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May 19, 2011

Kerry rated it:

I wish I had read this when I first started planning my wedding!

Really truly wonderful. The author is someone I wish I hung out with, but the book isn't just "here is what I thought was bullshit, and what we did differently." I mean it IS that, but it also talks about how to figure out what works for YOU. Both inspirational and instructional, and I recommend it to everyone (dudes and girls) planning a wedding -- even if you don't think it's going to be "Off-Beat," More...

3 comments like (3 people liked it)

Sep 12, 2008

Lori rated it:

This book has become sort of a talisman/mantra for me. I'll probably read it several more times over the next year. I would suggest to anyone who marches to the beat of their own steel guitar but those family tends to put on a more traditional show. Less of a guide or source of ideas...more of a reaffirmation that one of the most important days of your life is really about the two of you, your values, your inspirations and your life together. And it would be a disservice to NOT honor all tho More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Oct 16, 2007

Jessica rated it:

Since becoming engaged, I've read every "alterna-wedding" guide I could get my hands on and this is the only one that made any kind of sense or truly delivered on the "You can screw tradition and REALLY do whatever the hell you want for your wedding" philosophy. Ariel offers her loads of non-patronizing, useful advice for the indie-bride with a sardonic wit and makes you feel like you're talking to your (really funny) best friend, rather than reading a guide book. If you want More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jun 27, 2008

Kristina rated it:

You need to read this book if you are getting hitched. It is hilarious and it is a book about weddings for the rest of us. Basically a former hippie raver gets engaged and has to figure out what she buys in to as far as the "wedding industrial complex" is concerned. Read a little Martha but be sure you pick up this one to keep your head on straight.
One of the best pieces of advice is about Bachelorette parties: If going to bars and drinking through penis straws is your idea of a More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Feb 20, 2011

Emily rated it:

A great quick read to catch your breath and put wedding planning into perspective. Gave me some good insight into how to think about things as I start the wedding planning process and inspired a few ideas.

I would warn, however, not to get too caught up in it. If you're reading this book, it's probably because you aren't thrilled with the idea of a super-traditional by the book wedding. Hooray! This book will encourage you to keep your chin up. It will also provide an excellent framewor More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Feb 20, 2011

Tami Lynn rated it:

With just a little over a year before our wedding, I decided it was time to start perusing this book (thanks Lori!).
Since I am creative, edgy, "offbeat" if you will, and [let's be honest:] I have already looked at a dozen of indie/ diy/ green/ eccentric wedding sites, Jayk and I already have some rough ideas for our non-traditional, unique event.
Therefore through the first section of this book I thought, "Why am I reading this? I know this stuff.. yes my bridesmaids w More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jul 12, 2007

Grace rated it:

Ariel Meadow Stallings has written what hopefully will be the first in a long line of new-style wedding literature...a book for the "Indie Bride," or those who choose to walk a different path from the cookie cutter wedding the industry wants to shove at us already fully formed for a paltry $20-30,000. Although her book doesn't include many "how to" craft projects or exact instructions, it does create a feeling of "rightness" in the mind of those brides who are alre More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 10, 2009

Irene rated it:

This book was written by a slightly neurotic but charming blogger/writer/former raver/Burningman party girl from Seattle about her wedding to a nice, calm, quiet guy. Basically, it was written just for me. It was full of encouragement, funny stories and thoughtful suggestions about how to plan a wedding from scratch without taking anything as a given and deciding carefully what parts of the Wedding Industrial Complex to take and what to leave. I smiled while reading it and handed it to my partne More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 07, 2009

Susie rated it:

Everyone and their mother told me to pick this book up, so I did. Here's what I thought:

Um...Process Blue was the absolute WORST choice for a spot color EVER. In all the little "Did you know?" type side-bars, the black is imperceptible on top of the blue, I felt like a grandma holding the book 1 inch from my face just so I could read about how the author gets stoned and stares at a disco ball to unwind from wedding planning.

So, the book is written with some humo More...

1 comment like (4 people liked it)

Sep 02, 2011

Monica! rated it:

Okay, so it’s not like this book taught me anything I didn’t already know. Save money by holding your wedding outdoors and coercing your friends into providing the alcohol? Check! Avoid religious or cultural confrontations by creating a tasteful blend of various traditions in your ceremony? Gotcha! Think of alternatives to foofy white princess weddings by allowing guests to wear whatever they want, building a wedding website for RSVPing rather than using expensive mailed cards, and encourag More...

4 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jun 21, 2009

Phoebe rated it:

I guess my review of this book can double as an announcement: Jordan and I have set the date for a tiny, quirky wedding on October 10th! Man, those are some words I never thought I'd say. Initially, I really wanted to elope, bypassing the whole wedding planning fervor completely. But he, fairly, wanted to include some friends and family into the hullabaloo. So instead of focusing on private, whispered vows, I'm turning to places like indiebride and offbeatbrides to provide some guidance into thi More...

3 comments like (1 person liked it)

May 07, 2009

Emily rated it:

Stallings is right. The Wedding Industrial Complex is stifling and repelling brides (and grooms) everywhere, and they are desperately in need of alternative options and communities to encourage their nonconformity. Naturally, one autobiographical book by one woman can never represent nor satisfy the millions of different nonconformists, but Stallings tries her best to cover all possible topics from the point of view of the quintessential woman determined to celebrate her marriage the way she a More...

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Dec 02, 2007

Penny rated it:

Now that I'm thinking about it, I'm kind of embarassed to admit that I read (or tried to read) this book). Maybe I thought it would be different than all the other bridal books geared towards feeding the big, ugly wedding industry. In some ways, it's different. The focus still suggests that it's (only) the bride's special day. The only difference is that this particular Bridezilla has crazy hair and didn't go for anything traditional. I should've known better.

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Jul 31, 2011

Lana. rated it:

Not exactly a DIY book, but certainly a fun read.

Ariel reveals her challenges being an offbeat bride while also offering stories and tips from fellow friends who also have different takes on the idea of a wedding. This is all dished up in such a humourous and entertaining way, I felt I was hearing my way-cooler (imaginary) older sister giving me direct advice.

And definitely, I needed some of it. While my fiance wants something more "traditional" - I remind More...

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Dec 02, 2009

Rachel rated it:

This is what I read to help plan my wedding instead of the usual giant, monthly tomes full of advertisements. She uses the story of how she planned her own wedding to help other, possibly more timid, possibly more disorganized brides, put the unusual wedding of their dreams together. She does offer reasonable advice for those going the non-traditional route, and she validated my decision not to use a seating chart. This received three stars because her writing was only so-so. She definitely More...

2 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 31, 2007

kdubs rated it:

sometimes, the things that this book described as "offbeat" (consider asking a friend to be an officiant!) were really not so offbeat at all. However, it was nice to have some validation for struggling with some of the other issues surrounding engagements and weddings. There were multiple pages about the struggle over whether or not to get a fancy ring (and many people thought i was just whacko for considering an alternative)

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Jan 14, 2008

Sienna rated it:

The amount of information available to anyone planning a wedding is ridiculously bloated to the point of being downright unhelpful. I picked up this book from Amazon on a whim and am really glad I did; it's been a great reminder to focus on what matters to Chris and me and let the stress inherent to the other details fall by the wayside. Lots of great advice and inspiring ideas as well.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 17, 2007

Meghan rated it:

I'm getting married... and I guess you'd say I'm offbeat...so it only seems logical that I would read this book. It is a really witty read that has tons of useful advice and keeps you from completely losing your mind during wedding planning. Rather, it informs you that you will</> lose your mind, but at least gives you a warning.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Mar 10, 2010

Victoria rated it:

Let it be known that this book isn't a how-to guide, as any book about having a unique, personal wedding can't be. It is mostly the story of the author's wedding and many vignettes she has heard from friends. If a how-to is what you want (I certainly didn't), don't purchase this book.

That said, this was a really fantastic book for brides who want to create their wedding on their own terms. If you're skeptical of the wedding industry, be it certain traditions or the idea that you have t More...

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Nov 08, 2010

Katie rated it:

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 mag More...

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Jan 14, 2011

Abigail rated it:

I enjoyed reading anecdotes from dozens of weddings. I also enjoyed learning how other couples managed to create a wedding they could actually enjoy. However, the book was pretty self-serving and took the "Do what's right for you" attitude to an extreme. (Lots of apologetic-but-not-really stories from brides who consider themselves to be counter-culture but chose to wear a big fluffy white dress, have dad give them away, or took their husbands' last names. Hey, we can all do what w More...

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Jul 28, 2011

Sarah added it

While this book was an entertaining and fun read, I was mislead by the subtitle to believe it was more of a wedding planning guide then it was. Once I figured out that it was more of a memoir with helpful tips, I was able to just enjoy. Her story is interesting and it makes me smile how one person's radical is another person's blase. Most of her suggestions were not surprising or scary to me, but I can see how fans of the wedding industrial complex might need to breathe into a paper bag at th More...

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Jan 27, 2011

Emilia rated it:

Ok it's a real-ish book. Not serious business.
This is one of those books you read to assuage your frayed freaking out nerves, not an actual how-to book. And I'd argue that this is better, because hey, why don't you do your wedding the way you want to, and not the Etsy way or the Real Simple way or the David's Bridal way. Swatches? What are those? It was a pretty heartening, fairly personal, while also universalizing look at what it's like to do a wedding your own way -- even the simplest o More...

3 comments like

Oct 25, 2011

Laura rated it:

Well, my name is not Ariel Meadow Stallings, and I did not grow up in a rainforest on Bainbridge Island, and my mom is not currently in a lesbian relationship, and I do not love hula hoops ... at all, and I have never been to Burning Man. So, some of the ideas Stallings throws out are a bit past my purview. BUT there were some things that I could certainly sympathize with and draw from, and it was a nice offset to all of the otherwise OMGILOVEWEDDINGSYAYHAVENTYOUBEENWAITINGFORTHISALLYOURLIFE?? More...

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May 06, 2010

Jen rated it:

I consider myself as "offbeat" as the best of them, but this book was mostly about hippies and feminists. Not that I have a problem with either of those groups, but honestly, if you're going to discuss alternative ways to have your wedding, maybe it's best that you don't shove your ideas in someone's face. I felt as though I was being anti-modern-woman for wanting to have my dad walk me down the aisle and wanting to take my fiancee's last name.

I would only recommend this b More...

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Dec 08, 2008

Heather rated it:

Don't freak out -- I'm didn't read this book for any reason other than that I know Ariel and had been wanting to read her first book for a while now. Also, I love weddings. THERE IS NO SUBTEXT HERE.

It's a great book, though, and very evenhanded. Whenever Ariel points out that she's not overly fond of something (a tradition, a style, etc.) she indicates that someone she knows liked it that way. Reinforcing the subjectivity of what's "important" in the wedding trade, while enco More...

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May 23, 2010

Amy rated it:

This book was fine insofar as it reinforced my belief that a wedding will still be valid, even if the bride doesn't wear white or throw a bouquet, and the tone is appropriately, relentlessly, positive and accepting. Most of her ideas, though, seem difficult to achieve unless you have a wide circle of friends consisting primarily of chefs and professional makeup artists. Also, reception planning seems a lot easier if you have a family member with a large patch of land or a friend with a huge lo More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Feb 27, 2010

Molly rated it:

I thought this offered alot of what most bridal books are missing. Sometimes we just want to be told about every little step/misstep and how it all worked instead of going at length into the floral arrangements. Tell me more about how you forgot to send your mom a thank you note and how we shouldn't do that.

Especially for women who feel conflicted about the whole institution of marriage and the bridal industry, this was a really worthwhile read. And easy- I think I read it in abo More...

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Oct 02, 2009

Stephanie rated it:

I sat in Barnes & Noble one day in the wedding section, completely overwhelmed and sickened by the tasteless commercialization of weddings.

But in my world, if you need to know something, you look for it in a book.

Thank fucking god that I came across this wonderful, delightful, amazing book that GETS IT. That understands why I don't want to drop thousands of dollars on a wedding and I want to make my own dress and want to have a bonfire.

This book is informative More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Apr 19, 2011

KD rated it:

This book was written in a easy to read, matter of fact style. While overflowing with social and political opinions, anyone could benefit from reading this book if they are capable of over-looking rampant mentions of hippies, raves, and feminism.

The author does take great care to not alienate the reader while still standing on her soapbox about a myriad of issues from time to time, and really gets down to enforcing the point that the most important detail about a couple's wedding da More...

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