There are stars in their eyes and nosegays in their lapels. The message is crystal clear: it is every girl's dream to be a bride. As the food and wine goes around, all the invitees to Eason-Hanna's Bookshop become part of a pretend wedding party to help launch Sarah Webb's second novel, Always the Bridesmaid.
Paula Campbell, Poolbeg Press publisher, says the book, aimed at readers in their 20s, "is about relationships because that's what life is all about . . . and that's the reccuring theme in women's fiction."
This is the best book read this year by Kieran Devlin, managing director of Poolbeg Press. "I'm kind of juvenile in my outlook," he explains. Undoubtedly Webb's last book, Three Times a Lady, was on the bestseller lists, but it's difficult to know whether Devlin is joking or not.
So, in this the brand new 21st century, do all young women really still want to rush down that aisle in a swathes of tulle? "The book is not saying that she needs to be married to be a full person," says Webb in defence of the title. "She needs to find herself before she can be with the right person . . . But it's romantic and it does have a happy ending."
Limerick woman and Den2 presenter on Network 2, Gerri Maye, comes along to launch the book. Also cheering Webb on are a number of writers, such as children's author Aislinn O'Loughlin, whose books include Worms Can't Fly and Cinderella's Fella, and Tina Reilly, writer of The Onion Girl, who is here with her husband Colm Murphy. Her next book, Is This Love?, is due out in time for St Valentine's Day next year, to be published by Poolbeg. Girls, girls.