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This past weekend, my friends and family treated me to the most awesomest bridal shower ever! It’s a little bit hard to surprise a person that lives out of town, so my shower wasn’t a surprise, and I’m sooooo glad that it wasn’t. I’ve heard some real horror stories about girls showing up for their showers looking like a hot mess, and I wasn’t trying to make that happen. Plus, I appreciated that it gave me something really fun to look forward to……because let’s face it, anticipation of fun is half the fun. No matter how pumped I was for the shower though, it completely exceeded my expectations. It was one of those moments in life when you just sit back and think, “Wow I know some amazing people, that really care about me.” Seriously, I was touched.
Since Mr. Officer and I watched Breakfast at Tiffany’s during our first date, the shower was Tiffany’s themed. The bridesmaids thought of everything from handmade Tiffany box centerpieces, to adorable croissant favors. Amazingly, one of the bridesmaids even came down a night early, with three year old in tow, to make this amazing cake by hand:
Wow, these girls are talented!
Check out the heaping pile of gifts……….
And me making a weird face while explaining that I can now take covered dishes everywhere I go….
And posing with my cousin-in-law to be and the ribbon bouquet
Unfortunately, I had to leave most of the gifts behind, but luckily that means that my parents have to come up to visit this weekend to bring my loot. All of the gifts were amazing, and here’s an abbreviated list of some creative, off the registry gifts:
An heirloom, engraved serving spoon from my Mother-in-law to be
A handmade scherenschnitte wedding piece from the maid-of-honor’s grandmother
Bride and groom rubber duckies from my cousin-in-law and Aunt-in-law to be
Chalkboard bar glasses from a family friend
Gourmet pasta set (complete with Olive Garden style cheese grater) from the maid-of-honor and her sister
Seasonal decorations, including a handmade wreath, from my Aunt
Now, to get started on all those thank you notes! How about you, was anyone else blown away by their bridesmaids? Did you get any fun gifts that weren’t on your registry?
I’m a huge fan of clothing that can do double-duty, and triple duty is even better! Today, I’ve put together three looks – one for the bridal shower, bachelorette party, and rehearsal dinner, using just one versatile dress.
Yep, this week’s episode of Broke-Ass Bride TV is all about bachelorette parties and how to stay true to yourself while reveling in girl power while your besties! Oh, and not going broke in the process. Key for you, and for your maids, amiright?
Chickity check it out! (Oh, and try to not be distracted by my puffiness. I don’t know what I did to anger the bloat gods that day, but man did they let me have it!)
Dangit… I wish I had remembered this tip when shooting: for my bachelorette party, we saved on a big expensive dinner in a really creative and special way. My bestie MaPo and sister Dawn had everyone potluck over one of my favorite dishes, so we had a buffet of all my favorite foods (and yummy cocktails) to pre-game with at MaPo’s house! Cha-ching! Less money on dinner = more money for cocktails later!
Also, MaPo wanted to provide transportation, but limos are hecka pricey and cabs just couldn’t hold our whole crew, so she rented a budget van, decorated it, threw in a case of beer for our “mini-bar”… and (the best part) had her hubby dress up as our in full character and costume and act as our driver. His name was “Chim Richalds” and he had a bad-ass mustachio and accent. It was SO fun and unique, and a great way to get a gaggle of girls around town!
Stay tuned for next week, ‘cuz Hunter is tackling tips for the guys in his bachelor party video!
Ha, speaking of bloat… here’s a fun fact. The first commercial I ever booked was a Diurex ad. Yup, I was all “I take Diurex, and get on with my life!” on television during many daytime talk show commercial breaks I wish I had a copy of that to show you guys – you’d die of laughter…
Got any other broke-ass party tips to share? Leave ‘em in the comments, yo!
Of course, there’s the wedding ensemble, but what about all of those pre-wedding activities? We need to find something to wear to the shower, the bachelorette party and the rehearsal dinner. Well, those outfits add up, fast.
But there’s a solution: one perfect little black dress. A classic LBD can be dressed up or down for any occasion. You can wear the same dress to all of your wedding-related festivities, switch up a few accessories, and nobody will ever know!
Check out this adorable dress from eShakti. It costs just $59.95.
First let’s dress it up for a shower. I’m thinking something sweet, simple, ladylike, and rather demure.
Grand Total (not including dress): $85.65
Belt $28 @ BCBG, Pumps $20.80 @ Forever 21, Bag $29.95 @ DSW, ”Love” Earrings $6.90 @ ASOS
And now here’s something festive and flirty for the bachelorette party.
Picking out wedding invitations just got cheaper. No, easier. No, greener. Wait, all of the above. Have y’all seen this bizniss? Cocodot.com is a pretty new but super rad resource you can use to search for and buy lovely and affordable wedding invites, engagement announcements, and thank you cards. They offer customizable, fresh, and stylish electronic invitation suites (they’ll offer printed options this summer) and their website seems superdy duperdy easy to use. Not only are you getting chic invites, they are cheap wedding invites as well and don’t everybody lurve that? They are the perfect invites for your budget wedding!
Palm Springs perfect.
They feature a wedding package for just $149 smackeroos – all inclusive with coordinated themed suites including your engagement announcements, engagement party invitations, save the dates, rehearsal dinner, bridal shower and wedding invitations, and thank you cards, with the option of creating your own, and customizable greetings for specific guests or specific events, fonts and colors. And they boast communication and guest management tools as well as a wedding home page and gift registry linky features. I’m like whoa, that’s a lot of goodies in one bag. Had this been around when I was planning, I’d be all up in there.
Um, yum.
So here’s the loot: to celebrate the official launch of Cocodot, they’re rocking a sweet promo code for the Premium Membership (18 months of unlimited cards and invitations, yo) at just $59 bones (saves ya $90, holler). Enter the phrase “cocobride” when you checkout. For just a taste of the site before using it on all of your invites use “cocoEarth2010″ for one free party invitation and try before you buy.
Methinks its a pretty sweet deal. Anyone out there trying it? Let us know if you do!
Speaking of invitations… If you’re in the LA/OC area and want to attend the Wedding Salon at the London Hotel this Monday May 3rd – I got a comp code for y’all! I’ve been to this event before and its super schwank with great goodies and plenty of eye candy and tasty treats. Enter code BABLAC at checkout for tickets on the frizzle. AND, wedding pros – listen up! The Simple Plan Workshop is coming, and it’s a must-do if you need help creating a business plan. Over 2 days (May 12-13) Michelle and Kelly of Sage Wedding Pros (an invaluable resource online – please check it out, you’re welcome in advance) will walk you through each step of the business plan process, so at the end of day 2 you walk away with a completed plan… all done! I love these ladies, and I’m super psyched to be helping coordinate and attending it myself… lawd knows I need the help! For a $50 discount, enter “besage” at checkout. For more info: http://thesimpleplan.biz (PS – check out their insider to insider feature of lil ole me from January!)
Have you ever been left lightheaded, and the only thing that you can manage to get out of your dangling mouth is, “……… ………. wow!”? Well that is exactly what happened to me, Dana and our friend Johnny when we went to see Cirque du Soleil‘s KA in a little place called Las Vegas.
Cirque shows are a great alternative bachelor/bachelorette party idea. I went to Vegas for a close friend’s bachelor party early last year. On the first night we were giddy gents and went to see the obligatory burlesque show, which was fun, naturally. The second night we went to Cirque’s Love. The first night I clapped and chuckled. The second night I found myself teary-eyed, saying “It’s so beautiful. It’s just so friggin’ beautiful.” Now imagine learning that at a bachelor party: Seeing half naked ladies is fun but something truly beautiful and awe inspiring is a thing called Love.
A little while back, when we were attending The BlogWorld expo in Vegas, the delightful people of Cirque du Soleil gifted us tickets to KA while we were in town. If you’ve ever seen a Cirque show, you know that there was only one thing to say: ” uh… Yes Yes Please!”
If you haven’t seen a Cirque show you HAVE to. As an artist it fills me with pride and wonder, and as an eternal kid it fills me with excitement and joy. With every show, Cirque always takes the human body’s ability and the mind’s imagination, and pushes them to the limit. The touring shows put a fantastically deluxe spin on the classic big tent circus, but when in Vegas (with the luxury of a permanent venue), they create an experience unlike anything you can imagine.
The creatures that greet you the moment you walk into the theatre make KA fun before it has even begun. Then you nestle into your (very cozy and oversized) seats, each equipped with speakers in the headrest so every spectator can enjoy the sounds, music and ambiance in surround sound.
Shortly into the show a floating stage, covered in sand appears. Out of the sand a human-sized crab and turtle popped out and start dancing and playing. Its just one of many fun moments that leave you completely taken off guard and wondering what comes next. Once the scene comes to a close, the stage starts to tilt forward. I thought “Wow, it totally looks like that sand could fall ri… holy crap all that sand is falling off!” The entire stage went completely vertical! A couple of actors came out and made the most beautiful and remarkable shadow puppets, which projected onto the now vertical stage; but apparently the scary creature that suddenly appeared in the aisle next to me hates shadow puppets, because he and his entire posse started shooting arrows at the couple, which lodged into the vertical platform. Then a huge chase began and people started scrambling straight up the platform, using the arrows as climbing pegs. But as if things weren’t crazy enough, the platform started spinning. A thrilling and chilling chase/battle ensued with people and creatures flying hundreds of feet off of the spinning platform that treats its victims like pinballs.
We jumped out of our seats more times than I can count, and cried, laughed, ooohed and ahhhed sometimes simultaneously! It was an amazing experience. One that any artist dreams he could take credit for, and every spectator wishes they had the skills to star in.
To envelop an audience in an unearthly experience, exciting them each step of the way, is a gift that only the highest form of art can create. So if you’re in Sin City and in the mood to experience more than just sin (there is merit to that, too) but want to see the beauty of life and art, check out a KA at the MGM Grand, and say, “….. …… wow.”
Looking for a fun bachelorette alternative, or a great anniversary date? I got your poison, right here….
Last year we were in NYC for Hunter’s birthday, and partook in the experience that is Accomplice: The Show. This interactive scavenger hunt game/theatre/tour of the city was one of my most memorable NY experiences of all time. Mysterious, Silly, Quirky, Sexy and most of all, FUN. We basically got to pretend to be undercover “accomplices” to a mob heist/getaway… we met up with informants, delivered “packages”, and did fun detective work to get us from drop point to drop point.
If you liked “where in the world is carmen sandiego” then this will tickle your inner detective fancy juuuuust right. Heck, we did it in a torrential deluge of rain and still had the time of our lives. See? Yes, we are wearing trash bags that we stole from NYC public trash bins. No shame.
Thus, I am so thrilled to get an emailing announcing that not only did they recently start up an Accomplice: Hollywood experience, but that they’re offering a recession special of $40/ticket!
Now, I know you’re all “$40? That’s a special price?!?”, but know this: The whole shebang normally costs $65. It lasts a 2.5 hours, and includes a few delightful stops along the way that involve light food and beverages of the adult kind, as well as a good afternoon’s worth of walk-ercise and loads of fun characters to interact with. Its worth. every. penny. I kissed a frog, on the way to deliver it to an informant!
This type of experience just screams Bachelorette Party to me. What could be better than a bunch of rambunctious women combing the town, aiding and abetting clandestine criminals? I mean, really. Stupid fun. Just don’t get caught by the fuzz, or you’ll be sleeping with the fishes, yo. I wish my birthday was next week so I could gather a crew and do it here. I can’t wait to see what the Hollywood experience has to offer, but I promise to report back when I finally find out.
Accomplice has 2 shows in NYC, and one in LA – but their site says to stay tuned for SanFran, Las Vegas and London locations. Fun, franchised! PS: Use discount code “SAMMY” when purchasing – discount good through July 14.
*this is not a paid ad, just a broke-ass service announcement, yo.
When we left off after phase 1, we gals processed upstairs to find the fantastic limo I’d arranged, waiting for us to move the party on in! I found Mike through Craigslist, proposed a price, and he accepted! Let that be a lesson to you broke brides who think you can’t afford limo service, y’all. We paid $200 (including gratuity and stocked bar) for 6 hours of safe, reliable, clean service!*
We hopped in and Furburger got to work poppin’ the champagne. Then dancing ensued…..
And some more suspect behavior followed…. ladies, don’t mix birth control with scotch!
When we arrived at Tokyo Delve’s Sushi Bar, they weren’t quite letting folks in yet, so we lapped the block a few times in the limo and killed some time knocking down a few beers, in preparation for…….
SAKE BOMBS! If you haven’t had a sake bomb yet, you’re in for quite an experience. Let me educate you on the way of the bomb, y’all.
Step 1: fill up your beer glass from the mini keg (note the bad aim brought to you by several bombs already imbibed)…..
Step 2: fill up a sake cup and balance it precariously on your chopsticks above the beer.
Step 3: when the waiters chant “Sake Bomb Sake Bomb, when I say sake, you say Bomb!” you pound your fists on the table until your glass tumbles into the beer.
Step 4: CHUG! Sounds nasty, right? Well, it actually tastes quite good, and goes down deceptively smooth. Which leads to…. Step 5: dance on your chair with wild abandon!
Tokyo Delve’s is a great time for so many reasons, but my favorite is the N’Sync dances that the staff do while you’re eating.
“Bye Bye Bye”
MaPo getting a handful!
Awww, the whole crew. Well, almost… wait, where am I?
Apparently, I was in the bathroom. Booooo. So much for a group photo. I wish I would have peed five minutes later so I could have been in that great shot!
MaPo and her fan club
As you can imagine, we were in quite a way after this dining experience. Perfect timing, because our next stop was Jumbo’s Clown Room – an “exotic dance club” which basically means non-nude poledancers. We couldn’t take any photos in there (not surprising) but I will say its very clean and fun. The girls that dance there are extremely talented, and the crowd delightfully unskeevy. Some girls do fun theme-y outfits, too, which is always interesting.
Join us next time for our final installment, phase 3: Karaoke! You’ve already had your teaser there, so just hang on for more photos worthy of blackmail status.
*locals, feel free to contact me for limo contact info.
Although the horror of seeing myself in some of the photos has not yet worn off, I am ready to begin the recap! Thank you to my loyal commenters, for assuaging my fears of a mass blog exodus, after seeing me in all my karaoke glory. You gals rawk.
First up, the shower portion of the night, otherwise known as dress MaPo up and play silly games.
Since MaPo was staying with us, I asked Hunter to take her out for an hour or so to let me get the house ready. I frantically blew up balloons, set out decorations, organized prizes, and put on some mood music. Luckily, a few of the guests showed up in time to help finish things off… and they came bearing penis cupcakes and limo music mixes! MaPo had no idea what awaited her that evening… every step of the way was a surprise! The mixtape cover art, courtesy of “Savannah”*
Yum, strawberry penis candies!
Hunter and our friend “Aristotle” came back and announced MaPo with a grand ceremony, followed by dancing and heartfelt reunions. MaPo had not seen “Taco” in 6 years!
Then we kicked the men to the curb, and got down to business. We all made a drink, enjoyed a penis-cake, and let the games begin!
MaPo before… and after!
I had picked up some fun bridely accoutrements, including a hottie whistle, sash, light up button, shot-glass veil, and more. MaPo loooooves dress up!
Then we played some games. We started off with “Purse Raid“, moved onto Sweet, Sexy Advice,Carve the Cucumber (a personal favorite), and the NearlyWed Game. We’d also intermittently have MaPo pop one of the penis-shaped balloons around the room, and answer the naughty question on the paper inside. It was so much fun, and everyone got to win a prize! I highly recommend these games. The NearlyWed game is extra fun if you can get the groom to record his answers on video and play them during the game… alas, this was not to be in our case.
The prizes ranged from naughty trinkets like the “Tongue Dinger” and a pocket “personal massager” to fun novelties such as Skull Lip Gloss, light up rings and silly sunglasses. All the girls seemed really pleased
“Suzy Furburger”**, with a penis balloon betwixt her leggies.
The winning cucmber!
Taco, big pimpin in her prize
MaPo opened some gifts – a Victoria’s Secret gift card, an awesome book, and the infamous Climax Rabbit to name just a few. Suffice it to say, she will be was a very happy girl!
Before we knew it, the time had come to move on to Phase 2: Sake Bomb Sushi! Here are a couple teasers to whet your palates for even more debauchery!
*All names have been changed to protect the innocent.
I wish I had a copy of that to show you guys – you’d die of laughter…
AND, wedding pros – listen up! 
