11th Annual Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Contest Presented by Cheap Chic Weddings and Charmin Rolls Out

If you can use toilet paper to make a beautiful wedding dress you just might win $10,000 and have your entry made into a real gown!

Everyone likes to save money here and there. And for some, saving money on weddings is more than a hobby, and a little less than an obsession. Laura Gawne and Susan Bain operate the popular website www.Cheap-Chic-Weddings.com. 

For the first time ever, Kleinfeld Bridal will create a wearable gown inspired by the Grand Prize Winner’s Entry! Contestants have until May 12, 2015 to submit their paper masterpieces. Top ten entries will be chosen then online voting will be open to the public. 

The top ten dresses and their designers will be flown to New York City to participate in a live fashion show finale event at Kleinfeld Bridal in New York City on June 17, 2015 where the top three winners will be chosen. 

At the Finale Event, the dress entries will be judged by members of Cheap Chic Weddings, Charmin, Co-Owner of Kleinfeld, Mara Urshel and Celebrity Judge Mikie Russo, event planner and host of “Mikie Saves the Date” on FYI Network. “The contest has grown immensely over the last ten years and we are always in awe of the beautiful gowns created by the contestants,” says Susan Bain, Co-Founder of Cheap Chic Weddings. “We specialize in making weddings chic on a budget but these designs often surpass even our imaginations,” added Laura Gawne, Co-Founder of Cheap Chic Weddings. The Grand Prize winner will see their design created into a beautiful gown and receive $10,000, the second place winner will receive $5000 and the third place winner will receive $2500. 

Here’s How to Enter:

First: Plan your design.

Second: Grab some Charmin Toilet Paper (Ultra Strong, Ultra Soft or Basic), tape and/or glue and/or needle and thread (that’s all you can use)! To help offset the cost of designing these memorable creations; Charmin is providing coupons by request at TPDresscontest@gmail.com

Third: Make the dress and headpiece on your model or mannequin and take some clear, unaltered digital photos (front, back and side). The dress must be able to be worn by a human!

All photos and an Official Entry form are to be submitted to Cheap Chic Weddings at TPDresscontest@gmail.com by May 12, 2015 at 11:00 PM EST. There is no entry fee. The Judging Panel at Cheap Chic Weddings will judge the digital photo entries. 

View top and winning entries: http://www.cheap-chic-weddings.com/wedding-contest-2015.html  Official contest rules along with lots of other wedding cost saving tips and information can be found at www.Cheap-Chic-Weddings.com.

Good Luck!

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Enjoy the Sweet Taste of LOLEA: A Gourmet Drink, Perfect for any Special Occasion

Anyone who has planned a wedding will agree that the planning process can be stressful. Besides the obvious elements, figuring out the minor details, like what alcohol to serve during your reception or rehearsal dinners can be taxing. I would like to introduce sangria LOLEA a refreshing drink with less alcohol content. Pulling inspiration from its region of origin, LOLEA combines tradition and culture to make the perfect combination of wine and fruit, with a frizzante touch. In addition to its fine taste, LOLEA brings a sophisticated flare of style to any celebration. Enjoy the sweet taste of a gourmet sangria from the Mediterranean! LOLEA is elegantly crafted and perfect for any wedding or special occasion. Add a sophisticated touch of style to your engagement party, rehearsal dinner, or wedding reception. 

Sangria, is a wine cocktail synonymous with social gatherings, celebration and joy! Let your bottle of sangria add a pop of color and great décor to the festivities. Prepared with either red wine or white wine, LOLEA is made with all natural ingredients and has a moderate content of alcohol. LOLEA isn’t just sangria, it’s a refined, chic brand of sangria made with love. It’s the personal project of a group of friends, who want to share what they love, making only a limited production for consumption each year. The essence of LOLEA’s story is evident with every sip; family and friends are guaranteed to enjoy! Please visit http://www.sangrialolea.com to learn more about this award-winning drink.

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Calling All Brides-to-Be: David's Bridal Unveils 'Steal the Deal' Sweepstakes

Enter for a chance to win up to $10,000 towards your dream wedding wardrobe!

Approximately 33% of brides get engaged between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, making the beginning of January the start of “Bridal Christmas” – the time when all of these excited brides-to-be start their search for the perfect wedding dress. David’s Bridal wants to celebrate this special time for newly engaged brides, so beginning today brides across the United States can enter the David's Bridal “Steal the Deal” sweepstakes for an opportunity to win their entire unique wedding style! 

Through January 29th, brides can enter the sweepstakes on a dedicated landing page on DavidsBridal.com.  One winner will be chosen each Friday of the month beginning on January 9th and have an opportunity to run through their local David’s Bridal store for 2 minutes to win the value of everything she can wear.  Brides-to-be can steal from a variety of designer collections and fashion-forward items including headpieces, sashes, jewelry and other accessories.

Brides can get hints, tips and tricks from “training” videos featured on Budget Savvy Bride, Perfect Wedding Guide and Pretty Pear Bride websites and their social media channels.   These videos follow the journey of three bridal bloggers as they do their own 2-minute “steal” and offer suggestions and helpful pointers learned from their own experiences.  Brides are invited to share their tips on social media using #StealtheDealDB.

How to Enter Steal the Deal: 

Brides can register for the Steal the Deal sweepstakes at davidsbridal.com/steal. Each winning bride will be able to have one helper assist her in the challenge and she must be wearing at least one wedding dress at the finish line. During her two minute “run” through the store she will be required to select a minimum of three items from a shopping list which consists of a headpiece or veil, jewelry item, handbag, sash, garter or loungewear and Do it Yourself items. Each bride will win the retail value of her “steal” – up to $10,000! Now…Ready, Set, Go!

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Through the Photographic Lens of Kevin Maurice Photography

Charleston based photographer, Kevin Maurice has a masterful eye for wedding, fashion and lifestyle photography. His portraits are artistically skillful, sometimes playful and always stylish. I'm delighted to feature his work on fashionado but make sure and check out his website too for a full gallery of his amazing work!

My photographic journey started as a young teen leaving home for the first time. Until that point in my life, the 5 boroughs that make up New York City was all I'd ever known. I was determined to find life outside of the city, record it, and return to view it with my friends and family. What started as an innocent project turned into a lifelong passion. Capturing memories to return to them later. Today, "Capturing moments" would be an understatement. I MAGNIFY moments and capture the smallest of details for my clients. Although I photograph a wide range of portrait, and fashion, wedding photography is something that I truly love. My approach is often casual, fun. While a lot of my inspiration comes from travel, art, nature and fashion, I'm also guided by the needs of my clients. ~ Kevin Maurice

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BRIDES: SAMPLE SALE!

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Are you feeling lucky?

If so, better

save the date

for Saturday, January 11th. It's the

Anne Barge

and

Badgley Mischka

Bride

Winter Sample Sale!

The perfect wedding starts with the perfect gown...

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Annual Summer Sample Sale

The Anne Barge Sample Sale

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Brides-to-be, this weekend is calling your name. It's the Annual

Anne Barge

Summer Sale where the bridal gown of your dreams is saying "I do."

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