Saving Money On Bridal Accessories Online

With so many bridal websites all selling the same bridal tiaras, veils and jewelry, it’s fairly easy to compare prices. But there are other money saving tips that will help you the find bridal accessories you want at prices you can afford.

Sales in the months of October through January tend to be the slowest in the bridal industry. This is the time to look online for special discounts, buy-one-get-one-free, and clearance products. Most sites put their returned merchandise on “clearance” and there is nothing wrong with these items, they just didn’t meet the needs of the original buyer.

Flat rate shipping is another great way to save by shopping online. If you can purchase a bridal tiara and five brooches for your bridesmaids and only pay one price for shipping, it’s much less expensive than per-item shipping costs. Some advertise “free shipping on orders over $100.” This won’t do you any good if you’re looking for two sets of earrings. Always look for flat rate shipping when you have a choice.

Many bridal websites now have their own blogs. This is a great way to find contests and free giveaways. Again, they may be giving away some of their returned merchandise, but you might be lucky enough to win the perfect wedding veil. Blogs are also a good place to find announcements such as “20% off all our earrings for this month only.” The age of the blog and the number of posts determines how much traffic it receives. If you enter a contest on a newer blog, you may find very little competition and stand a much better chance of winning free bridal accessories.

Plan ahead and try to shop for bridal accessories online during the slower months. Carefully read the shipping instructions and return policy. Look for clearance items. Read the website’s blog posts to determine whether they sponsor contests or giveaways. All of these will help you save money buying bridal accessories online.

Ten Favorite Bridal Designers

These are my favorites. You won't find these dresses at David's Bridal, although you will find well-made and affordable wedding gowns and (dare I say it) over-priced tiaras there.

African American Designer Therez Fleetwood
Lace Wedding Dresses by Claire Pettibone
New Zealand Bridal Designer Jane Yeh
Retro Wedding Dresses by Candy Anthony
Clarissa Grace Couture
Sexy Wedding Dresses by Demetrios
Corset Wedding Gowns by Pnina Tornai
Lace Bolero Jackets from Alfred Angelo
British Bridal Designer Ian Stuart
Vintage Style Wedding Dresses by Joan Shum

Edible Fruit Bouquets

This fresh fruit bouquet, by Plan the Perfect Baby Shower, is an amazing fruit centerpiece with easy to follow step-by-step directions. You can use these same techniques to make fabulous bridal shower centerpieces. A similar fruit bouquet from Edible Arrangements (“A delicious bouquet blooming with fresh strawberries, pineapple daisies, cantaloupe and grapes.”) retails for $59 and up.

One large pineapple, 2 pounds of strawberries, 1 cantaloupe, 50 grapes and a handful of parsley is all you need to get started.

Using a cookie cutter, press each slice of pineapple and cut out a flower of pineapple.

Using a melon baller, scoop out one ball of cantaloupe for every 2 pineapple flowers. Cut the cantaloupe ball in half and lay the flat side of one half against one pineapple flower.

Take each pineapple flower and stick a bamboo skewer through the center. Make sure your skewer pokes through the pineapple about 1/2 inch. Now stick that part of the skewer onto a cantaloupe ball, but don't let the skewer stick out the other end of the cantaloupe ball. Do this for each pineapple flower.

Wash your strawberries (you can remove the strawberry leaves if you want). Then take each one and stick a bamboo skewer into the top of it, but don't let the skewer poke out the other side.

Take a bamboo skewer and stick it through about 6-7 grapes. When you stick one grape on, slide it down to make room for the next one. Repeat this until your last grape. Make sure that the skewer doesn't stick out of the one on top). Then slide each grape up the skewer until they touch the grape just above it.

Now you should have all of your fruit on skewers. Place each skewer into foam or playdough at various angles. You will want to create a spherical shape to the bouquet, so place the outermost skewers on a large angle and make them shorter than the center skewers. The key to this step is to adjust your skewer lengths. Make sure you have plenty of fruit. Having too few fruit skewers makes your fruit bouquet look bare and skimpy.

Homemade Bath Salts & Soaks

After a stressful day of wedding planning, why not soak in a soothing bath made of simple ingredients found in your own kitchen? Soaking in a tub full of hot water with a cup or two of Epsom Salts is known for relaxing muscles and drawing toxins from the body. The reason? They are made of the mineral magnesium sulfate—a sedative for the nervous system.
When magnesium sulfate is absorbed through the skin, it reduces swelling, relaxes muscles, is a natural emollient and exfoliator.
























Before mixing the recipes, make sure that any herbs or oatmeal added are first ground finely (use a food processor if possible).

Mix the ingredients well, store in airtight plastic containers or sterilized jars (such as mason jars or pretty jam jars). Shake the jar well before using. Add anywhere from 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup to your bath and enjoy!

Cinnamon Soak

1 cup powdered milk
1 cup baking soda
3 TBS cornstarch
2 TBS cream of tartar
1 1/2 TBS cinnamon


Soothing Bath Soak

4 cups Epsom salts
1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup sea salt
2 TBS dried herbs (finely ground)

Oatmeal & Cinnamon Milk Soak

1 1/2 cups powdered milk
3/4 cup baking soda
3/4 cup oatmeal (finely grind it first)
3 TBS cornstarch
2 tsp cream of tartar
2 tsp cinnamon

Herbal Salts

1 1/2 cups Epsom salts
3/4 cup baking soda
3/4 cup dried herbs (finely ground)

recipes courtesy of tipnut

To read more visit Homemade Beauty

Ring Bearer Pillow Ideas

If you’re looking for a unique ring bearer pillow and an artist who might be willing to design one especially with you in mind, Etsy is a fabulous place to shop. Etsy is where super crafty people go to sell their handmade items and most are open to suggestions about size, colors and materials. You can look at each seller’s rating, how long they have been selling, and how many items they offer. Another great way to accessorize with rhinestone brooches!

1. EmiciBridal

2. NutfieldWeaver

3. YANDEBRIDAL

4. weddingsandsuch

5. Karenyee

6. BrassPaperclip

Famous Brooches

The only person I know more obsessed with brooches than me. When asked what kind of mood she was in, the former US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright would simply say, "read my pins."

Her famous pins are now displayed at New York's Museum of Arts & Design. In the 200 piece collection are the golden snake pin she got after Saddam Hussein called her a "serpent," a bee brooch she wore whenever she thought she was walking into a "sting," and the balloon pin she chose if talks were likely to go well. When feeling patriotic she was known to wear a gold eagle brooch, and a dove brooch when giving speeches in the Middle East. The show might tour for as long as two years -- the perfect excuse for Albright to get more brooches!

When she's sipping a pint on St. Paddy's Day, may we suggest our:

Shamrock Brooch

Gourmet Cookie Wedding Favors

If you are unfamiliar with Etsy, it is a website that allows users to buy and sell handmade items. The company has a listing fee of 20 cents for every item and takes a commission of 3.5% off all items sold. There we found Cakebox Cookies and some amazing gourmet cookie wedding favors. Most measure 4 x 4.5 inches, weigh 1/4 pound each, and are sold at $39.95 per dozen. They come individually wrapped in a cellophane bag and tied with the ribbon color of your choice.