Posted by Maureen

Recently, I was introduced to a fun, ingenious and inspiring new product…the SequentialT. Now, I know you’re asking the same thing I did when I first heard the name…what does that mean? Well, I soon found out that this isn’t just any T-shirt. In fact, the SequentialT, created by husband-and-wife entrepreneurs, Tracy Howe and Peter Kraft, was designed to be a one-of-a-kind, truly unique item that not only links its wearers through sequentially numbered (hence, the name) shirts but is also focused on being socially responsible. (Yay! Love that!) It’s a combination social network and charity: Part of the proceeds for every shirt purchased is donated to a charity of the buyer’s choice. How cool is that?!

And for anyone planning a wedding, the $29 SequentialT is perfect. Brides and grooms can go to sequentialt.com and set up their own page (for free).

You’ll see that the shirt’s tag discreetly states your name and date of the wedding (time-stamped for posterity!) and you can create your own personal message on the tag. The large number above the flag indicates the amount of SequentialTs already issued throughout the world. The smaller number below the flag tells the amount of Ts purchased worldwide with that country’s flag. So, even though you’ll have your very own number on your T-shirt you’ll still be connected to others wearing the same flag on their T.

Hello, Budgeteers: a quickie note before the Budget Guru goes on a (well-deserved, if she does say so herself) vacation:

If you happen to be looking for a beautiful, unusual gift (that's also affordable, of course) for your bridesmaids and your mom, take a look at bluesilk.org, a UN-recognized nonprofit organization in Cambodia. There, local women use looms to make 100% silk scarves and wraps that come in many lush colors.

Accomplish two things at once: give a distinctive gift to the women in your life and help impoverished women on the other side of the planet support themselves and their families. What could be better than that?

Have a wonderful week, all.

To find these dresses, check out: christosbridal.com, carolinaherrera.com and oscardelarenta.com.

Posted by Naima

As I looked up and down the aisles of Sephora this past weekend, I discovered one of my new favorite makeup products. While I had every intention of picking up a new moisturizer or bottle of perfume, my friend found herself in front of the powders and foundations. To help her find the right one for her skin tone, one of the helpful makeup gurus took her aside to do a little test. As he was prepping her face for the powder, we noticed he was using something that a) smelled really good (like raspberries!) and b) evened out and brightened her skin really well. What was this delicious miracle product? "That Gal" Brightening Face Primer by Benefit.

It’s made up of soothing raspberry and chamomile as well as sweet almond and algae extracts to help skin retain its natural moisture. You can wear it by itself to make your skin smoother and brighter (when you’re on your island honeymoon) or apply it before putting on your makeup for better application (to ensure your bridal look is flawless).

It’s so light it feels like you’re not even wearing anything. I have a pretty low-maintenance beauty regimen so this was the perfect thing for me. The best thing about this primer is that one shade brightens all skin tones, so you don’t need to spend time searching for the right match. With hot summer days ahead of us, I highly suggest making this one of your beauty must-haves. This definitely was the best $28 investment I made this season.

Let’s talk honeymoons for a minute (and who doesn’t want to think about jetting off to some lush tropical paradise?). Last week, along with BG’s Travel Editor, Jenna Mahoney, I met with some lovely people from the Hilton Waikoloa Village on Hawaii’s Big Island. We had a fantastic dinner at Etrusca restaurant located in New York’s Hilton Hotel on Sixth Avenue. (If you visit NYC, put this eatery on your must-do list. Etusca was just lauded in the New York Post as one of Manhattan’s best hotel restaurants and chef Rich Brown as “a real find.” I couldn’t agree more!)

Now, back to Hawaii, one of my favorite places on the planet, and the Waikoloa Village, an incredibly beautiful resort. If you haven’t already planned your honeymoon or are thinking of having a destination wedding, take a look at some of these photos and you may just make your decision sooner rather than later:

To all you brides who postponed the honeymoon for a big first anni trip (like I did!), I've got a fabu deal for you. The ridiculously gorge and super intimate Turtle Island in Fiji is offering two free nights and a vow renewal service gratis! I told you it was fabu.

But wait, it gets better. The resort is actually a private island with 14 beaches and 14 bures (that's South Pacific talk for personalized thatched villas). There's a spa, some fantastic food and all the amenities you'd expect from a swept-away island getaway including hammocks, watersports a go-go and even horseback riding. Oh, and did I mention the fact that it is all-inclusive? So, there are none of those pesky service charges or meal tabs to deal with at the (sad, yet inevitable) end of your stay. Book five nights and you'll get accommodationss for two more evenings in your beachside villa, a dedicated bure mama (that's butler in South Pacific talk), champs (my fave!), flowers and a traditional Fijian vow renewal service, all activities, all meals and a photo album keepsake. For more info go to turtlefiji.com.

Swak

How about a sneak peek at an article from our September/October 2010 issue? It’s called “Real Brides: Best and Worst Buys.” For this story, we collected true confessions from real brides just like you about what was worth the splurge—and what was definitely not. Take a look at a few morsels that I didn’t have space for in the magazine (for the rest, pick up the Sept/Oct issue!)

“I realized I could have saved a ton of money if I’d booked my wedding on a Friday night instead of a Saturday night. My Saturday night reservation came to $4,500, whereas if I’d gone with Friday, or even Sunday during the day, we could have had the same space for about $2,000. I was certain that I had to have my wedding on a Saturday evening, but in retrospect I’m sure we could have done it at another time for less money and had just as good a time. You really do have to be flexible if you want to cut costs.”

“My sister’s old boyfriend from film school did the videography, and we paid a pittance. But it wasn’t worth it, because the video we got was so ‘artistic’ you could hardly tell what it was. We should have paid more for something straightforward and professionally
done.”

“Our honeymoon was money well spent! Especially because even though we’d booked a basic reservation, the hotel automatically upgraded us to a nicer room.”

Our new issue, July/August 2010, just hit the newsstands and it’s filled with lots of great info—from finding the perfect gown to planning your honeymoon trip-of-a-lifetime.

And…drum roll, please…I am thrilled to announce that wedding and event planner extraordinaire, book author and star of WEtv’s My Fair Wedding, the one and only David Tutera, will be penning a column for Bridal Guide in every issue starting with this one.

In the “Ask David” (page 98) column, he’ll offer invaluable advice on how to plan an unforgettable celebration. So, if you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed, not quite sure how to proceed and want to make your party special in every way, read David’s tips on how best to tell your own wedding story. I promise, you’ll be inspired. And don’t forget to check out David’s column in the months ahead—you’ll feel just like one of those lucky brides on My Fair Wedding whose dream becomes a reality because of David’s wonderful advice and magic touch.

Other stories you’ll love include “You’re Engaged!” (page 138) a stress-free, step-by-step guide that highlights smart planning strategies.