This book is fabulous for brides who do NOT want to get sucked into the fan of the Wedding Industrial Complex. Stallings provides hilarious, candid insight into the planning of all types of non-traditional weddings, pulling from the experience of her own wedding. She also provides great tips on all aspects of wedding-planning, as well as consults other "offbeat" brides. I picked this book up about a week after getting engaged, and am SO glad I did! Ariel achieves a nice balance, in encouraging you to do what you and your fiance want, not what everyone else is telling you to do. She stresses that regardless of whether you are having a traditional white wedding or a funky steampunk wedding, what is important is that you and your fiance are happy. She covers every possible subject, from announcing your engagement, to the post-wedding "depression". If it isn't covered in the book, you can hop on over to her website, www.offbeatbride.com, and find the answers there! A MUST-READ for any girl who is at a loss for planning an "offbeat" wedding of any kind!