DIY: Wedding Day Maniures & Pedicures

Happy Tuesday Budget Brides!!

We know that many of you maybe looking for ways to cut certain expenses out of your budget. If manicures and pedicures makes the cut then here is a guide to give yourself the perfect manicures and pedicures. We just love the bridal collection from nail polish company Essie.

Essie is an amazing nail polish company that was founded by Essie Weingarten in 1981. Essie's nail polish is made without Formaldehyde, DBP or Toluene.

Things You Will Need:

Nali Polish

Nail Polish Remover

Nail Clipper

Nail Buffer

Nail Files

Moisturizing Lotion

Cuticle Cream

Cotton Swabs or Pads

Photo from Scared Herbal

DYI: Manicures


Step 1: Clean off your finger nails with a nail polish remover
(Note: If you cannot remove a darker color from the corners of your nails use a nail file.)
Step 2: Soak your hands in a small bowl of warm water for 10 to 15 minutes
Step 3: Use a nail clipper to cut your nails down to your desired length
Step 4: File your nails in one direction and shape to your desire
Step 5: Use a nail buffer to soften nails and shine nail bed
Step 6: Push your cuticles back using a cream in the soaking in step 2 did not do the trick
Step 7: Wash & dry your hands to remove any residue
Step 8: Massgae your hands with a moisturizing lotion
Step 9: Apply a base coat and allow it to dry

Step 10: While base coat is drying use this time to clean up any mistakes
Step 11: Add additional coats as needed to get a darker result
Step 12: Complete manicure with a top coat of clear nail polish

Photo from Seven Canyon

DIY Pedicures

Step 1: Clean off your toe nails with a nail polish remover

(Note: If you cannot remove a darker color from the corners of your nails use a nail file.)

Step 2: Soak your toes in a foot basin in warm water for 10 to 15 minutes using a foot soaking product

Step 3: Use a pomice stone or dead skin remover to remove any of the rough spots on the bottom of your foot and heel

Step 4: Using a toenail clipper, clip your toes nails straight across

Step 5: File and buff toesnails to smooth out any rough spots

Step 6: Wash & Dry feet off and use a moisturizing lotion to massage feet

Step 7: Use toe separators or cotton balls to separate toes and preparing for nail painting

Step 8: Apply a base coat and allow it to dry

Step 9: While base coat is drying use this time to clean up any mistakes

Step 10: Add additional coats as needed to get a darker result

Step 11: Complete manicure with a top coat of clear nail polish

We have an amazing opportunity for you to win some great items to help you with your DIY project so check back later on.

Recap of WBLS Bridal Showcase Expo

Happy Monday Budget Brides!

This weekend was very exciting for us. We participating in a Bridal Showcase Expo given by WBLS a radio station in NYC. The expo was awesome and we were able to reach many new customers to intrpduce them to our many services. We were also able to make many new contacts in the NYC tri-state wedding community.

To All of the Brides to Be:

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

Please feel free to browse our website to review our services. Also remember to sign up for updates and daily inspiration.

Lastly, a special thanks to the Budget Bride helpers who were able to come out and support us by working the table and introducing the wedding community to

THE BUDGET BRIDES HANDBOOK.

Below are some pictures taken at the show. Enjoy!!

Me at the table

Lakisha & I at the table

Lakisha & Melissa at the table

Table Decor with Bouquet Designed by Me



Table Decor with the Candy Bar Service



Candy Bar Service




The Candy Bar was a great hit.



We gave out heart shape calculators to all of the brides to help
keep them in budget during their planning process.



Our Candy Bar service Now & Later, Super Bubble, Frooties, Sour Powers, Green Apple & Strawberry Lollipops.

We Have New Business Cards!!

Happy Thursday Budget Brides!!

We have exciting news!!! We received our new business cards in the mail today! Our good friend in cyberspace Hilary from Simply Your Designs created these business cards for us. They look awesome in person. We had them printed through Vista Print and they did a wonderful job as well. Hilary is also responsible for the design of our website.

Thanks Hilary! It is always a pleasure working with you.

Vista Print - We have done such great work over the years and many more to come.

Let us know what you guys think.

Let's Talk Money: So Your Talking About Marriage

Happy Wednesday Budget Brides!

I wanted to start a series called Let's Talk Money to help all of you in your process of heading to the altar and marriage. These post will happen every Wednesday and they will give you tips and ideas of how you can prepare for your upcoming planning and future wedding. We would love to hear your comments on the post we create and from time to time there will be contests for you to win great prizes to help you along the process.

Are you talking about marriage? Then this is a must read.

Many couples do not talk about finances while they are in the dating stages. Many feel that

talking about money is a very touchy subject and that it could send the wrong message to your partner. If this is you, please stop now. Take a deep breath, stretch a little, get a cup of coffee and some tissues. Okay, are you done yet? Let's get started.

First and foremost you have to be honest with yourself. It is time to come clean with your feelings on money. The way you view money determines the way you spend or save it. Many of us deal with our money issues by excessively spending or saving money.

For example, Sara has grown up in a house with a single mother and 2 siblings. There was never enough money to go around and at times she had to wear hand me downs from her older sister and the Salvation Army. Sara was teased alot through her school years because she did not have the latest clothes, gadgets or accessories. This made Sara feel very alienated and self conscience because of her lack of "luxury" items in her childhood. These feelings have made Sara determined to have the best life possible even if it means spending her last dime. Sara currently lives in Atlanta, GA where she is an accountant for a local gas company with a yearly salary of $55,000. The majority of Sara's income goes to her student loans, car note, car insurance, 5 credit cards, her expensive apartment in a gated community while about 3% of her income goes into savings. Sara's closets are so full with clothes that she still has tags on about 30% of the items in her closet. Many of the clothes, shoes and accessories that Sara has acquire has only been wore once and are now at the back of her closet. Sara always wants to be the best dress and thrives off others commenting on how good she looks. She usually shops with her girlfriends or when she is very emotional which contributes to her bad spending habits. Sara is very fond of her boyfriend Matthew and they have been talking about marriage the last few months.

Matthew grew up in a two parent household with a younger brother. Matthew's parents are owners of a children's shoe store in Savannah, GA. Since Matthew's parents opened there shoe store when Matthew was about 8 years old he was well aware of his parents struggle to make ends meet while they pursued their dream of entreprenurship. Matthew has experience living out of the back of his parent's store, going to the food bank and staying with family members because his parents did not always make enough money to make ends meet. In response to his childhood, Matthew has worked hard to make a decent salary and lives well below his means. Matthew currently lives in Atlanta, GA where he works as a commerical real estate analyst

making a six figure salary. Even though Matthew has an abundance, he has a fear of being broke and has become a serial saver. Matthew has little bills because he is scared of debit and pays for almost everything in cash.

Sara and Matthew have a really good relationship; however, neither has discussed the money habits of the other. Matthew thinks that Sara spends too much money unneccessarily while Sara thinks Matthew holds on to his money to tight. This couple has many arguements when it comes to money so this is a sore spot in there relationship. Before they get married Sara and Matthew definitely need to sit down with each other and a counselor to discuss their money issues before they even become engaged. This will be a turning point in their relationship which if they can battle then they can get through anything. If not, it is better to part ways before anymore time has been wasted.

Sara and Matthew is a good example of a lot of people. Many of us have bad spending habits or obsessive saving habits because of tramedic experiences that we may have endured during various times of our lives. Since many of us fail to deal with those issues that are displayed through our actions. Some of us spend to much while others of us save to much and do not give ourselves the opportunity to enjoy life.

It is very important to talk about money amongst other things while your still in the dating stage. By talking about money you will get to know each other in a more intimate and personal way. Wouldn't you want to know if your partner is frugal, a shop-a-holic, secret spender or an impulse buyer?

**sidebar** Want to know what type of spender you and your partner are click here to take a quiz from Lifestyle Finance.

Take the quiz above and next week we will discuss what type of spender you are and how this is effect your martial future.

Nominate us for the Wedding Channels Bridal Blog Awards

Happy Tuesday Budget Brides!

The WeddingChannel.com has come up with this great contest to select the best bridal blogs for their blog awards.They are looking for your favorite blogs and why you love them so much. So since you are reading our blog we figure you love us a whole lot. ;)

Click on the image to nominate us!

Here's how it works:

1. Click on the image above to get to our nomination page

2. Hit the REPLY button and then follow the directions below

Here are 5 items you will need to answer in order to have a successful entry:

1. Name of Blog (The Budget Brides Handbook)

2. Blog URL

3. Short description about blog (Tell them how our blog helps or inspires you)

4. Pick your favorite post from our collections

5. Tell them why The BBH should WIN!!!

The nomination period ends on July 8th so make sure you visit our nomination post on the Wedding Channel to vote NOW!!

Destination Wedding + Map (Canvas Totes) = MAPTOTE

Happy Tuesday Budget Brides!!!

We have been away from the world of blogging for the last few weeks and we have missed you guys terribly. We would like to take this time to thank you for your continue readership and support of The BBH.

As always we search the web for products to bring to our readers that are both unique and add a little punch to the wedding planning process. MAPTOTE is a company that we have come across who takes maps of different cities across the United States and place them on Natural Grocery Bags. These bags are practial, reusable, and serve great as a welcome bag for your out of town guests. With prices starting at $15, give your guests a wonderful environment friendly gift to remember your wedding with MAPTOTE.

We just love Martha's Vineyard and think that these bags would be great for a destination wedding welcome bag.

Of course The BBH is based out of The Bronx, NY so this bag is our absolute favorite.

Visit the MAPTOTE website to find totes from more cities like Miami, Seattle, Brooklyn and Los Angeles.

We would just love to see a MAPTOTE of Harlem, USA and Atlanta. Hmmm, just a thought.

Image from MAPTOTE

Want Christian Louboutin shoes? Create them yourselves.

Happy Tuesday Budget Brides!

As usually while searching the net to bring you amazing ideas and inspiration we found two fun & flirty dyi projects to create your very own Christian Louboutin look-a-likes.

I found Love, Maegan through Kathryn over at Snippet & Ink. Maegan is a creative genius who has found a way to bring us luxury right in our price range. Over the last month, Maegan has creative 2 posts dedicated to getting the Louboutin look right in your price range.

DIY: Blue Ruffle Shoes

Here are the items you will need:
Scissors
Velcor
Thread
Needle
5/8" Matching Ribbon
Sandals

DIY: Petal Sandal

Here are the items you will need:

Polyester Sheer Fabric Remnant

6/8" Satin Remnant

Double Stick Velcro Cut to Size

Needle

Strappy Sandal

Ok now that you have all of your supplies click over to Love, Maegan and get in touch with your creativity side.

Thanks Maegan for a amazing idea.

Follow Tradition & Make It Modern

Happy Monday Budget Brides!!

Yes, we have been gone for a whole week! Wow, it feels like an eternity. So today we are going to start with a post that is fun, flirty and refreshing.

Since the season finale of the CW tv show The Game the blogsphere has been buzzing about the beautiful wedding dress that Tia Mowry's character wore for her "wedding". At first we were a little put off by the whole short white dress concept. But as the summer months ring in this concept is becoming more convincing.

The short white dress gives both a since of surprise for your guests and it makes the wedding day more fun and flirty. In our opinion it says, Let's have fun and dance all night long. Good message huh! Below you can find our top picks. Yes, we know that there are alot of dresses but we wanted to hit every budget. Enjoy!

Sarah Seven's $515.00

Pinky Pinky $118.00

Diane von Furstenburg $495.00

Hippolyte Crochet Lace Dress

Nostaglia $120.00

Ouma $360.00

Phobe $348.00

Strapless Silk Chiffron Dress

Sarah Seven $455.00

As You Wish $68.00

Cherry Pie Vintage $110.oo

Maggy London $178.00

Burnout White Dress

For kicks and giggles, we added these last two luxury dresses. If you have it and can spend with the right accessories I think these dresses will leave your groom and guest with dropped jaws.

Christopher Kane $7,280
Scalloped Detail Dress




Vivienne Westwood Gold Label $9,875

Images have been taken from designer's website, Netaporter.com or Nordstrom.com