The Little White 'Reception' Dress

Okay, so we know that times are hard and many of you are not thinking about buying two dresses for your wedding day. However, reception dresses can be fun & surprising for your Groom & guests. We have searched the internet to find three absolutely gorgeous little white dresses that would be great for any reception. And guess what they all are under $180.00.

Myra Kim's Shop $65.00

Maggy London $178.00

Minji's Shop $55.00

Images and pricing information from Myra Kim, Nordstroms.com & Minji's Shop

BRIDES Magazine Presents "Dancing with BRIDES"

Are you a faithful watcher of Dancing with the Stars?

Can you and your fiance dance other couples under the table?

Would you love to win $10,000 and the chance to appear both on television and in the pages of magazines?

Well here's an opportunity to fulfil all three.

BRIDES magazine is hosting a contest called Dancing with BRIDES.

You don’t need to know how to dance, they will teach you! Enjoy interactive all-day events where you’ll learn from professional instructors with hands-on training. Pickup the steps and dance your way into the competition. Besides scoring some new moves, all attendees can win fabulous prizes, experience the best in bridal from our partners and take home a sweet swag bag!

Here's how you enter to win:

Grab your groom and fill out the online registration form
Brides & Groom- to - be must be schedule to be married between May 1, 2009 - May 1, 2010

Here are the locations and details for each event:

Dallas, TX – 5/3/09
Rosewood Crescent Hotel
400 Crescent Court
Dallas, Texas 75201
Events begin at 10am

New York, NY – 5/16/09
583 Park Avenue
At 63rd Street & Park Ave
New York, NY 10021
Events begin at 10am

Chicago, IL – 5/31/09
The Drake Hotel
140 East Walton Place
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Events begin at 10am

Best of Luck!

Image and information from BRIDES MAGAZINE

Recap of J.Crew Trunk Show

Happy Monday Budget Brides!

God was so kind to shine some great weather to all of us in NYC. Don't you just love it when the weather is really crappy during the week but the weekend is full of sunshine and fun.

So The BBH was at the J.Crew trunk show today and we saw some beautiful bridal and bridesmaid dresses. Now we do have to be honest some of the dresses were utter disappointments while others gave us that warm feeling inside when you know that you have seen a definite purchase.

Now we would like to make the note that J.Crew could have done a better job of displaying the dresses. Since the trunk show was set up directly across from their concerige desk it made the space a little tight for our liking.

However, this was a perfect opportunity to see the dresses up front and personal. Kudos to J.Crew for developing and executing the trunk show because Brides were able to touch the fabric and assess the dress based on its actual look & feel and not just from a picture.

Favorite Wedding Dress

Click the image to see more views of the dress

The Slub silk Penelope gown was definitely our first choice. The dress is made of silk which surprised us because alot of the J.Crew dress that are made out of silk have a more stiff look to them. This dress was amazingly soft and sexy draping the body delicately but giving attention to all the right places.

Favorite Bridesmaid Dress

Click the image to see more views of the dress

We picked the Silk Taffeta Ruffle Wrap dress as our fav because it is versitale. When a Bride picks this dress for her bridesmaids, she is giving them the option of being able to wear this dress again. This is not only a bridesmaids' dress but it can also be worn to work, out to dinner with clients, cocktails and church. We also love the shape of the dress and the ruffles that cascade down the collar of the dress to the tye closure.

We would suggest that if you live in the cities listed below that you go and see the dresses in person before you make a purchase online. Who wants to deal with the hassle of returns!

J.Crew Wedding Gowns & Bridesmaid Dresses can be found in-store at:

J.Crew Rockefeller Center

30 Rockefeller Center

New York, NY

J.Crew Lenox Sqaure

3393 Peachtree Rd NE

Atlanta, GA

J.Crew The Grove

189 The Grove Drive

Los Angeles, CA

J.Crew North Michigan Avenue

900 North Michigan Avenue

Chicago, IL

Images & Location Information from J.Crew

In the Know: Contests, Events & Promotions 4/24

Happy Friday Budget Brides!

Here is our next installment of In the Know: Contests, Events & Promotions. We strive to inform you about contests, events & promotions from mainstream companies as well as companies you maybe less known. See below for all of the entries that we received for this week.
Enjoy!

Image from Magnet Street Weddings

Contests

Getting Married in Vegas? Green Orchid Events is giving away the 2nd annual Wedding Day Coordination package to a lucky couple getting married in 2009 or 2010! This also includes a 1hr engagement session with a DVD photo slideshow from Randi Anzevino of Reflective Souls Photography. Contest ends April 30th. Click here for information on how to enter.

Survival Giveaway! Wedding Survival Season & Solemates present "The April Showers Bring May Brides" Solemates High Heeler Giveaway! 5 luck winners will receive a set Solemates High Heeler to help them survive wedding season. Click here for more information on how to enter.

New Bed, New Journey! Enter for your chance to win a Sleep Number Bed worth $1300 at Blissfully Domestic. Click here for more information on how to enter. Contest ends May 1st.

WE TV's Girlfriends Sweepstakes! Enter for your chance to win a trip to the Essence Music Festival (July 3rd - July 6th, 2009) for you and two of your best girlfriends. Click here for your chance to win.

Dancing with Brides! Brides.com is giving Brides the chance to enter their Dancing with Brides Contest. One lucky couple will win $10,000 towards their wedding, a chance to appear in the pages of Brides Magazine and on television. Click here to register for your chance to win.

Events

First Time Ever! J.Crew Weddings Trunk Show this Saturday, April 25th & April 26th in NYC. Click here for original post and more information.

Promotions

Give Him Custom! Tailored Suits is offering multiple discounts on their website. You can save up to 15% off a custom shirt, pant, or suit. Click here for details.

Get Married is offering 15% off any $25.00 or more purchase on favors, gifts, apparel and more when you enter Promo Code: getmarried at checkout. Promotion never expires!

Magnet Street Weddings is offering 15% off Carrier Cards when you enter Promo Code: WCC15 at checkout. Promotion expires May 1, 2009.

Go Green! Estilo Weddings is offering 5% OFF all Green Products $75 and over. Just enter in the coupon code "Green" at checkout. Ends April 26th.

Gartner Studios is offering 15% off any total offer when use enter Promo Code: SPRING15. Offers ends April 30, 2009

Sponsored Advertisement

New Life, New Bed: Enter to win a Sleep Number Bed

So you have the ring, planning the big day and deciding what you are going to keep or throw away once both of your apartments become one. Well, Blissfully Domestic is giving all of you the chance to win a Sleep Number Bed worth $1300.

See Below for contest instructions & Good Luck!

Image from Blissfully Domestic

Click image to Enter Contest.

You can enter up to 4 times! Here is how:

1. Complete the entry form and select "comment" to leave a comment on this post. Be sure to put a comment in the comment box!

2. Sign up for the Blissfully Domestic Weekly Best of Bliss Newsletter It's free and full of great ideas! Be sure complete the entry form and select "I Subscribed" in order for your entry to be counted. Current subscribers are eligible for this entry type but you must complete the entry form for the entry to be counted.

3. Write a blog post and link back to this contest on your blog, complete the entry form with the link to the post in the comment box.

4. Tweet our giveaway and complete the entry form with the link to the tweet in the comment box.

Completing the form on this page is your entry, so if you qualify for additional entries be sure to complete the form for each one. The form must be completed separately for each entry type in order for it to be counted in the drawing.

Some things to take note of:
Entries are open from Monday, April 20th thru Friday, May 1st at midnight central time. Our winner will be drawn randomly and we will announce the winner Saturday, May 2nd. Please make sure to check our site and your email address to see if you have won the prize. We must receive your reply within 5 business days.

Sleep Number is offering you the chance to win a Queen-size Sleep Number c3 bed set valued at $1,300.

No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. The Sleep Number C3 Bed Giveaway is sponsored by Select Comfort Corporation. This contest is open to legal residents of the 50 United States & D.C., who reside in and are physically located in the U.S. and are 18 or older at time of entry.

PRIVACY: Information participants provide to Sponsor may be used to communicate with participants in relation to this sweepstakes as well as to contact participants regarding products and promotions of Sleep Number Beds. Sleep Number Privacy Policy.

Please see the Official Giveaway Rules for a complete list of the Contest and Giveaway Rules.

Image and information from Blissfully Domestic

Enter to win WE TV's Girlfriends Sweepstakes

Here is a great way to win a trip for you and 2 of your besties. Now we all know that weddings can be full of pressure and stress. Enter the contest below for a chance to relax and take a breather. Good Luck!!

Girlfriends Sweepstakes

Love your girlfriends?

Enter our sweepstakes and you and two of your friends could be headed to New Orleans

July 3-6, 2009 for the Ultimate Party Weekend at the ESSENCE Music Festival, presented by Cola-Cola.

Featuring Beyonce, Anita Baker, John Legend and many more acts...

Prize Details:

• 4 day, 3 night trip to New Orleans
• Round trip air/ground transportation
• Hotel accommodations
• Tickets to three nights of shows and three full days of empowerment seminars

Image and information from WE TV

Suite Print by Oh So Suite

Suite Print is a line created by Oh So Suite for the budget conscience bride who wants amazing custom made invitations at half the price. Oh So Suite is an invitation company known for its elaborate invitations full of color and intricate designs. They have decided to create a budget conscience line called Suite Print which allows the Bride to have a custom invitation created to suit the theme of the wedding. What's so amazing about this company is that they allow you to give the creative direction on your invitation, send you the final product in a custom pdf ready to print in whatever format you're looking for and give you suggestions on offset printing options & letterpress.

Below are 5 lines from Suite Print ranging from $125.00 - $150.00.

French Chic Suite Print $150.00

Modern Elegant Suite Print $150.00

Gingham Suite Print $150.00

Floral Suite Print $125.00

Cloverfield Suite Print $150.00

Visit Suite Print and Oh So Suite at Etsy.com.

Images & Some Information from Suite Print.

In the Know: Contests, Events & Promotions 4/17

In The Know: Contests, Events & Promotions 4/17

Happy Friday Budget Brides!

Here is our next installment of In the Know: Contests, Events & Promotions. We strive to inform you about contests, events & promotions from mainstream companies as well as companies you maybe less known. See below for all of the entries that we received for this week.
Enjoy!

Image from Gourmet Gift Company

Contest

Blog Love! Alannah Rose Stationary is giving Brides the chance to win a Set of Table Numbers valuved at $110 AU. Contest ends Midnight AEST on April 22nd. Good Luck!

Dream Dress & Fantasy Honeymoon! To kick off their wedding section Daily Candy Weddings is holding two contest where you can enter for a chance to WIN a Designer Wedding Dress from Saks Fifth Avenue and/or a Dream Honeymoon from Jet Blue Airways.

Events

An Amazing Trunk Show! J.Crew is have their 1st ever trunk show on Saturday, April 25th & Sunday, April 26th. Click here for original post.

Promotions

Fabulous Savings! Choose between Free Shipping, Up to $50 off your next purchase and FREE Thermography or Letterpress Products all from Wedding Paper Divas. Click here for more information.

Spring Break for Tampa Bay Area Brides! Meant To Be Wed is offering 20% off planning and day-of coordination services. An extra 5% off for those engaged on Valentines Day!
Must book by April 30, 2009.

Still Need Bridal Party Gifts? The Gourmet Gift Company is offering $20 off any custom order of $100 or more. Use coupon code 24CUPCAKE at checkout. Coupon expires 06/30/09.

Book an Amazing Honeymoon! All About Honeymoons is offering a $50 spa credit to any couple who books a Honeymoon before April 30, 2009 and a $150 spa credit for any couple who books a Destination Wedding.

J.Crew Trunk Show in NYC!!!

Here is an afternoon tidbit Budget Brides. J.Crew is having their 1st ever trunk show. So if your in NYC stop by and check it out.

Image from The Knot via J.Crew

Gumdrop Cookie Shop

Meet the Gumdrop Cookie Shop! We came across this cute website via Daily Candy which specializes in creating cookies made with sugary designs. There couture cookies include many collections including a Signature Couture Shop, Monogram Shop and a Wedding Shop. All cookies are sold by the dozen and are $42 per doz. For the Bride who wants to create her own look the Gumdrop Cookie Shop offers custom cookies where you can use any design, logo, photo or monogram to customize your look. Visit the Gumdrop Cookie Shop.

Engagement

Something Old Something New

Bride

Monogram

Images from Gumdrop Cookie Shop

New Resource: Daily Candy Weddings

Happy Hump Day Budget Brides!

I have some exciting news for all of the fashionistas. Daily Candy has launched its wedding section of its website Daily Candy Weddings. As many of you may know Daily Candy is an editorial outlet where many companies have the opportunity to reach the masses concerning their products and services.

Experience bridal designers Alix & Kelly, Morgan Boszilkov and Jean Yu.

Delicious treats from Gumdrop Cookie Shop. Yum!

Learn a new cocktail recipe.

Explore uncoventional weddings at 303 Grand.

Already Hitched? Share it with the world.

To kick off their wedding section Daily Candy is holding two contest where you can enter for a chance to win a Designer Wedding Dress from Saks Fifth Avenue and/or a Dream Honeymoon from Jet Blue Airways.

Good Luck!

Experience Pink Orchid Invitations

A few weeks ago, The BBH had the opportunity to virtually meet Caroline Russo of Pink Orchid Invitations. Pink Orchid Invitations is a stationary company nestle in the college town of State College, Pennsylvania. Their designs are custom made to each order they receive giving each Bride an invitation made just for them. Pink Orchid Invitations has just launched 2 new additions to their Bridal Collection called Chic Elegance and Oh Lily. Chic Elegance is a gorgeous invitation with a dot border and an unexoected pop of color with a Fuschia accent. The Oh Lily invitation brings a fresh prospect to a classic look. By adding the lily pad, border and ribbon to the invitation Caroline brilliantly takes 3 separate elements and incorporates them in one effortlessly. The BBH readers will also receive a 5% discount on your purchase of wedding invitations when you let Caroline & her staff know you read about Pink Orchid Invitations on The Budget Brides Handbook. *

*Discount is valid until Tuesday, April 14, 2010.

We absolutely love Pink Orchid Invitations & we know you will too. Enjoy two of their newest bridal collection below.

Chic Elegance

Composed of:

1 Invitation: 5 x7 White linen cardstock1

Matching Envelope: Pink or White1

RSVP: Postcard sizePrice: $1.50 per set

This invitation set is the modern bride's answer to easy, affordable and modern chic invitations. The postcard size rsvp cuts down on mailing expenses and the clean design radiates simple elegance.

Oh Lily

Oh Lily"Invitation set is composed of:

1. 5 x 7" layered invitation (metallic green mat topped with a textured white linen cardstock)

A matching 70lb white envelope is included.2 3 1/2 x 5"

matching RSVP (textured white linen cardstock)

matching white envelope is included3.1 1/2

Green Satin Ribbon ties the entire set together

Cost: $3.00/each

Oh Lily Program

Composed of:

1. 6 1/4 x 4 1/4" Green outer metallic cover (the same metallic paper used in the invitation)

2. 2 1/2 x 2 1/2" White monogram/Title square pasted to the front of the program featuring names and location or theme of wedding.

2. 2 folded sheets of 60lb white text paper (6 pages of possible text)

3. 1/8" matching green ribbon holds the entire program together

Cost: $1.50/each

Cost of Invitation set and program together: $3.85/each

All images courtsey of Pink Orchid Invitations

How I Saved My Wedding Budget Contest: The Winner is ....

Happy Monday Budget Brides!

We took a small hiatus last week to take care of some business but now we're back and in action.

We wanted to end our short vacation with the announcement of the winner of our
"How I Save My Wedding Budget" contest. And the winner is ...................

We are pleased to announce the winner is Ingrid Ahlgren. Below is the submission that Ingrid submitted to The BBH for the contest. Congrats!!

Name: Ingrid Ahlgren
Fiancé’s first and last name: Alexander Liu
Location: New York, NY
Wedding date: October 24, 2009

We are having a big Catholic-Chinese wedding. My fiance needs to invite close to 200 relatives, so keeping costs down is tough. Luckily, we are doing the reception at a Chinese banquet hall, which is cheaper than a Western-style restaurant. Also, I became a parishoner at a Catholic church so that I could get the parishoner's price. We're also looking into a cupcake tower, which costs less than a traditional wedding cake.

In addition to a white gown (I scored a nice one at David's Bridal for $250), I need a red Chinese dress for the reception. One weekend my friend Kelley was in town from D.C. She's a photographer and has a great eye. Kelley also adore thrift stores and drags me into them whenever she is in New York. We went into a place called Cure Thrif Shop on East 12th Street. The proceeds from the store go toward diabetes research. We were looking at antique furniture and then went down to the lower level, which has clothing. Walking down the stairs, I joked, "Maybe I'll find a red Chinese dress here."

It turns out there was actually a red satin Chinese gown on the rack! It was marked XXL, but Kelley made me try it on. The dress ended up fitting really well, and it was in good shape. Also, it only cost $15, less than half the cost of the souvenir store dress. I might need to get it tailored a bit, and certainly dry cleaned, but it was a great buy! I've attached a photo of the red dress.

I recently got laid off from my job, so there is even more pressure to keep costs down. Now I'm trying to find an affordable day-of coordinator to help make sure the big event goes off without a hitch. Obviously, winning this contest would also help me save my wedding day budget!

Thanks for considering my entry.

--Ingrid

Here is the Picture that Ingrid sent us of her reception dress.

We would like to thank everyone who entered the contest and for your continued support for The Budget Brides Handbook as we strive to continue to bring you wedding inspiration and ideas within you budget.