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wedding blog + planning guide for creative weddings | inspiration for DIY Brides

Brenda's Wedding Blog is your online resource for planning your dream elegant wedding. Helping you find the "wow" in weddings.

Posts in This and That
Friday Round-up : honeymoon escapes at 40% off, fun giveaways, a new fashion collection and eco-friendly gift bags

1. SniqueAway {a free members-only site that offers up to 40% off luxurious hotels} has three honeymoon escapes on sale right now {along with other great getaway deals}:
• St. Lucia, Caribbean - from $378/night from $229/night
• Cancun, Mexico - from $310/night from $209/night
• Dominican Republic, Caribbean - from $346/night from $219/night
Along with the great discounts, SniqueAway only features hotels that have received at least a 4-out-of-5 rating on TripAdvisor. This helps you to know you're getting a truly luxurious hotel.

2. Love, Share, Win! Wedding Registry Contest from The Container Store - starting today, couples who register at The Container Store and share their registry with friends and family will be entered to win $1,000 in Eagle Creek® Luggage and a $1,000 Store More Card.

3. Buy one item from the new Shabby Apple Ferris Wheel collection and get a select dress at 50% off. Wouldn't this skirt make the perfect bridesmaid option with a pretty top? Your bridesmaids would love being able to wear it again after your special day.

4. The perfect packaging for wedding gifts, bridesmaid gifts, and out of towner gift bags, VZWraps fabric gift bags are practical, elegant, affordable, and eco-friendly. The patterned bags are made in the USA from organic and traditional cotton and the attached ribbons are made from recycled materials.

5. Art of Imagination in Chicago is holding a giveaway where one lucky bride a luxurious, couture Jenny Yoo gown valued at $3,000. Enter the Bridal Gown Giveaway here.

Last Weekend to Enter to Win a Gorgeous Pink Beaded Charm Bracelet + the Top Re-Pinned Posts of the Week

It's time to get your entry in so you can win this GORGEOUS beaded charm bracelet from Persona. It's the last weekend this contest will be accepting entries so hurry on over and enter {plus, there's even extra entries available too}. I actually have this bracelet in my hands at the moment and I have to say that even though the photo above is amazing - the charms are even more spectacular in person. And, since I will be shipping this prize to you, I'll be including a little something extra for the winner. So you better get those entries in . . .

And, now for the top 5 posts from this past week on pinterest {these posts received the most re-pins}. Are you on pinterest? If yes, please come follow me on pinterest.

1. Caramel Apples and Cinnamon Apple Cider for a Fall Wedding
2. Black, White and Silver Wedding
3. Kate Spade Sparkly Heels from A Modern Minnesota Destination Wedding in Pink and Purple
4. Pink and Gold Wedding Inspiration Board
5. Top Romantic Cake Toppers for 2013

This and ThatBrendaComment
Friday Round-up : a vendor guide, wedding sales, wine & foldable shoes - plus, the top re-pinned posts of the week

Well, another week is coming to a close and I have so many wonderful things to share with you today.

First up is that a vendor guide is now in the soft launch phase on the blog. I'm beyond thrilled about this addition. Basically, the directory from BestWeddingSites.com will be moving over here so you will find all of your wedding planning needs and inspiration in one site. I've got some fun things planned for the future of BestWeddingSites.com - but more on that to come another time.

The all new and ever growing Wedding Vendors I ♥™ Guide currently features wedding favors and handmade weddings {plus, if you check it out, you might even spy the new tagline I now have... can you find it?}.

For Vendors: thru Monday February 18, 2013 at 11:59 pm est - if you contact me to find out more details on how you can reach my brides and purchase a listing, you will . . .

*** receive $14 off the already great yearly rates ***

{the $14 off is in celebration of not only launching the guide on the 14th, but because the 14th marks my 12 years of being online in the wedding industry}. Simply email me at bestweddingsites{at}gmail{dot}com

And, now it's time for some shopping and saving $ - there's several great sales going on this weekend that I wanted to share with you, along with some hot wedding items . . .

1. Little Things Favors is keeping the love going all weekend with their Valentine's Day Sale. From now thru Sunday February 17th, you can take 14% OFF any Red or Pink Favors or 10% OFF your entire purchase. No Restrictions. All you have to do is enter the code: BeMine14 for 14% OFF Red and Pink Favors or LoveYou10 for 10% OFF entire purchase at checkout to enjoy the savings.

2. Provence Rosé is a versatile, elegant wedding wine with many available at under $20 per bottle. The wines offer a good balance of fruit and acidity which makes them ideal on their own or matched with a variety of wedding-day foods {from appetizers and canapés to fish, poultry, pasta, and even ethnic cuisine}. full press release here

3. Wedding Paper Divas is offering up to $50 off from now thru March 5, 2013 at 11:59pm PT. Receive $10 off orders of $75 or more, $25 off orders of $149 or more, or $50 off orders of $249 or more using the code TP50WED at checkout on Wedding Paper Divas.

4. Footzyfolds {known for their compact and foldable shoe design which allows them to be thrown into any glove compartment, desk drawer, or bag to provide instant relief from painful heels} has released several new shoe designs - with Adrian in Black / silver studs and Cora in Cream / blackspkle toe being two of my favorite styles.

And, now for the top 5 pinned posts from this past week {these posts received the most re-pins on pinterest}. Are you on pinterest? If yes, please come follow me on pinterest.

1. pink and gold wedding inspiration board
2. inspiring seasonal wedding color palettes based on jewelry
3. free printable Valentine's Day dinner menu
{you could still plan a special dinner this weekend, keep the love celebration going longer}

4. a Valentine's Day dinner menu to heat up your body, heart and soul
5. new wedding cake toppers for 2013

wine photo credit: Francois Millo/CIVP

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Friday Night Wedding Round-Up : Sales, Hot New Products + Top Pins

This week seemed to fly by here, how about for you? I have some fun wedding items to share with you along with two great sales that you'll likely want to take advantage of. Hoping everyone has an amazing weekend and I'll be back here on Monday.

The Blair Nadeau Millinery 2013 bridal collection entitled "Grecian Romance" has launched with 38-pieces including veils, fascinators, crowns and hats. I just love the description of the new collection: "The 2013 Bridal Collection was inspired by the beauty of Ancient Greece and the soft knife strokes of French Impressionist paintings. Maintaining a soft colour palette of Ivory, Buttercream, Blush, Pale Yellow, Peach and Champagne, Blair vowed to recreate a soft Impressionist painting fit for a Grecian Goddess."

Salacia Salts debuts a stylish new line of bath salts and body scrubs capturing the healing power of the sea in reclaimed wine bottles. Fragrances are inspired by native Southern botanicals, these chic bath salts and moisturizing body scrubs serve as perfect bridesmaids gifts.

Sitewide Sale at Little Things Favors on wedding and party favors. Simply use code LoveYou10 to save 10% on your entire purchase thru Sunday 2/10/13.

Save 20% off Sitewide at Cardstore . . . From Birthday and Wedding to Baby and Everyday. Use Code: CWC3208 thru 2/17/13.

And, now for the top 5 pinned posts from this past week {these posts received the most re-pins on pinterest}. Are you on pinterest? If yes, please come follow me on pinterest.

1. New Wedding Cake Toppers for 2013 from Daisy Days
2. Cleaning Tips for Diamond Rings
3. Black, White and Silver Wedding Inspiration Board
4. Three Olives Cake Vodka : recipes using the celebration spirit
5. BHLDN's Winter Wedding Gown Collection

A special Saturday post as I'm Sharing My Birthday for #givingisgood

I rarely if ever post on the weekend as I like to save my blogging for the work week and the weekends are spent focusing on my family. Plus, this way, when you arrive on the weekend, you can get caught up on the posts from the week you might have missed :)

Today is a special day, not only because it's my birthday, but because I along with several others in the twitter world, in particular Jacin of Lovely Little Details, are Sharing Our Birthday. Jacin introduced me to The Birthday Party Project and I knew right away I wanted to help. Paige started this organization and she partners with homeless shelters so all resident children from ages 1 to 18 will be provided with a birthday party and gifts. Hearing about amazing people like Paige makes me happy, and even happier when I can help out. There are many ways you can help out with The Birthday Party Project including money donations, volunteering and sending items to fulfill the birthday wish list. I headed to our local Target the other day and picked up a bunch of goodies {candles, gift bags, birthday badges, napkins, and items for the goody bags}. I'll be getting them ready to ship this week and love knowing that I will be able to put a smile on a child's face.

Should you choose to either donate or put together a package of goodies - you can share it online using the hashtags #shareyourbirthday #givingisgood