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Anyone else out there consider themselves an

After I got engaged, the first book I read was Offbeat Bride by Ariel Meadow Stallings. (How could I not buy a wedding book that had chapters entitled "Holy Fuck, It's Actually Happening" or "Who The Hell Are All These People"?! ) Like her, I consider myself a bride who wanted something different.

I fell in love with all these really cool weddings I started seeing on the internet thinking "that's what i want!!" Photobooths! BBQs! Carnivals! Smores Bars! Converse sneaks! Argyle sock pics! Wedding dresses that aren't white! It was all just too wonderful. Now I'm starting to realize those ideas are pretty played out. Especially on WBC- which I'm addicted to, I'm seeing the same themes and ideas over and over again.

So, anyone out there in WBC-land consider themselves to be doing something alittle different than the norm?

Any Offbeat brides out there??

For any of you who aren't sure.... (from Offbeatbride.com):

You know you're an offbeat bride when…
By Cassie…

…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.

…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.

…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.