BRIDEfinds http://www.bridefinds.com Wedding Ideas - Best Wedding Finds for Brides - BrideFinds.com Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:00:54 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.2 Raid Nordstrom’s Clearance Sale For Sparkly Pumps, Embellished Flats & More http://www.bridefinds.com/2012/raid-nordstroms-clearance-sale-for-sparkly-pumps-embellished-flats-more/ http://www.bridefinds.com/2012/raid-nordstroms-clearance-sale-for-sparkly-pumps-embellished-flats-more/#comments Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:00:54 +0000 emilyanderson http://www.bridefinds.com/?p=42594 If you’ve ever meandered through a Nordstrom, you know that their SALE items are only advertised via a demure little red sign that says “Reduced”. Well Nordstrom, allow us to shout this one from the rooftops. SHOE CLEARANCE!

Right now you can save up to 40% off on designer pumps, rhinestone-embellished sandals, glittery flats, and more! What’s your dream wedding shoe? You might just stumble across it while you’re rummaging through Nordstrom’s ridiculous shoe sale!

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Shop our guides to the best designer wedding shoes, bridal hair accessories, and simple wedding dresses!

]]> http://www.bridefinds.com/2012/raid-nordstroms-clearance-sale-for-sparkly-pumps-embellished-flats-more/feed/ 0 The Ultimate Favor: Wedding Cake-Flavored Vodka Mini Bottles (Your Guests Will LOVE) http://www.bridefinds.com/2012/the-ultimate-favor-wedding-cake-flavored-vodka-mini-bottles-your-guests-will-love/ http://www.bridefinds.com/2012/the-ultimate-favor-wedding-cake-flavored-vodka-mini-bottles-your-guests-will-love/#comments Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:38:03 +0000 Justine Ingersoll Schwartz http://www.bridefinds.com/?p=42566

“Now brides, and their grooms, can have their cake and drink it too,” is the tagline of these adorable Pearl Vodka ‘Wedding Cake’ flavored mini’s — and we think that’s just perfect. Whether you’re coping with day-of stress (hey, it’s better than carrying a flask!) or looking for a booze-themed favor for your bridal party, these mini’s we just came across are awesome.

Head over to the Pearl Vodka Facebook page to find out where to buy them, and to enter to win a $1,000 prize. Just enter your engagement story to win. Then check the sweet ‘Wedding Cake’ accessories – like these “Something Blue” garters:

Shop more alcohol-themed wedding favors, then check our guides to the best satin wedding shoes, inexpensive wedding shoes, and wedding costume jewelry.

]]> http://www.bridefinds.com/2012/the-ultimate-favor-wedding-cake-flavored-vodka-mini-bottles-your-guests-will-love/feed/ 0 The Overachievers’ Guide To Asking Your BFFs To Be Your Bridesmaids http://www.bridefinds.com/2012/the-overachievers-guide-to-asking-your-bffs-to-be-your-bridesmaids/ http://www.bridefinds.com/2012/the-overachievers-guide-to-asking-your-bffs-to-be-your-bridesmaids/#comments Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:00:48 +0000 eileenconlan http://www.bridefinds.com/?p=42592

I’ve watched my share of Bridezillas: I know how it ends for those poor bridesmaids, who are forced to attend workout boot camps, endure their share of trash-talking, and generally take a lot of heat (in terms of verbal lashings and in the form of tanning beds). Though my bridesmaids know I’m not going to make them do thankless tasks, sew my wedding dress out of ribbons or force them to wear ugly floor length gowns they’ll never wear again, I still wanted them all to feel special. Most of all, I wanted them to want to be in the wedding. Which is why I made these “Will You Be My Bridesmaid” boxes for my 6 friends. Yes, a little overachieving, perhaps, but totally worth it. (And it was fun.)

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I wanted to create a pretty little world of inspiration and information so that the girls I was asking to be my maids knew what the deal was. Everyone’s busy, though, and how annoying are those long chain emails with info on bachelorette parties and bridal showers? (I am always the last to reply, making me feel like a bad bridesmaid, so I hate those.) Anyway–I got my inspiration from Bethany over at Rinse, Repeat, and made it my own from there. I admit, this wasn’t a quick task, but it was fun and actually pretty relaxing to sit and paint boxes for an afternoon. Plus it forced me to think of the vision of what my bridesmaids will wear and what the bouquets will look like–something I’ve been totally procrastinating.

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Here’s my step-by-step guide:

The boxes:

I bought unfinished cigar boxes from Jo-Ann Fabrics. (I bought them online because none seem to exist, to my knowledge, in NYC.)

I also bought a few bottles of acrylic paint, in Cream, Light gray and Peaches ‘n Cream, and a six-pack of Stila lip gloss, because every girl likes that.

Once the supplies arrived, I gave each box two coats of Cream on the outside and inside and then I painted one coat of Peaches ‘n Cream. On the borders, I decided to give it a candy-cane kind of feel by painting horizontal stripes. You can do whatever you like–maybe you have a stencil or you prefer polka dots. It’s anybody’s game. I stuck on “Will You Be My ‘Maid?” to each of them, finishing them off once they were dried.

The photos:

I put my Pinterest obsession to use, and printed out photos of my favorite bridesmaid looks and floral bouquets. I hadn’t decided if I would do slate gray or different shades of nude and blush, so I included all of them, with an explanation in the letter I wrote. I also printed out photos from the venue I’m getting married in so the girls could picture the day and be excited for it.

The letter:

Then I created a Word document with all of the details about the wedding–the categories included the following.

The Wedding: The deets

The Dresses: The question on everyone’s mind

The Girls: A dossier (with a short paragraph about how I know each girl and why we’re friends)

Then I threw in the Save the Date cards, which had just arrived, and mailed them off. Every single one of my friends was jumping for joy, they were so excited and they all said it was a fun, thoughtful way to be asked to be in the wedding.

I recommend you give it a try! But if it’s not your thing, or takes too long (it was definitely not a quick little project), then see our favorite Will You Be My Bridesmaid cards. They’re just as thoughtful.

]]> http://www.bridefinds.com/2012/the-overachievers-guide-to-asking-your-bffs-to-be-your-bridesmaids/feed/ 0 10% Off All Wedding Stationery (Including This Awesome Save-The-Date) At Minted! http://www.bridefinds.com/2012/10-off-all-wedding-stationery-including-this-awesome-save-the-date-at-minted/ http://www.bridefinds.com/2012/10-off-all-wedding-stationery-including-this-awesome-save-the-date-at-minted/#comments Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:32:44 +0000 emilyanderson http://www.bridefinds.com/?p=42558

We are having a stationery-induced SWOON-fest over here. Minted has a fresh new batch of thoroughly modern new wedding invite designs which we heart big time.

PLUS they’re giving brides-to-be an extra 10% off of ALL wedding stationery! Between save-the-dates, wedding invitations, RSVP cards, thank you notes, and other goodies like reception cards, place cards, and menu cards – the savings add up fast!

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To claim your discount, just use the coupon code BLISS10 at checkout. Still weighing your options? Use coupon code 3FREE to get 3 free samples!

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Shop our guides to the best unique wedding invitations, eco-friendly wedding favors, and wedding centerpiece decorations!

]]> http://www.bridefinds.com/2012/10-off-all-wedding-stationery-including-this-awesome-save-the-date-at-minted/feed/ 0 Spring’s Floral Shoe Trend Is Ready-Made For Your Bridesmaids http://www.bridefinds.com/2012/springs-floral-shoe-trend-is-ready-made-for-your-bridesmaids/ http://www.bridefinds.com/2012/springs-floral-shoe-trend-is-ready-made-for-your-bridesmaids/#comments Mon, 20 Feb 2012 21:30:54 +0000 Justine Ingersoll Schwartz http://www.bridefinds.com/?p=42539

Sure, florals are nothing new for Spring, but this year it’s all about wearing the print from head to toe — and we mean literally. Floral printed pumps are the must-have accessory of the season — which is perfect, since they are ready-made for weddings. Wear them under your gown — or outfit your bridesmaids in them. Hey, you could even cut back on florist fees by doing so. #TwoBirdsOneStone.

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Shop our guides to the best outdoor wedding dresses, simple bridesmaid dresses, and long bridesmaid dresses.

]]> http://www.bridefinds.com/2012/springs-floral-shoe-trend-is-ready-made-for-your-bridesmaids/feed/ 0 The 10 Most Stressful Parts Of Planning A Wedding (That No Mag Will Tell You) http://www.bridefinds.com/2012/the-10-most-stressful-things-about-planning-a-wedding-that-no-mag-will-tell-you/ http://www.bridefinds.com/2012/the-10-most-stressful-things-about-planning-a-wedding-that-no-mag-will-tell-you/#comments Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:40:38 +0000 admin http://www.bridefinds.com/?p=42516

In all the gushing about trends and dresses and color schemes that the wedding mags do, they don’t adequately prepare brides for a very real part of the planning process: stress! Pulling off a wedding is no cake walk: some of the items on your to-do list won’t be quite as fun as choosing the dress. Like, for example, making that damn seating plan or getting frantic e-mails from your mother-in-law at 3 am.

We’re not trying to scare you — just prepare you for the inevitable meltdown(s) you and your groom will have in the coming months. It’s how you handle these moments that will make you a rockstar bride — rather than a bridezilla. Because, let’s face it, there’s nothing worse than that.

The Seating Plan

Making the seating plan is one of the last things you’ll do — and one of the hardest. There are a lot of emotions and expecations at stake with all parties involved — from you and your groom, to both sets of parents, to grandparents and other elderly family members (they want and deserve a good view!). Add family feuds, divorce and estrangement, and things can get messy.

Here’s a tip: don’t take anything personally.

Mother-In-Law Drama

I’m sorry, MIL’s of the world, but it is not always easy to work with you. Mothers often have their own expectations about what their son’s wedding will be like — but so does the bride. There WILL be a lot of passive aggressive behavior, back-handed comments and occassional bitchiness.

The Rehearsal Dinner

Who pays for it and who to invite to the rehearsal dinner will keep you up at night. If you have a big family or bridal party, you’ll feel monetary pressure to either cut the list or go over your budget. If you have extended family members coming from out of town, or a bigger family on either the groom or bride’s side, things can get tricky.

Talk to your fiance (and possibly your in-laws, too) about who they expect to be at the rehearsal dinner. Settle on a guest list before you choose the location, so you don’t pick a restaurant that becomes too expensive per-head when your list expands, or that can’t accommodate add-ons.

The Guest List

Much like the seating plan, getting in-laws to agree on a guest list can be like pulling teeth. It’s incredibly difficult to keep things fair and balanced — everyone involved has their own idea of how many guests they should be allowed to invite. There are also so many etiquette questions that arise — do you have to invite your boss? What about your second cousin? Or that friend you’ve grown apart from since college? Do yourself a favor and order an Emily Post book on the subject, then read our list of the 10 People You Should Never Invite To Your Wedding and have a laugh.

Picking The Venue

This is where you’ll spend the majority of your wedding budget — so it will inevitably be a source of stress for you and whoever’s paying. In addition to the monetary concerns (“Can we afford this?), the venue is a big decision because it will be the backdrop of your reception (and possibly the ceremony). It will be immortalized in your photos forever, and a place that is too small, too cold, too hot, too fancy, too casual, etc., could make for unhappy guests (and an unhappy bride).

Do yourself a favor and give yourself at least a year before the wedding date, so your dream location isn’t booked up and you don’t get gorged with high-season prices. Also, consult a planner or expert on ways to enhance a simple venue with flowers, decor and lighting. You can always transform an affordable (read: cheap) venue into something spectacular with these things.

The Final Days

The most stressful part, for me, was executing all of the projects I had up in the air — like double-sided printing of the escort cards, or tying tiny green ribbons on my programs at the last minute, because my mom decided they needed “a little something.” You know what? She was right and they looked beautiful — but these are the kinds of last-minute, unforeseen things you’ll be dealing with in the final days. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Fighting With Your Groom

Ok, honey, I love you — but you drove me crazy during the wedding. My husband and I bickered so much during the months leading up to the wedding, the whole point of a wedding (ahem, LOVE) was lost. This is natural and totally normal — so anticipate it and be prepared to work through it. Ok, enough of the Dr. Phil now.

Picking The Theme

Okay, we threw this one in because it’s a silent killer. You might think choosing a wedding theme will be the most fun and enjoyable part of planning — but let me tell you honey, it’s not easy to execute that table setting you saw on Style Me Pretty, or that DIY project you saw in Martha Stewart.

If you have high hopes for your wedding decor & theme — you may want to consider hiring a planner, or asking a friend with really good taste to help you pull it together. Matching colors isn’t as easy as you think — there are over 2,100 Pantone colors (and growing!), so that “pink” you love may actually come in 10 different tones.

Thank God for Pinterest — building inspiration boards has never been easier. (Don’t forget to Follow Us!).

Accommodations

Here’s what you’ll need to do: book blocks of hotel rooms, distribute this information to guests (tip: as an insert within your formal invitations and on a wedding website are the best ways), and answer guests endless questions (“Can you send me that hotel address again?” “What is the block under?” and “What if I forgot to book?” are among my favorites). The latter can be especially stress-inducing. Tip: enlist a day-of planner or charge a bridesmaid with being in charge of day-of inquiries. You do NOT want to be the point-person for all 150 guests on the morning-of. That time is for relaxing, champagne-drinking and faux-eyelash-applying.

Blending Families

If you or your groom have children, the wedding signifies more than just a pronouncement of your love. For the kids, there are a lot of emotions evolved — will I like my new “dad”? Will I get along with my new siblings? You may be ecstatic to have finally found a life partner — but be prepared


]]> http://www.bridefinds.com/2012/the-10-most-stressful-things-about-planning-a-wedding-that-no-mag-will-tell-you/feed/ 0 70% Off Wedding Shoes On Zappos: D’Orsay Pumps, Stuart Weitzman, Badgley Mischka, More http://www.bridefinds.com/2012/70-off-wedding-shoes-on-zappos-dorsay-pumps-stuart-weitzman-badgley-mischka-more/ http://www.bridefinds.com/2012/70-off-wedding-shoes-on-zappos-dorsay-pumps-stuart-weitzman-badgley-mischka-more/#comments Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:00:07 +0000 Justine Ingersoll Schwartz http://www.bridefinds.com/?p=42464

If you’ve been dreaming of the perfect pair of wedding shoes (ever since you scored the dream dress), but don’t have much of a budget to spend on say, Louboutins, fear not: get 50-70% off wedding shoes at Zappos today, including designers like Stuart Weitzman, Badgley Mischka and Ivanka Trump.
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Shop our guides to the best black bridesmaid dresses, simple wedding dresses, and strapless wedding dresses.

]]> http://www.bridefinds.com/2012/70-off-wedding-shoes-on-zappos-dorsay-pumps-stuart-weitzman-badgley-mischka-more/feed/ 0 Just Say ‘Oui’ To A French Blue And Blush Color Scheme For Your Wedding http://www.bridefinds.com/2012/just-say-oui-to-a-french-blue-and-blush-color-scheme-for-your-wedding/ http://www.bridefinds.com/2012/just-say-oui-to-a-french-blue-and-blush-color-scheme-for-your-wedding/#comments Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:00:06 +0000 emilyanderson http://www.bridefinds.com/?p=42428

We recently spotted this gorgeous inspiration board on Snippet & Ink, and we instantly fell for this exceedingly lovly color combo- the palest, barely there pink you can conceive of, and a faint “french blue”.

Whether you’re a bride who plans to wear a blush gown, or a bride who’ll be putting her bridesmaids in two different shades, there’s so much blush n’ blue dress and decor inspiration to play with – your wedding decor scheme will be easy peasey!

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Shop our guides to the best pink wedding dresses, unique wedding invitations, and designer wedding shoes!

]]> http://www.bridefinds.com/2012/just-say-oui-to-a-french-blue-and-blush-color-scheme-for-your-wedding/feed/ 1 Designer Wedding Gowns Are Now 30-50% Off On Shopbop: Catherine Deane, Marchesa, More http://www.bridefinds.com/2012/designer-wedding-gowns-are-now-30-50-off-on-shopbop-catherine-deane-marchesa-more/ http://www.bridefinds.com/2012/designer-wedding-gowns-are-now-30-50-off-on-shopbop-catherine-deane-marchesa-more/#comments Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:00:30 +0000 emilyanderson http://www.bridefinds.com/?p=42430

We’ve been lusting over some of these beautiful designer wedding dresses for MONTHS – and at long last, they’re finally on sale! But a word of warning – there are only select sizes left. Snatch ‘em up fast, before your size sells out. Check out Shopbop’s Wedding Boutique, tout suite!

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Shop our guides to the best pink wedding dresses, strapless wedding dresses, and simple wedding dresses!

]]> http://www.bridefinds.com/2012/designer-wedding-gowns-are-now-30-50-off-on-shopbop-catherine-deane-marchesa-more/feed/ 0 J.Crew’s New Collection Of Wedding Belts Is One Part Awesome, Two Parts Pretty http://www.bridefinds.com/2012/j-crews-new-collection-of-wedding-belts-is-one-party-awesome-two-parts-pretty/ http://www.bridefinds.com/2012/j-crews-new-collection-of-wedding-belts-is-one-party-awesome-two-parts-pretty/#comments Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:00:53 +0000 Justine Ingersoll Schwartz http://www.bridefinds.com/?p=42401

We’re big fans of J.Crew’s Wedding Boutique — the preppy, classic gowns and bridesmaid dresses are so pretty, they’ll stand the test of time (meaning, you won’t regret those wedding photos in 20 years). They’ve since branched out to accessories (Jennifer Behr veils, for one) and have a new line of embellished and satin belts for spring. Top off any simple or understated gowns with one of these puppies, and you’re good to go.
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Shop our guides to the best long bridesmaid dresses, satin wedding shoes, and inexpensive wedding shoes.

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