Offbeat Brides (and grooms) tell their tales. A new book provides resources for indie weddings.

When Ariel Meadow Stallings and Andreas Fetz started making out at a rave in 1998, they weren't planning on hooking up for good. But love sparked in the warehouse where they met, and they stayed together.

Stallings writes in her first book, they were planning a "hippie/raver/freakfest wedding," for which she wanted to dress "like a fairy-freakish electro forest queen" and Fetz, who "dresses like the Midwest academic feminist he was raised by," wanted something comfortable because they'd be outdoors. Everything came off marvelously in August 2004.

So what to do next? Clearly, help others with their fairy freakfest forest (or underwater scuba diving or circus musical or Burning Man) weddings. That is, write a book. [via]

See (www.offbeatbride.com) and her Flickr group (www.flickr.com/groups/offbeatbride/), where other "offbeat" brides can upload their unconventional wedding photos.

*Photo of Rebecca's wedding can be see on Flickr.

Offbeat Bride: Taffeta-Free Alternatives for Independent Brides by Ariel Meadow Stallings has a publication date of Jan. 28.

Although it's not for everyone, it's nice to see people add their own creative twist to the traditional wedding and fun to read their stories. My two weddings were both pretty dull. The first one I wore a floral jacket and skirt and the marriage lasted 3 years. The 2nd one I wore jeans and a nice blouse and we're about to celebrate our 20th anniversary this summer!