Almost 2500 of you took my 2010 Reader Survey in January, and I figured I'd say thank you by sharing some of the results.
First, the nitty gritty:
- Unsurprisingly, 98% of you are women, with 1% each identifying as male or transgender (Aside: big thanks to the reader who suggested I add "Neither/Both" as a gender option. I'd let the survey software autopopulate the gender question with Male and Female as the only options, which was dumb. Sarah Dopp of Genderfork recently wrote a great post on this)
- The majority of you are in your mid- to late-20s
- 85% of you are white and 7% of you are multi-racial
- 13% of you identify as gay, lesbian, transgender, or otherwise queer
Now, let's dive into some more nuanced data...
It's interesting to me that really only half of you are currently engaged. Offbeat Bride is of course primarily about wedding planning, but a third of our readers are either not yet engaged (18%) or recently married (14%). Y'all show up for the party early, and stay late to help us wash the dishes — I love that about you!
When I last did a reader survey just over a year ago, the most shocking thing I learned was how few offbeatbride.com readers read my book. In December 2008, 65% of you hadn't read my book, prompting me to write a post titled 10 reasons you need to read Offbeat Bride the book, and not just offbeatbride.com. Clearly, my efforts were fruitless because this year 72% of you haven't read the book. I'm trying to convince myself that it's because some of you are waiting for the second edition to be released in a couple weeks. If you've been waiting, ladies: NOW IS THE TIME!
In terms of what y'all want to see on the site, you told us loud and clear that you want more DIY content, more advice, and more budgeting tips. Well, I've already got Offbeat Shrie bumping up her DIY efforts, and I've recommitted myself to answering more advice questions. As far as budgeting, I'll see what I can do to bring in a few guest-posters.
The write-in comments for what you want more of on the site were super interesting. One of the challenges of running a site dedicated to nontraditional brides is that ALL of you wants to see more people like yourself on the site — and you're a diverse lot! More Native American brides, more plus size brides, more international content, more Jewish weddings, more stuff in the Midwest, more interfaith weddings, more black wedding gowns, more information about elopements, more men.
Of course we try to provide ALL these things, but the sad truth is this: Offbeat Bride will never be everything for everyone. We do the best we can to keep the site varied and diverse, but ultimately there are a few things we just aren't:
- Offbeat Bride is written for women. Offbeat Grooms get coverage here and everyone is welcome to read, but ultimately I wrote my book and founded this website to cater to women, and that focus will remain. In having this focus, I'm certainly not saying men shouldn't love weddings and be actively involved in planning them. I'm just saying I do my best writing and community building for women, and so that's what I choose to do. I recommend the Offbeat Groom Gang for the menfolks!
- Offbeat Bride is based in the United States. We LOVE international weddings and featured tons of weddings in the UK and Australia/New Zealand, but ultimately we're American and it would be disingenuous to claim we're experts on wedding traditions or trends in other countries.
- Offbeat Bride is focused on weddings. This means that we're not especially interested in engagement stories and photos, and we don't dedicate a ton of time to talking about marriage. I'm trying to integrate a bit more of this "offbeat wife" post-wedding writings for y'all, but for the most part I chose to keep this site focused on weddings.
All this is to say: YES! We're always aiming to get a wider diversity of brides and weddings on this site. But, NO! There's just no way we'll be able to be absolutely everything to every single one of you. There's only one person who can make the perfect website for, say, an Inuit rockabilly planning a queer interfaith Jewish ceremony in a cave — and that's you. So while you might not always relate to every single thing you see on Offbeat Bride, hopefully you can enjoy most of it.
Coming in Part 2: What subcultures do most Offbeat Brides identify with? What's coming next for Offbeat Bride? And what Offbeat website will we be launching next?
About Ariel Meadow Stallings
Author of Offbeat Bride: Creative Alternatives for Independent Brides, Ariel acts as the publisher of all the Offbeat Empire websites. She lives, loves, and dorks out hard in Seattle, WA.
@iyazzy said
I can not wait for the second edition of the book! I just read the first one and it is interesting that more people haven't read the book.
OffbeatAriel said
Not to sell myself short, but I'm not sure I'd recommend buying the second edition if you've read the first — there's not THAT much new material.
I mean, if you want to, be my guest of course!! But I'd hate for you to think you're getting a new book and find that it's just a new intro, one new chapter, and a new cover.
@mydwynter said
The stymied genderqueer person who asked for the Neither/Both option? That was me. Thanks again for adding it, and gladly; one of the joys of this site is its diversity and openness, and this wedding-planning trip is weird and difficult enough without me being made more aware that I don't fit into boxes very well. Hell, this *life* is weird and difficult enough without that being made more obvious.
So thanks for making something easy. I appreciate it.
elizatara said
I LOVE this site. We are down to 38 days until the big day and it makes me a little sad that once I'm married I won't be able to get ideas from here anymore..but you can bet I'll still be logging in. I enjoying seeing everyone's ideas and all the different weddings even though I might not do it for mine I still love how authentic everyone is to themselves.
Alissa said
I'm one of those non-engaged / non-bride readers. But I am an artist. I love reading this blog (and the book) because all of you ladies are SO CREATIVE! It's wonderful to see how you all express yourselves starting with the same template: two people in love wanting to make a public commitment.
Lindsey said
I'm the same way – not engaged, but love all the gorgeous, artsy brilliance that pops up on here constantly. I haven't bought the book since I'm not planning a wedding – but when that changes, I certainly will!
Erin said
I didn't read the book for two reasons. First, I feel like I got most of what I would have gotten from the book on the website. I'm sure there is tons of stuff in the book that isn't on the website, but I got the general idea (your wedding is not a contest, do what makes you happy) from the website. Also, I heard from someone who had read the book that it is mostly your individual story and less general advice. Usually I love reading advice based around a personal story, but I think you probably know enough about weddings to minimize your story and devote more time to the vital information that we all need. That's just me, though. I definitely considered purchasing it many times because the price is good, and I'm actually still considering it now that I'm married, which is pretty weird.
alexandria said
I admit, I found the site first, and then when I became officially engaged, I bought the book. (I figured, hiding a website I visit frequently would be easier than hiding a book from my FH. Hey, I wanted my proposal to him to be a complete surprise…
)
Alix said
yeah…I LOVE offbeat bride, and offbeat mama, because this is where I see myself in 1-2 years, and I need to get those ideas brewin. However, if FH knew either of those two timelines, I would have some splainin' to do. The wedding porn is just as easy to hide as, say, real porn when only viewed on the webs.
Sara said
I love reading the Reader Survey Results… I always find it so interesting. Can't wait for Part Two!
Nicole Barker said
I read the book about 5 months into wedding planning, and I wish I had read it before I started planning. Ariel, you covered so many obstacles I had just dealt with, it would have been nice to realize they were coming before I hit them… I felt that the book was indeed mostly story, but I LOVED that about it. It was much more interesting and easy to read than a pure wedding guide. I actually wanted to read more (whereas the other wedding books I picked up were too dry to read for more than 5 minutes at a time). Ultimately, I found that the blog and (especially!) OBT were more useful in concrete details of wedding planning, but the book was useful for the overall feeling of what I was experiencing and likely to experience as I continued my planning… That's my two cents! BTW, it was last year's survey and the "10 reasons you must read the book" post that made me actually grab it off Amazon…. so not completely fruitless, your efforts
Data Whore said
mmm….. survey data…….
Love reading about this… more graphs please!
It's true, I think I did say I wanted to see more of me:) well, people similar to me. Did brides who identified themselves as more 'bookish' buy your book?
Dina E. said
I'd totally read your book if you had an Australian distributor! ;P I'm far to lazy to buy it online.
Sabrina said
Dina, I felt this way originally, and none of the NZ bookstores stocked it. But eventually I bought the book from Amazon and it was SO EXCITING when it arrived. I was most persuaded by Ariel's reasoning "support the woman who supports you!"
Erin said
I second this; please sell it in Australia! I looked for it in bookstores here but couldn't find it
Becca said
I'm a "not quite engaged" reader, and thats the only reason I haven't yet bought the book. The boyfriend is a little sensitive about getting married on his terms, not just mine (understandable, marriage is a team effort) and might lose his stuff if I start buying wedding books already! I've had to restrain myself at the bookstore a few times and Offbeat Bride is always the first I reach for.
Why do I read the blog then? I'm a weird girl in a town that doesn't appreciate weird and I think that planning the wedding will be a delicate task, therefore I'm trying to soak up as much info and advice as possible.
Thanks again for everything you do, this is one of the best online communities I've come across, period.
Tam said
I'm exactly the same! I haven't bought the book because I'm 'not-quite-engaged'. It's easy to read the site at work and drool over the weddings but it's a bit weird to buy a book before you're engaged!
Ashley said
Agreed! Count me as another not-quite-fiancee. We've looked at rings, but haven't sealed the deal. I'd guess a lot of us in this 18% are skittish about buying the book. I've got it in my amazon wishlist and I'll have it sent to me the moment I qualify for the OBT…
Tam said
I'm exactly the same! I haven't bought the book because I'm 'not-quite-engaged'. It's easy to read the site at work and drool over the weddings but it's a bit weird to buy a book before you're engaged!
Becca said
Update! I'm now engaged and the 2nd edition of Offbeat Bride should be arriving in an amazon box any day now
Jessica_Iowa said
I waited until Derrik engaged me to buy the book last year. I will say that I read the website before I bought the book. I have to say having both has been very beneficial.
It is kind of like having a text book that has a good website you can get updated information from. I really wish I could justify buying the second edition. I might buy it after I start my summer job.
Thanks for sharing the reader survey, I'm looking forward to the next part.
Zingopink said
Is "cult of personality" a valid reason?
I actually stumbled across you in a Pink Hair LJ, and your Electrolicious website and photos were so interesting, I just kept wandering over. I've been married almost 19 years, and my kids have another 10 years or so before they are in that zone…. but I love looking at the crazy creative beautiful stuff you post. The fashion and fresh ideas. I discovered Steampunk thru Off-Beat Bride! Thru Off-Beat Bride, my 11yo daughter has been exposed to much more than the "White Princess Bride" homogeneity that is rampant. It's really important to have kids see other ideas besides the ones that rule their small suburb.
Keep up the good work.
Katharine said
Good job showing this to your daughter! I think more girls need to be exposed to positive wedding reinforcement.
Scootie said
Also one of the not-yet-engaged girls, but I'm hoping to change that this weekend.
When the time for real planning starts to come around, I will most certainly grab the book. Don't want to be TOO pre-emptive just yet, ya know.
Thus far, my opinion of this site overall is simply downright entertaining and inspiring!
irisira said
I haven't read the book *yet* – honestly, we're planning a wedding in 8 months (now 7, and it's by choice, I personally don't have the patience for a long engagement!), and since getting engaged I've had no time to get to the library! Plus, with budget cuts, most libraries nearby don't have Sunday hours, and guess what … neither do bridal salons!
But, it's on my list of books to search for.
In the meantime, a dear friend who is also planning her wedding, sent me three used books – the Anti-Bride Etiquette Guide, The Conscious Bride, and Bride in Overdrive.
So, I'm not totally behind the 8-ball!
ginnygrace84 said
I had just added your book to my Amazon shopping cart when I read that you had a 2nd edition coming out, so I quickly changed my order and the damn thing better hurry up and arrive! As always, thanks for everything!
Ria said
I actually was waiting for the second edition of the book! And I'll be getting it with my next paycheck.
Lau said
I love the site, haven't read the book (like some have stated above, I'm not engaged, don't wanna freak my bf out)…
'Offbeat Bride is based in the United States. '
I think we all get this, but at the same time, surely online content can be more flexible than that? If you are trying to cater to as many audiences as possible and be super inclusive, and if a large percentage of your audience is, for example, Malaysian, then it would make sense to feature more Malaysian weddings or more Malaysian guest bloggers. You don't need to be or claim to be experts in international wedding trends, no one is asking you to.
Keep up the good work!
OffbeatAriel said
Oh Lau, we absolutely try do this! We make a big effort to have OBB be international, but I also have to recognize that 75% of OBB's traffic is in the USA. Only 7% of our readers are from Canada, and 7% from the UK, and 5% from Australia and New Zealand combined. We aim to have our content roughly match those percentages, which means featuring at least one international wedding a week.
I LOVE our International content — in fact, it seems like Canada and Australia, specifically, are culturally way more offbeat than the US is when it comes to weddings. But I also wanted to recognize that since only 7 out of every 100 visitors are from Australia … it's likely that only 7 out of every 100 posts will be catered to their region.
The point I wanted to make is just that as much as we will continue to serve our International readers with delicious international wedding porn, ultimately Offbeat Bride will always be based in the US.
(Although, if it were up to me, we'd probably be based in Canada. Socialized health care what WHAT!)
Katharine said
I know that there are certainly factors to consider but… it is up to you!
ps – Canada is awesome and you should move here. Not just for the socialized health care. And yes, our wedding culture is a lot less insane and white (in all senses…) here.
corinne said
I didn't fill out the survey! But I ABSOLUTELY read the book early on and loved it. I've found the site to be a lifesaver–I almost always get the answers I need. There's no way I could be planning this wedding without the book and the site.
Sarah said
I'll fess up too – I didn't fill out the survey – but I check in every day and thoroughly enjoy reading this site even though I am also one of the non-engaged/non-married types. You're book is going to be the first one I buy when that does happen though. Keep up the great work!
Sara said
Maybe for the next survey the list should be seperated into "Those who are engaged/married: have you read the book?" and "Those who are soon-to-be engaged: have you read the book?" since it sounds like a lot of people visit the website, but wait to buy until they have a confirmed engagement.
another Sara (B) said
I agree with Sara on separating out the question. I am a non-engaged, female in a long term relationship when/if I do become engaged I'll definitely be buying the book, but until then it seems a bit hasty.
I love the site though for two reasons: I love party planning, and like reading about all these weddings, and I love all the pictures. All these beautiful happy pictures of people in love, and all the people around them smiling, laughing and having a good time. It's the shinny-happy people holding hands that draws me in, the wedding porn.
bigDEElight said
I don't know, the results make me feel even more left out than before (in reference to race/diversity seeing as I'm part of the remaining 8%) but I'll still enjoy OBT & OBB.
Hannah said
Hey, I would JUMP to read your book but I have no money, as I am a student who's funds are non existent. But when i get the change YOU BETCHA I WILL
OffbeatAriel said
Yay for the library!
Hannah said
our library has three floors, and a massive amount on each floor but NO OFFBEAT BRIDE. I have requested it 3 times!!! silly librarians.
Marissa said
I'm dying to read the book, but I haven't found it in any of my local bookstores! I was just in Barnes and Noble yesterday and thinking they'd have it now that it's be re-released, I combed the wedding section and asked the desk clerk. No luck. They don't carry it, but they did offer to order it for me…but, I don't want to drive another 45 minutes to go pick it up! As I get a bit further along in my wedding planning, I'll definitely be ordering it online and have it sent to me, which I would've done already, but FH thinks I spend enough time logging in to OBT as it is! =]
Ariel, if you're interested, I've checked four bookstores in my area in person that don't carry the book.:
Books-A-Million Gainesville, Ga
B&N Buford, Ga
B&N Cumming, Ga
B&N Atlanta, Ga (Edgewood retail center–super surprising, I can understand the small towns, but ATLANTA?!)
OffbeatAriel said
The second edition won't be in bookstores for a couple weeks, and I'm guessing the first edition is being phased out in anticipation of the second arriving soon.
I don't have any control over who carries the book — that's all up to my publisher, Seal Press.
Anie said
I can't speak for B&N but when I wanted to buy the book I just walked into the Borders on Peachtree Rd, picked it up off the shelf and took it home. So I guess, check a Borders or wait for the 2nd Ed.
Evalyn said
I'll admit, I loitered for close to a year before I purchased the book a few months back. I guess I could have waited for the second edition, but oh wells. =P