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!
I had performance anxiety dreams three nights in a row last week. And this, from a gal who has two degrees in acting and countless years of experience onstage.
But yet I still find myself all wumbly in my jumbles, because this Monday July 19th, Hunter and I will be taking a different kind of stage…. sans character, sans director, sans costumes and curtain. We’ll be (gasp) playing ourselves, and speaking at the Association of Bridal Consultants (Greater LA region) meeting! Eeep!
Click for the full invitation
In all seriousness, I’m more excited than nervous. It’s going to be really cool! We’re working up a presentation on Blogging, Branding & Balance that will be super fun and bring a surprisingly unique and interesting approach to some old topics. We’re even integrating some of our acting school lessons into the workshop, but translating them into practical business applications!
The best part is that the event is at The Bungalow Club, where we had our wedding… so its a familiar space where I know I can count on a killer mojito to lend a li’l liquid courage my way. Hey Hey!
Tickets are $35 for ABC members, and $45 for the general public, and you can register here. The food is delish, the atmosphere is sexytimes, and the drinks are straight up addictive. Come on out and play with us!
…and if you can’t make it, wish us luck! We’ll let ya know how it goes
For most of the time that I’ve been “running this site”, its actually been running me. That is, at least, until I attended The Simple Plan Business Planning Workshop, lead by my friends at Sage Wedding Pros, and the businesswoman in me came alive with a vengeance.
I was petrified before walking into this workshop. I thought, “Oh god. I didn’t prepare enough. I don’t know how to run a business and I certainly don’t know what my goals are!” Shortly after we began my fears dissolved as all the parts of running a business that had previously intimidated me were broken into easily digestible (and, dare I say, fun?) chunks… and for the first time, I was able to gain real clarity for my business and nail down exactly what it is we’re doing over here, and where we want to go!
Of course, learning from such admirable and amazing women like facilitators Michelle and Kelly (of Sage Wedding Pros), and special guests Blair de Laubenfels (of Junebug Weddings) and Holly Jakobs (of Envelopments) was a huge treat, but being surrounded by such a creative and clever group of local fellow wedding pros didn’t hurt either. It was a truly empowering, enlightening and enjoyable 2 days… my only complaint is that I wish it could have gone on longer!
To give you a clearer idea of what I’m talking about:
Sage Wedding Pros is a consultancy with a mission to create sustainable business in the wedding industry.This July they will be in Seattle & Portland with their business planning workshop, The Simple Plan. It is an all-encompassing business strategy session where business owners will:
Write a mission statement and define a company vision
Set short and long term goals
Refine their target market and niche
Find the pricing sweet-spot
Determine how many weddings are needed to be profitable; write a sales plan
Examine branding and determine whether their branding projects their vision and values
Create a marketing plan, operational plan, and financial plan
It is open to all professionals who do business in the wedding industry: new and experienced, in all segments (photo, video, flowers, planners, etc.) YOU WILL WALK OUT WITH A BUSINESS PLAN IN HAND, WRITTEN BY YOU.
While my time there certainly helped grow my confidence, inspire me to dream bigger than I ever imagined, and honed my vision for our future… I think my biggest tangible takeaway from the event was defining our mission statement for once and for all, and I’m pleased as punch to share it with you:
Broke-Ass Media empowers brides and beyond to spend wisely, live richly and thrive creatively…
crafting a bad-ass life on any budget!
Now doesn’t that sound nice?
I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to attend, and I highly reccomend attending the next time they come to your city, whether you’re a knee-knocking newbie or a seasoned pro. Your business is ever evolving and shifting, and being armed with a business plan and keeping it up to date is half the battle.
Dudes! Earlier in June we returned to my beloved hometown New York City, baby! The moment we touchdown, I am always filled with waves of nostalgia and excitement. My first mission, without fail, is to get a bit of that primary food of my youth, New York Pizza. Whenever or wherever we go, I can sniff it out like a blood hound with a lust for lactose (OK, so that doesn’t sound very appealing). But this time pizza was going to have to wait… because the moment we landed, we were in for a much more high-end adventure.
We arrived in NYC a few days earlier than we had planned because of an invitation from The Plaza Hotel for a special bloggers’ luncheon. Yup, pizza was gonna have to take a rain check ’cause baby’s gotta enjoy the finer things in life for a moment (you know I love you NYC Pizza, I’ll be back in 24 hours, don’t you worry).
Broke-Asses in the City
To walk into The Plaza, at any time, is an exciting moment. It has been a staple of grandeur for my entire life and for a long part of the history of New York…. and this was Dana’s first experience. Walking past the the iconic horse-drawn carriages, up the steps, through the revolving door that opens to a grand hall where tea is being served…. It’s grandeur. It’s history. It’s New York romance, and has been for a long long time. So to come home with an invitation to the The Plaza was something very special indeed.
A wedding bloggers’ luncheon, hosted and catered by Great Performances, and featuring chef de cuisine Marc Spooner’s picks for the latest trends in wedding menus, under the vaulted ceiling of the Grand ballroom, was just the way to describe this return home… GRAND.
David Beahm Design presented a table scape of bad-assery
Floral kick-assery, compliments of Floralia Decorators
A Broke-Ass tip courtesy of (the great) David Beahm Design: mirrors make everything bigger and better. A similar display to these can be broke-ass-ified with sparing, simple blooms or by letting bountiful candles speak for themselves. Reflective surfaces and sparkling light turn a simple display into one that is magical and bigger than life.
We also learned that alternating high and low centerpieces is an easy way to add drama and variety to your tables… (just make sure the tall ones go above people’s heads so they don’t block their view), and that a fun new trend is to mix round and rectangular tables to spice things up!
After learning about tablescapes, we were onto the grub, er… culinary trends (and boy did we eat this part up!)
The tray-passed hors d’oevres gave me a bit of a food boner (is that ok to say when writing about this place?). The Plaza gets all its produce from an organic farm that they own, which is better for your belly and the earth. We especially loved these crispy potato skins filled with sauteed mushrooms and fava beans. We were psyched to hear that more and more couples are requesting organic and sustainable produce from their caterers… go team green!
Chef Marc Spooner shared that other recent trends include tray-passed small bites and dessert options, which encourage guests to mingle and meander (with the added bonus of saving money over plated dinners). People love miniature bites of popular comfort foods like burgers. Once you pop, you can’t stop! Oh, and these wee frozen popsicles? Eff YES.
To finish off the event, we were lead down to the Rose Club where we all shared a glass of champagne. This is perfect spot for an afternoon drink or a late night after-party. There is an elevator right there in the bar, so you can bid adieu to your guests and stumble straight to your room. The only time I get to do that… is when I’m drunk in my kitchen. Can I get a what what?
The whole wedding blogger crew at the Rose Bar (aka: It's hard out there for a Hubby)
It was an incredible return home. I thought a slice of NY pizza was surely my next meal. Ah… but there was more adventure in store for the first day home. Stay tuned…
PS – Big ups to our girl Anne at Aisle Dash for helping organize such a great event!
You already know this stuff, you just might not know that you know that you know it. You know?
He Does, Too.
How to Put Dinner For Hundreds in Perspective. Odds are, your wedding is the first big sit-down dinner that you’ve ever thrown. So, when I meet with brides and they tell me that they want to feed 250 guests on a reception budget of $5,000 or less, I get that it’s just a failure to extrapolate from real life. How much does it cost for you and your guy to go out to dinner? Even if it’s some place like Olive Garden – salad, entrées, drinks and dessert are going to be $30-35 per person, not including tax and tip (Yes, I checked online). And that’s Olive Garden. When you think about it that way, it doesn’t seem quite as harsh. Expensive, maybe, but not so harsh.
Being in your wedding party is an honor, but don’t make it a burden. They are not going to wear that dress again. How do I know that? Did you ever wear the last bridesmaid dress you wore again? Neither did I. So, be kind when it comes to how much the dress is going to cost, especially considering their other expenses, like hotel, airfare, a wedding gift, your bachelorette party, etc.. Once everyone is at your wedding, make everything as easy as possible. Let them know where they they need to be and when and how and what. Tell them how happy you are that they are there with you, and then tell them again. Think about how you would like to be treated if you were a bridesmaid, so don’t treat them like servants. Your wedding party is happy to be there for you – don’t make them unhappy to be there for you.
The Fine Art of Guest Maintenance. Assume nothing. Spell out everything. Where to go, how to get there, who to talk to, what to say. Wedding websites are useful. Everyone has stuff to do, don’t get angry, just set aside the week after your RSVP deadline to follow up with the no-replies. Some folks will not be able to find theirs, no matter what, so back-up up place cards with a list of your guests by last name and by table. Signage is useful. Think about what really sucked at the last wedding you went to, and make sure that’s covered. Think about what you really loved at the last wedding you went to and make sure that’s covered. Find out where the bathrooms are so you can tell whoever asks. If it’s hot, cool and hydrate your guests, if it’s cold, warm them. If there’s a long wait twixt event a and event b, entertain them. Make it a goal to say hello to every single one of your guests. Don’t let the food run out. Don’t let the drinks run out. Keep the dance floor hopping. That all being said, some people will never be happy, so just smile and thank them for coming. You might be related to some of those people, but do it anyway.
Your fiance is getting married, too. I put this last, so it’s the first thing you remember. Here’s the thing – an alarm goes off in my head when a bride contacts me about her wedding and DOESN’T mention her fiance off the bat. “I’m getting married on blah blah” as opposed to “we’re getting married on blah blah”, or if it takes a couple of emails or phone calls to even mention his name, and this happens a lot. It’s his wedding, too. Honor his wishes. Ask him what he wants as far as the wedding is concerned, involve him as much as he wants (not necessarily as much you want him to be) , don’t be surprised if he says no to anything, and work it out if he does. When you talk about your wedding, remember to say “We.” and “Us.” This is the man you want to spend the rest of your life with, not just the plastic groom on top of your wedding cake. I’m just saying.
See? I told you already knew this stuff. So, what else has given you a big head-smacking “Duh!” on your way down the aisle? And have you had an issues with numbers 1-4 yet?
This Week’s Deals:
"Limited, in terms of price, that is"
The Limited Wedding Dresses Are Here! The Limited Wedding Dresses are Here! And the price is just as pretty as the dresses are. The Limited is starting out with two styles, each less than $300. The worst part is that they’re only available online for now, but alas, you cannot have everything.
Did you know that June is National Candy Month? Luckily, if it’s also your wedding favor of choice, The Wedding Outlet has your back – use the code “SweetTreat” at checkout for 10% off your entire order.
And remember, L.A. brides, next Sunday, June 27th is The Recession Bride’s Workshop, taught by yours truly. Time to find out how to make your wedding budget stretch and still achieve the pretty you want to have. Start saving money right away by using the code”WedCharmFive” at registration. Only a few spots left, so go NOW.
Listen up, broke-ass brides! Get out your planners, calendars, and iphones and mark down the date to get all of your wedding savings at the Bridal Bar in LA on June 5th. Want some unique wedding things that fit your budget wedding price tag? Bridal Bar is the place where it’s at, yo! Be prepared to battle to the death…(ok, not to battle to the death), but be prepared to score a ton of savings on all of your bridal accessories and gifts. Lemme ask you somethin’. If youz was opening up a hotel and the Ritz was having a yard sale, you’d go right? So if you live in L.A. and are getting married, you’re gonna wanna be at The Bridal Bar June 5th to fill in find those last (or first) items. I mean can I get a what what?!
Our friend Harmony is the brains behind this incredible boutique (now with sister stores in San Diego and Atlanta) and they were a huge help to me in my quest for the perfect venue. Free help for busy brides in a setting that makes you feel like a fancypants? Holler!
The Bridal Bar offers a complimentary peek at an unique and handpicked sampling of the best that the wedding industry has to offer. There is no appointment needed to get these deals, steals and last minute must haves for you brides, your wedding party, and your wedding day. Helloooooo, savings! So go sip champagne, taste cakes, and score a killer deal on everything under the bridal sun. Click here for all the deets.
Our friend Eva (one of the brilliantly talented ladies behind Utterly Engaged e-zine) just opened a fantastic new boutique called The Wedding Pantry, focused on serving the needs of brides and grooms prepping for their wedding and offering some wedding inspiration… and I had to share it with y’all because I’m so excited for her!
The boutique features unique merchandise such as bridal jewelry and handbags, featuring local vendors, and hosting fun events such as trunk shows and DIY classes in calligraphy, favors and more! Its also a great place for brides to meet with prospective vendors, or browse through magazines and books for inspiration in the lounge.
I really admire Eva. She got this idea and turned around and made it happen with such ferocious ambition! I’ve loved following along the process on The Wedding Pantry blogsite. Its truly a homegrown business with big hearts behind it.
Utterly Engaged calls the Wedding Pantry home, and will be holding launch parties for their new e-zine issue releases here, too. The next one is May 31st and has a s’mores theme, so The Fresh Hubby and I will definitely be there! (I mean, c’mon. Its s’mores!) But they have a ton of fun events coming up, so check their calendar regularly. The DIY bouquet workshop on May 28th is perfection for you broke-asses, dontchaknow.
The Wedding Pantry is located at 138 Main Street in Tustin, CA. Give Eva a big hug for us when you go!
Two weeks ago, I hopped over to Washington DC to attend the B-list Conference, and snap crackle pop was it ever a great time! I’m still kinda pinching myself over being included with a crew I find so inspiring – I mean, these are some of the best bloggers around – and I’m happy to report that they’re all just the sweetest gals evah!
We all got some seriously royal treatment over the weekend, which kicked off with a massive blowout meet and greet at The Torpedo Factory – an incredible artsy/lofty space in Old Town Alexandria. Vendors came from all over the country to attend, and the whole party was off the hook and so was the venue. It was fun bumping into old friends I haven’t seen in a while, and meeting some of my favorite bloggers for the first time. Let me tell you, I stumbled off that plane, changed into my dress in the airport bathroom, and rolled into this party 45 minutes later… rocking jetlag and airplane grogginess. But the buzz of being there carried me through the night, the party and the afterparty!
The Torpedo Factory was jam packed
Our lovely hosts: Anne (From I Will to I Do) & Vane (Brooklyn Bride)
Elan Artists tore the room up
They scrolled any tweets pertaining to the conference or party across a screen in real time, which would be a fun modern feature at an edgy-techie wedding. But one of my favorite features was the DIY prosecco station – which included fresh herbs, syrups, and other mixers that we could add to flavor our glass as much or as little as we liked. I got seriously addicted to a concoction involving fresh thyme and lavender syrup… that stuff was my jam!
Fresh Herbs and Prosecco? My new favorite!
Another adorable feature was Brooklyn Bride’s Pop Up Bar – showcasing items that POP… everything from various flavors of popcorn to pop tarts and pop rocks. I’d love to see something like this at a wedding instead of a candy buffet.
Once you pop, you can't stop.
They also decorated chalkboard vases with our names, which I loved. But the best was that they drew some chalk ass cheeks under our name See them in the lower left corner there?
Just grab some chalkboard paint and plywood to DIY your own!
Saturday was the official conference, which we spent at the historic Lloyd House in Old Town Alexandria. Sorry peeps, what we discuss at the conference stays at the conference, but I can share with you the freaking adorable lunch they put together for us… which was almost too cute to eat! Almost. Its theme was something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue, and it included embroidered cloth napkins, bamboo flatware, artisan root beer, and special ‘B’ shaped cookies.
Sunday morning, we trucked over to Williams Sonoma for a special brunch featuring some new registry trends, delicious tasty delights, and a fun cooking demonstration. Did you know some couples are registering for his and hers knife sets so couples that love to cook could each get the fit they want? As a gal with a culinary bent, that beats my drum for sure! Oh, PS – WS makes some crazydelicious frozen croissants that would be totally perf for a day-after brunch type event. You ain’t gotta tell no one that’s store bought (it can be our little secret). They are the yum!
WIlliams Sonoma put on quite a show for us!
And we all went our separate ways, toting our special swag bags… with full hearts and heads after such a rewarding weekend with the gals! Take a peek at the loot.
It was all such a blast. I’m so grateful to everyone who made it all possible, and feel blessed to be included in such an inspiring bunch of bloggers! And you know that’s saying something, since I managed to lose my wallet and get sick that weekend. Honestly though, the people at Dulles Airport couldn’t have been nicer about helping me through security without a photo ID. It’s so rare to experience great customer service when traveling, I have to shout-out their TSA department with a virtual high five. I felt very Blanche DuBois – relying on the kindness of strangers And then, the unthinkable… a week later my wallet was returned, completely intact!
I can’t wait for next year’s conference. Keep up with and learn more about The B-List in the meantime, by following the B-List Blog!
Unfortunately I can’t be with the whole B-List crew at the conference in D.C. this weekend. So here is a little shout out to all the Ladies of the B-List, Fresh Hubby Style. (Oh and if you’re not a B-Lister, in my book, today you are an honorary one )
I’m uber-proud to be the PR/Media Chair for the Southern California chapter of Wish Upon a Wedding – a new non-profit dedicated to granting weddings and/or civil union ceremonies at destinations across the United States to couples who are facing terminal illness. As someone who has been financially limited by my medical history, this cause is very dear to my heart, and its an honor to be a founding member of the Southern California board.
I’m thrilled to announce that we’ll be holding our chapter launch party on April 22nd at [Seven-Degrees] Laguna Beach… and I’d love to see you there! It’s going to be tons of fun, and the venue is incredible. Come one, come all!
Wish Upon a Wedding has been taking America by storm, and was just named the premiere charity of choice by Get Married Magazine, our official media partner! It seems like everybody is clamoring to get on board and help spread the love – and who can blame us? It’s such a good cause!
I bet you’re sitting there wondering: “this sounds amazing! But how do I get involved, yo?”
Welllll….. I got a few options for ya!
♥ Come to the launch! RSVP with laevents@wishuponawedding.com
(can’t come? spread the word via facebook, twitter, and your blog – we’d love to have your support!)
♥ Donate your time or services! Contact cwo@wishuponawedding.org and they’ll hook you up with your closest chapter. (In the LA/OC area? I can hook you up with our volunteer coordinators, too!)
♥ Join the PR/Media committee (and work with me)! That’s right, I’m seeking 2-3 bright shining stars to donate your time and talent to assist me in making our PR mojo more awesomesauce than ever! Contact me if you’re interested!
