PopSugar

PlayFirst Offers Discount on Wedding Dash Game

GeekSugar — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 13:01:13 -0700

Wedding season may be over on the Sugar Network, but that doesn't mean the drama, fun and excitement surrounding weddings has subsided.

If you're a fan of video games, Diner Dash or weddings in general, check out PlayFirst's Wedding Dash game, which allows you to assist couples in selecting all the details of their big day. From picking tasty cakes and flowers to preventing party disasters, players can weave through 50 layers of wedding day chaos.

PlayFirst is sponsoring a special deal for Sugar Network fans (hence this advertorial) so you can receive 25 percent off the game when you enter the code "weddingsugar" (for the PC version) or "weddingsugarmac" (for the Mac version). The offer expires Aug 31, 2007 and is non-stackable with other offers.

Sugar Shout Out: Celebs Who Go Hands Free

PopSugar — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 23:59:02 -0700

Rich, famous, and connected: celebs who go hands free
Self checkouts are better for your wallet and your waistline
Dreams decoded: what your sleep says about you
50 strangers throw a couple's wedding reception
Wee are the world: where to donate your kiddos' used goods
Sizzling swimsuits under $100 you need now!
Sneak peek: the 2009 Sunset Idea House
Why Buzz loves. . . Zach Galifianakis
10 time of day discounts, from A.M. to P.M.
Need a little exercise motivation? Try these 8 exercise techniques
Double the baby coatis, double the fun!

How-To: Register For Your Wedding

CasaSugar — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 07:00:15 -0700

Planning your wedding can be stressful, but the fun part is registering for gifts! Unfortunately, some people get carried away at the thought of all the presents coming their way and register spontaneously, not methodically. You have to remember that you're going to live with these gifts, and your friends and family are spending real money on them, so you better like them! Beyond that, you should think about what you need, not what you want, so you can really "set up house" - that's kind of the point. I have a few tips that will make it all easy for you. To hear them, read more.

Consider your timeline. If you're having any sort of engagement party, try to register by the time the invitations for that party go out, making sure you've covered all the price points. Many of your friends and family will want to buy your engagement and wedding gifts as soon as they hear about the engagement and get it out of the way. Don't feel rushed; you can always go back and add more items later on. If you're not having an engagement party, about nine months before your wedding day is a good time to register; it doesn't make you seem as if you're either rushing or procrastinating.
Do your Spring cleaning, and take note of what you already have and what you need for your home.
Then, get together and make a list of things you both want for your home.
Before you start checking boxes, cruise around to a bunch of stores and decide which one or which few suit your tastes the most. Stick to three stores or fewer to keep things uncomplicated, and make sure one of them is a national department store like Bloomingdale's or Macy's.
Most major stores have some sort of registry system, if not an online one. However, if you love a certain boutique or specialty store, they may not. But most will be more than willing to work something out with you, so just ask!
Go through all the questions. Figure out what kind of return policy each store has, how shipping works, whether they take phone orders, whether they have an online database to track orders, etc. Your older generation of friends and family may only want to shop by phone or in store, so there should be something available for them. And it's ideal to be able to track the orders as they come in, so you can add more items at different price points, or remove items if need be.
Use our downloadable registry guide to make sure you've covered all the bases for your housewares, and go ahead and register with each store, giving as much detail as possible to make it easy on guests. Choose size, color, brand, etc.
You can also use MyRegistry to register online from a variety of sources, giving your friends and family a central place to shop for you.
OK, so let's say you already have all the table runners and Le Creuset pans you could ever want. What then? Nowadays it's not uncommon to have an alternative registry. If you'd like, you can register with a charity or even to pay for your honeymoon. Although it's not the most proper of moves, if you really need help with your finances, you can even register for stocks or cash for big ticket items you may need.
Once you're registered, there's some etiquette you should follow for getting the word out. It's a bit taboo to send your registry information out with your invitation. If you have a website for your wedding, you can post it discreetly there. It's also common to have your maid of honor send out the details with the invitations for your bridal shower, and the same for the bachelor party. You can ask your family members to pass the word along to the guests as well. And, if your guests ask you up front where you are registered, go ahead! If you are sending out a package to your guests with other details about the wedding (maps, hotel information, etc.) apart from the invitation, you can slip in a printed card with the registry information.
Most registries remain active for at least a year after the big day so guests can make purchases after the fact. And many stores will give you a discount on the items that weren't purchased, so that you can buy them for yourself.

Source

Yum's Top 10 Kitchen Registries

YumSugar — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:00:47 -0700

Earlier this week, we offered some wedding advice for finding a gift registry that's right for you, but even with our recommendations, there are so many stores to choose from. So, we've compiled a list of our favorite registries - for the most part, nationwide retail outlets with standalone stores, call centers, and online sites to suit all of your guests' needs. We also took stock of shops with a wide selection of products and convenient perks and benefits. To see the list of our favorites (in no particular order), read more.

Williams-Sonoma: This tried-and-true kitchen store favorite boasts a thank you note manager, a solid return policy, and a 10 percent discount on items both remaining in your registry and outside it.
Target: Despite your income bracket, you can't go wrong at this ubiquitous store, which proffers a huge assortment of practical, everyday items at bargain prices. Guests can shop online with a Target or an Amazon account.
Crate & Barrel: This 160-store chain boasts a 10 percent completion discount on registries - and that includes furniture. Anytime an item is purchased or added, all changes, whether online, in store, or over the phone, will be reflected within a short window of 15 minutes or less.
Macy's: This national network of department stores is everywhere in the United States and offers a number of perks, including a charity donation program, completion rewards of 10 percent off, and a Registry Star Rewards program, which rewards purchases in the form of a Macy's Gift Card.
Bed Bath & Beyond: Aside from being practical and everywhere, this store offers a registry incentive program where you can register for or complete certain sets and get other items free. Need help? That's available anytime through the store's call center.
Bloomingdale's: For a range of timeless kitchen pieces and fun kitchen gadgets, sign up for this high-end retailer, which pairs you with a personal registry consultant and also provides a 10 percent completion program and donations to charity.
Sur La Table: Everything your kitchen ever wanted can be found at this culinary haven, which carries specialty items like DeLonghi grills, John Boos cutting boards, and Le Creuset cookware.
Kohl's: This registry ups the ante with a completion program offering 15 percent off, as well as announcement cards that give guests discounts on in-store purchases.
Neiman Marcus: Head here for the gold standard of gift registries, where you can choose from a massive selection of formal tabletop items. Gift packaging is complimentary on bridal registry purchases.
Cooking.com: If you want to go virtual, you can find everything and anything kitchen at this one-stop online shop, which has an extreme selection of 80,000 products and a 10 percent off completion program.

Brides-to-be, where have you registered? Let us know if you have any other recommendations!

Source

How to Choose the Right Kitchen Registry For You

YumSugar — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:15:35 -0700

If you've got a wedding in the works, you've probably begun looking into a crucial element of the event - the registry. This retail service will help you determine what cookware, dinnerware, servingware, drinkware, tools, and appliances will be stocked in your kitchen. But with dozens of retail outlets, where should you sign up? Get tips for selecting the right registry for your kitchen when you read more.

Establish priorities. If your place is small, are you looking for kitchen tools to do double duty? Is eco-friendliness a must? If you want to mix and match tableware, make sure that's an option.
Choose a national registry that takes orders online, by fax, over the phone, and in person. That way, both your cousin in Silicon Valley and your computer-challenged great aunt in Baltimore can shop happy.
Your registry should offer a wide range of price points, so your guests can select gifts within their means.
Look for a large assortment of styles as well, from traditional to contemporary and basic to ornate.
Make sure you have a clear understanding of the return and exchange policy, as well as the overall terms of service. For instance: Is there a service charge? How long will the registry be kept active?
Some questions to consider: How much attention is paid to customer service? Is there a representative who can help you resolve any logistical issues? Does the registry alert you when gifts have been purchased? Will updates be reflected on your registry within 11 minutes, or 11 hours? Is the registry flexible with shipping locations?
Don't overlook perks. Some registries offer a completion program, which allows couples to fill in incomplete kitchen sets at a discount. Other sites will donate to a charity of your choice every time a gift is purchased.

If you've got any helpful tips for finding the perfect registry, please feel free to chime in below!

Source

Website lil Loves: InStyleBelly

LilSugar — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:00:51 -0700

You've spent years building a wardrobe that reflects your sense of style and complements your figure so when you find yourself pregnant, you want to maintain your prebump fashion status. What you don't want is to spend your hard-earned cash on clothes that will only fit you for a few months.

That's where InStyleBelly comes in. The online consignment shop features stylish designer maternity clothes at discount prices. Take a Diane von Furstenberg maternity wrap dress. A full-priced version of the dress is listed for $350 at A Pea in the Pod, while InStyleBelly has a gently used one for $90. For women looking for dresses for upcoming weddings, the site offers a decent selection of special-occasion pieces at prices that can't be beat for an item you will only wear once. And for those of you who invested in a few designer maternity duds throughout your nine-month journey, be sure to check out its consignor policies for selling your pieces - nothing like a little cash in your pocket during these crazy times.

Would You Line Up For a Bridal Gown Sweep?

DearSugar — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 10:30:00 -0800

If you caught the Today show this morning, you probably saw every soon-to-be bride on a budget in New York City bombard Filene's Basement. Women were lined up since the early morning hours to get their hands on discounted, nonrefundable bridal gowns. And the women came prepared - they brought team members, walkie-talkies and whistles, and plans to divide and conquer the room of brand new gowns to get the right dress in the right size.

In this economy, bargain shopping is a must, but racing to snatch the gown of your dreams almost takes the excitement out of it. Since I'm not in the market for a wedding dress, I don't know how to answer this one. So tell me ladies, would you go through the trouble to get your dress on sale? Or would you rather pay a little more to have a relaxing, memorable experience?

To see the hilarious scene from this morning's shopping spree, read more.

Source

Home Away From Home: Wedding Hotel Tips

CasaSugar — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:00:57 -0700

For destination weddings, or if you have guests coming from out of town, reserve group blocks at a hotel nearby, and make sure to ask for a discounted wedding rate, which is routine.
Tell your guests to look online for lower hotel rates as well, if a hotel has a lot of vacant rooms (typical during off-season), they may be offering discounts via web reservations.
Reserve blocks at more than one hotel in town, to accommodate different price ranges, from budget to luxury, and families with children, etc. This will also allow you to keep the old folks and youngins away from the up-till-dawn crowd, by simply sending out different hotel details with your invites.
Steer clear of reserving blocks at hotels with "attrition policies," which may charge you for rooms that are not booked.
Under no circumstances should you feel obligated to pay for your guests' accommodations.
Reserve your rooms as soon as possible, as soon as your location and date have been decided. Especially during "wedding season" in popular locales, hotels book up quickly; you wouldn't want your guests to bail simply because there were no hotels to stay in.
If the hotel(s) is far from the reception, and guests will be drinking, rent a shuttle to get your guests home safely when the night is over.
Make out-of-town guests feel at home by putting a welcome basket full of goodies in each hotel room. Check with the hotel to see what toiletries (toothpaste, lotion, etc.) they may not provide, so your guests will have everything they need during their stay.

For more tips, just read more.

If any of your guests are less than cordial with each other, suggest separate hotels for each party to make sure things go smoothly.
Got kids? Hire a professional sitter to hang at the hotel, in case any of the kids lose interest in the reception and need to leave. That way, their parents can enjoy the party.
Book one room in the hotel to be the after-party venue. That way guests can come and go as they please, without getting in the car.
When reserving your hotel, especially in a small town, ask how often they've hosted wedding parties, and make sure they're equipped and staffed for a heavy load.
Having a wedding overseas? Make sure your hotel is furnished with safes for valuables like passports, etc.
Don't get reeled in by wedding packages. You may be able to get a better deal with your hotel than they normally offer, depending on your needs, the time frame, etc. Make sure you read the fine print.
Test out the directions to your hotel before you print them (and include a map); the smallest mistake can cause your whole wedding party to arrive late.
Check out the rooms if you're suggesting rooms at a hotel you've never used before — even budget hotels should be clean and offer the basics.
Book a room in a different hotel than the one your guests will stay in on your wedding night; you'll want your privacy!
Don't freak out too much about the hotel details, your guests will ultimately take care of themselves!

And as always, for all of our wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.
Source

You Asked: We're Engaged But Where Should We Get Married?

DearSugar — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 06:00:00 -0700

Dear Sugar,

I'm recently engaged (yay!), and my fiance and I are currently planning our wedding. We met in college and moved to a city where neither one of us has family. We've since made a ton of friends and feel that we have found our new home. Although we love where we live, we've both always dreamed about having a destination wedding. I know attending weddings is expensive, but since we don't have family where we live, most everyone will have to travel no matter where we get married since we don't want to do it in either one of our hometowns. I know this is our personal decision to make, but I wanted to see if you had any pointers. - Engaged Emily

To see DearSugar's answer read more

Dear Engaged Emily,

Since you're the ones getting married, the location is ultimately up to you and your fiance; however, the farther you ask people to travel, the smaller the turnout will most probably be. Like you said, attending weddings is incredibly expensive, so if you want everyone on your list to attend, I advise you to pick a venue close to where most of your guests live. If you don't care how big your wedding is, by all means shoot for the stars!

I've been to my fair share of destination weddings and they've all been a blast, but I felt the financial hangover for months. If you do go that route, most hotels offer discounted rates if you block off a certain number of rooms. I would also recommend sending out your save the date notices, along with travel information (phone numbers, hotel options, rental car options, and flight options) as soon as you have the date set. The farther in advance your guests can reserve, the cheaper it will be.

Your wedding day is your special day to share with your loved ones, so even though you want to be accommodating to everyone, you need to do what you've always wanted. With that said, keep in mind that you will have some people decline your invitation, so keep a thick skin and realize that this may not necessarily be about you, but more about their pocketbooks.

To see all of our wedding coverage, check out IDoSugar.com.

Source

Real Estate Agents Already Chasing Same-Sex Newlyweds

SavvySugar — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 04:12:58 -0700

As same-sex couples have started exchanging teary vows in California, struggling real estate agents in San Diego have started another desperate marketing scheme as an attempt to get rid of some inventory.

Previously, a group of developers tried to find success in a buy one, get one free campaign directed toward anyone interested, and now a group of realtors are trying to capitalize on same-sex newlywed couples by offering them a convoluted discount. The promotion is being advertised on the Wellsford Realty website as the "Free Honeymoon Packages and Wedding Reception Offer," and is explained with this text.

Whether choosing to make California their primary or secondary residence by buying a home in San Diego, domestic partners seeking to take advantage of the new Same Sex Marriage Law in California can now get their wedding reception or a honeymoon getaway compliments Wellsford Realty. With the purchase of a condo or home using their services, Wellsford Realty is rebating 33 percent back on the commission, which can be used to celebrate their wedding day or plan that long awaited perfect honeymoon.

What do you think, will this deal have more takers than the unsuccessful buy one, get one free gimmick?