Smart Bride

Rediculously Cute Statement Shoes!

allison — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 03:34:14 +0000

Part of being a Smart Bride is knowing where to cut corners without compromising the look of the wedding! These amazing shoe shots can be done with anything, especially discount shoes! Finding the best deal on the best designer pairs makes these shots even better.

Regardless of the budget, finding a pair of statement shoes to complete the bridal look is a must. Whether you plan to go a little crazy with some huge flowers and some statement jewels, or maybe you are going trendy with zebra print, or just plain classy with a great pair of nude heels, either way, make it a statement and make it big!

Source: Shoe shot 1, Shoe shot 2, Shoe shot 3

Those were a few classy shots, and now let’s take a look into the realm of Louboutin and all the phenomenal photo ops we can get from those.

Source: Champagne, Love, Running, Red Shoes

And lastly, STATEMENT like you wouldn’t believe. Here is to a few couture looks that you will probably won’t see everyday. Enjoy.

Source: Gold shoes, Flower Shoes, Black shoes, white shoes

Source: AMAZING Photo

Smart Bride is a wedding resource for recycled wedding dresses! Go check out the site and see if you can find your dream dress.

If you love this shoe post, check out my statement ranch shoe post of some of the cutest cowboy boot shots over on my other wedding blog, Engaged & Inspired.

Handmade Love

allison — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 04:33:40 +0000

Handmade wedding favors are the sweetest of all gifts for your guests. You know how moms always request handmade cards from their kids as opposed to something store bought, well, this is kind of the same principle. Handmade gifts show the love and care behind the favor. The major pluspoint for the bride is that if you do it right, it can potentially be a huge money saver!

This is how-when you buy things like sugar, flour, butter, (to name just a few) in bulk, you can get some pretty big discounts. Costco sells a 15 pound bag of flour for about $4 for instance. Purchasing ribbon, small muslin bags, mason jars or any other cute containers in bulk is also a money saver. Then the only thing you have left are a few cute tags to add and you are set with the cutest favor ever!

I made cookie favor for an event which consisted of the dry ingredients of a cookie recipe, a recipe, ribbon, and a mason jar for 100 people. It only took me a few hours to make them all and I probably spent about $1.50 per person. Compare this to other less personal gifts and it comes out to about the same price, but for a far better favor!

Source: honey, cupcake, jam, cookies

These are a few of my favorite ideas! Totally something I will be doing for my wedding. What about you guys?? Anyone making personalized favors??

$10K Budget Bride

allison — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:49:17 +0000

I’m a bubbly twenty-something who refuses to spend more than $10,000.00 on my wedding. Don’t give me that look, it so totally IS possible.

Before we jump in, I have a little disclaimer: I’m not technically engaged yet. Now, before you start thinking that I’m some creepy, wedding-obsessed weirdo, let me tell you that I am in a relationship, one of more than a few years (almost a whole hand of fingers), and a wedding is in our future. We’re making sure that we’re good to go financially before buying a ring and funding a wedding. We’re trying to be smart, here. And, let’s be honest… the wedding is already planned. I just need a date and a checkbook!

Mr. Man and I have been together for a long time. We met in college and he apparently lusted after me for a couple years before finally asking me out (at which point I was not only mortified and shocked that the big man on campus was even remotely interested in me, but I wasn’t interested… not in the least bit!). I went out with him (I’m one of those can’t-say-no-types) and just kept going out with him, then one day, after going on dates with him for about 3 months, I got butterflies one day. I knew I was doomed. It was over. I was crazy in love. To this day, I’m not quite sure how he did it, but he swept me off my feet and has been my best friend, my other half, my right hand man, and the apple of my eye ever since. I can’t imagine life without him.

I live in the Washington, D.C. area and was born to two pretty stellar people who love each other very much, who raised me well, put me through school (thank you), but don’t want to shell out the big bucks for my wedding. My parents aren’t horrible people who refused to help with my wedding; on the contrary, they’re wonderful and they’re more than willing to help pay, but they don’t believe in a “one day party” that costs thousands upon thousands of dollars. The good thing is that I don’t believe in that either.

IMHO, a wedding isn’t about showing off how much money you spent on those flowers that were imported from South America that are going to die tomorrow… it’s not about having a wedding dress that costs as much as a down payment on a house (something else we’re currently saving for). A wedding, or at least MY wedding, will be about celebrating the happiest day of my life with the most important and wonderful people in my life. It will be about never having felt more beautiful, and never having had more fun, and never having had so many wonderful things to look forward to in a new life with my new husband.

When people ask how the [expletive] I’m going to pull this shin-dig off, I tell them that it’s simple: All I have to do is prioritize. I plan on splurging on the things that are most important to me for my Big Day (photographer, venue) and simplifying everything else (dress, food, music, alcohol). My thrifty little trick is making (and steadfastly sticking to) a list… most important things at the top all the way down to the details that I don’t place as much importance in. The big ticket items are at the top, and the investment gets smaller as the list gets longer.

My venue, for example, will be one of the bigger chunks of my budget. Our current fave and front-runner is a beautiful, and when I say “beautiful,” I mean absolutely breathtaking property just outside of Richmond, VA (about an hour and a half outside of the city) that for all table/chair rental, linens and set-up/take-down of the ceremony and reception, will run us around $2,500. That being said, we’re likely going to tie the knot on a Friday. Yes, our guests may have to take some time off work, but it’s worth it because Mr. Man and I are awesome and we’re going to throw one hell of a party!

The dress I have my eyes on is only going to cost me about $500, and the fantastic thing is that it fits me perfectly… no alterations needed. When it comes to shoes, I’m a barefoot or flip-flop kinda gal, no real expenditure there. It just so happens that I used to do hair, so I’ve got that covered… and make-up too. Easy peasy.

You’re probably wondering how we’re going to feed 150 of our closest friends/biggest fans. Right? We plan on having a backyard cook-out kinda dinner. We’ll have a smoker with pulled pork BBQ, burgers and dogs, cole slaw, hush puppies, grilled corn, etc. In terms of alcohol, we love beer. Not in the trashy, barefoot in my front yard drinking a can of Natty Lite kinda way, either. We’re going to have kegs, and wine. The venue will provide sodas, tea and water for a nominal fee.

In terms of decor, it’s going to be eclectic and DIY-esque… We will be getting our own flowers for everything but my bouquet (contemplating getting them from Costco, believe it or not, they have gorgeous blooms!) and putting together some simply, rustic, and insanely colorful (did I mention I don’t plan to have a color scheme?) centerpieces, using some DIY tips and tricks I’ve thought of myself and collected from countless hours perusing the wedding blogosphere.

The bottom line is that your wedding is YOUR Big Day. No one elses (okay, maybe it’s the groom’s too). Do what you want, spend what you want, and celebrate the most wonderful thing ever: Love.

There are a few more things that are important when planning a thrifty Big Day:

1) Follow every rainbow: Your aunt’s sister’s fiancee is a DJ? He may be willing to provide tunes for free? Check into it! Grandma and her lady friends took a flower arranging class? Sit her down and pick her brain on centerpieces, and even enlist her to help! Don’t discount friends and family; the likelihood is that they’ll be more than willing to help however they can.

2) Don’t get caught up in the industry “norms”: The wedding industry is a racket. Everything is marked up to ungodly prices because most vendors know that we’re willing to do whatever it takes to make our Big Day perfect… well, I’m not standing for that, and you shouldn’t either. Demand discounts and deals, ask vendors to throw stuff into the price… never settle for what’s on the sticker.

3) Don’t lose sight about what your Big Day is about: This is your day. Don’t let anyone convince you otherwise. It’s about love and you and your beau. Enjoy it, relish in every second, and don’t spend money on anything you don’t value. Keep it simple, and you can’t go wrong!

A Few Tips for Becoming a Smart Bride

allison — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:47:36 +0000

Now more than ever, I am experiencing what it really takes to pull off a wedding. Likewise, now more than ever, I am realizing how important it really is to become a Smart Bride! It really is the difference between a happier, in budget wedding, and a stressful out of budget one. Of course everyone has their own ways of cutting down, cutting out, and saving as much as they can! Here are a few things I have done and plan to do.

Buy a pre-worn dress or sell my dress:

The dress one thing that I won’t settle on. I want to have something that I feel 100% comfortable and amazing in. Otherwise, I just know it won’t be the same. To do this, I definitely plan on scouring the sites for a pre-worn dress or I will purchase one and sell it after. It is definitely more of a gamble to purchase a dress and not know whether it will sell or not, but adding it on Smart Bride, or other sites, for pre-sale might be a good way to ease your mind! Just state that it will be available on “x” date. If you get it sold before the wedding, all the less stress for you to endure!

Shop Around:

Finding the greatest deals can be incredibly challenging sometimes seeing as there is so much information to search through. How do you know what the best deal is?? And when no one posts prices on their websites, how do you know who is the most affordable? It may take some time, but it is important to compare services and prices with each other to ensure you are getting the best deal for the best price!

Become incredibly resourceful:

This is something I work on more and more each day! I want the perfect wedding for about half of what it should cost these days. But, I am going to do it and you can to! Just get really smart about things. For instance, my fiance is designing our invitations, place cards, etc. I plan to start an Etsy shop to sell these designs as well as the outtakes he produces. People love new and creative things, and it will definitely help me if I can show off photos of how they actually look. Find containers, mason jars, etc. at garage sales, antique sales, or get them from a friend. Consider posting them on classified lists to “presale” saying they are available after your wedding date. That way, you can count on getting your money back for purchases you have made.

Think outside of the box and enlist the help of friends and family. Really, anything they can do (sew, design, create) will be a big help in eliminating items on your to-do list!

Find inspiration in unexpected places:

Anything with the tag “wedding” on it will be double the price. When looking for inspiration go one step further and look for inspiration in home decor, fashion magazines and other unexpected sources. You can save a lot of money buying home decor and making it work for your wedding, not to mention the fact that you will have something totally unique on your hands!

I’m still working on all of this, but now that the venue is secure I am having to confront the “money” aspect of it all a bit more. That means that it is important for me to start thinking and to get really smart about how I do everything. Otherwise I will end up over-budget and that wouldn’t make me very happy!

Allison also writes for her blog Engaged & Inspired and is currently planning her April 2011 wedding in Carmel Valley, CA

Wedding Trend: Fabric Flowers

allison — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:44:30 +0000

The possibilities are endless, and the look is gorgeous. Fabric flowers are a trend of the season, and the number of ways of use never seem to end!

{Source: Necklace, Favor, Decor, Shoes, Florals}

Any of these gorgeous fabric floral ideas would make for a great statement in any wedding or bridal shower. Statement bib necklaces are incredible oh and shoe clips are my new fave!

Winner of the Giveaway Revealed

allison — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:49:38 +0000

What an EXCITING giveaway! OMG, you have no idea how much fun it was even for me The entire time both Sabine and Amanda were neck and neck with votes. One was constantly pulling ahead of the other by 1 or 2 votes, then visa versa. In the end though, one did pull ahead by a mere 2 votes to take the prize!

First off, thanks to Lottie-Da Designs for her uber-incredible pieces. Her pieces were such amazing inspiration for this giveaway, the bridal looks, and my new-found love for vintage bridal accessories.

And once again, here are the two neck-and-neck entries!

AMANDA:

SABINE:

Thank you to everyone who participated and voted in this giveaway! And now for the winner. Winning 19 to 17, is AMANDA!

Congrats to you Amanda! I hope you enjoy your pieces!

Statement Bridesmaid Look

allison — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 21:10:55 +0000

PSST: Vote for your favorite bridal look below! The winner gets $100 in amazing bridal accessories.

These bright pink pumps add a wow-factor to this uber-classy bridesmaid look. If you are looking for a really simple yet statement look, try picking a neutral color for the dresses. You can fail with neutrals next to the white and you can play it up with accessories-galore. Add a big poufy hair piece because no look is complete without this statement piece. And for the shoes. Oh the shoes. The options are endless and the choice will make or break the look. Picking a statement color with the neutrals of the dress with pull the attention to this amazing foot candy.

This is definitely a look that will be remembered far past your wedding day. And when your bridesmaids have style, it makes you look a million times better!

Contest Finalists!

allison — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 14:26:06 +0000

We are now onto phase 2 of our “ Wrap Your Head Around It” giveaway!First off, let’s talk about the prize! Lottie-Da Designs has been amazing enough to not only giveaway this incredible hairpiece, but she is also throwing in a pair of amazing earrings to complete your look all together! This prize is worth over $100 YAY

We received so many contest entries filled with gorgeous looks, and have finally narrowed it down to the top 3! These three looks were put together from top to bottom by 3 different brides. Each is unique, but I gotta say, I was so impressed by all the cohesive looks. Definitely some “wow factor” pieces amongst this group.

So, now onto phase 2! Comment below on your favorite look! We will announce the winner on Monday August 16! Good luck to everyone!

ENTRY 1: ANDREA

Dress: Smart Bride

ENTRY 2: AMANDA

ENTRY 3: SABINE

Go ahead, comment your favorite one now!

Bridesmaid Dress Deals

allison — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:15:32 +0000

One of the important parts of being a Smart Bride is being able to find the best deals around. It would only make sense that you pass that deal-savvy knowledge onto your bridesmaids by keeping the costs to them as low as possible. When shopping around, you can actally find some amazing deals in some unexpected places.

If you are planning to stay a bit traditional with your bridal look, this is a perfect pick for your bridesmaids. It still offers a bit of a statement with the over-sized flower, but it is subtle enough to blend in with the seen.

Oversized Flower Dress: $50

Super cute frilly pink dress. This is one of those blow-in-the-wind dresses perfect for virtually anything from a winery wedding to a hotel affair.

Forever 21: $27.80

Great little backyard wedding dress for the casual wedding. You could add some cowboy boots or nude heels for this dress to fit the style of the wedding.

Urban Outfitters: $58

This is definitely a more casual option, but definitely a cute one. The little details add something extra to this already cute dress. This would be a cute option for an outdoor ceremony.

Forever 21: $26.80

$10K Budget Bride: Bethany

allison — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:05:27 +0000

Doing a wedding with a $10K budget is not impossible, but you need to know that resourcefulness and creativity are absolute key.

I want to highlight some great $10K wedding stories because, from them, I have gained such an understanding of how to be even more resourceful and even more creative! Hopefully, even if you aren’t doing a $10K wedding, you will gain something that you can take to your wedding planning!

“I have gotten really lucky! I live in Orlando, FL (which I am sure helps a ton) I rented the Winter Park Farmers Market.

The space is a historic train station with an amazing brick building with concrete floors and a brick paved parking lot. It was super cheap, $900 for the entire day, including chairs and tables.

Luckily, you get to use whatever vendors you want, so I sent out the menu I wanted to 15 vendors, made them revise their prices a couple times, did some tastings, and found a guy who would do it for half the cost of everyone else. He is providing all the linens, plates, silver, and non-alcoholic bar goods. He is doing all of this including providing the staff, at $33 a head! I only have to buy the booze to complete the food and beverage ticket.

Because I did a huge amount of foot work on the caterer, and saved a ton of money, we were able to up our numbers a lot.

Then I got a friends brother, who does digital art, to recreate an invitation I found online. He only charged me $50. I found a printer who will do offset printing for 150 invites and RSVP postcards for $80. It’s not the highest quality printing, but my borther who had a $100,000 dollar wedding, did the same thing, and NO. ONE. NOTICED! I am printing all the envelopes myself to save money too.

I am using a lot of hay, wheat, barley, rye etc as my “flowers” and luckily my soon-to-be-cousin’s family has bails of all those on their property. Getting that for free is going to be huge!

I have a friend that works in the construction industry, and he is getting me burlap for ridiculously cheap. I am doing a burlap aisle and then some burlap on the tables.

I have a girlfriend that just got married and she is lending me all her mason jars so that’s free.

My fiances family is pitching in to create some stuff and I am planning on buying and then reselling a lot of bottles and mini chalk boards.

My photographer, including engagment shoot, was $2800, and the videographeris $1000 and includes a 3 minute web video like above, and then a longer one of the whole day. By whole day, i mean 10 hours, none of that 4 hours for the reception, and an hour for the ceremony. I get them all day : )

My DJ ended up being from around the block in Long Island New York where I grew up, and knows my brother. He is doing the entire wedding including lighting package and video with live picture feed for $1000. He usually charges $1800.00 and has a time limit.

I found a lady, who is a friend of mines mother, that will make my veil for, ready for this, for $100 dollars. www.lubasews.com It’s a custom veil that will be just longer than my train.

My brother is the officiant, so that saves us. My hair stylist is only charging me $45, and my airbrush makeup is $60.

I bought my dess as a sample, and my shoes off Ninashoes.com DIY for $125.

I am really cutting it super close on the 10k mark, but I think i’m going to make it!

The biggest thing was not giving up on the caterer. I needed to find someone that could do what i needed for a reasonable price and I found a guy in a small town willing to and excited to be a custom caterer and not an over budget big name.

Cutting the cocktail hour was the newest decision for price cuts. I went over my menu a million times and decided that we had sooooo much food that no one would miss the cocktail hour, as long as they could stand up from the ceremony, walk into the reception (since everything is on site) and start eating immediately.

We are doing soup in bread bowls with a custom salad station plus some appetizers on the tables once they enter the reception space. The bridal party wont miss that first hour, and this gives us more time to boogy : )

Anyway, it’s been a ton of work, and I have a million projects to start, and bottles to buy but I think that it’s going to all work out in the budget.

Good Luck!
Bethany Reitzel