New Trend: Pre-Sale Wedding Dresses

Happy Tuesday Budget Brides!!

I know that many of you have heard wedding designers and newlyweds selling their dresses through sample sales or pre-owned wedding dress sites. Well now I have seen it all. There is a new kind of sale hitting the bridal industry called Pre-Sale Wedding Dresses. Yes, Budget Brides you have read it right there are a group of brides out their selling their wedding dress before their wedding has even occured.

Are you stunned because I sure as hell was. I mean let's take a pause.....

Okay, are you back?

I don't know if I like the idea of pre-selling a wedding dress. Many brides sell their pre-sell weddings dresses for less than 50% off the retail price. I think that this is a little deceiving. Most times when a bride sells a used dress after the wedding date, the dress is sold for 50% or more off the retail cost of the dress.

So for instance, Mary buys a wedding dress from Designer X for $6,000. She is reviewing 2 options for selling her wedding dress the first is posting it on a wedding dress site on pre-sale 6 months before the wedding for $4,500 and the other is posting the same dress on the wedding dress website after the wedding for about $3,000. With a difference of $1,500 purchasing the dress after the wedding is taking place is the better option.

My thoughts are if you are going to purchase a used gown then you should purchase it after the wedding has already occured. It doesn't make since to pay more money for a dress that will have been worn by the time you received it. So in theory if you buy a pre-sale dress your actually paying upfront for a dress that has never been worn; however, by the time you get the dress it's has been worn and your out a considerable amount of money that could have been reallocated to something else.

I am qualifying this as a budget don't. This type of selling practice is risky business. You will not know the condition of the dress once the wedding is over with. If you are looking to buy a pre-owned wedding dress, I would buy a dress from a seller whose wedding has already occured.

So Budget Brides, what do you think of the whole pre-sale wedding dress trend? Is this something that you would do? Why or why not?

Treat Your Bridal Party..... Whoopie Pies

Happy Monday Budget Brides!!!

I have seen Whoopie Pies in all of the candy bars lately. I have never tasted them but they look oh so delicious. So I thought that I would share a recipe with you that I found on My Baking Addicition. As many of you may know that getting together your bridesmaids for meetings or wedding duties can be hard and expensive if your feeding them in payment for their time. I think desserts are many times a low cost way of giving your party a treat without breaking your wallet.




My Baking Addicition used the recipe below for Valentine's Day but they can be used for any occasion. So whip up a batch for your bridal party and send us some pics. You may see yourself on the web. LMBO

Red Velvet Whoopie Pie Recipe

1 Tablespoon of Unsalted Butter
1 Cup Cake Flour
1/3 Cup of Unsweeten Cocoa (not Dutch process)
1/2 Tablespoon of Salt
2/3 Cup of Canola Oil
3/4 Cups of Granulated Sugar
1 Large Egg
2 Tablespoons of Red Food Coloring
1 Teaspoon of Vanilla
1/2 Cup of Buttermilk
1/2 Teaspoon of Baking Soda
3/4 Teasppon of White Vinegar


Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place spray foil liners with non-stick cooking spray and place on a cookie sheet.

2. Whisk cake flour, cocoa and salt in a bowl.

3. Place oil and sugar in a bowl of an electric mixer and beat at medium speed until well blended. With machine on low, very slowly add red food coloring. (Proceed with care it may splash) Add vanilla. Add flour mixture aternately with buttermilk in two batches. Scrape down bowl and beat just long enough to combine.

4. Place baking soda in a small dish, stir in vinegar and add to batter with machine running. Beat for 10 seconds.

5. Place 1 tablespoon of batter per foil heart pan.

6. Place in oven and bake until a cake tester comes out clean, 10-14 minutes. Let cake cool in pans for 10 minutes. Then remove from pans and cool completely before frosting.

7. Slice the cakes in half and frost the inside with cream cheese frosting then sandwich the cakes together. (You can decorate the edges of the cream cheese with sprinkles)

Directions to Make Cream Cheese Frosting

1 (8) Ounce of Cream Cheese, Softened

3 Tablespoons of Butter, Softened

1 lb of Confectioner's Sugar

1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Abstract

Using a mixer blend of the ingredients together until smooth and creamy and spread between layers.

So Budget Brides, what budget options have you used in terms of feeding your bridal party?

Image and Recipe via My Baking Addicition

Paying For The Wedding... Determining Who Pays

Happy Thursday Budget Brides!!!

Picture It (in my Sophia from Golden Girls voice): It's January of 1999, I am at BBQs with a bunch of my friends. In high school I usually hung with about 7 or 8 girls; however, this particular evening there were other girls from our high school that came along to celebrate a birthday. To make a long story short, we had a great stress-free time ordering our food, great conversation and a room full of laughs then the bomb drops. The check comes to the table and people start putting down $20 for their dinner (for 2 people), others start breaking out calculators to add up their bills (including me because I will not pay for others) and a bunch of head rolling occurs because others are trying to skip out on their bill. I can say that this day goes on the list of days that I wanted to crawl under the table and just die. The lesson learned from this experience always know whose paying and how the bill will get paid.

This rule can be translated to your wedding as well. Before you and your fiance decide to put down a penny of money have a serious conversation about who is actually footing the bill for the wedding. As a wedding planner, it is so embrassing to see newly married couples opening up their wedding day cards in order to pay vendors. Know who is paying, how they are paying and when they are paying. This will help you to 1) create & maintain your budget, 2)acknowledge what checklist items can be crossed off your lists of to-dos, 3)give you a point person to follow up with and 4) Give you a peace of mind on your wedding day knowing that all bills have been settled in full.

If there are a variety of people paying for the wedding, for example, your parents, his parents or others make sure you confirm with them about their finacial participation in your special day. Also be honest and up front with them about your expectations for your wedding day. Have a conversation with them about how you would like items paid for. For example, you would like to have the final payment in an envelope the morning of the wedding so that you can hand it off to your wedding planner/coordinator. If your contributors that not adhere to your reasonable rules then you may have to give them a GIRL BYE and move on without their finances.

So Budget Brides, How did you determine who was going to pay for what expenses for your wedding? Did you have any incidents that day of your wedding when it came to paying vendors?

Bridesmaids and Budgets

Happy Tuesday Budget Brides!!!

I hope you all had a great weekend. We all know that weddings can be a very expensive time for the bride and groom as well as their respectively families but many times we don't think twice about the Bridesmaids. Bridesmaids, Maid or Matron of Honor have very important roles in the wedding planning process as well as some wedding activities and wedding day. It is their job to throw your bachelorette party and possibly your bridal shower. I have also seen bridesmaids act as wedding planners, graphic artist, florist, bakers and a host of other things that take a considerable amount of time and money.

So when considering attire for your bridesmaids here are a few tips on how to keep your bridesmaids out of the poor house.

• Have an initial meeting with your bridesmaid whether individually or together to discuss how much they can actually commit to spend for their entire outfit for the wedding. This should include the dress, shoes, purse and possibly any jewelry.
• Once you have determined a price point give your bridesmaid a guideline to follow in terms of picking out their bridesmaid dresses. (Tip: No one wants to feel like they are spending their money without a say.) Examples of guidelines include tea length satin dress in plum or a strapless floor length dress with pick ups.
• If possible, allow your bridesmaids to use items they already have in their closet like silver sandals or pearl earrings and necklace.
• You may want to skip expensive bridal shops and head straight to department stores like David's Bridal, Macy*s and The Limited for economical options. I suggest department stores because you can use coupons on purchases or get a discount for the quanitity you purchase.
• If your bridesmaids have deep pockets, I would suggest companies like Two Birds Bridesmaids and Butter by Nadia who offer convertible dresses that your bridesmaids can wear again and again after your wedding.

Here are some great sites for affordable bridesmaid dresses:

www.davidsbridal.com - Bridesmaid dresses range between $99 - $155 with some dresses on sale for as low as $79.99

www.twobirdsbridesmaids.com - Prices range from $270 - $1375 a little steep; however, these dresses can be worn for years to come.

www.shopbutterbynadia.com - Prices range from $246 - $370 Convertible dress that can be worn 10 different ways.

www.anntaylor.com - Prices range from $185 - $395 most of these dresses can be worn again to church, weddings, Christmas party or a night out on the town.

www.thelimited.com - Currently they are only offering two styles priced at $89.50 and $98.

www.whitehouseblackmarket.com - Prices range from $168 - $398.

So Budget Brides, How did you decide on your bridesmaid dresses? Were you budget conscience or did you just pick and have them pay? Tell us your story.

Real Engagements.... Carolina & Hector

Happy Monday Budget Brides!!

Carolina and Hector first met in 2001 while in college through their membership in a sorority and fraternity. They were distant friends, although they both had an unspoken crush on each other. While in graduate school, Carolina and Hector asked about each other through mutual friends of theirs. After finishing her Master's degree in upstate New York, she moved back to New York City to be closer to her friends and family. Shortly after moving back home in the winter of 2006, Carolina and Hector reconnected and maintained a friendly friendship while slowly admitting to each other their true affection for one another.


Two and a half years later, after the 2010 New Year's Eve fireworks, Hector gave Carolina a photo album. In the album, Hector chronologically organized their love notes, restaurant receipts, pictures, cards, tickets and movie stubs they shared from the beginning of their relationship. Unbeknowst to Carolina, he saved all of the relationship's momentos leading up to that moment. After reaching the last page in the album, he transitioned into playing a smooth romantic song from the 1990's R&B artist, Jesse Powell. As he sang the words to Carolina (or at least tried to), he kneeled on one knee and proposed to his longtime secret crush . The started their relationship on May 13,2007 and will be starting their lives together on May 13, 2011.

Images via Carolina via Joshua Dwain Photography

Simply Amazing!!!!

If you want to share your engagement story and pictures, please send us 10 to 15 pictures from your engagement photo session as well as a brief summary about how you met and the prosposal. Send all submissions to info@thebudgetbrideshandbook.com
with the subject line Real Weddings.

Love Shots No. 8... Carolina & Hector

Happy Saturday Budget Brides!!!

Here is a sneak peak to an amazing engagement photo session that we are going to feature on Monday. Carolina & Hector look like they are having an amazing time. So cute!!!

Images via Joshua Dwain Photography

Wedding Style Deal: Bethany Lorelle

Happy Friday Budget Brides!!!

I had the pleasure of meeting Bethany Lorelle via Twitter through fellow blogger JoMyGoodness. In stumbling upon the beautiful creations of Bethany Lorelle, I was drawn to both her designs and affordable prices. Below are some of her creations and don't miss the launch of the her new headband with a special pricing of $19 until Sunday.

Checkout her website and etsy shop. There is a lovely section of headbands for all ocassions from work to play to weddings.

Wedding Style Deal

New Silver Circle Chain Beaded Headband Available for $19 until Sunday

Rhinestone Vintage Style Headpiece $106

Viola $39.99


Art Deco Headpiece $58

Bridal Flower $68

About Bethany Lorelle

A Chicago native Bethany founded the company in 2001. Since then her creations have been known throughout the Twin Cities for their beauty, elegance and creativity. In 2008, after getting married herself, Bethany launched a line of bridal headpieces and jewelry, and expanded to boutique and shops across the country and aboard as well as finding success online. Striving to create a line of accessories that meld beauty and affordability, bethany lorelle uses only the best materials to ensure a long-lasting, high quality piece that will make you look good. All of our pieces are handcrafted using the finest fabrics, feathers and adornments.

Images and Bio via Bethany Lorelle

Amazing DIY Rose Shoe Applique

Happy Thursday Budget Brides!!

I found this amazing DIY tutorial to make Rose Applique for shoes on Wedding Bee courtsey of Mrs. Cola. These shoes would be a great addition to spice up a wedding gown or bridesmaid dresses. Now I love this idea just at the toe section of the shoe and maybe a few roses at the ankle. But if you model that saying from Texas, "Go Big or Go Home", then these beauties are right up your alley. I'll have to contact Mrs. Cola to find out the cost but I just couldn't wait to share these beauties with you.


Click here for Rose Shoe Applique Tutorial.

Images via Mrs. Cola on Wedding Bee

So Budget Brides, have you created an DIY projects for your wedding? If so, what were they?

What do you think of these shoes? (Remember to be kind! This is a fellow Budget Brides work of art.)

Also if you don't mind sharing, send us an email to info@thebudgetbrideshandbook.com with DIY Projects in the subject line and you may just be the next DIY feature on The BBH.

P.S. Thanking Mrs. Cola from Wedding Bee for an amazing post.

Calling All Budget Brides!! We Want You...

Happy Wednesday Budget Brides!!!

I have been writing this blog for almost two years now with a somewhat consistency. Right???? Well I thought it would be a great idea to really create a Real Weddings segment that has features from our readers. I am looking for Brides who have gotten married with various budgets. Since The Budget Brides Handbook was created for brides of all budget ranges so we wanted to hear from all of you.  

Here is what we are going to need from you:

8 to 10 pictures of your wedding day

You and your husband's name

Wedding Date

City & State

Answer the following questions:

What was your wedding day budget? (Please provide a breakdown)

What was your wedding day theme and colors?

How many guests attended your wedding?

Which item/service was your budget buster?

Which item/service did you save the most money on?

What DIY/money saving projects did you use to maintain your budget?

What aspect of your wedding day will you never forget?

Provide us with the names of your vendors and links to their websites:

Ceremony Venue

Reception Venue

Florist

Photographer

Videographer

Dress Salon

Men's Apparel Store

Entertainment (DJ or Band)

Hair & Make-up

 

You can send all of your submissions to thebudgetbrideshandbook@hotmail.com.

We are just bubbling over with excitement at the thought of all the submissions that we are going to get. Also don't be shy..... Tell a friend.

Image Source