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, Stallings and her fiancé 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, Stallings began searching for other brides whose ceremonies defied age-old traditions and reflected who they are. From there, she developed the idea for a guide for the offbeat couple.

Offbeat Bride validates choosing the funky, different, and offbeat over the traditional choices. This guide 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 Bridezilla. Offbeat Bride is filled with sidebars, tips, tricks, and planner encouragement—all taffeta-free—to help you figure out your special day. This updated second edition features new content, including a chapter on budget weddings in today's weak economy.

In this alternative guide to the wedding of your dreams, Stallings weaves in her own story and the stories of others to bring you a part memoir, part how-to book that makes you remember why you fell in love in the first place—uniqueness.