Thrifty Thrilling Bride

Honeymoon Registry

2011-05-13T22:07:00.000-07:00

So, Craig and I will have dating for five years when we get married. We have plates, sheets, and I'm pretty sure I'll own half his tee-shirts when we get married.

Thus, it seemed like the best gift we could think of would be a honeymoon. And Honeyfund does a really cool job of it. I get to breakdown everything Craig and I want for our honeymoon, and guest can choose which items to 'buy.' I've decided it's much classier than just saying 'we're poor and want a honeymoon, please give us money.'

http://www.honeyfund.com/wedding/brandiecraig

We're going to Disneyworld! Craig has never been, and it's been over a decade since I've gone. We're both very excited, especially since we're taking a day to visit Harry Potter Land in Universal. Any Disney or Florida suggestions are greatly welcomed.

It's also been suggested to have a regular registry on Amazon. We have important stuff on there, like a game of wizard chess, a patio set, and an espresso maker.

Puppy

2011-04-16T16:14:00.000-07:00

Wow- it's been 2 years since I've blogged about the wedding. Well, I was busy, doing stuff like grad school. I graduate in June, so I guess there maybe be a few minutes for new posts.

Everything (almost) about the wedding has changed.

I will easy into it with the cutest puppy photos ever. EVER. My dog buttercup will be the flower girl at the wedding, so naturally, I had to get her hair clips to match the rest of the party.

Really cute, right?

So, unrelated, except that I'm now on a cute pet photo kick.

Marrakesh House

2009-12-30T23:05:00.000-08:00

With a crazy quarter at school, I have been pretty MIA. Fortunately I've been on winter break, so Craig and I got to see a lovely venue today. The Marrakesh House was designed by the guy who did "Who Killed the Electric Car" and is very green. Best of all, they have a pool!

The Entrance

Side Courtyard

Some of the Insides

The Red Room Lounge

The Blue Courtyard (potential ceremony site too)

Backyard- the tea house and pool!

Zombie Wedding Followup

2009-09-21T17:37:00.000-07:00

We had a great zombie shoot! You can check out my followup on my other blog here or catch the zombie Examiner article here. Stay tuned for future videos, photos, and behind the scenes shots! Enjoy!

Crystal Butterfly Bouquet Update

2009-09-08T22:32:00.000-07:00

After weeks of scouring eBay for a good deal, I finally won a bid on a crystal butterfly! It was a bit pricey (about $80 with shipping), but still a great deal less than the retail price ($130). As mentioned in a previous post, I am really interested in the idea of a crystal butterfly in my bouquet.

I think the topaz colors will work well with the tentative colors I want, and have enough to resell the butterfly if the colors don't work out. I think a center of green orchids surrounded by yellow roses tied with a blue ribbon would look nice.

Of course, I also change my mind every week, so we'll see if this idea is still a winner in a few months.

Zombies Attack Wedding!

2009-09-02T17:31:00.000-07:00

For those of you that read my other blog, this will be posted there as well. But you don't have to read it twice. But you can if you. After all, this covers my life, my art, weddings, and zombies.

I've decided that what this world needs is more zombies attacking weddings. So my production team, Junebug Media, is going to make this dream a reality!
We also gotten some great press on NBC LA:

A local artist is looking for zombies to help ruin a wedding in Sherman Oaks.

The undead mayhem is the brainchild of artist Brandie June Chernow. The idea began as a photo shoot to document a staged wedding dissolving into chaos (Imagine spilled wine, bad toasts, perhaps a few awkward moments).

Chernow and her production team at Junebug Media started brainstorming ways to up the ante. One of her coworkers suggested a Bridezilla vs. Godzilla theme. That's when things got interesting.

"…and that led to me thinking that zombies would be a great way to worsen a bad situation. Zombies attacking a wedding it became. Because when you think things can't get worse, that's when the zombies attack," Chernow said.

Chernow is now accepting applications for zombies. The project is on a tight budget, so all undead work will be pro bono. Not all applicants will score a role in the Sept. 13 photo shoot. Those interested can reach Chernow at junebugmedia@gmail.com.

Ideally, Chernow says, she'd like the photos displayed at an appropriate venue, such as the Downtown Art Walk.

"But mainly we think it'd be fun. Art for art's sake. Or zombies for art's sake. Or art for zombies' sake," Chernow said.

And the Examiner also ran a story:

On September 13th in Sherman Oaks, zombies will be busting up a wedding, and you have a chance at getting involved in the mayhem!

Junebug Media, founded by Brandie June Chernow in 2008, is putting together a still photography shoot and slide show-style video of the events, which Brandie described in an email as being "about a wedding that starts sweet and then goes wrong (think passed-out drunk groomsmen, bridesmaid making out with groom)," but quickly turns into a bloodbath when zombies attack. With her team rounded out by Ray McCoy, Damon D. Brown and Craig Johnson, Brandie has a group of experienced TV production folks at the helm of this project, and they have already put down some hard-earned money on the zombie makeup that will be used for the event.

Anyone and everyone can get involved by contacting Brandie at junebugmedia@gmail.com and showing up to the event. Although there's no pay -- this is an ultra-low budget event -- Brandie says that she can get people copies of the photos, and will be shopping around the slideshow and photos to be displayed locally, such as at the Downtown Los Angeles Art Walk. As Brandie puts it, "mainly we think it'd be fun. Art for art's sake. Or zombies for art's sake. Or art for zombie's sake." How can you beat that?

If you've never heard of Junebug Media, they have completed several short videos, and have won second place at the UCLA Anderson School of Business and Management video contest with a mock 1950s parody PSA. Additional team members support them on various projects. This may very well be an outfit to watch out for in the future.

And by the way, is anyone else reminded of Adam's (Jeremy Sisto) short film in May?

Tree Sapling Favors

2009-08-29T16:17:00.000-07:00

In case you're interested in favors that are relatively inexpensive and green, take a gander at GreenWorld Project. For just a few dollars, you can get a tree seedling in a reusable container, all tired with a ribbon.

A variety ribbon and cap colors to choose from.

My favorite favor was the Birdfeeder Tree. The container becomes a birdfeeder, and each one contains a small pouch of birdseed.

And to cut costs even more or simply personalize it to exactly your taste, they sell just the tree seedlings, for as low as $1.50. A quick trip to the craft store (I like Michaels), and you can inexpensively wrap them up any way you like.

The Odd Couple (Combining Styles)

2009-08-25T20:45:00.000-07:00

First, I have to preface, that there are over two years till Craig and I get married. So, there is not a rush to come to any consensus. But I am already surprise at how my greatest wedding-planing difficulty is creating a wedding that both Craig and I want. Originally, Craig claimed he just wanted to 'show up,' but it turns out he's quite opinionated on our special day. Almost as opinionated as I am.

Ideal:

Craig: (assuming he has to even have a wedding) - totally casual, kinda punk, and all of the food is covered in nacho cheese.

Me: tasteful, sparkly, tapas, and a chocolate fountain

Hmmm... noticing a bit of a difference? Me too. Trying to combine orchids with a tux that has the arms and legs torn off. It's going to be an interesting journey to be sure. At least we agree on the following:

fun
memorable
pool party

But at least no matter what kind of flowers we have and even if there is nacho cheese (though I hope not!), we are getting married. And big picture, I guess that really is the important part (that or the honeymoon).

Think about it. Oh yeah.

The Strange, the Cute, and the Ugly... Commercial.

2009-08-24T22:37:00.000-07:00

Here is another wedding commercial. I found it odd, cute, bizarre, disturbing, and endearing- all in one.

It's for an Indian match making site. Want to know what metro-monial mean? So do I!

Crystal Time!

2009-08-09T18:55:00.000-07:00

As a lover of bling and sparkly things, I stopped by a Swarovski store to check out a necklace I saw online that I though would look lovely with my dress.

I want something unique, modern with some fun glitz. My strapless dress is just screaming for a statement necklace.

Unfortunately, this necklace is out of season at their stores, and can only be bought online. I never realized Swarovski has 'season items.' So I tried on some other necklaces, and generally had fun with shiny things.

Such as this one.

And then I had the idea of putting a crystal flower in my bouquet as a way to 'save' part of the bouquet for long after the wedding. This one was one of my favorites.

But then I saw the butterflies! Even better than a flower. Now I really want to add a crystal butterfly to my bouquet. I saw this one at the store.

Then I saw this one online, and am torn between the topaz and the lavender butterfly.

I'm debating the price tag ($130) and checking out what the prices are on Ebay. I generally lean towards purples and blues, but I really like the 'pop' of the yellow one. If we use a bright blue with a pale green or yellow, I think the topaz may work best. But I'm still up for comments.

Dance to the Wedding, Dance to the 'Divorce'

2009-08-04T15:06:00.000-07:00

My friend Amanda sent such a great video of a wedding party dancing down the aisle, I felt it deserved it's own post. Thanks Amanda!

Of course, then I saw this spoof of that video with the couple dancing to their 'divorce,' and it cracked me up. Enjoy!

Baby Got First Dance

2009-08-03T00:32:00.001-07:00

Possibly the most amusing first dance video. Ever.

I just dare you to find something funnier. Really.

Wind It Up Means I Love You

2009-07-31T10:03:00.000-07:00

Craig doesn't plan a lot, but when he does, he makes it count! Once, he told be to leave a night free.

November 29th, 2006 (man, I keep a good calendar).

I meet him at my place and we get in his car and drive around, a lot. After getting a little lost, we get to a concert venue. Already running late, we race to our seats. Running along the outside of the stadium, I hear these opening notes.

I should also add that the Barenaked Ladies are my favorite band. I had already listened to the CD 'Wind It Up' was on so much that I knew the lyrics by heart. Steven Page leaving the band has me a bit heartbroken, but that's another story. So this guy I'd been dating, semi-long distance, took me to see my favorite band. And the show was amazing. I remember sitting way up in our see watching the tiny performers rock out, and I thought how I was damn luck to be with this guy.

Later that night, curled up and almost ready to go to sleep, I decided to doing something terribly rash. I wanted to tell Craig I loved him. Seemed in part a ridiculous idea to tell that to a guy I'd only dated 4 months. Plus, I'd been hurt before telling that to guys I'd dated much longer. So I thought, I'll wait. Probably till he says it first. But still... I was so happy, and wanted to share it with him. I went ahead. The conversation went something like this.

B: Honey...

C: Yes?

B: I have something...to... uhhh.... tell you...

C: Yes?

B: I.. uhh.... think I love you.

At which point, Craig said the second best thing someone could say in that situation.

C: That's awesome.

Then he said the best thing someone could say.

C: I love you too.

Happiness all around.

P.S. Looking for a good 'Wind It Up' video, I found this amazing fan video. It has puppets. Enjoy.

Thrifty/Thrilling Shoes

2009-07-17T23:41:00.000-07:00

Another thrifty/thrilling post. Here are some amazing shoes, and of course, their thrifty alternatives!

For a cute, wrap heel...

Stuart Weitzman Glowicky
Price: $335

Chinese Laundry
$69

Something cute, classic, and open-toe

Something Bleu
$210

Payless ShoeSource
$24.99

Or a strappy sandal

Stuart Weitzman Glowicky
$298

Chinese Laundry
$59

And for extra bling

Benjamin Adams
$595

Touchups
$87 on sale

And for the extra-crafty, a DIY blingInstruction at M&J Trimming

Another Fun Commercial

2009-07-14T00:31:00.000-07:00

Here is another fun, if slightly creepy, wedding commercial. Enjoy!

Thrify/Thrilling Dresses

2009-07-02T15:45:00.000-07:00

Here is my first thrifty/thrilling post. Let's take a look at some fabulously thrilling dresses and their thrifty, but no less fabulous, counterparts!

For an embellished, fitted, strapless look...

Vera Wang
Price: between $6,000-$18,000

Alfred Angelo
Price: between $999-$1,399

Or if you prefer a halter dress...

Vera Wang
Price: Between $5,000-$8,000

David's Bridal
Price: Originally $499, On Sale $299.99

I actually prefer the David's Bridal halter dress over the Vera Wang halter. It just proves you can get thrilling results on a thrifty budget.

Father of the Bride

2009-06-26T21:05:00.000-07:00

My dad gets pretty nervous anytime I mention the wedding (even though it's 2 years away). He wants me to be 'happy, but happy long term.' And Craig's lack of... well, let's just say Dad would be less concerned if Craig was a doctor/lawyer/hedge fund manager - and preferably all three. This stresses me out quite a bit sometimes. There are certainly days I just want to yell, "Be happy for me damn it or shut up!" But that's not a nice thing to say. And I know my dad's a good guy, and just wants what (he thinks) is best for me.

So, I saw this video, and it does remind me that he's probably just having some difficulty. Poor guy.

More Important Than the Wedding

2009-06-20T21:58:00.001-07:00

Flipping through channels last night, I ended up watching 'Bridezilla.' One woman used a whistle (yes, a whistle) to command people's attention, yell at them, and order them around. Another took her poor fiance to dance lessons till 1am. Ok, it is TV, and probably the worst of the worse. But whenever things aren't going the why I 'planned' or I have to make comprises because of a tight budget, I remember why I'm doing this.

Because I'm marrying the person I love!!!

With that prospective, the rest- the wedding, the party, the reception, the honeymoon... they're all icing on the (wedding) cake of life. Here is a free way to stress less when things don't go as planned or you ha

ve to cut costs. Just remember- you

're marrying this wonderful person.

Whenever I get stressed about a tight budget, I just try to remember what I'm getting, no matter if we have centerpieces or not.

My Fiance...

He's weird, and he's mine!

Makes me dinner when I come home tired and hungry from work.
Does the dishes when I'm too tired (even if he cooked dinner).
Let's me keep another cat.
Keeps trying to teach me how to maintain my car, even though I'm terrible at checking the air and changing tires.
Doesn't get upset when I'm uber-cranky because I'm hungry. He'll even get me a snack.
Listens to me when we argue, and always ends fighting by hugging and making up.
Does the heavy lifting, kills the bugs, and gets the glasses on the high shelf.
Indulges me- whether it's getting me Ben & Jerry's Dublin Mudslide ice cream at 11pm or driving over an hour to my favorite restaurant for my birthday.
Love me and is there to support me- no matter what. Lucky me.

Craig, being useful.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on what helps you un-stress about your wedding!

Funny Wedding Commercial

2009-06-17T14:22:00.000-07:00

I saw this commercial while watching TV. It made me smile.

Always Room For Jello (Shots!)

2009-06-15T21:02:00.000-07:00

While looking through old photos I found some pics of gourmet jello shots I made for a party. Relatively simple, though somewhat time intensive, these shots are a beautiful and grown-up version of a college favorite.

I think they are a great DIY treat for engagement parties, bachelor(ette) parties, or even the wilder of wedding receptions. (Just make sure if there are kids around, that they can't get these! I made a kid-friendly version at my party- ie no alcohol.)

The Basic

1 (6oz) box of Jello

2 cups boiling water

2 cups vodka

Directions: Mix boiling water with Jello and stir till it's dissolved. Let mixture cool to room temperature. Stir in vodka and pour mixture into small cups or ice cube trays. I also poured some onto pans and then cut into shapes. Refrigerate till set, about 6 hours. Approximately 32 1oz shots.

Rum and Coke

1 (6oz) box of cherry Jello

1 cup boiling Coke

1 cup cold Coke

2 cups rum

Directions: Mix boiling Coke and Jello and allow to cool. Stir in cold Coke and rum. Pour mixture into small cups. If you like, put a maraschino cherry in each shot. Refrigerate till set.

Screwdrivers

1 (6oz) box of orange Jello

2 cups boiling orange juice

2 cups vodka

Directions: Mix orange juice and Jello and allow to cool. Add vodka and pour into cups. Refrigerate till set. Note: For extra pizzaz, cut fresh oranges in half. Juice the oranges for the juice, then pour the mixture into the oranges. Support them with foil in the fridge. Once set, slice the oranges into slices.

Champagne Shots

1 (6oz) box of white grape Jello

2 cups boiling water

2 cups sparkling wine

Directions: Mix water and Jello and cool. Add wine. Pour and set. (Getting the hang of this,

right?)

Pina Colada

1 (6oz) box of pineapple Jello

2 cups boiling pineapple juice

2 cups coconut rum

Directions: Mix juice and Jello and cool. Add rum. Pour and set.

Optional: Add dried coconut into the cups before placing them in the fridge. (Well done!)

Margarita (authentic version)

1 (6oz) box of lime Jello

2 cups boiling water

1 1/2 cups tequila

1/4 cup Triple Sec or Cointreau

1/4 cup lime juice

Directions: Do you still need them? Top with salt after the shots set (optional).

Margarita (easy version)

1 (6oz) box of lime Jello

1 cup boiling margarita mix

1 cup cold margarita mix

2 cups tequila

Enjoy!

Something old, new, borrowed, and blue

2009-06-15T07:24:00.000-07:00

I'm a bit of a jewelry nut. I love shiny things and probably know more about diamond cuts and settings than most guys shopping for engagement rings. That said, Craig and I don't have a lot of money. We had to get kinda creative after I popped the question. We needed something affordable, but also a ring I absolutely loved and would be happy to wear for the rest of my life. So we came up with a few options:

Option 1: Something Old

I have an engagement ring that belonged to my great-grandmother. Until I got my engagement ring, I wore this one. Family heirlooms are a wonderful way to have something that is both affordable and sentimental. Are there rings in your family that could be passed down and used as an engagement ring?

Option 2: Something Blue

Craig doesn't like diamonds. He thinks they're boring. Ok, it's not his ring, he doesn't have to wear it, and I do like diamonds. But it did get me thinking about other stones. Sapphires are especially popular as center stones. They are elegant, strong, and less expensive than diamonds. Plus, they are a different spin on the usual engagement ring- and I love unique! I have a lot of friends who have substituted their center diamond for a sapphire or ruby or another precious gem. One option is to get a precious gem as a center stone with smaller diamond accents.

Option 3: Something Old and Blue

With the idea of using a sapphire, it was back to the family jewelry box. My mom had a beautiful star sapphire- which is a round-cut sapphire that forms when a light hits it. I loved it. It was interesting and unique. My mom gave me the sapphire ring. Since the setting was pretty plain, I decided to have the sapphire reset. But already having a center stone saved us a ton of money on the ring. We could put our full budget on the setting.

Option 4: Something New

With this lovely stone, it was time to go setting shopping. I highly

recommend visiting several jewelry stores. On Valentine's day, Craig and I went shopping after I was done with class. Luckily, there were four stores all Westwood, which is the area right next to UCLA, where I am going to school. After finding a few settings I liked, I found one I loved. It was at Michael's Jeweler's, and if you're in Los Angeles, I highly recommend him. He was able to custom make the setting I liked for under my budget.

Winner!

PS Appreciate those who love you.

Finally, don't forget to thank family if they pass down heirlooms to you. My way of saying thanks to my mom for her sapphire was to reset the setting the stone came in. I knew she liked blue, so, while I couldn't afford a sapphire, I knew it would look great with a blue topaz. It made a wonderful Mother's Day gift.

And for the guy who spent most of the day shopping for engagement rings? My Valentine's gift to Craig was to take him out to go go-karting for the rest of the day. And I'm actually a better go-kart driver than I would have thought.

2009-06-14T18:30:00.000-07:00

Hello all you lovely people and welcome to the new Thrifty Thrilling Bride blog! I recently proposed to the love of my life (yes, I proposed to him!). While our wedding is not for a while (9.10.11 to be exact), it is giving us a lot of time to plan the wedding. Considering he is an ex-punk pacifist and I love shiny things, it will take a while to plan a wedding that will suit both of us. I've found that planning (and even re-planning) is a ton of fun. I'll come up with several themes a week. I think I may need to throw a bunch of parties to use up all these themes.

What I've noticed is that with some creativity and work, weddings can look absolutely amazing and be a ton of fun without costing a fortune. And so I've created this blog to help you have a fabulous and wonderful wedding without breaking the bank. Stay tuned for idea, thoughts, and photos. Feel free to email me any suggestions or photos and stories from your own wedding or wedding planning adventures.

Best,

Brandie