How to Save Money when Planning your Dream Wedding

Alright ladies, your man FINALLY put a ring on it. So now its time to plan the big day! I am currently in this situation and figured I would lend some tips that I have used along the way that have saved me some serious cash.  First things first, create a list and start with the things that you absolutely cannot live without and then end it with the items that aren't as important to you. Here is mine but, keep in mind, yours could look completely different:

I know some girls make sure the first thing they do is purchase a dress and then use it as a source of inspiration of how they want their wedding to look. But for me, I don’t normally dress up so I can’t see myself paying thousands of dollars on a dress I will only wear once. So the very first thing I booked was the venue. I'd definitely recommend booking the venue first since it's going to be one of the most expensive costs. Our wedding is going to be held at The Baltimore Zoo. This was perfect because they hold the ceremony outside and have their own mansion that was built in the 1830’s where the reception will be held so guests won't have to travel. This is also great because you are only making payments to one vendor versus multiple if you decide to book different locations for your ceremony and reception. Another tip is to make sure the venue offers some sort of monthly payment plan. This venue required a down payment for the contract and allowed me to pay it off in small increments whenever I wanted. When booking our photographer, I browsed on various wedding vendor search engines and looked through reviews. I made a list of the ones that had the best reviews and checked out their websites. You can get a pretty good idea of how creative they are and what their pricing looks like by looking through their website. I know sometimes the prices on their websites might seem high, but keep in mind, this is if you decide to get everything they offer and, trust me, they do offer a lot! I lucked out and had our wedding announcements done by a girlfriend I knew from high school who gave me a really good price. All photographers did try to up-sell me saying that engagement photos were included in their price but remember, there is nothing wrong with staying firm with what you want as long as you’re nice about it. After about a week, I ended up finding the perfect photographer who didn't force me to get engagement photos and offered a great price.  Another tip is to only book the photographer for the times you really need them. My photographer will be coming in the morning when I’m getting ready and for our first reactions when seeing each other for the first time that day. He'll also be there to capture photos of our entire wedding party two hours prior to the wedding. Then, all that's left is taking photos during the ceremony and important moments like our first dance. I contracted the photographer to leave shortly after the reception starts because my fiancé and I want to enjoy ourselves and drink too! I ended up saving about $400 because I didn’t need him to stay the whole night. I used the same method for the DJ and went off of reviews to pick the one who gave me the best price. I especially loved the fact that my DJ and photographer accepted payments over PayPal, which made it easier for me to pay off the contracts over time. You might think that giving $50 to $100 to a vendor every two weeks won’t help in paying off the contracts but, when you're planning a wedding, every little bit helps. Lastly, the wedding dress! I went to two bridal stores near my house and ended up finding my dream dress. Both stores quoted me $1,350 for the dress and, in my mind, I knew I had to have it. I also knew that I would have to pay for alterations, shoes, and jewelry and that can all really add up. So when the sales lady wasn’t looking, I wrote down the model number of the dress and called every store in Maryland to find the dress at a lower price. The lowest price I found was $1,210 but I still wasn't satisfied. I decided to try calling stores in other states and ended up finding a small bridal store in Massachusetts who was selling the dress for $900. What a steal! I spoke with the manager and asked her to email me photos of the dress and once I saw them, I knew I had to have it. The manager then said she would email me an invoice on the dress and since the purchase was over 500 dollars, it would be shipped for free! Finding my dream dress at the right price was definitely a lot of work but trust me, it's worth it in the end. Don’t get yourself down if something doesn’t work out price wise right away. There’s a million other places and vendors to call - you just have to be patient! Until my next wedding post, Loni xx

Introducing 99onesies!

Ever since we launched 99dresses last October, we've had an overwhelming demand to create a similar app for children's clothing. We're ecstatic to announce that the day has finally come! A few things you should know: 1. 99onesies is for boys and girls of all ages including newborns, toddlers and pre-teens. 2. Your 99dresses account is the same as your 99onesies account so you don't need to create a whole new profile. Simply login with your 99dresses account information and you'll be good to go! 3. Any karma or store credit you earn in one app can be used in either app. If you are a mom who loves shopping on a budget, go head on over to the iTunes App Store and download the brand new 99onesies app. 

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Community Spotlight: Jessica

Meet Jessica. She is currently in university studying nursing in hopes of becoming a future Neonatal Nurse Practioner. Her friends would describe her as lovable but goofy. Jessica loves to laugh, sing, dance and SHOP. She also loves meeting new people and refreshing her old wardrobe which is why she tried 99dresses. 1. What do you love most about 99dresses?  How easy it is to meet new fashionistas and refresh your closet at a low price.  2. Favorite item won on the app so far?  My favorite item that I have won so far would have to be a pair of brown combat boots with floral lining. Theses boots were in mint condition when I received them and were 70% off it's original value. They go with every outfit and I wear them often. They're so cute!

3. When you aren’t shopping, you can be found…  Studying! I won't get that Master's degree shopping all day. ;) 4. If your friends could describe you in one word, what would it be?  Determined. 5. What’s currently on your shopping wish list?  Currently on my shopping wish list are diamonds and some Pandora jewelry, particularly a necklace.  6. If you could hang out with any celebrity for the day, who would it be and why? It would have to be Marshall Mathers aka Eninem because he's an artistic talent and I would love to talk to him about his music. I'd also love to meet Jennifer Gardner. She just seems so down to earth, goofy and fun - like me! I think we'd get along well. 7. Favorite song of the moment?  My favorite song right now might just have to be Chandelier by Sia. It really tells a story of her struggle which is so empowering and the beat is AMAZING!!

8. Any trends you are loving right now?  Floral everything! And chevron. Both are so chic and stylish! 9. On a typical weekend, you can be spotted wearing... A pair of boots, skinnies, a cute sheer top, cardigan and an oversized bag. 

The Benefits of Trading

At 99dresses, we do things a little bit differently. Instead of one-to-one trades, we allow trade in the items they no longer wear in order to earn ‘karma,’ which they can then use to claim the items they want. Once great about this is that you can give your stuff to someone who will love them, even if they don’t have something listed that you’d want in return. It gives you a lot more freedom. But what other benefits does this type of trading system offer? Well for me, one of the main benefits of trading is getting more value back for your item. When listing an item for trade, we’ll determine how much karma your item is worth based on it’s value. When selling, I oftentimes feel as though I am practically giving away the item for free since, in order to move the item, I have to price it insanely low. With trading, it’s much easier to move items quickly since the buyer is only paying 7% of the item’s original price. In turn, you’ll earn karma when the item is sent to a new home, which you can then use to claim items from other girls. It’s more of a win-win situation!

Trading is also great for getting rid of the cheaper items in your close that have little to no resale value. Forever 21, Charlotte Russe and H&M are some of our most popular brands traded. What else do girls love about trading fashion on 99dresses? “I love how I can contain my budget being a school student and still be fashionable. Without this app, that wouldn’t be possible for me. And I never want to go back to paying full price for anything!” – Ranae D. “I love the fact that I can clean out my closet and get new stuff for work without spending a lot. I like 99 more than other apps because the 99dresses team is always on top of everything and they make it so easy to score great clothes and accessories!” – Nikol N. “This app is a godsend for a growing pregnant woman who doesn’t want to break the bank before baby.” – Lauren P. “After experiencing 99dresses, it is hard for me to want to pay retail price for anything. It is such an awesome way to get fabulous clothes on a budget. Not to mention that the 99dresses team is awesome to work with and always understanding!” – Stacey A. So what are you waiting for? Get hooked on trading! Chandra xx

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How To Get Glowing Summer Skin

As the dreary spring months come to a close it is time to shed your longer layers and bear your beautiful skin to beat the summer heat. But for many of us, the cold, dry winter months have left our skin looking less than luminous. Gallons of moisturizer, extra water and a trip to the beach or tanning salon are often the remedies we seek out before pulling on our favorite pair of daisy dukes. And although these tricks help our skin glow, our efforts are oftentimes short-lived and that glow seems to fade away all too quickly. The problem? You can’t bring dead skin back to life. Yes, you can bronze it and dress it up with lotion and makeup, but at the end of the day your skin will always just end up looking as lifeless as it truly is. Removing the pile up of dead skin cells that have accumulated on the surface of your skin throughout the dry winter months is essential for attaining healthy, glowing skin long term. Without exfoliation, excess debris from dead skin cells clog pores and prevent hydration from reaching pores, making moisturizing and cleansing ineffective. When: Exfoliate your body two or three time per week in the shower using a body scrub, loofah or pumice stone for your feet. Exfoliate your face in the morning before applying makeup to help your makeup last longer and go on smoother. Be sure to use a sensitive facial exfoliant if applying daily but you can use a harsher facial exfoliant once or twice per week. Caution: Freshly exfoliated skin can be tender and more susceptible to burning so it is important to wear sunscreen when outside. Also consider speaking with an aesthetician or beauty expert if you have highly sensitive skin. Natural and chemical ingredients in facial scrubs or the texture of certain loofah sponges can irritate your skin and cause breakouts or redness.   

My Favorite Products: There are three different processes used for exfoliation. They include abrasive scrubs, chemical creams and lotions, and exfoliating tools like pumice stones, face brushes and body scrubbers. My longtime favorite products are Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish and Louis Widmer’s Skin Appeal Peeling face wash. If you are looking for an inexpensive product, Burt’s Bees Cranberry and Pomegranate Sugar Scrub smells delicious and can be found at CVS and other drugstores.

DIY Body Scrub: The practice of body exfoliation has been around since the ancient Egyptians as most body scrub products simply contain a mixture of different natural household items. This means there is no need to break the bank to get baby-soft, glowing skins. Sand, salt or sugar are used to act as the exfoliator and different grocery store products such as olive oil, honey, scented oils or fruits are used to provide moisture and a pleasant aroma. For a few great body scrub recipes check out our DIY Pretty board on Pinterest.   I hope this blog posts helps you make your skin glow all summer long! Ana xx

Should I sell it or trade it?

So you want to clean out your closet? On 99dresses, we allow girls to sell their items for cash OR trade their items for karma, which they can then use to claim items from other girls. The question is: How do you decide which items you want to sell and which items you want to trade? Well, for one, you can check out the quick guide below to see which one your item is ideal for.

Selling is ideal for: -       High-end designer items -       Items that have a retail value over $60 and are in excellent condition -       Cleaning out your closet. Earning cash for items gives you more flexibility, especially when you’re saving up something special and aren’t necessarily interested in shopping for more clothes. -       One-of-a-kind items that are difficult to find Trading is ideal for: -       Fast fashion items and clothing that retails for under $60 (Fun fact: Forever 21, Charlotte Russe and H&M are all in our top 10 most popular brands traded) -       Refreshing your closet. If you’re interested in cleaning out your closet so that you can replace them with new pieces, trading is a much more efficient option for that. Plus, you’ll save a ton of money by utilizing the items in your closet that you no longer wear.   -       Items that were more expensive, but have a slight flaw that needs to be repaired. -       Girls who don’t want to deal with pricing their items and are moreso interested in getting their true value back. Remember, you’ll earn comparatively more karma for trading in higher value items, which will allow you to claim even more things! - Cash strapped girls who want to refresh their closets without spending a lot of money. If you just want to get rid of your items and FAST, you can always list your items for ‘trade and sale.’ For the first 24 hours, the item will only be able to be claimed using karma but, if no one claims it before the timer ends, it will also be available to be purchased for cash.  Now, it’s your turn! Tell us what makes YOU decide whether you’re going to list an item for selling or trading? Chandra xx

Links We Are Loving

1. Convinced you still have nothing to wear? Here are nine ways to break out of a style rut. (stylecaster.com) 2. And speaking of #girlproblems, these are just some of the things that men will NEVER understand about women. (womenshealth.com) 3. Ready to crop it like it's hot but not sure how to style it? The girls at Her Campus have you covered. (hercampus.com) 4. Talk about a throwback! This list of things that everyone who went to high school will understand is perfection. (buzzfeed.com) 5. Looking for a job? You might want to check out this guide to networking like a betch. (betcheslovethis.com) 6. Broke girls unite! Here are seven reasons why you don't need money to be stylish - #8 would be the 99dresses app, of course. (stylecaster.com) 7. And lastly - we're loving these basic tips and etiquette for living in NYC. (wisebread.com)

Community Spotlight: Trang

Meet Trang. She is a 26-year-old Philadelphian turned Coloradan, proud mommy of two goofy dogs, expert girlfriend, striving entrepreneur, vegan 80% of the time, and down-to-earth girly girl who loves all things vintage, retro, Paul Rudd and hippie chic. I’m the kind of girl that thoroughly enjoys being dressed to the nines in an Herve Leger dress with sky-high Louboutins, but equally loves rocking a pair of ripped boyfriend jeans from Plato’s Closet with a flannel shirt I bought at a thrift store. I saw a 99dresses ad on Facebook and thought, “Hmm… What’s one more app on my phone?"  Then after realizing that the concept was kind of like eBay but with a fresh twist, I couldn’t help but become obsessed! 1. What do you love most about 99dresses?  The staff is so friendly, helpful and accessible.  Any issue that I have ever had has been resolved in a very timely and positive manner. 2. Favorite item won on the app so far?  A pair of never-worn Stuart Weitzman boots that retail for $400.  Kind of a big deal.

3. When you aren’t shopping, you can be found…  Working my home-party business (buying ladies’ unwanted gold, silver, platinum, diamonds, rare coins, etc. for on-the-spot cash), networking, playing with two very hyper dogs, hiking, cooking, snowboarding, watching documentaries, hanging out with friends or family, seeing music or going to festivals, checking 99dresses or Instagram, nerding out on the Internet, or thinking of inventions and other ways that will one day allow me to retire early, travel the world, and take care of my family. 4. If your friends could describe you in one word, what would it be?  Loving. 5. What’s currently on your shopping wish list?  A vintage white Mongolian or tibetan lamb fur swing coat. Oh, and there are these special rings I see people wear that often times have a really pretty clear stone right in the middle. I hear they usually go on the left hand… what’s that called again, an engagement ring? LOL. 6. If you could hang out with any celebrity for the day, who would it be and why? Jessica Alba. Despite the fact that I have a total girl crush on her, I would want to pick her brain on how she balances having a life on top of being a mother of two girls, Founder of the Honest Company, a loving wifey, and obviously, a sex symbol and actress. She keeps it classy and while—let’s face it, nobody is perfect—you just don’t hear or read about her in a bad light (at least not of the regular). She’s an inspiration to me.

7. Favorite song of the moment?  I just don’t really listen to the radio these days... so if I had to choose my jam of the moment, I would say Stairway to Heaven by Led Zepplin. In my honest opinion, it’s a good one to start the day with. 8. Any trends you are loving right now?  I'm really diggin' those knee-high gladiator sandals and all that super intricate nail art. 9. On a typical weekend, you can be spotted wearing... Black leggings with leather boots, tunic, and scarf when it’s cold or a sundress or maxi dress when its warm! It’s also very likely that you could catch me in my red fleece Victoria’s Secret robe lounging around the house. If I could wear it to the grocery store, I would!

Community Spotlight: Chelsea

Meet Chelsea. She's a screenwriter living in Los Angeles. She loves animals, vegan food (and sometimes ice cream and pizza), college basketball, and clothes. The scarf Chelsea is wearing in her photo was handmade by a 99dresses member, and only cost $8! 1. What do you love most about 99dresses? I really love giving stuff away! I feel so good about cleaning out my closet knowing that my clothes are going to people who really want them. One time, when I was moving, I took a bunch of stuff to a thrift store near my apartment and then I just watched as the employee threw it all away because they were overstocked. I couldn't believe it! Now, 99dresses gives me a way to take fashion risks and not feel bad about tossing out old clothes because I know they are going to a good home.  2. Favorite item won on the app so far? It's tough to say! Probably a BAGGU backpack that I won a while ago (I was a beta tester so I think I actually won this item before the app officially launched). I use it every day and have it covered in pins. It's so useful and cute. 

3. When you aren’t shopping, you can be found… At my desk, writing, or out going for a walk or a run with my boyfriend. Or cooking. Or eating. Or shopping for food. Does that count as shopping? 4. If your friends could describe you in one word, what would it be? Loyal, maybe? Or funny. I don't know. Not concise or articulate. 5. What’s currently on your shopping wish list? I really want some overalls that aren't too heavy for summer, and some new neutral ballet flats. Oh, and a swimsuit. 6. If you could hang out with any celebrity for the day, who would it be and why? I think this is an impossible question to answer without sounding stupid. Maybe Tina Fey, because we could talk about loving french fries. Or maybe Mark Cuban, because Shark Tank is awesome.  7. Favorite song of the moment? Right this second, "Let's Go Fly a Kite" from Mary Poppins is stuck in my head.

8. Any trends you are loving right now? I really like long chiffon skirts. And spring is always fun because there's lots of floral and I like to mix patterns. 9. On a typical weekend, you can be spotted wearing... Dresses! There's this British designer, Sugarhill Boutique, and their dresses have the cutest patterns in the world. I have one with elephants and one with lighthouses right now. 

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What happened to my buttons and karma?

Today we released a big change to 99dresses which allows you to buy, sell & trade fashion all from within the same app. The most common questions we are hearing are "What happened to my buttons?!" and "Why is my karma so low?!" so we just wanted to write a post to clear things up a bit. What happened to my buttons? Before this change, you earned buttons when you LISTED items. You could list 100 items valued at 50 buttons each and end up with 5,000 buttons, and then you could claim up to 5,000 buttons worth of items without actually giving anything away.  All buttons did was restrict how much you could claim. If you wanted to claim a 100 button item but only had 20 buttons, you couldn't claim any more items until you listed more. Now that we've removed buttons, you can claim items on 99dresses without that restriction. Therefore, buttons no longer matter so you aren't losing them at all! Just so it is really clear: your buttons were NOT earned by giving away items. They were earned by listing items. Therefore your buttons HAVE NOT been converted into Karma. While we'd love to convert your buttons into karma, it would be entirely unfair to everyone else on the app who has actually given their items away (rather than just listing them).  Why is my karma so low? Before these changes, karma was never displayed. Your karma started at 0 as a new member. It increased when you gave items away, and decreased when you received items. So if you received 1,000 buttons worth of items but only gave away 700 buttons worth of items, your karma would be -300 in the old version.  With this new system your karma rank is EXACTLY the same. No one has changed their rank at all. We have also put a limit on how far "in the negative" you can go with karma. Basically, everyone starts off with 1,000 karma and can only ever win 1,000 karma more items than they've given. If your karma is currently below 1,000, it means that you had negative karma before we switched over to the new system i.e. you've received more value than you've given. I know this is a lot to take in, so if you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out. We promise that we are all working towards creating a fun & flexible system that many girls can use. We really appreciate your being open-minded and giving this new version a chance. Nikki xx