The antidote to a cheap wedding, The Broke-Ass Bride delivers bad-ass wedding inspiration to turn your budget wedding into a kick-ass and totally unique wedding… because its not about how much you spend, its how you spend it!
We’re the best budget wedding blog…. thanks completely to YOU beautiful people! Thank you so so very very much for all your support… we’re sending big puffy hearts and rainbows of gratitude a’plenty your way!
We also have to give big ups to our amazing gal pal Jessica from Budget Savvy Bride for winning editor’s pick. It was not too comfortable to be in “competition” with a good friend, but she was a worthy contender and I’m thrilled she was recognized as well.
We’re super honored to have the title of Best Budget Wedding Blog, and as winners of that category, we’re now entered into a whole new contest along with the winners of each category for Best Overall Wedding Blog. So now, instead of being up against just one good friend… we’re up against a bunch. Of great ones. That we admire like crazy. Oy.
But, I figure we should still try to make a good show of it, right? A broke-ass never shies away from a challenge! No siree.
Oh, and our ABC presentation on Monday went fantastically well… we can’t wait to tell you all about it! Just waiting on some pictures to help tell the story. But we could feel your love and it filled us with the confidence we needed to pull off the workshop with great reviews! Phew!
Anyway, it just kills us that we’ve got such amazing readers. We can’t tell you enough how much it warms our hearts, and strengthens our resolve to push, and grow and make Broke-Ass Bride more kick ass than ever! We love love love love love y’all. For realz.
Maybe now you crazy lurkers will start coming out of the closet and comment a little more often? Pwease? I know you’re out there… and I promise to comment back – let’s chat!
Now that we’ve got a some more time to dedicate to The Broke-Ass Bride blog, our lives as newlyweds and running our business, we finally have a moment to do something we’ve wanted to do for a long time, check in with you. We want to know what you’re thinking and feeling about the site these days.
When I started this blog over 2 years ago, it was a space to chronicle our path down the aisle. I loved sharing our personal story, as struggling and frustrated artists. As broke-asses trying to overcome years of medical and school related debt, striving for a quality of life and style that allowed us to thrive, express ourselves and flourish. Struggling to create a destiny which would give us the freedom to pursue our dreams.
Ahh, the olden days of yore.
And since our wedding, we’ve worked hard to maintain and improve the site in many ways, but it also has naturally morphed away from “us” a bit…. Because even though we’re no longer going through the planning process ourselves, we’re equally as motivated to help other couples learn to save where they can, spend what they have as wisely as possible, and make their wedding an unique and expressive start to an even better life… just like we did.
Looking forward, we have zillions of ideas for ways to improve The Broke-Ass Bride, and also expand and grow The Broke-Ass Business as a whole, hopefully allowing us to share more of ourselves with you again… but we feel we can’t move forward without knowing what you want out of it. Out of us. You know, you’re our heart and soul, yo!
So, we’ve put together a sweet-ass prize package including a gift card that hits the bullseye (hint, hint) and all other kindsa goodies. To enter to win, we ask you to fill out this five-minute survey. We’ve tried to make it as quick and painless as possible, and we’re really excited to hear from you! Thanks in advance!
Something really exciting happened today, but I can’t tell you what it is yet and not being able to tell you is so freaking hard because I’m so excited and I just can’t hide it ok that was cheesy but seriously people I’m super duper bootydance excited and not being able to share it with you yet sucks because you’re my peeps and I know you’ll be excited too but I can’t tell you what it is yet and no I’m not pregnant but thank goodness that’s not my news I’m just not ready for that yet y’know but someday we will but anyway back to the point and my point is that there’s news to come and I wish I could tell you today but I just can’t.
Earth Day is 40 years old today, and we’re so excited. Mother Earth means so much to us, that we even made a vow to protect her during our wedding! So, naturally, on this day in her honor, we’z about to bust out some of our favorite green goodies to help you discover how being green can help you save green, have fun, and give Big Mama Earth a big, heartfelt, broke-ass hippie {HUG}
Anyone out there have disposables guilt? You know, that regretful feeling when you buy a pack of disposables for your home, a party or a wedding event? Hang onto your socks, and meet this bevy of bio-goodness. There are tons of disposables out there made from biodegradable materials, such as corn starch, bamboo and sugarcane bagasse, and they’re super affordable, yo! We used some for our day-after party and they were perfect! Biosmartused to offer a $20 party pack that fed 50 people… I wish they’d bring that back! But still you can get 125 plates for $9.99 or 250 bar cups for $24.61 – can I get a what what? That’s my jam!
Ohh Emm Geee.
Yes, please.
Sustainable Party is an adorable site filled with different styles of sustainable disposable – from your basic whites to some really stylish bamboo. They sell most items in bulk batches (ranges from 25 to 3,000) and bulk batches mean bulk discounts, and you know we love that! And I can’t resist those party monsters they put in the product porn GreenFeet has a great selection at great prices too – but my favorite has got to be the bamboo spork!
Present your disposables in a cute fabric lined basket, tie some rustic twine around the utensils, cut up recycled fabric with pinking shears to create adorable cloth napkins and some grub…. you’ve got yourself a guilt-less, easy clean up and affordable feast.
Browsing for a wedding dress can be eco-friendly in so many ways these days, its hard to justify not checking this shiz out! Naturally I’ve gotta plug the eco-fashionistas out there, having worn a gown made of sustainable fabrics… so let’s give it up for Deborah Lindquist, Amy Jo Tatum, and Puridee who handmake gorgeous confections of dresses out of organic and recycled fabrics and are just to die for!
Amy Jo's green-chic line has retro flair
I LOVE this color by Puridee!
But there before buying new, make sure to check out the zillions of bridal resale options… from vintage shops in your hometown to awesome online resalers like Recycled Bride, wedding website classifieds, or charity resale events like Brides Against Breast Cancer. You can even rent gowns like the one in yesterday’s gorgeous real wedding feature for just one night! Already married? Unload that lonely gown and send it down the aisle again on another lucky brides back, and list it for resale or donate it today!
Guiltless snacking is my favorite.
Add some sun to your day.
I’m sure you’ve seen that Sunchips has a very sexy new biodegradable bag, but did you know that all those old bags can still be put to good use? Check out this cutie pie chip bowl from Ecoist for your wedding registry or a gift, or snag a purse made from a Lay’s bag for your summer wedding!
California Pink Tourmaline, and vegan!
Something old, made new.
Eco-wedding rings do exist, and what a great way to make a vow, right? Recycling rings from estate sales and vintage boutiques is a great place to start, but you can get even more progressive by seeking alternative styles like the gorgeous wood-laid reclaimed silver bands right there, or those made of reclaimed metals and non-diamond jewels like this gorgeous $298 pink solitaire by McFarland Designs on etsy. Even better, scour your old jewelry box and ask friends or family to donate old metals, send ‘em to a jeweler, and have your own design cast from some meaningful metal.
Oh, there are so many goodies we love that support and protect the lady that feeds us, houses us, nourishes us and on which we’ll marry… I could go on for days. Do your part today and every day. As the Native American Proverb says: Treat the earth well… we do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.
I know what you’re thinking. “This site looks amazing! Did it lose 10lbs? A new haircut? Something is different!”
Very observant, young grasshopper! We got a mini facelift! older posts are now listed horizontally, all clean and sexylike! We also shuffled around a few buttons, and kicked some dustbunnies to the curb. You likey?
We’re also happy for a few other bad-ass reasons, such as…
Later this week, we’ll be introducing two very special new members of the broke-ass brigade, who will be stopping in regularly to share their goodies and make you love them. I’m so excited, because these ladies are two absolute bad-asses in the business and dear friends of mine – both with excellent style and super terrific hearts! So stay tuned for that!
Our friend Meg at A Practical Wedding launched her gorgeous new site design this week! Go Meg, its your berfday!
AND, we have a very exciting FREE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY contest coming up soon! Hellllllz yeaaaah!
What are you happy about today? Do you like our new look?
I’ve been trying to find words to tell you about the Kick Ass Cake Bash event (celebrating the launch of our Fantasy Frostings’ Broke-Ass Cake Collection which are one the best wedding cakes in Los Angeles), and describe the way it felt – but distilling it into words feels impossible this soon afterward. I’m deep in recovery mode after a whirlwind month of prep, and these photos speak far more eloquently than my tired ass can right now! So. I’ll be back with plenty more detail later, but for now, let’s hear what they have to say, I’mma head back to bed.
Unbelievably Luscious Floral Mural by Holly Flora
A Wonderland of Decadent Desserts
A Disco Dusted Mosaic Feast
O.N.E Drinks provided the healthy cocktails
Models rocking gorgeous Alfred Angelo Gowns
Cupcakes Nearly Too Cute To Eat
Me and our Partner Leslie Maynor of Fantasy Frostings! But where is her main man, Earl?
Oh THERE he is! Hm, do those girls look familiar? Oh snap , its DeAnna Pappas and Holly Durst!
The Flashdance, yo! We don't know how to party without him.
Weddingbee Love! Glitter, Moonbeam, Me, Sprinkle and Poodle!
A surprise rap performance by K.U. and.....
...The Fresh Hubby! Performing a broke-ass rap they wrote together! Get Broke!
We’ve teamed up with some of our favorite and most inspiring colleagues, The Bride and Bloom (one of the best wedding magazines in the world), NTA Talent Agency (representing the top models and talent in L.A. and…moi.) and Beth Helmstetter Events (So you know this party is gonna rock AND look good doing it)
This Tuesday, Beth Helmstetter Events, will be taking our party mojo to the next level, as we dance all night with the hottest DJ in town (the man responsible for Dana spraining her ankle at our wedding) The Flashdance, getting our drink, our groove, and our cake on. With many many maaaany more surprises (ooooh I can’t wait to tell you about the one I’ve been working on).
Here’s how excited one of the hardest working members of our team is:
While we wish we could invite all our readers to Kick some Ass at our kicking Cake Bash, we don’t want the fire warden to shut us down (and he is sure to show up ,’cause the roof is gonna be ON FIRE!!!). You guys are our favorites, and it is important to us to pull back that velvet rope and have you walk the red carpet. So we are giving away 10 tickets! 5 Pairs of 2.
How do I enter?
Dana and I love T-shirts. So if you were making a t-shirt for either The Kick Ass Cake Bash, The Broke-Ass Bride or Fantasy Frostings what would it say?
1) Tweet your funniest, witty or matter- of-fact T-shirt phrases with the hashtag #KickAssCakeBash
2) email us your funniest, witty or matter of fact T-shirt phrases to info@brokeassbride.com
You can submit one entry a day via email, but on Twitter as long as each entry is original, you can enter as many times as you want. So bring the funny and get ready to bring the party. ‘Cause we’re gonna have FUUUUN!!!
Contest ends at 5pm Monday! Winners will be notified shortly after.
P.S. If you are already coming, we still want to see your brilliant T-shirt sayings
We’re proud to be taking our humble blog to the next level of techiness…. The Broke-Ass Bride is now available for subscription on Kindle! Even though we don’t own a Kindle of our own (yet. I’m dying for one!) we’re thrilled that the beKindled masses can keep up with us anywhere, anytime with an automatically updating subscription via Amazon!
I can haz Kindle?
I must say it makes my pants feel quite fancy to see our name on Amazon. With a book deal being one of my big new years intentions, I’m relishing in how close this feels to the real deal! With the Kindle being the most gifted item in Amazon’s history, the timing couldn’t be better.
Check it out, and leave a review if you’re so inclined! We’d certainly appreciate it deeply. What a great way to start to 2010, yo!
The article came out great, despite a tiny typo (Bride$haring alone saved us $2k, but that was just the tip of our savvy savings iceberg) – but we’re not sweating it. We ain’t got nothing but love for the kind folks at DWH, and are totally honored to have been included!
The whole fabulous magazine is absolutely chock-full of beautiful inspiration and valuable information – so what are you waiting for? Get out there and score your own copy today!
Thanks again, Destination Weddings & Honeymoons Magazine! We love you long time!
