So, there's this web site...

Ok, even re-telling this story, it still sounds a bit odd. But please hear me out.

On Friday, Jess and I went to Top Dog to meet some girls we met on The Knot's South Jersey chat board (I said hear me out!). Most of these girls are online at least a few times a week, so you really do get to recognize names. The girls are all local, and we are all going through the same things right now, so you get to "know" people pretty quickly.

Well, one of the knotties had an idea to plan a get together so we could all meet face to face and hang. At first, I didn't pay much attention to the post - but then all these girls started replying that they'd love to go.

So, I wrote Jess. I told her I'd go ... IF she'd go to. That way, if it''s lame, we just go upstairs and dance. She actually had the same idea. So we agreed to go.

My best friends were not so forgiving on this one.

"So, you're going to Top Dog to hang out with engaged girls you met on the Internet?" bridesmaid Kim Q asks.

Bridesmaid Kim M didn't say anything. She just laughed.

I tried to explain. They didn't even respond. Then, on the day we were supposed to go, a few of the girls suddenly said they couldn't make it, and dropped out.

I was beginning to feel a bit silly about the whole idea.

Jess came over, and we got ready to go.

"Jess, I'm starting to feel like a total weirdo," I said. "My best friends were literally laughing at me for doing this."

"Oh my God, me too," she said laughing. "Well, we'll see."

The table was reserved under "The Knot." So we found our way over and found six girls at a table next to the DJ. Everyone seemed pretty nice and not scary. So we all introduced ourselves. Someone made a crack about how weird this was, and we all cracked up, and it broke the ice. We all began talking. Turns out, everyone really was cool. Jess and I decided to stay. Hallie, the organizer, ordered three bottles of champagne, and we all collectively toasted our engagements.

"Hey what's going on tonight?" the DJ asked, in a typical DJ voice. "Someone getting married or something??"

"Yes," one of the girls said. "All of us."

"What?" the DJ seemed surprised. "You're all friends getting married?"

Hallie explained. "Well, no," she said. "We all belong to this web site, called The Knot, and ..."

He didn't seem to get it either. We tried to explain. He took to the mic.

"Ok everyone," he announces to the bar. "See these girls over here?"

The men began to cheer. Oh boy.

"Yeah, so there's this web site they belong to..."

The men began to roar. Oh, please, for the love of God, explain.

"No no," the DJ said. "Not that kind of web site. These girls are all getting married."

The men groaned.

"Now pleasse," the DJ said, "Buy these women a drink, and TALK THEM OUT OF IT!!"

More cheers from the men. Then, some surprisingly good looking men came to our table. They were quickly shooed away.

The next round of drinks arrived. Colored drinks, pineapple drinks. Then shots began to arrive. Shots with whipped cream. Since we were running a tab, I just wasn't keeping track, and neither was Jess. Neither of us typically drink much -- for a good reason.

More drinks. One involved sucking on a lemon. With sugar.

Come on people. This is me.

Needless to say, I soon had to text Ed -- who was out with Jess' fiance Chris - for a ride home. They arrived to find me, Jess, and the other girls shaking it on the dance floor, covered in Maxim beads and light up-pins. And somehow, we all seemed like best friends. Jess and I were literally arm in arm. It was pretty hilarious. I was fairly far gone.

I woke up at some point in the middle of the night holding my stomach. That was not the fun part.

The next day, everyone went back to the chat boards, to post about how surprised they were that the night was fun, and post their pictures. I can honestly say, it is one of the BEST times I have had out in a while (I said ONE of - no e-mails girls). Even the girls who decided not to go, upon seeing our pictures and hearing about it, said they would defnitely go to the next one. I guess they too feared it would be, well, lame.

So, yeah, there's this web site. And we met online. And I am not ashamed ... bring on the next night out!!