With humor and skill, author Ariel Meadow Stallings has pulled together an amazing resource: a brilliant site for brides whose tastes don't fit the traditional mold. Whether your tastes run to eco-chic, miminalist, or a gothic gamer wedding, you'll suddenly feel a whole lot less alone in discovering this community of outside-the-box thinkers and creators.
What I love most is how the site manages to feature the offbeat, unusual, and alternative.... without ever putting down the bride who does want the white dress and all the features we associate with traditional weddings. It's all about the meaning behind it... and the desire to create the day in the way that best expresses you as a couple, and your love for each other.
I love it!!
For a quick sample: here's a guest blog post about how to tell if you're an offbeat bride:
…you ask your engaged friend, "What are your centerpieces going to be, and how are you making them?" and she looks at you funny and says the florist is bringing them. Then you remember, oh yeah, centerpieces are traditionally beautiful flower arrangements brought in by florists, not the homemade concoctions made from a combination of dried gourds, vintage buttons, wind-up toys, and mini cast-iron bicycles that you were planning on.
…your relatives think your engagement must be off just because they can't find a wedding website/registry for you on The Knot.
…you ask a bride-to-be what color her dress is and she says, "Like, do you mean ivory vs. white?" and you remember not everyone considers red/purple/rainbow/polka-dotted dresses for their wedding day.
…when you mention you're getting married, strangers, store clerks, and vendors give your bare ring finger a long look mixed with pity and suspicion.
…when you mention you're getting married, strangers, store clerks, and vendors give your bare ring finger a long look mixed with pity and suspicion.
…your engaged friend plans a 5-hour-long mimosa/hair appointment the day of the wedding and you remember not all brides plan to spend their pre-wedding time carting in the alcohol, dishes, glasses, decorations, etc. to the DIY reception site.
…your friend asks, "What are your colors?" and you stare at her blankly for 10 minutes because you have no idea what the heck she's talking about.
…friends are not amused when they ask what your theme is and you say, "Um…getting married?"
…friends and family announce "Yourname Hislastname!" and then say how good it sounds before you can stop them and explain you're keeping your own name.
…friends are not amused when they ask what your theme is and you say, "Um…getting married?"
…a coworker asks, "Have you found a church yet?" and you respond, "For what?"
…your toilet tank conspicuously lacks a stack of thick bridal magazines, and instead features a funny little blue book by some chick who has "Meadow" in her name.
And finally, you know you're an offbeat bride when you accept and celebrate your best friend's uber-traditional wedding, because that is what she wants and that is just awesome for her. And then you go out searching for the perfect set of hot pink and purple polka-dotted frogs for your cake topper and all is well in the world.
~ happy (alternative) planning!!
