Wedding Wise Wednesday – August 12

Every week I post the coolest wedding stories and best deals I find in Los Angeles and around the web. And we call it Wedding Wise Wednesday.

The Squee! Of the Week:
If you are like me,and actually, most of the owners that I know, you wouldn’t be able to pry my iphone out of my cold, dead hands. It is seriously one of my top 20 favorite things,ever. Yeah, now I sound a little nutty. Anyway. Bride Guide is a new iphone App, designed by a wedding planner, and it’s awesome. Would you like a to-do checklist of 185 items, that also lets you add your own? A place to keep track of all of your vendor contacts? A budget tracker and calculator geared towards your specific budget? One click for an explanation and fyi for each wedding topic, from cakes and flowers to invites and dresses. Yup, there is an app for that. I’ll be showing it off at the Workshop next Sunday, definitely. Which is filling up, by the way, so register ASAP.

The Contests
And there are a few of them:
WC Photo Studio is still taking submissions for their Out of This World Wedding Contest. What’s going to make your wedding fun and original, one that your friends and family will be talking about for years to come? They’re looking for two couples, and since Nancy and Edwin are also sponsors of the workshop, I’m in there as well. Not only will you get your wedding shot for free, but you’ll get two tickets to the next workshop and an hour-long consultation with me, where I’ll answer all your wedding questions. Can’t win if you don’t play, so go and play already.

How would you like to get married in San Francisco on May 14, 2010? Oh, and then follow that up with a honeymoon in Napa? Over forty top Bay Area wedding vendors are collaborating to offer one lucky couple an all-inclusive wedding of their dreams. Visit 2010 San Franciso Wedding Giveway for more details. Contest ends in November. Thanks to DIY Bride for the tip!

The Thirty Something Bride has a heads-up about invitation designer Rachel Jasper’s giveaway contest. 100 customized save the date cards, your choice of the design. You have to act fast on this one, the deadline is tomorrow, Thursday the 13th. And, again, to the surprise of no one, Rachel has an etsy store.

Mon Cheri is giving away the beautiful dress featured on the cover of the September/October issue of Bridal Guide. Constest ends September 30th, AND you can try on the gown at a local store in Pasadena, Mary Linn’s Bridal,(626) 585-8200, marylinn.com. Got this one from Wedzilla.

The Deals:
Speaking of invitations, Bella Figura is having their annual sample sale, benefiting the environmental organization American Forests. Regularly priced at $5, samples are $1 each until August 31st, and 100% of that goes to American Forests.

Inspired Bride has a new weekly feature called Dress to Impress for Less – wedding appropriate outfits, dress, shoes and accessories for $150 and less.

Mackenzie Murphy, examinar.com’s San Francisco Recession Wedding Reporter, lists inexpensive bachelorette party options within driving distance of the bay area. Like Los Angeles. One night in Hollywood at the Renaissance Hotel, no less (that would be the one connected to the Kodak theater, home of the Oscars), dinner, drinks, dancing and cab fare, for $150 per person, for a party of 10.

The Cool Stuff:

Project Wedding not only has a list of local bridal shops, but reviews of them, too. Plus, reviews of vendors for pretty much every wedding planning service available. Enjoy!

Paper Orchid’s beautiful, intricate laser-cut cupcake wrappers. For cupcakes! Thanks to Wedding Chicks for the link.

The Events:
August 12th, 2009
6-9 PM

Wedding Happy Hour Presents the Poolside Bridal Party
Four Points Sheraton Westside
5900 Green Valley Circle Culver City, CA 90230
Complimentary Parking

August 16, 2009
Bridal Showplace
11am – 4pm
The Queen Mary at Long Beach

The Recession Bride’s Workshop
Sunday, August 23rd
The Gallery at Market Lofts
645 W. 9th Street (Between Flower and Hope, Entrance on Hope St.)
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Don’t know how you’re going to have the wedding of your dreams with the money in your budget? I do. Register online for the “Early Bride” discount – Save $10 at checkout by using the code “WedCharmEarly.” I’m really looking forward to meeting you!