The Brides Ball

I recently came across a wonderful opportunity to use your wedding dress again, if you haven't already donated it to Brides Against Breast Cancer.

The Brides Ball is only happening in Ontario, Canada, but it is also benefits breast cancer charities, more specifically the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. It seems like a great way to get another use out of your wedding dress or other wedding apparel (bridesmaid's dress, etc) and raise money at the same time.

Toilet Paper Wedding Dresses

I am, unfortunately, not a handy woman. My scrapbooks look like I'm in kindergarten and my eye for design is laughable.

Thankfully, there are those much handier than me, like this bride, featured left. She has managed to create an entire wedding dress out of toilet paper, glue and tape. How she did it - or if she actually wore it at a wedding - is a mystery, but she was the ultimate winner in the 2006 competition for the best dress and the $500 grand prize.

Think you can best her? Cheap-Chic-Weddings.com is now accepting entries for their 2007 competition. Start unrolling, those submissions are due by June 15.

Target Wedding Dresses

Consumerist asks, would you buy your wedding dress at Target? Designed by Isaac Mizrahi, all items wedding related run less than $160. The dresses are simple and 'classic' and of the ones I've seen, I think they'd be a great value for a money (or time) pressed bride. Set your stopwatch, the line hits the internet at Target.com tomorrow.

--Courtney

Great Wedding Sites

Given that TheBigDay focuses on honeymoons, which are tied into weddings, it's not surprising that we try to check out places to learn interesting wedding info around the web. At some point, I'll hopefully give more detailed information on these sites, but for now, here's a few I try to keep an eye on.

OffbeatBride.com - Lots of great wedding stories, pictures and ideas for putting together an alternate wedding.

TrashtheDress.com - Stunning pictures of brides and couples in unusual outdoor settings.

The Frugal Wedding Registry - From TheSimpleDollar, this article addresses ways a wedding guest can "help a couple get on or stay on a solid financial path".

--Courtney

Stolen Wedding Gowns Found on Mexico Border

There's some great news out of Mexico for a local Portland non-profit called Making Memories, which, through the donation of new and gently used wedding gowns, helps fund the wishes of women who are dying from breast cancer.

Back in November, a truck and trailer carrying more than 2 million dollars worth of gowns was stolen from an Arizona parking lot. Through generous donations, the foundation was still able to complete their final show out west.

The truck was recovered with approximately half of its original number of gowns last week on the Arizona/Mexico border.

Read more about the dresses in the LA Times.