(Photo by Christina Richards Weddings)
Ok, so. I'm sitting down at the end of my wonderful 30th birthday weekend (30th birthdays are emotional, FYI. No one had informed me of that.) And thinking about what to write about the Offbeat Bride reading/APW meetup has me feeling overwhelmed with... gratitude, really.
(Photo by Christina Richards Weddings)
First of all, the reading was fantastic, and it was PACKED. Like, standing room only packed. Amazing. Ariel used her famous bride sock puppet, and rocked the introduction and the budget chapter.
(Photo by Emily Takes Photos)
Since she is awesome, Ariel asked me to read my little budget sidebar. As we were waiting for the reading to start, one of the Booksmith employees asked me if I'd practiced, and I said, "Five minutes ago it occurred to me that might have been a good idea. But, no, I haven't read it since I wrote it."
(Photo by Christina Richards Weddings)
Um. But I love talking to big groups of people more than I love... well... most anything in the world. So of course I LOVED every second.
(Photo by Emily Takes Photos)
Then Ariel did Q&A, which was the best part. (I always think Q&A with writers who's work you love is the *reason* to go to readings). Plus, she signed a billion books.
(Photo by Christina Richards Weddings)
But afterward was the very best part for me. Better even than speaking in front of a big group. I got to stand around and meet so many Team Practical people. Someone (I think Liz) asked me to sign my sidebar in OBB, and I totally freaked out, since no one had every asked me for my autograph. Like so:
(Photo by Emily Takes Photos)
It was really cool and slightly surreal to get to do and event with Ariel. I mean, she is the person who started this whole progressive weddings movement online, and without Offbeat Bride, I would have never dreamed up APW.
(Photo by Emily Takes Photos)
(Photo by Christina Richards Weddings)
And then a bunch of us went to a bar. We don't have pictures, because it was so dark, but we do have stories. I'll let the other ladies take it from there. Here is Robin:
It was like hanging out with people I already knew. Or maybe not actually-- but like being with people I COULD already know, and just happen not to have met yet. It was fairly extraordinary for me to spend the evening with a group of smart, funny, fabulous women (and a few men), to whom I felt an immediate connection. And while there was some wedding discussion, I would say that APW is more what brought us all to the same place, what connected us to one another to begin with, but not the sole basis for discussion or connection. It wasn't primarily what I talked about with people. Some, but less than not. More, that APW's appeal clearly speaks to a certain type of person*. And that putting some of these same persons in the same place at the same time, was like kismet. Like, how could it be anything other than fun, engaging, connective and genuine. *(More than a shared interest, I think it's a shared sensibility. Or world-view. Or something.)
And here is the excellent Verhext:
The reading gave me the same warm fuzzies A Practical Wedding does -- mind you, I am not a warm fuzzier, I'm a grump. But when Ariel asked how many of us were engaged and 3/4s of the room shot their hands up, it was heartwarming and adorable. There's something about knowing that a whole room of people is feeling a similar 'big love, big plans' feeling to the one you are, you know? The whole thing was weird but awesome. I would never have pegged myself as someone who’d go to a BRIDAL BOOK READING, but the book is cute and funny, as is the author! Meg arranged a drinking meet-up afterward, I brought a slew of cupcakes courtesy of Miette, and it was really lovely to meet new people who understand the bridal crazy. Especially Meg! So adorable, jeez! & don’t you all sass me about cupcakes being passé, they’re tiny cakes you don’t need a fork to eat. They taste like cake. They’re actually even MADE of cake. I like cake.
Now? I want to do this in every single city. Because it was honestly the best. Oh. And I made myself sick on cupcakes. Natch.
(Photo by Christina Richards Weddings)
that sounds fun! all of us non-san franciscoans are super jealous right now :)
April 18, 2010 9:38 pm
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I totally agree!
But thank you for the nice stories and photos…
I hope you had very happy birthday, Meg :-)
April 18, 2010 11:16 pm
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I totally agree with you both. Ariel and Meg both look so charming; these photos are awesome! Happy belated birthday Meg.
April 19, 2010 8:14 am
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yes! I so wish I lived in San Francisco this weekend. Columbus is just tooooo far away!
April 19, 2010 2:30 pm
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Welcome to the 30s! It’s been my favorite decade so far.
April 18, 2010 9:53 pm
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^^ totally agree, I’ve loved being 30 and now 31! I wish I could stay this age for about 5 more years though!
April 19, 2010 4:51 pm
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thank you again!! i hope your birthday was spectacular.
April 18, 2010 10:13 pm
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Your 30s are gonna rock. (You know that, and it’s not why you’re emotional, I know, but I thought I’d say it anyway.)
April 19, 2010 12:05 am
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Fun fun!! I love book readings…but this sounded like a book party? Which I’ve never attended but sounds so rad….
congrats on givin’ the “first” autograph!
April 19, 2010 12:13 am
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Book party!!!
April 19, 2010 6:38 pm
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I’m so jealous of all of you who got to attend this amazing book party! happy b-day Meg. the 20s are overrated. 30s are where you figure stuff out. although I think you are so already there.
April 20, 2010 4:03 pm
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belated happy birthday, meg! hope you had a blast!
my fiance and i were late but we made it to the book reading last friday!
i should’ve said hi, but i’m terribly shy, it’s shameful.
i enjoyed all the readings and ariel’s puppet was so adorable! haha…
my fiance sends his thank you’s to you (and of course to team practical!) for keeping me sane and full of sense while wedding planning! :) btw, the amazing christina richards will be photographing our wedding next year! :)
can’t thank you enough for introducing us to her work! she is very down to earth despite her incredible talent..
we’re so excited!
April 19, 2010 2:09 am
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So, when are you taking your show on the road? San Francisco’s not the only cool place in the country you know. ;)
April 19, 2010 4:52 am
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A happy belated birthday!! The meet-up looks awesome. My engaged and newly married cohorts will be happy to host in DC.
April 19, 2010 5:46 am
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second! bring this train to DC, we have tons of smrt ladies here. :)
happy belated birthday Meg! love the first autograph picture! adorable.
April 19, 2010 5:54 am
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Here’s a third for DC! (or, even better, Baltimore…)
April 19, 2010 6:12 am
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Yes, please come to DC!
(I wonder if Kramerbooks would ever consider hosting? Then you could have smart ladies, books, pie and cocktails all in one convenient location. It would be fabulous.)
April 19, 2010 7:05 am
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You’ve got to be kidding me-it’s so tarnspanertly clear now!
December 21, 2011 11:57 am
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December 23, 2011 6:42 am
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Sounds great…! Wish I didn’t live a zillion miles away…
And happy, happy belated birthday. Welcome to the thirties. I hope that just like me you’ll find that’s a great place to be!
April 19, 2010 6:22 am
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Come to L.A.! Pretty please???
April 19, 2010 6:27 am
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So jealous of West Coasters right now! Y’all need to come to NYC pronto! I’ll provide the cupcakes!
And happy 30th, Meg!!
April 19, 2010 6:59 am
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Yup. Definitely jealous of the west coast! We’re cool here in MN, too! Come visit!
April 19, 2010 7:21 am
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Let’s hear it for Minnesota! The Midwest would love to have you, Meg. Cheers to a happy 30th!
April 19, 2010 7:26 pm
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Agreed! Come to Minneapolis! (or St. Paul, either way).
Happy 30th!
April 19, 2010 7:57 pm
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I’m so jealous!!! I would have gone to this in a heartbeat. And as a publishing person, it warms my heart to hear of such a successful book signing! I’ll console myself with the thought that I’ll be relocating to SF from NYC after we get married this summer so maybe I will have the opportunity to meet some of Team Practical in the near future…
April 19, 2010 8:06 am
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Jules, it totally blew my mind too! At my SF book signing in 2007, I think there were about 5 people there. Meg promoted the hell out of Friday’s event, and the results were awesome to see. :)
April 19, 2010 10:28 pm
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That’s awesome! Would love to see your book hit the SF Chronicle list… Keep workin’ it!!!
April 20, 2010 8:02 am
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I had so much fun! Happy belated birthday, Meg. Thanks for convincing Ariel to do the reading.
April 19, 2010 8:46 am
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Happy belated birthday Meg!
And I’m so glad there’s photographic evidence that I scored your first official autograph! Wooo!
Huge thanks again for convincing Ariel to make the journey down and for, well, just being you aka Awesome. It was great fun to put a face/personality with the writer/personality I see online 5x week.
xoxo
April 19, 2010 9:26 am
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Come to Chicago! I’m more than willing to host you Meg. And Ariel! And find you guys a good place to do a reading.
Goodness, I sound like a fan girl. Oh, wait, I am!
April 19, 2010 9:40 am
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YES! YES! YES! Come to Chicago! I would LOOOOOVE to meet you and Ariel!
April 19, 2010 11:38 am
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YES! Chicago!!
April 24, 2010 5:17 pm
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The reading was excellent. I dragged my partner (we’re not even engaged) (YET!) and she was skeptical at first (she doesn’t like being read to) but ended up liking it.
I wanted to come up to speak with you afterward but you were swarmed and I was shy, so we left.
I also wanted to raise my hand and comment but see above re: shy! Here’s what I wanted to say:
THANK YOU for talking about the way that weddings differ and the ways they are the same. Thank you for helping those of us who will one day have an “offbeat” wedding see that we can do it our way, whatever that means to us. As a lesbian, in this new age of lesbian weddings and commitment ceremonies and all the other ways that we celebrate our communities and loves, it’s been really confusing to figure out how to fit our ceremonies in the framework of traditional ceremonies. Must we forge a new path without any throwbacks to the traditions of the straight folks? Or do we follow in the old traditions with the giving away of the bride and maids of honor and those sorts of things. And the answer is that we can do whatever we want. We can combine or get rid of or create or whatever. I’d like to thank all of you who are participating in this dialogue – whether as a blogger, or a commenter, or an offbeat bride. You may not be doing it for the gays – since the majority of you are straight. But in opening the discussion, in allowing for the possibility that change to tradition does not ruin the sanctity of that tradition, well, you open the pathway for us all to do things our own way.
So thanks :) Sorry I was too shy to say it in person!
p.s. Happy Birthday! I’m coming up on 35 and I have to say that the decade gets better and better!
April 19, 2010 2:06 pm
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Oh yes – and RE: you turning 30 = kind of emotional stage in your life… For me, it was definitely yes. that. I turned 30 in October. But I’ve wrapped my head around it 6 months later, and you know what? I like it. I kind of took stock after a few months and thought to myself that my life just keeps getting richer and deeper. So I wish that for you too. Because it feels good.
April 19, 2010 2:35 pm
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So so jealous that I couldn’t be there for this reading. But I’m loving the photos!
April 19, 2010 4:50 pm
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So jealous. It looks like you had an amazing time!
April 19, 2010 5:05 pm
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Oooh – do one in Boston next!!! :)
April 19, 2010 8:47 pm
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Meg, thank you so much again & again for manipulating/convincing me to come down for the reading — it was such a great night! So many awesome smarties in the audience … I’m still thinking over some of those questions…
April 19, 2010 10:32 pm
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Ah, manipulation ;) So so glad you came.
April 20, 2010 6:36 am
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Ack! I live in the Bay Area but just discovered this site. It has been such a help already. Can’t believe I missed this :(
April 20, 2010 9:26 am
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Happy belated birthday chicken!
So… when is this book-gig coming to the UK???
April 20, 2010 10:50 am
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Was jsut going to write – when you say every single city I really hope that includes London! Come on … you know you want to! Please?
Happy belated birthday – hope it was a *good* emotional one!
April 21, 2010 4:48 am
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London is my very favorite city. I mean, we honeymooned there. Any excuse… ;)
April 21, 2010 6:38 am
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BOSTON. Boston next. It’s a great city, beautiful in the summer, and I AM JUST TOO DAMN JEALOUS. Also? I’m an event planner for a living; I will HELP you plan this shindig!! If you take your fabulous show on the road, I vote Boston next. I know it’s not necessarily the closest (uhh), but it’s made of awesome. Come on down! We have chowder! And baseball! And swans! And sane, awesome brides!! :)
April 21, 2010 5:44 pm
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