Thanks to Kaela J. for today’s submission. Photo by Erica Price of Sparrow Photography.

Vané Broussard, founder of Brooklyn Bride. Photo by: Belathée Photography

BravoBride Features Brooklyn Bride

There are so many ways for brides-on-a-budget to save money and still have a great event. Today we chatted with Brooklyn Bride, the blog known for style and smart weddings, and looked at where to spend and where to save. We love these tips. Her ideas for the DIY Bride involve going simple and we totally agree!

How did you get started with Brooklyn Bride as a blog?

Brooklyn Bride started really as a scrapbook for ideas for my own wedding back in 2007. Back then, there weren’t the thousands of wedding blogs there are now, and none spoke to my modern aesthetic, so I started posting what I had collected over the years, thinking maybe a few people might stumble upon it for their own ideas. Over the months, the blog just grew and grew!

What is the one thing brides think they need on their wedding day that it turns out wasn’t as important?

I think people overestimate the necessity of favors…your friends and family are there to celebrate you! Favors like candles holders or tiny frames are completely useless, and will most often just be left on the table. If you absolutely MUST get a favor for your guests, go with something edible, like chocolates, or something they can take away from the wedding, for example, a fun picture from the photo booth.

When a bride is on a strict budget, what is the first area that you try to save on?

It really depends on the bride and what’s important to her. For me photography was incredibly important to me because it was really the one thing would have to remember the day by, so I splurged there. Stationery as well was really important because I’m a paper fanatic! But accessories like shoes, jewelry, even a limo at the end of the night, were just not priorities, so I saved a ton there by using stuff I already had and taking a cab home If there’s anything a friend can make or help you with, those are always big money (and time savers).

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Thanks again to Vané for her helpful tips and ideas! Next week were are going to feature a DIY wedding project on how to make your own cookie favors. Such an easy way to make your wedding even sweeter!

Thanks to Andi for submitting her wedding photo! Here’s what really happened that day according to the bride.

“My husband Mark and I had discussed that when it came to the cake, we
wouldn’t smear it on each other’s faces since I wanted everything that day
to be perfect. Well he got it into his head that it would be funny to
surprise me and smother a little into my face! It took me completely off
guard and got me so angry I couldn’t control myself. I thought my wedding
had been ruined! Anyways, I ended up punching cake into his face, and found
out I have a wicked right hook! Thankfully he was alright and the whole
experience actually turned out to be a really memorable moment that he and I
love to look back at and laugh.”

(BravoBride.com has the exclusive right to remove any entry considered derogatory, incriminating, or fraudulent. For more questions about this contest, please email Domenique@Bravobride.com.)

Learn how to make this centerpiece below!

This week we talked to the lovely Jenn from ‘I do’ It Yourself wedding blog (@Ido_Ityourself on twitter) for some great DIY for planning a wedding! This Australian-based blog has fun ideas for weddings across the globe!

How did you start the blog?

I started the actual ‘I do’ it yourself blog just over a year ago as I began to put together my own wedding. I was engaged for over seven years so I’d had plenty of time to think about things and I was really surprised to see just how few DIY resources were out when I began. There was a lot of interest in my first few posts, so with over 10 years experience in the magazine industry I decided to move into digital media and start the blog.

What is one thing brides think they need, but they really don’t?

I think the one thing brides ‘think’ they need but probably don’t is perfection. Its easy when you look at wedding websites and see all these AMAZINGLY styled weddings to forget what its really all about – its about two people who are in love. The whole point of a DIY wedding is to put your stamp, your special touch to the day and enjoy the whole process of doing it. So have fun.

What are some key tips for the DIY Bride from ‘I do’ It Yourself:

1. Stick to what you’re good at and be realistic with what your going to DIY. If you’ve never done something before do a test run.
2. Enlist help and get your friends involved with your DIY projects.
3. Make a list of everything you plan to DIY for your wedding, then look at the timing. You don’t want to be up assembling and gluing at midnight before the wedding!
4. And most importantly – have fun!

Here is an example of one of the many fun DIY projects and ideas at the ‘I do’ It Yourself Blog:

“Fastfood takeout lovers, don’t throw that drink caddy from last night just yet! Check out this fab DIY re-use of kraft drink carriers (from Sonic!) by Dandee Designs. Great as gifts to friends or as eco-chic centerpieces for your next party (use them to decorate your tables then share with guests afterwards as favors). And that awesome “HELLO” banner? Why it’s a free download to boot! Click here for full instructions.

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A big thanks to  Taira B. from Baughman Media Works for today’s photo.

You can find jars like these on BravoBride. Click the image to view our selection!

Lighting can really set the mood for an evening wedding. From lining the aisle with lights, to placing candles on tables, the right lighting can change the atmosphere of a room. Buying candles in bulk or renting lights can be expensive. If you buy lights, you can be left with many fixtures you don’t need. If you want to save money, try creating lighting fixtures from items you will use well into the future in your new home.

For the DIY Bride, we love these jar lights. On the make-it-yourself scale we rank this as extremely easy. All you need are rope lights and a jar. Bundle up the rope lights in the jar and plug them in near by. You can get creative by putting other items in the jar with the lights, such as glitter or glass balls. You can even place memorabilia that remind you and your partner of important memories in your relationship. If you are having a theme wedding, on the tables change the jar contents for each idea.

We recommend using basic holiday lights or LED lights so they do not get too hot. For convenience, use strands of battery powered holiday lights so you don’t have to worry about plugging them in.

After the reception and the honeymoon, you can reuse the rope lights around the house or during the holidays. We happen to love the look of lit trees in the summer at night and the jars can be used for storage and cooking for years to come.

You can find old-fashioned jars like these at thrift stores, flea markets, cooking stores and of course on BravoBride.

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Thanks to Becky B. for submitting today’s photo!

You can buy these from a BravoBride seller too!

This week’s project are twine bottle table decorations for the DIY Bride

These beautiful twine bottles are great centerpieces.  They can be used as flower vases as well as table numbers. We do not recommend using them as candle holders or placing them near an open flame. These vases can easily be reused as decorations or design elements in the home.  Supplies are inexpensive-aside from empty wine bottles, there are only five elements to purchase that shouldn’t cost anymore than fifteen dollars. You can save money by reusing old wine bottles.

What you need:

Bottle

• Brown Sisal Twine, preferably a thick gauge,  or two-ply
• Empty, clean wine bottles
• Scissors
• Outdoor Mod Podge

Label

• Paper
• Ribbon

Bottle:

As dirt can cause the glue to not adhere as effectively,  we recommend first cleaning any old wine bottles and letting them dry. We also encourage you to use outdoor Mod Podge for its strength and durability.  However, if you prefer another craft glue, go for it!

First, glue the end of the twine role to the inside lip of the wine bottles and let it dry. This will make the sisal easier to control.
After it is dried and attached, coat the first inch of the wine bottle with mod podge glue, using your paintbrushes. Don’t be afraid to go on thick, as the glue will dry clear.

Now slowly wrap the twine around that one inch of glue. You may have to press it tight for a few sections to ensure a strong bond. If you are afraid of getting your hands dirty, take a strip of wax paper to pat down the sections. We recommend continuing down the bottle about one inch at a time. This ensures that things don’t get messy as well as a clean finish. Depending on the size and diameter of the bottle, you may use anywhere between half a roll of thick twine to more than two rolls.

Take extreme care around the tapered section of the bottle. Because we start from the top there should not be as much scrunching and the rope should be taut. If you do not like the look of the twine coming out of the lip of the bottle, only glue a small piece inside, and do not continuing using glue until you’re past the lip.

When the project is dry, use a small pair of fabric scissors to trim as needed. To finish off the twine on the bottle, at about 1/8″ from the bottom, prepare by cutting an extra about 6″ of twine. Wrap the final piece and tuck the ending underneath and seal off with Mod Podge.

This should take about 1 day to dry. We recommend storing the bottles in a dry, warm place.

Label:

Since we love funky paper labels, we’ll let you in an a secret on where to find inexpensive cool paper. Try the scrap-booking section of your local arts and crafts store. Scrap-booking paper is very durable and comes in a variety of designs. It also often costs less than 50 cents a sheet. When writing on it, we suggest using a paint marker rather than a Sharpie because ink can smear easily and often do not dry completely.

After you have cut your paper label to the size of your choice, use a hole punch to punch two holes in it.

Lastly, string it through the label. By using two holes you can ensure the label does not easily move around.

You’ll have a beautiful, affordable and functional wedding decoration