BHLDN On A Budget!

Like many women, my heart swoons whenever I step inside Anthropologie. Sadly, I cannot afford to shop there regularly, especially on a grad student budget in the middle of a recession! However, I was thrilled to recently learn that the team behind Anthropologie decided to venture into another one of my passions, the wedding world, with their new store, BHLDN.

A great feature of the BHLDN website is that it offers more than just a shopping experience for brides. It includes free interactive experiences to help inspire you while planning your wedding, and provide another great way to procrastinate ;-) For example, I took a fun quiz called "What Kind of Bride Are You?" and discovered that I am a Romantic Nostalgic bride, which was a very accurate portrayal of my vintage Cape Cod wedding. The website also offers MoodBoards, aka inspiration boards, where you can view their products based on themes or color palettes, or even create your own board!

Disclaimer: I guarantee you will love everything BHLDN offers, but like it's sister store Anthropologie, products from here do not come cheap. Since one of my goals is to provide wedding inspiration for brides on a budget, I have scoured the site and chosen the best wedding attire and accessories for budget-minded brides.

Here are 2 boards featuring my favorite dresses, that are all an amazing steal at $1600 or less!

Finally, another great way to incorporate the romantic, unique, and vintage products BHLDN offers while not breaking the bank is to carefully choose more affordable accessories for your big day. Here are my top picks:

Images from center, then clockwise from top left: Choose a lovely silk hat/birdcage veil for a vintage vibe ($120); Love coasters provide a romantic touch ($14 for 10); Don polka dot gloves for a unique look ($40); Brighten up your fete with colorful straws ($6 a pack); Eat your cake with a pair of engraved love forks ($24 a pair); Serve treats on lovely pedestals ($68-$88); Statement earrings are great bridesmaid's gifts ($66); Accessorize your cocktail hour with love stirrers ($22 for 24); Use adorable mini teapots as escort card holders ($52 for 6); Glam a simple pair of shoes with colorful pom poms! ($25 per pair); Choose simple but sophisticated letterpress invites ($26 for 8); Chalkboard vases make unforgettable table numbers ($18); Faux flowers are a great way to save money without compromising on style ($32 for 5).

Daily Inspiration: Beach Wedding Invitation with a Twist

I was recently perusing the blog of the talented Anne Ruthmann (who is now an official local vendor, as she has moved to Massachusetts!), and found this lovely photo:

This is a beach wedding invitation that arrived in the bottle pictured above. Wouldn't it be perfect for a Cape Cod Wedding? I love how this is a spin on the traditional "message in a bottle" theme by sending it in a vintage Coca-Cola bottle. I also love the detail that the bride and groom lined the bottle with local sand to get guests geared up for their wedding day!

What are you doing for your STD's and invitations? Do you have any creative ideas for sending out something quirky and fun, or are you going the traditional route (as I did)?

  

Vendor I Heart: Designs by Krissy

I used to be a fan of classic, understated jewelry.  Lately, though, my tastes have evolved and I'm loving statement jewelry.  Especially since I'm planning a wedding with a vintage vibe, I also love jewelry that incorporates this theme by including antique pearls, brooches, cameos, etc.  Designs by Krissy creates jewelry that is perfect for your entire wedding party, and she will custom make pieces to suit your style and wedding theme.  Her jewelry is just so elegant and timeless, I could see everyone wearing this, regardless of age.  I've been looking for a bracelet to wear on my wedding day and I think I've found the perfect vendor!

Bridesmaid's Dress Inspiration

It can be so challenging to find high quality, pretty dresses for your bridesmaids in your wedding colors that are also affordable.  Whether you are kind enough to pay for them or your ladies are buying the dresses themselves, bridesmaids' dresses can be a major part of a wedding budget.  Of course, JCrew and Ann Taylor are two reliable sources for fabulous attire, but most of their dresses average at least $200 a piece.  In this economy, being sensitive to the financial situation of your bridal party is a must.  That's why I just had to share this great versatile dress from Miss Brache with all you brides who have not yet outfitted your bridal party.  At only $98, this dress is not only gorgeous but budget beautiful too.  For a fun vintage vibe, have your bridesmaids channel the 1950's by wearing it with a belt and petticoat (also available for purchase), as seen in the top picture.  Or wear it plain for a more classic or formal event (bottom picture).  Even better, the dress can be created in a variety of colors to compliment your color palette, and is also custom sized, so your girls will not even have to pay for alterations! I only wish I had found this sooner so my girls could wear it!

Locket Love

I've been on a locket kick lately, so I thought I'd share my newest accessory obsession with everyone out there.  Not only do I love the versatility with these, as they look great on the weekend to dress up boyfriend jeans and a t-shirt and to compliment skinny jeans and heels for date night, but I also adore their vintage vibe.  These would also be great as bridesmaids gifts for those of you going for a vintage glam or DIY wedding theme!  All of these lockets can be found on Etsy and my advice is to choose one (or more) that suit your style. The first two are great for girly girls, as they combine flowers, pears, and/or beads for a really feminine touch.  If you prefer a more delicate, simple style, opt for the third locket, on a classic lariat chain.  Lastly, adding charms to lockets is a great way to detail personal interests or remember special parts of your past, such as a pet horse :-)

Vendors listed from top to bottom: Cosmic Girl,  Mia Beads, Whimsical Treasures, and Talula.