I was recently interviewed for an article in the Northwest Herald, a paper in Illinois:

From tasting the cake to choosing that perfect first dance number, most wedding preparations are fun and exciting.

But there’s one task that can drive a seemingly normal couple to the brink of insanity – the guest list. For small weddings, which industry experts define as fewer than 100 people, the process is even more overwhelming.

“It’s really challenging,” said Ariel Meadow Stallings, author of the book “Offbeat Bride: Taffeta-Free Alternatives for Independent Brides.” “You feel like a bouncer at a club. You’re in charge of this VIP list.”

Read the full article.

My Today Show appearance is online for your viewing pleasure. (This vid includes both the taped part as well as the in-studio interview.) Who can spot offbeatbride.com in the segment?

I was interviewed by a Canadian newspaper for an article about the red wedding dress trend: Bold brides see red when it comes to wedding dresses.

“I’m not saying that all nontraditional weddings should be reactionary, or that your wedding is a place to be rebellious,” the Seattle-based writer told the Georgia Straight. “But I think red wedding dresses are a superficial expression of a deeper commitment to doing what you want to do. The woman wearing it shows that she’s willing to do what she wants to do, and take on the challenges and criticism that comes with that.”

Read the article.

There’s a new excerpt of the book up on DivineCaroline. The chapter excerpted is called “Location, location, location: Picking the Where and When of the Wedding.”

In terms of mainstream media reception, Offbeat Bride has done better in Canada than it has in the U.S. As I’d expected, the book has gotten great reception from independent and local press in the US, but national media has definitely deemed the book way, way too weird. Which is fine with me.

That said, I’m so glad things are different in Canada! Elle Canada ran excerpts on their website, something that would never fly for Elle in the States. Toronto’s The Globe and Mail ran a review — something the NY Times certainly wasn’t going to do. Personally, I think this is because Canadians are simply more progressive than Americans, and the media reflects that. Hell, it was on Canadian TV that someone asked me about mushrooms!

Anyway, all that said, here’s a book review from the Ottawa Sun. I sort of like that they say I have a “slightly self-righteous attitude.” DAMN RIGHT! Heh.

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Canada’s national newspaper, The Globe and Mail, weighs in on Offbeat Bride:

Some girls dream about their wedding. Others consider skipping the ceremony altogether. Ariel Meadow Stallings marries tradition with non-conformity by acknowledging that many women face a “bridentity crisis” and that feminist wedding planners do exist. Her tips are very 2007. To wit, don’t drive in a corset and top your cake with action figures. Stallings draws from her own wedding experience, making the book more personal. Her biggest worry was how to handle stoner guests. Turns out, they just helped spread the love.

Read the full section on nontraditional weddings: globeandmail.com: Get me to the church on time - in a hybrid