Sunday Brunch: Amazing DIY Pillows for a Reception Lounge

Happy Budget Brides!!!

The weekends is a great time to start DIY projects. Just think you grab your morning coffee, weekend paper and catch a seat on the couch. As you go through you find the Michaels (or craft store coupons) in the Sunday paper you can clip them out and make your way there.

Here is an amazing DIY project from the ladies of I Love To Create Blog via Ashley from Bride on a Budget. These pillows are so cute and can be made at a low cost. They would make a great addition to a bathroom bench, reception lounge area as well as the perfect souvenior from your special day.

Check out the entire post here.

Old Navy's Annual $1 Flip Flop Sale June 30th

Happy Thursday Budget Brides!!

Image via Money Saving Mom

Old Navy's Annual $1 Flip Flop sale is this Saturday, June 30, 2012 in-store only. Get there early because the lines will be crazy. Click here to find an Old Navy in your area.

Polka Dot Bridesmaid Dresses for under $200

Happy Thursday Budget Brides!!!

So I was catching up on some of my favorite blogs and found this gorgeous dress below on a post on Ruffled. Even though patterns and polka dots can be hard to pull off I think in the pictures below it was done beautifully. This bride was brave enough to think outside the box. And I totally dig it.

Image via The Dessy Group 

This dress can be found on The Dessy Group website where you can locate a retailer to find the dress or you can purchase it from House of Brides on sale for $159, originally $336.

Image via Ruffled

What do you think about using a pattern or polka dot as your bridesmaid dresses? Are you brave enough or is it too over the stop?

Blunt & Straight with Celebrity hairstylist Nikki Wright

Happy Wednesday Budget Brides!!

Blunt and straight can work for almost any wedding. I would select this hairstyle for a wedding dress that was over the top with simple hair and awesome accessories you will definitely be a knock out. See below on how you can achieve this style.

Products needed for Brandy's Sleek Style:
Flat iron
Butter fly clips
White Sands Infinity Hairspray
Oil
CombFirst, section the hair by taking small pieces to ensure all strands will be perfectly straightened. Flat iron and spray each section with White Sands Infinity Hairspray. After all hair is bone straight, then comb and add oil to tame flyaways. www.whitesandsproducts.com

www.thewrightsalon 

Perfect Gift for a Flower Girl.... Evening Gown Barbie

Happy Tuesday Budget Brides!!!

I hope you all had a great weekend. The weather in NYC was AMAZING. Since I spent most of Sunday around small children including my own it made me think about a Pinterest photo I was tweeted last week. The "Evening Gown" Barbie is the perfect wedding party gift to give to your flower girl as a collectors item. She will love and treasure this gift for years to come. At $125.00, this gift is a bit on the expensive side depending on your budget but totally worth it when you see that priceless smile spread on your flower girl's face.

A Note from Barbie Collector

Evening Gown Barbie doll is a vision of grace and glamour as she glides through a night of exciting events.

Direct from the atelier, her feminine ensemble features an embroidered white top embellished with white beads, clear iridescent sequins and silk ribbon flowers, while a pink satin bow accents the cinch-waist. Her sheer white overskirt gently reveals a pink satin flared skirt, and alluring accouterments include pink opera gloves and cross strap shoes. For an elegant final touch, she adds silvery rhinestone floral earrings with faux pearl drop.

See additional images below...

Images via Barbie Collector

As seen on Black Bride

Affordable Wedding Day Jewelry from Made By Girl

Happy Monday Budget Brides!!

I found this beautiful bracelet below on Made by Girl. I thought is would be a beautiful addition to a gorgeous wedding dress. It came also be used as a gift for your bridal party. With a price of $14 this is a great deal. Visit Jen at Made by Girl to place your order today. Also checkout her entire site, the girl is super talented.

Image via Made by Girl

What do you think of this bracelet? Like it, love it or could live without it?

Look for Less... Amare Stoudemire's Engagement Ring

Happy Thursday Budget Brides!!!

So at the beginning of this month New York Knicks Captain Amare Stoudemire asked for his longtime girlfriend's hand in marriage with a gorgeous engagement ring that the comes in at the $1 million dollar mark. Crazy Right?? As beautiful as this ring is let's get real only the 1% can afford it.

via People Style Watch

Here are 3 looks for less that will make all your friends swoon in envy.

Fortunoff $5,995

Vera Wang Love for Zales $10,499

Neil Lane Diamond from Kay Jewelers $5,599

What do you think about Amare's engagement ring? What is your dream ring? Want to send pics.... Send us your dream ring pics at thebudgetbrideshandbook@hotmail.com.

Loose Curls with Hairstylist Nikki Wright

Happy Wednesday Budget Brides!!!

Here's the third installment of a great wedding day hair look from celebrity stylist Nikki Wright. These loose curls shown below on Tia Mowry-Hardrict are simple beautiful and sexy for the right wedding. Below you will find just how this look is achieved.

Products needed:
Butterfly clips
Comb
1/4 Inch Barrel Curling Iron
White Sands Liquid Texture Soft Hold Thermal Styling Spray
Tancho Stick
Oil

First, section the hair in halves by using butterfly clips to secure. Then, spray each curl with White Sands Liquid Texture Soft Hold Thermal Styling Spray. Section hair once again but this time horizontally, curling hair back and away from the face. Clip the curls so that it cools and sets with direction. Then, finger threw the style for body and movement. Use an oil to tame unwanted flyaways and the Tancho Stick for smooth edges.

"For this variation on Tia's curly hair above, the same products are needed. But, this style is approached in a different way," reveals Nikki Wright. "For this particular look, all curls are done on base (not curled back as on previous looks)."

www.whitesandsproducts.com

www.thewrightsalon

Wedding Style Deals: David's Bridal Semi Annual Sale....

Happy Friday Budget Brides!!!

This weekend is going to be a beautiful at least in NYC. A perfect day to get your most important people together to go and look for the perfect wedding gown. David's Bridal semi-annual clearance sale is going NOW!!! Call your nearest DB to make an appt.

Happy Shopping.... and if you take any pictures send some over so we can see your gorgeous choices.

  Image via David's Bridal

Beautiful Curls with Hairstylist Nikki Wright

Happy Wednesday Budget Brides!!! Here's another installment of great wedding day hair looks from Nikki Wright. I love this hair style for a more formal or cocktail style wedding. These curls are really fun and will add a touch of elegance to any formal wedding. 

  Products needed for Wendy's Bedroom Hair:
Curling Iron
Comb
Butterfly clips
White Sands Infinity Hairspray For this bed head look, take the iron and wrap around the outside of the barrel to create waves using White Sands Infinity Hairspray. This gives texture, direction, and movement. Before hair is cooled, break waves up so that they are not uniform. Then, shake out!  Budget Bride Style:

So maybe you are a BB who wants to DIY or have a friend do your hair on your wedding day make sure you have plenty of time to perform trials. You do not want it to be your wedding day and your hair is not the way you want. Make sure everytime you perform a trial to take pics so that the person who does your hair on that day has a clear and concise idea of what you want.

www.whitesandsproducts.com

www.thewrightsalon  

THIS JUST IN... New Vera Wang Dress at David's Bridal: 7 Gorgeous Styles

David's Bridal has just released the next collection of Vera Wang dresses. I am so drooling at my desk. Can't wait to see them in person. Do you think David's would invite me for a private viewing? Hmmm... I am so in love already.

What do you think of these styles? Would you wear them?

images via Glamour

Chic Way To Save On Your Flower Budget....

Happy Tuesday Budget Brides!!!

Good Morning Budget Brides!!! As I was brainstorming various posts to create, I saw a tweet on Hydrangea Cupcakes. It got me to thinking that instead on spending tons of money on flowers and cake why not combine the idea and spend the money once. Below you will find 3 amazing examples of our favorite flowers made into cupcakes.

I love the texture and colors that are in this Hydrangea cupcake. Completely gorgeous they are a perfect addition to the real Hydrangea flowers next to it or it can even stand only. With a beautiful cake stand or cupcake stand it can be a great centerpiece for your reception tables. For a tutorial on how to make these flowers click on the image below.

via Glorious Treats 

Roses are always a great flower especially for a floral novice. I love the pictue below because of the two tone color of the flower. It will give a pop of color to your wedding decor. These cupcakes would be a great surprise in a wedding guest gift box. For a tutorial on how to make these flowers click on the images below. For a tutorial on how to make these cupcake flowers click on the image below.

 via Wonderwoman Creations

Lilies are gorgeous flowers for a clean, classic and traditional wedding. Lilies are like a silent killer. Since they are so clean and simple most people feel as if they are extremely boring. However, just imagine an all white wedding with a lace or bling detail these cuties would be the talk of the night. For a tutorial on how to make these cupcake flowers click on the image below.

via Building a Bakery





Would you trade cupcakes for flowers? Explain please.

Wedding Style Deals: Amazing Deals on Wedding Day Shoes from Milk & Honey

Happy Monday Budget Brides!!!

Wedding shoes are almost top of the list when it comes to wedding day attire. Now we may all not be able to afford Louboutins and Manolos but what girl would not dream to have a pair of custom made shoes. Well Milk & Honey Shoes have come to your rescue. They have various shoe styles, fabrics and colors so that you can create the perfect wedding day shoes for you and your bridesmaids.

Milk & Honey has teamed up with Gilt Groupe to bring you a little bit of savings so that you can have your dream wedding day shoes made by yours truly.... YOU!! Receive a $225 merchandise credit for only $145 to be used on any online purchase at Milk & Honey shoes. Click here for more details.

Would you have your shoes custom made if you had the opportunity? Why or why not?

All images via Gilt Groupe


  

Wedding Hair Style with Nikki Wright

Happy Wednesday Budget Brides!!!

Today we are talking about wedding day hair style with some great styling tips from celebrity stylist Nikki Wright. I love the hairstyle below for a beach or garden wedding with a loose fishbone braid to the side and strands of hair falling on the sides of your face it will be absolutely breathtaking on your wedding day, Both romantic and classic this hairstyle will have your husband to be remember this special day for a lifetime.

Celebrity Hairstylist Nikki Wright suggests that you will need the following products for the side braid show above:

• Medium flat iron
• Butter fly clips
• White Sands Infinity Hairspray
• Oil

Hairstyling Instructions:

First, smooth all the hair straight with a flat iron making sure to use White Sands Infinity Hairspray on each section. Then bring all hair to one side. To create the fish tail braid, take small pieces of hair rotating each piece from one area to another. Then, secure with a hair tie at the end. Take a few thin pieces of hair out around the face for softness.

Budget Bride Style:

So maybe you are a BB who wants to DIY or have a friend do your hair on your wedding day make sure you have plenty of time to perform trials. You do not want it to be your wedding day and your hair is not the way you want. Make sure everytime you perform a trial to take pics so that the person who does your hair on that day has a clear and concise idea of what you want.

 www.whitesandsproducts.com

www.thewrightsalon


Photos Courtesy: Janice McCafferty Communications

Need a Break From Wedding Planning, Go See Any1Man

Happy Tuesday Budget Brides!!!

Many times wedding planning can be an overwhelming feeling. Where does outcast cousin Ted sit, BM Maya doesn’t like the BM dresses, the caterer cannot find the chocolate fountain and last but not least your mom is trying to turn YOUR wedding into her big day. Well take a break from all the big day stress and check out an amazing one man show called ANY1MAN.

I had the pleasure to go to a press only viewing last Thursday, where actor George A. Peters II took us on a journey through the lives of various characters of black men and boys. The essence of the play is to give a voice to some of the issues and obstacles that plague black men and if you really pay attention all men. I must that this play is a MUST SEE. It made me laugh, cry and really think about the world that I decided to bring my little one into. Please go out and support this young man with a  great message about the trials of young black men, make sure you bring someone with you and tell everyone you know about this amazing play.

(Actor George A. Peters II)

ANY1MAN

Poets Den Gallery & Theater

East Harlem

309 E 108th Street

(between1st and 2nd avenues)

New York, NY

(212) 427-1445

Running: May 17th through May 20th



  

  OFF BROADWAY SHOW EXPLORES ISSUES PLAGUING MEN TODAY New York Revival of Any1Man starring George A. PetersII to play in Harlem May 17th-20th  (New York, NY; April25, 2012) – From May17th – 20th, the Poets Den Gallery andTheater in Harlem welcomes Any1Man, a one-man show that explores the challengesfaced by every man through its portrayal of seven male characters. Written and performed by poet and actor George A. Peters II, the show,both politically sensitive and emotionally charged, examines tough issuesplaguing every man while highlighting those of African-Americanmen. “Black men face a unique set of challenges in America today.Any1Man engages difficult issues head-on,” said then Senator Barack Obamain 2006.  Any1Man is the story ofchoice and how choices made, or lack thereof; affect the outcome of the livesof each character.  The characters take on a range of personas –from biblical Adam, who was given dominion over Utopia, a lonely paradisefor any man; Willie, an angry young man abandoned by his father and damnedby his mother, who rages anger at women while desperately seeking theirattention; to Wesley, a gay artist rejected by his parents who uses hisart as an escape from the frustration he feels towards the stereotypicalconstraints of manhood. “The images of Blackmen continue to be defined by ugly statistics with our stories being told bypolarizing news outlets that seek to paint us with the very same brush. Inactuality it is the uniqueness of our individual struggles that make usbeautiful and paints the true picture of Black manhood,” says Peters. Now in its ninth run,Any1Man has been performed in Atlanta, Philadelphia, DC, Dallas, LosAngeles and returns to New York ready to enlighten audiences about thefears, dreams, and adversity faced by every man. Tickets for the show areavailable at the Poet’s Den Gallery and Theater box office at (212) 427-1445 or online Buy Tickets Here. About Any1Man:Any1man is produced by VeerGordon and written by George A. Peters II with B. Fontenont Johnson. Any1Man isa one-man show performed by George A. Peters II, portraying choices every manis forced to deal with in life. Since 2004, the show has been performed inAtlanta, Philadelphia, DC, Dallas, Los Angeles and three previous runs in NewYork.  The 2012 revival opens Thursday,May 17th – 20th for five performances: May 17th, 18th and 19th at 7:30pm, a matinee showing on Saturday, May 19th at 3pm, and an evening show on Sunday, May 20th at 6pm. For more informationvisit Any1Man.com. About Poet’s DenGallery and Theater:Located in East Harlemat 309 E 108th Street(between1st and 2nd avenues), the Poet's Den Gallery and Theater is a livingtheatrical space dedicated to the creation and presentation of performance artof every variety. The Poet’s Den Gallery and Theater hosts art and photoexhibitions, film screenings, concerts, dance performances and dramaticproductions—both original works and classics by the likes of Shakespeareand Oscar Wilde. — “Petersdisplays intuition and insight, zeroing in on the fear and anger thatfrequently motivates human behavior.”(Deborah Klugman, LAWeekly)— “Petersis an energetic, versatile, creative, and intelligent theatrical presence.There is clearly a strong intellect at work behind each of these characters anda powerful central theme that unifies the onstage action.” (HoytHilsman, Backstage)