We’ve teamed up with Your Dream Dress to give a wedding dress to one lucky RB member

Reem Acra is one of the most sought-after couture bridal designers in the world. Her incredible wedding dresses are known for their luxurious fabrics and intricate beadwork and embroidery, and her fabulous gowns are worn by celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Halle Berry. All that luxury comes with a hefty pricetag…but not for Recycled Bride members! Because we got together with our good friends at YourDreamDress.com and decided to make one bride’s big day even more special by giving this Reem Acra wedding dress away for free!

Dress Details:

• Retails for over $4,800
• Silk satin
• Sweep train
• Strapless ballgown silhouette
• Reem Acra label inside
• Brand New
• Ivory with gold detailing
• Bridal size 10 / Daywear size 8 (can be altered to fit a size 8 or smaller)
• Bust: 36″
• Waist: 29″
• Hips: N/A
• Hollow to Hem: 60″

Enter to Win:

• You must be a Recycled Bride member to win, so sign up if you haven’t already (It’s free and takes just a minute).
• Go to the Your Dream Dress Giveaway Page and leave a comment telling us why you want to win this Reem Acra designer wedding dress.
• One comment/entry per person
• A panel of wedding experts from RecycledBride.com and Your Dream Dress will choose one lucky winner on April 2nd, 2010.
• Winner will be chosen based on the comment that most inspires our panel.

Yes, it’s that easy! And check out the beautiful beadwork on the bodice of the dress. That’s just one of the many delightful details that make this couture gown so valuable, and so breathtaking. The bride who wears this gown is going to truly feel like a queen!

When you enter, make sure to also take a look around on YourDreamDress.com to check out their fabulous selection of brand new designer wedding dresses and accessories  for 40% to 90% off retail. Enter now >>

There. Are. No. Words.

A wedding shop in Detroit is turned upside down by warring bridal factions, after a debate about dress alterations goes postal.

Well okay, there are some words, but I’m still too shocked to make them into sentences:

• “The men pick up formally dressed mannequins and use them as weapons.” (Say what!??!?!?)
• Terribly funny absurdity
• The store owner is Hekmat. Stay tuned for the Spring 2010 Hekmat Dream Bridal Collection.
• Am I on candid camera?
• He spit on the owner’s wife? Really??
• Where did that guy’s shirt go anyway? I think he ripped it off in a show of masculine power {or, um…sheer stupidity}
• Appalling
• Check out the bride running for cover at 2:20
• It’s always the bridezilla’s fault. Everybody loves to blame the bridezilla.
• Objective reporting/Crankypants anchorwoman
• Well…that’s what you get for refusing to do the alterations, Hekmat!
• And finally, the formal family portrait session:

Yes, they are three separate men. The three stooge…I mean, suspects. Also, they’re the groomsmen. Also, they’re available to play weddings and Bar Mitzvahs.

And you thought your family made wedding planning stressful.

A ’50s pinup spin on a chic Santa Barbara wedding

Vargas girls, you’re getting a run for your money. Because Tiphany has mastered the art of sexy pinup glamour, and she showed off some seriously hip retro style when she married her very own Daddy-O Jamie at the Four Seasons Biltmore in California wine country last September.

{What’s Wedding Porn Wednesday?}

This couple’s style is the eptiome of ’50s cool. They’re kind of like a modern-day Rizzo and Kenicke from Grease.

Every detail of this remarkable wedding was captured by the incredible husband-and-wife photography team Matt and Angie Sloan of Sloan Photographers. They’re based in Arizona but available to shoot  just about anywhere.

Tiphany paired her sweet n’ sexy tea-length Melissa Sweet wedding dress with one of the prettiest headpieces I’ve ever seen, and these fabulous ’50s-style yellow pumps. Except when she was rocking her Chuck Taylors and playing cricket. (Why? Because she can.)

Blackberry jam favors encourage guests to “spread the love”. Sweet!

Tiphany wore her mom’s heirloom pearls. Classic!

Candy buttons! Choward’s! Yes, you’ve died and gone to heaven! And heaven is kickin’ it old-school.

The bridesmaids dresses were customized to match the blue and yellow palette. Check out the blue crinolines under their skirts. Sewing in matching crinolines is a great way to coordinate bridesmaids’ looks and add a sweet detail to their dresses.

Pinup girls were a recurring theme…and Tiphany looked just like one come to life! Her red lips, porcelain skin, and modern bouffant ‘do are so perfectly pulled together. I love when a bride knows who she is and expresses her personal style so eloquently.

Helloooooooo, eyelashes! Tiphany’s makeup just rocks my world.

Congratulations to Tiphany and Jamie on a beautiful wedding and an even lovelier happily ever after!

Vendor Info:

Photography: Matt & Angie Sloan of Sloan Photographers
Dress: Melissa Sweet Reverie Collection
Caged VeilCustom made by: Unveiled Bridal Design
Bride Accessories: Pearls were Tiphany’s mom’s from her wedding, passed down to Tiphany
Bridesmaids: Custom Made Dresses
Make Up & Hair: Glamour Lush – Erika Diehl; Flowers: Grass Roots Florist
Sign In Book “Gil Elvgren: All His Glamorous American Pin Ups” (25th Anniversary Edition) Amazon
Paperworks/Stationary, Jam Labels, Table Numbers, Wedding Menus, Escort Cards : Miss Pickles Press
Basket Stuff, Candy Bar, Thank You Cards & CD Image Creator - Tiphany’s bro Steve Jones (DIY)
Four Seasons Coordinator, Jodi Turley,  without whom it couldn’t have been done!

Samantha got these sexy Valentino slingbacks for a steal on RecycledBride.com

There’s nothing that warms my heart more than a bride getting a great deal on Recycled Bride. So when Samantha e-mailed to tell me how she got these gorgeous $575 fuschia Valentino slingbacks for just $129, I just had to share her story.

Sooooo purty!

Here’s what Samantha had to say about buying her shoes on RecycledBride.com:

“I don’t know how many countless hours I spent searching for the right shoe and either finding something that was just okay or something WAY out of my price range. I had my photographer, family and friends sending and voting on shoes but nothing seemed like the one I wanted to wear for my wedding.

“I don’t remember how exactly I came across Recycled Bride, maybe an Internet search or mentioned on WBC or The Knot, but once I was there I started browsing around just for fun and saw the pink Valentino slingbacks. The seller had purchased them at a discount but decided to go with another shoe, so she was selling brand new Valentino shoes, originally $575, for $129. Turns out she also lived locally and was willing to meet local brides so they could try them on. We met a few days later, I tried them on, fell in love and purchased them on the spot.

The original Recycled Bride ad...these shoes went fast!

“I have shown a few people and posted them on the wedding sites I belong to and have had great responses and nobody can believe the great deal I got on authentic designer shoes.

“My wedding isn’t until May 22nd, so I don’t have a professional picture in them or many pictures at all of me wearing them, but here they are in a few pictures of me trying on my dress after it arrived. They are not the best pictures the solos were taken with my phone and the ones in the dress, I was just seeing how they looked together, but they at least show the shoe. I can take and send more when I go to my first dress fitting for alterations in a week or two.

Samantha tries on her new sexy new slingbacks with her gorgeous wedding dress. She's going to look A-MA-ZING on her big day!

“I am CERTAIN that I would still be searching for the perfect pair of shoes, and pulling my hair out about now, if it wasn’t for this posting on Recycled Bride and I definitely wouldn’t have been able to wear such a fabulous designer either.”

Thanks so much for sharing, Samantha! It was fun to feature this on the blog, and we’ll be posting a lot more Recycled Bride Success Stories in the coming weeks.

This year’s Oscar red carpet was full of gowns that practically beg to go bridal

Every year, the Oscars inspire new trends in bridal and formalwear. And this year’s red carpet was no exception. The stars turned out in gorgeous designer gowns in blushy pinks and peaches, as well as a few white and ivory styles.

Here are Recycled Bride’s picks for Oscar dresses that deserve a walk down the aisle:

Miley's pretty and flirty gown was made by wedding dress designer Jenny Packham

Zoe Saldana rocks this Givenchy gown that's reminiscent of Gwen Stefani's pink and white ombré wedding dress.

Cameron Diaz's Oscar de la Renta is a glam bride's dream! Paired with a vintage fascinator or sparkly headband, this is drop-dead gorgeous bridal style.

Demi Moore's frilly, two-toned blush Versace dress would be perfect on a romantic hippie bride. How is it possible that Demi Moore looks 25?

All she needs is a veil! Sandra Bullock is aisle-ready in shimmering Marchesa

Meryl Streep's gown would be perfect for a mature bride or a second wedding. It was designed by Project Runway alum Chris March

No, it's not white. But Rachel McAdams' dramatic Elie Saab creation just says "bridal" because of its dramatic shape and floral theme

Loving Amanda Seyfried's giant arm bangle! It's perfect with this simple, understated Armani Prive gown.

The biggest stars of tonight’s Oscars at their very own weddings

Brad Pitt starred in Best Picture nominee Inglorious Basterds. In 2000, he married Jennifer Aniston in a wedding reported to have cost $1 million.

Best Actor nominee Colin Firth at his 1997 wedding to Livia Giuggioli

Mariah Carey, whose film Precious is nominated for Best Movie, at her wedding to husband Nick Canon in 2008 (left) and to ex Tommy Mottola in 1993

Oscar co-host Alec Baldwin at his wedding to Kim Bassinger in 1993. They divorced in 2000 and have feuded publicly and bitterly since.

Penelop Cruz is nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Nine. We don't have any wedding pics of her, but WOW did she look great in this risque wedding dress on the cover of Marie Claire in 2006

See who got $1,000 in diamonds, and how we picked the winner

The $1,000 Fantasy Diamond Shopping Spree Giveaway from Whiteflash.com and Recycled Bride is over! See how we picked the lucky winner, and hear her reaction when she finds out she won.

But wait — that’s not all. We’ve got consolation prizes! 15 people who entered the giveaway but didn’t win will get gorgeous Whiteflash calendars featuring special jewels for every month of the year.

Thanks to all who entered, and stay tuned because we’re cooking up a HUGE March giveaway to launch later this week.

Stephanie and Dave’s Gourmand’s Paradise

In Part 1 of our Wedding Porn Wednesday Double Header, you saw Katie and Josh’s Eco-Chic Wedding at Culver City’s Smog Shoppe. Today’s Part 2 features Stephanie and Dave, who turn the very same venue into a delicious and beautiful foodie’s paradise!

You can just tell from looking at these pics that this couple is super cool and joyful as can be. This is a party that I would have just loved to be invited to! Stephanie and Dave don’t take themselves too seriously, and approached their wedding by focusing on what matters to them — good food, good friends, and good times. There was no wedding party. They used fruits, vegetables, and seasonal flowers as decor. And the vibe was all-natural, organic fun!

I just adore these prep pics, and Stephanie’s entire wedding day look. She epitomizes bridal beauty by being comfortable in her skin and full of joy. Plus, I always admire/envy women like Stephanie, who have porcelain skin, doll-like features, and the cojones to rock a funky short ‘do and look fabulous in it.

While Stephanie was preparing for her walk down the aisle, very solemn preparations were taking place in the groom’s prep area.

How cute are these two!?! You can really feel their love and warmth through these photos.

This wedding is all about nature’s bounty. Even Stephanie’s bouquet has fresh herbs!

The tablescapes are simple yet genius. They combine natural floral elements with fruits, vegetables and porcelain bowls and vases, for an effect that’s natural and chic.

Stephanie and Dave opted for cream cheese frosting over fondant for their red velvet wedding cake, which creates a more organic, handmade look. It’s decorated with herbs and fresh fruit and was made by Stephanie’s friend Beth Creasey Griffiths of Whoa-Nelly events.

All photos by the talented Annie McElwain.

Two weddings. One venue. And one talented photographer to capture it all.

We’re doubling your pleasure this week with not one but two incredible real weddings that inspire and delight. They were both photographed by the amazing Annie McElwain and held at Culver City’s Smog Shoppe, one of my favorite venues anywhere, period. Smog Shoppe isn’t just a beautiful urban oasis, it’s also one of the most sustainably designed event spaces in the country, so cheers to both of these couples for making a great green venue choice.

First wedding up: Katie and Josh’s Eco-Modern-Yet-Retro-Purple-and-Green-and-Pink Masterpiece! Catchy title, isn’t it? But watch how this wedding combines a variety of colors and disparate stylistic influences into a perfectly put-together, eco-chic event.

Katie wore the iconic Monique Lhuillier Scarlet wedding dress. If you’ve never seen it, prepare to be dazzled by the view from the back.

Their save-the-dates were actual vinyl records! And the unique 60s-style invites are so much fun. Check out how much the illustration actually looks like Josh and Katie!

Uh-huh. I told you about the back of that dress. And Katie’s taste in shoes ain’t too shabby either.

I am so glad that this wedding led me to discover their florist, Gilly Flowers. These arrangements of cacti and succulents and crazy-gorgeous unidentified plants are just too fabulous. Welcome to the future of eco-chic florals!

Loving this  palette of rich purples, soft blushy pinks, and vibrant green. Together, these colors are soooooo elegant!

That cake might look white, but it’s actually green! It’s organic, gluten, and sugar free. Don’t you just love when something that looks and tastes great is also good for you and the planet?

Can’t. Get over. The centerpieces.

Congratulations to Katie and Josh on creating such a gorgeous and eco-friendly wedding day!

Below is a sneak peek of tomorrow’s Part 2, Stephanie and Dave’s Gourmand’s Paradise Wedding. Just wait until you see how they transformed Smog Shoppe to look entirely different than it did for Katie and Dave, and get ready to drool over their incredible fruit and vegetable tablescapes. And oh, the food! Stephanie is a chef, so the eating was good at this wedding, and the pictures are so gorgeous that you can practically taste it!

Vendor info for Katie & Josh’s Eco-Retro wedding:

Wedding Planner: Camilla Ghedini / Florist: Gilly Flowers / Photography: Annie McElwain / Caterer:Eco-Caters / Hair and Makeup: Rebecca DuMoulin (brooklynhair@gmail.com) / Rabbi: Rabbi Jay Levi / DJ: Howie Pyro (googoomuck13@gmail.com): Video DJ: Chris Holmes (ashtarchris@hotmail.com) / Venue: The Smog Shoppe / Rentals: Town and Country Event Rentals Invitations, Save the Dates, Place Cards, and Table Numbers: Michael Kendrick (if anyone should ask for his info, please let Katie know in the comment section) / Cake: The Cake Divas (organic, gluten free, sugar free) / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Wedding Shoes: Lanvin / Groom’s Suit: J. Lindeberg / Shoes: Barney’s New York / Bridemaids Dresses: Diane Von Furstenberg

They made it official with The Kick-Ass Cake Bash

What do you get when you take a room full of indescribably good-looking people, add heaping helpings of the most delicious cakes you’ve ever tasted and an amazing dessert bar that’s (almost) too pretty to eat, throw in a red carpet, some fabulously creative cocktails, crazy photo staging areas, models walking around in Alfred Angelo wedding dresses, and a rap performance by The Broke-Ass Bride and her Fresh Hubby?

You get one Kick-Ass Cake Bash!

Photos of the Broke-Ass Cake Collection taken with my Blackberry. They don't do the darned gorgeous cakes any justice.

Last night was the official launch of The Broke-Ass Cake Collection, a brilliant collaboration between baker-to-the-stars Fantasy Frostings and The Broke-Ass Bride. The party was a hootin’ hollering good time, and I’ve got the sugar hangover to prove it. But more importantly, the cakes were freakin’ delicious and insanely beautiful! Now that I’ve tried these cakes and seen them in person, I don’t know why anybody in the LA area would even consider buying another wedding cake. (And by the way, I did sample just about every other cake in the LA area when planning my own wedding here, and I may just have sampled every Broke-Ass cake at the party last night. All in the name of research, of course.)

Blurry phone pics of party people:

Mr. Frostings gives the crowd a warm welcome. There must have been 400 people there!

A film noir rendering of The Broke-Ass Bride & The Fresh Hubby. They were introducing the evening's sponsors. With a rap. That rhymed every vendor's name with something badass and funny. This, you had to see for yourself.

I cannot stress enough how inexplicably attractive the crowd was. It was like everyone thought they were going to an audition for America's Next Top Model, but then found themselves at a cool party with cake instead.