Great Deals from Old Navy & Horchow!

Happy Tuesday Afternoon Budget Brides!

There were two great deals that were roaming around in the blogsphere yesterday and we wanted to make sure you knew about them.

Image from Horchow

Last Day to Save! Horchow is giving 25% off furniture & 30% off everything else in their online store. We snagged this 2-tier beverage server for some upcoming events. Use code MayDeals at checkout. Offer Thursday, May 21, 2009!! Happy Shopping!

Thanks Annette - Swanky Tables

Image from People StyleWatch

Get $1 solid color flip flops over at Old Navy this Saturday, May 23, 2009 only. 5 pairs per person so make sure you bring some friends. So if your looking to pack your bridesmaid bags, provide flip flops for a beach wedding or you just need a few pairs for the summer heres the deal for you.


Thanks Ashley - Bride on a Budget


Thanks ladies for blogging about these great deals.

Before You Buy... Do Your Research

Happy Tuesday Budget Brides!

We know that many of you have either found your perfect dress or are still in the process of looking for it.

Picture it! It's 2009 in Anytown, USA and you are in the bridal salon with your wedding party and mom. You have found the perfect dress and then you ask for the price. Whoa!! You didn't realize the dress of your dreams was so expense. Well before you give up let us give you a few tips and websites where you maybe able to have your dream dress after all.

Sample Sales - Many bridal salons have sample sales on a consistent basis. We would suggestion going to your favorite bridal salon websites and signing up for their newsletters so that you would be in the know. Also, if the website does not have a sign up field call the store and ask them when would they have a sample sale. Below is a listing of stores in various cities.

Atlanta
Kelly's Closet
Impressions Bridal Salon


Chicago
The Bride's Room
Wedding Belles Ltd.

New York
Kleinfield Bridal
Bridal Atelier


Portland, OR
Charlotte's Weddings & More


Washington, DC
It's All About The Dress

Running of the Brides - Filene's Basement broke the mold when they created their running of the Brides event. Below you can find a listing of upcoming events in various states. Don't see one in your area, check the website periodically for dates in your area.

Chicago, IL (State Street) - July 24th

Washington, DC (Mazza Gallerie) - July 31st

Boston, MA (Hynes Convention Center) - August 21st

Cleveland, OH (Warrensville Heights) - October 16th

The Internet is Your Friend! - Use the internet as your yellow pages. There are many websites out there that offer new or gently used wedding gowns at up to 70% off the retail price. We know that most Brides want to have a brand new dress for their special day; however, gently used could save you thousands and leave you room to use that money else where.

Bravo Bride

Pre-Owned Wedding Dresses

Scarlet's Closet Sample Sale

Sell Your Wedding Dress

White Xchange

Image from Brides.com

We Received a Blog Award

We Received a Blog Award!!!

We received a blog award today from Ashley at Bride on a Budget. This is our first ever blog award, so we're very excited!

Here are the rules:

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.

2) Pass the award to 10 blogs that you think are lovely! Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Here are 10 of our favorites (not in any particular order):

1. After Yes, Before I Do & Everything in Between

2. The Perfect Palette

3. Bride on a Budget

4. Globetrotting Bride

5. Snippet & Ink

6. Pink Design Blog

7. An Atlanta Bride

8. Couture Events By D

9. LEPENN Designs

10. Wedding Bee

Seating Dilemma

Happy Monday Budget Brides!

In honor of the last day of the 'Seat Your Guest', we wanted to share a question that

The Buckeye Bride posted on here blog.

Here is the dilemma she was going through and the answer that The BBH provided to her question.

Question

On the right side bar of this blog I have our guest count listed and as you can see there are 11 unaccounted for guests. I have contacted a few of these guests, and received the response "we aren't sure yet because I may be (fill in an excuse here)--but please don't count us out". Umm...ok.I am assigning tables, and right now according to my chart there are 9 empty seats scattered through out the room at various tables. So should we go ahead and pay ($250.00) to have these 9 extra seats at the various tables just in case some of our unsure guests show up (or even other random guests that may happen to show up that weren't invited) and we will have empty spots to direct them to? Or should we go ahead and give our final guest count as the 121 that it really is--and if extras are there the venue will just have to drag out more seats and make room the day of?

Answer

Our suggestion is to talk to your reception venue. See if you can pay the additional money the day of the wedding once you find out how many people actually came and how many people you had over the allocated number if any. If you do this inadvance you may come out saving money. You don't want to pay for 9 extra people who may not show up. Especially when you may have a few people who already RSVP'd yes and they maybe a no show for whatever reason. I also suggest that if you are already willing to pay for 9 extras, just have the money set aside just in in case the 9 show up and if not more money for the honeymoon.

Do you have more suggestions to help a Bride in this situation? Leave your suggestions in the comments section so that all of our Budget Brides can benefit from your wisdom.

Image from The Knot

Last Week to Enter our 'Seat the Guests' Contest

Happy Friday Morning Budget Brides!

I just wanted to send all of you a little reminder that you have THREE days left for our Seat the Guest Contest.

Send us an email (contests@thebudgetbrideshandbook.com) with your name, fiance's name, wedding date, color scheme and "Seat the Guests' in the subject line along with a short message of the stress that creating your seating arrangements have caused you. Remember to provide us with all the juicy details of who you are trying to keep away from who and why?

Deadline for submissions:Monday, May 18th midnight Eastern Standard TimeContest is valid for mainland United States Only Winner will be chosen at random & contacted on Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Contest Rules:Contest is open to Brides' whose wedding date is June 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009. Winner agrees to provide The Budget Brides Handbook with pictures of the table numbers in use the day of wedding for a future post.

We were able to win these table numbers through a contest that Alannah Rose had on their blog a few weeks ago. Click here to see the winners announcement.

Images and Prize from Alannah Rose

Great Wedding Day Purses All under $90.00

Happy Hump Day Budget Brides!

Here are some great clutches for you wedding day. We know that many of you may leave finding your wedding day purse to the last minute but we have found some great finds that you wouldn't want to miss. Whoever said that you can't have a fabulous wedding on an even more fabulous budget. Enjoy!

Leigh Ann Kline - Bella Something Blue $72.00

Davie & Chiyo - Marshmallow Clutch $70.00

Emma Gordon - Olivia Bridal Clutch $65.00

Bridal Briar Keepbags - Ivory $87.00

Hope this helps all of you on your journey to the altar.

Images from companies indicated.

In the Know: Contests, Events & Promotions 5/8

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 Alannah Rose Stationary

Contests

Table Number to Die For! Enter to win a set of table numbers designed by Alannah Rose Stationary worth $110 AUD ($80 USD). Click here to enter.

Match the Wedding Gowns! Get Married & Alfred Angelo have teamed up to bring you a wonderful contest to win of all things a WEDDING DRESS. Click here to enter.

Garnish Your Guest with the Perfect Palette! Win a $25.00 gift certificate to Garnish when you enter to the giveaway at The Perfect Palette. Click here to enter.

Events

Indie Wedding is currently looking for eco-friendly, unique, independent designers and wedding professionals to showcase their products and services at their Chicago wedding show & market. Click here for more details.

Promotions

Fold & Stuff! Cards & Pockets invites you to save 20% off our entire online store* for 14 days only! Enter code "14day" at checkout. Sale ends May 21, 2009.

Great Bridesmaids Jewelry! Ariel Gordon Jewelry is offering 25% off all jewelry when you use code SHOPSTYLE.

Amazing Spring Bags! Angela Adams invites you to explore here Lulu Sprout Canvas Bags & receive 25% off when you use code MOM at checkout until May 11, 2009.

Can't Find What You Want? Go Custom! INK & WIT is offering 10% off custom designed wedding orders until August 1, 2009.

Explore Invites! Gartner Studios is offering 20% off any total order when you use code "SPRUNG20" at checkout until May 28, 2009