stories from her own wedding, and from other offbeat brides, is just the inspiration needed to kickstart your own wedding plans. She offers tips and advice and above all else, a great read! I've just read it through in a day and will now go through it with a highlighter so I remember the best bits.
Take note offbeat brides and grooms; if you don't want a cake.. don't have one! If you want to can-can down the aisle, do! If you want to hold your wedding at your favourite skate park... book it! Don't let tradition and other peoples prejudices hinder your celebration of your relationship! Oh, and don't forget to post your pictures on Ariel's Flickr group!
Trying on big white pouffy dresses, I soon became aware that my 'bridentity' is actually just a spruced up version of the everyday me... not a fairy tale image for one time only. 'Offbeat Bride' encourages you to embrace that idea and to run with it! Ariel's funny, heartwarming stories from her own wedding, and from other offbeat brides, is just the inspiration needed to kickstart your own wedding plans. She offers tips and advice and above all else, a great read! I've just read it through in a day and will now go through it with a highlighter so I remember the best bits.
Take note offbeat brides and grooms; if you don't want a cake.. don't have one! If you want to can-can down the aisle, do! If you want to hold your wedding at your favourite skate park... book it! Don't let tradition and other peoples prejudices hinder your celebration of your relationship! Oh, and don't forget to post your pictures on Ariel's Flickr group!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you are feeling over-whelmed or just plain appalled by the horrific world of wedding-planning, BUY THIS BOOK. Not only did it make me realise that I was not the only bride who thinks it's weird to have everything pink just because I'm getting married, but I also had to read bits out to my friends and partner saying "see? SEE? this is what I was trying to say!".
The actual advice is quite USA-focussed, but it's still worth it just to read Ariel's story. She also has a fantastic website.
The actual advice is quite USA-focussed, but it's still worth it just to read Ariel's story. She also has a fantastic website.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is just the sort of wedding book that I was looking for: it's entertaining, insightful, useful and above all it doesn't take itself too seriously. It's a great blend of anecdotes from Ariel and other similarly non traditional brides about their wedding days and the planning leading up to it and advice to brides who are in the process of arranging their own weddings. As just such a bride, I found the book relatable and the hints and tips invaluable. Unlike other wedding books and magazines that I've encountered, the advice in Offbeat Bride doesn't concern how to fold your own napkins and the most politically correct way to seat people at the reception, but things like how to say "thanks, but no thanks" and how to avoid being talked into decisions because "it's tradition". True, none of these things is particularly new or startling, but Ariel's voice as she writes is so matter-of-fact and irreverent about the whole process that it's like receiving a welcome, reassuring chat from a friend that everything will be ok, just stop fussing about the little things. At the same time, she never loses sight of the fact that getting married is (gasp) important to people and that most people will go a tiny bit crazy over something completely irrational at some point during the planning phases. This book presents a very balanced view, which is a welcome change from a lot of the wedding literature out there.
It's worth noting that I'm having probably the most traditional wedding imaginable. However, don't let the title fool you; this book is an ideal read for any bride (or groom for that matter), whether planning a beach wedding with everyone in costume as pirates or a traditional ceremony in a white meringue of a dress. Dilemmas like people disapproving, being offended by the guest list, or just wanting to help a little bit too much are certainly not unique to brides who favour black dresses and purple hair. A wedding, it seems, is something on which everyone has an opinion, regardless of how unwelcome that may be. Offbeat Bride recognises that and offers some great ways to either accept or ignore it. It provides some much-needed perspective and entertainment at a time when it's very easy to take things too seriously.
It's worth noting that I'm having probably the most traditional wedding imaginable. However, don't let the title fool you; this book is an ideal read for any bride (or groom for that matter), whether planning a beach wedding with everyone in costume as pirates or a traditional ceremony in a white meringue of a dress. Dilemmas like people disapproving, being offended by the guest list, or just wanting to help a little bit too much are certainly not unique to brides who favour black dresses and purple hair. A wedding, it seems, is something on which everyone has an opinion, regardless of how unwelcome that may be. Offbeat Bride recognises that and offers some great ways to either accept or ignore it. It provides some much-needed perspective and entertainment at a time when it's very easy to take things too seriously.
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