cheap wedding inspiration

Cool alternative uses for the stuff you registered for…

Last summer, we met the fabulous Jorge Perez at the Wedgwood blogger event, and I fell in love, immediately. He’s bubbly and vivacious and funny and stylish, with a cuban spunk and a contagious passion for entertaining… he is a total force to be reckoned with when touting the virtues of the quality and history behind the china and crystal for which Wedgwood, Waterford and Royal Doulton are known.

See the cheese and crackers down there? (mmm, cheese and crackers…..) He put them in a butter dish and it’s cover. Bonus use!

Before hearing his presentation, I was definitely had an Armisen-doing-Joy-Behar-on-The-View type of perspective on china and crystal. You know….

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I had dismissed it was old-fashioned and didn’t know much about it… but by the end of the day, Jorge had me fully converted and wishing we had known this before we registered. My favorite part of his presentation displayed all sorts of outside-the-box, alternative uses for their pieces, and I thought, as outside-the-box, creative brides… you all would love it too. So I begged him for a video to share, and he hooked me up!

At around the 3:13 part he gets to the multi-purpose goodness, but check out all of his tips on entertaining and learn a thing or two about fine bone china and crystal while you’re at it! And mostly, enjoy Jorge’s fabulousness.

Oh, he also designed a line of simply stunning wedding gowns, which you can find in stores all over the US: Jorge Perez de la Habana. Gorgeous stuff.

How many of you are including fine bone china and crystal in your registry? Do you have any unique uses for your entertaining gear?

{Can’t Afford It/Get Over It} BHLDN Decor edition!

Our friend Lindsay wrote the following post on her own (awesome) site, Woman Getting Married… but she shared it with me and I asked if we could respost here, since it fits in so well with Britt’s genius Can’t Afford It/Get Over It series/brainchild! I’m with Lindsay. I love love love the Anthropolgie crack as much as the next style addict out there, and rock a few choice pieces I scored on deep discount or genuinely felt were worth the splurge… but only very rarely can I justify a full-price purchase there. If you can, and enjoy it… then have at it and more power to ya! But if you are more like me, gazing longingly through the windows more often than shopping behind them… this special guest CAI/GOI is for you!
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If you’re anything like me, you don’t even think of shopping in stores like Anthropologie unless they’re having a sale. Yes, I adore A LOT of their clothes and home goods…but things are PRICE-AY.

BHLDN, the online wedding boutique which is part of the Anthropologie family, is no different. In addition to their bridal gowns, accessories, and bridesmaids dresses, they recently unveiled a party/wedding decor line that includes tabletop, favors, lighting, and other decorations. While they are all certainly super cute, a lot of their prices leave me a little dumbfounded. You want $300 for wha?

When it comes to wedding decor on a budget, buying full-priced items in bulk is just not an option. It’s one thing to justify spending $100 on a pitcher when it’s for your house and you only need one. But when you need 12 for all your reception tables? Not gonna happen.

While there are one or two items from BHLDN that are in my budget wheelhouse (they still have my terracotta vases for a steal!), as a whole I think they are overpriced. I decided to go through their new decor line and see if I couldn’t find similar items for less. Check out what I found, below.

BHLDN Top Hat Muslin Favor Bags

Set of 10

$34

SAME LOOK 4 LESS…

Key Muslin Drawstring Bags

Set of 10

$4.60

BHLDN Le Petit Cupcake Stools

Set of 6

$14.00

SAME LOOK 4 LESS…

Modern Lola Sweet Stands

Set of 6

$10.95

BHLDN Papered Poms

Set of 12

$32

SAME LOOK 4 LESS…

Martha Stewart Crafts Pom Poms

Set of 8

$12.99

BHLDN Rosy Cheeked Coupes

Set of 2

$68

SAME LOOK FOR LESS…

Venetian champagne glasses

Set of 4

$20.00

BHLDN Spiraled Shoppe Straws

Set of 25

$6.00

SAME LOOK FOR LESS…

Retro Barber Stripe Straws

Set of 144

$6.25

Antoinette Treat Pedestal

For one tall pedestal…

$198

SAME LOOK FOR LESS (this isn’t as vintage-y, but you can pull off the same look with the right table accessories)…

Save-On-Crafts Glass Dessert Pedestal with Lid

For one tall pedestal…

$16

-Lindsay, Woman Getting Married

Budget Wedding Web-Shopping Brilliance!

Come on now, let’s all save some money! No, not the deprived, wish-I-could-but-I-can’t, poor little poor girl type of saving…. that’s no fun for anyone! Why should we have to sacrifice taste or style in the name of savings? Eff that noise! A budget wedding don’t have to look like no cheap wedding! There’s far too many ways to have your taste and keep it too, and I’m bouts to lay down my secret shopping savings weapons, so you can get your splurge on… without the guilt.

First up…. Group Buying Power!

Sites like SocialBuy, Groupon, Living Social and more are cropping up faster than starbucks joints, and many of the deals they proffer work just as well for weddings as they do for weekends. From manicures and massages to cheap date night dinners and fun summer playtime outings, you can keep these deals to yourself, or give them as gifts to friends, family and bridal party members. They work by maximizing the power of the masses, so sharing these deals with your friends is to your advantage. Most deals score you discounts of 50-70% off. Those numbers make my fingers itch to hit BUY!

Which tees it up for….. Members Only Sales!

On a similar but different note, members-only sites like Gilt Groupe, Rue La La and more sell high-end designer duds, accessories, gifts and more at deep-ass discounts (up to 70%) in limited quantities and for limited runs. This is major jackpot for those have-to-have-’em heels or a rehearsal dress (or suit for the dude) to knock their socks off.   You need an invite to join, and the link above is mine to you. (You’re welcome!) But they sell out fast, so check early and often if they’re featuring a designer you adore. Swirl (Daily Candy’s new sample sale site), is now in Beta testing, but looks just as bad-ass as any of ‘em. And now, with the birth of travel-specific sites with the same savings bent like Bonvoyou, (or Gilt’s jetsetter department) you can plan your honeymoon or get your wedding night digs for a deep discount as well.

Next up…. Promo Code Mayhem!

Listen closely. Before you hit “buy” on ANY online purchase, you best make sure you’ve checked out Retail Me Not which aggregates the best codes for savings like percentages off and free shipping. Just type in the name of the site you’re buying on, and pull up the most recent promo and coupon codes available. Then just plug into your purchase page, and reap the rewards. They even made a special wedding coupon book, to help brides find more ways to save! This one is a no-brainer. If you don’t do this religiously, I can’t help you.

While we’re online…. SEARCH for SAVINGS!

How cool is this? Swagbucks.com is a search engine that rewards you for roaming the web! Every time you search, you earn yourself “swag bucks”, redeemable for gift certificates and all kinds of stuff. If you shop through their shop-and-earn site, you can rack up even more swagbucks. Trade in your cell phone or fill out surveys if you just can’t get enough. Rewards for websurfing? A brides dream! Broke-Ass Bonus: Sign up with the code ‘SwagBride’ to get 20 bonus swagbucks, which you can add to the 30 free bucks you get for joining. That’s 50 free swagbones to play with, just for getting started. Awwww yeah, you’re welcome.

So, saving some green while shopping online is pretty sweet. I think we can all agree on that, yes? But check this out: Most of these sites have bomb-ass referral programs so by spreading the savings to your peeps, you earn more for yourself. Its a win-win, you share the love, you get the love. And you’ll want to share the love. Heck, I’m doing it right now

Happy shopping, and happier saving! Got a secret weapon for savings? Share the love in the comments!

The SPLURGE: The World Wide Window Shopper

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{Introducing} THE SPLURGE

Because sometimes you just want a little BANG in your buck, we introduce to you:

The Splurge is our new fantasy shopping series dedicated to the finer things in life that we aspire to put on the registry, save up for, blow it all on,  or just daydream about!  It’s all about straight up fun window-shopping fantasy feasts for the eyes. ‘Cause sometimes ya know what your bank account says, but you’ve just gotta pop the cork on your champagne tastes and get high on the bubbles. You’ve got the urge. The urge to SPLURGE!!!

First Up: The Athena Water Ionizer from ION WAYS

We are serious water snobs. I blame Dana. When it comes to water, she may have one of the most sensitive palettes in the land. My parents think she has a lime obsession, because her secret weapon to mask the taste of their tap water is to squeeze some citrus into every drop she drinks. So, when she saw the ultimate in water purifiers, The Athena, at a green products expo recently… her eyes went AWOOGA! Lucky for us, IonWays was kind enough to provide us with a complimentary review unit!

The price may well give you drymouth,  at $2,195 big’uns, but this is no ordinary water purifier. It doesn’t just run your water through a charcoal filter like most household sytems. Instead, it separates it: dividing the acidic elements of your water from the alkaline elements, allowing you to closely monitor and adjust the levels according to your preference. I could go on about all the possible health benefits to this (and I will in a later post), but for now I’ll tell you the secret reason I love it: The filter talks when you turn it on! Hello future robot household appliance fantasy, here we come!!! Meet Hunter Jetson… and his filter, Athena…

{Earth Day} We’re Loving: GREEN goodies

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! Biosmart used 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.

What are your favorite green goodies?

{PSA} 50% off Deborah Lindquist Eco-Couture Wedding Gowns!

Um, yeah… that would be the same designer who let me barter away 50% off the cost of my wedding dress. Now you, too, can enjoy the same stunninglybeautifuljawdroppinggorgeousness that are Deborah Lindquist gowns, along with the infinite bad-assery that comes with donning an eco-bespoke gown, sans the sore thumbs from cutting fabric and typing invoices!

This was my gown! Le Sigh.

Traditional, exotic, long and luxe, or short and sassy, Deb’s got a style to fit every bride. Good luck choosing a favorite!

Sure, even at 50% off, they can be a bit of a splurge – but take it from a Lindquist Bride: for a made-to-measure, eco-friendly, couture gown that’s gorgeous enough to wear over and over? File that under WORTH IT in my book! So, go on – blow your wad!

Enter code EWD at checkout for 50% off and FREE SHIPPING.

(Ps – If it hadn’t been so fun to work with Deb, I’d be hella jealous of this deal )

This has been a broadcast of the Broke-Ass Alert system. We now return to regularly scheduled blogging.

When I was 31… (or, the birth of a stylephile)

Being in my 30′s (shhh, don’t tell) has brought some cool bonuses along with it. My stages of life have varied wildly: I was a nerdy kid, awkward tween, rebellious wildchild turned hippie teen, and was left in my 20′s very confused and insecure in my own style. In fact, looking back I can see that I didn’t really have a style to speak of…. unless you call being unsure, erratic and wearing comfy clothes waaaay too often a style. No bueno!

I’d always heard that women really settle into themselves in their 30′s, and hoped it would be true for me as well. Now, I’m sure that there’s more to do with it besides numbers – hell, I don’t feel 31 and I certainly don’t act it. To me, age is just a number. And numbers aside, I’ve had some freaking amazing life defining moments in the last couple of years that I credit with helping me find my inner voice – a la this bloggity blog…. a la marriage… a la career satisfaction and direction, et cetera. Indeed, planning our wedding was the ultimate exercise in defining our style, and I think it reflected us perfectly: funky, bold, eclectic, whimsical, and vibrant!

So in my 30′s, I am learning to follow my own compass and not only embrace my colorful, eclectic personality, but really let it sing to the world as well. Know where this is going? SHOPPING, YO!

Starting with these so-hot-they’re-just-plain-SICK retro-y beauties from Sika


Effffffff, I lurve them SO much! (curse you, I mean, thank you Miss Poodle, for introducing me to these!)

Or these tribally influenced flouncey frocks from Zachary’s Smile, which also stocks the dopest vintage gear I’ve found…

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You may remember my open letter to Kate Spade? Well, yeah. That’s my style, too. My problem? PRICE. This broke-ass has expensive taste, son! So I’ve been learning to stalk vintage shops and sample sales, keeping an ear to the proverbial ground of where to source the most “me” duds on the cheaps. Y’know…. ’tills I hits the jackpots

The trick is patience. So far, I’ve found a handful of amazing dresses that I keep in rotation and try to care for with love. Investing in (or finding steals on) good quality dresses is a great alternative to what I call “fleeting frocks” from Forever 21 or H&M. They’re affordable, but rarely last much more than a season because the quality is just not there. Another great resource is invitation-only sales such as Rue La La, Ideeli, and Gilt Groupe – to name a few.

How did you find your style, and where do you shop for it? How are you incorporating your personal style into your wedding plans?

An Open Letter to Kate Spade

Dear Kate Spade,
Why must you taunt me so? Is it to keep me motivated toward expendable income just so I can acquire a closetful of your designs? It’s working.

Just for the record, I would RAWK this fall line to the hilt. It would cause a worldwide commotion, I’d look so good. People would stand, mouth agape, as I strolled past. Then they’d run to their computers and write you in reverent gratitude for creating such a stunning creature in your image. And I will make it happen. Oh you watch me. Even if it means scouring your outlets and ebay next season to do so. Its just. that. freaking. irresistible!

Love, Dana.

PS: I’m not normally this disturbingly resolute about wardrobe, but bitchplease this is fabulosity incarnate!

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