Posted by Naima

Here are some of Bridal Guide’s favorite, easy to find (read: cheap!) products to make you look fab in the waves or on the sand.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunblock with Helioplex, SPF 85 & 100 ($10.99)             

After watching my sister successfully burn herself to a bright red crisp this weekend, I realized it’s important to just suck it up and sun block! Neutrogena’s waterproof and sweat-proof formula is going to give all the protection us beach bunnies need, without the goopy lotions that are a pain to apply and can wreak havoc on the inside of a beach bag (or a ring!). The non-greasy spray won’t clog pores, making it a perfect choice for those who hit the beach sans makeup.

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Sun Indulgence Lotion for Face, SPF 30 ($22.00)

You know who always forgets to put suntan lotion on her face? This blogger! With Estee Lauder’s new face lotion boasting protection from the most harmful of the sun’s rays as well as a great scent, you can just toss it in your suitcase and jet off to your sun-splashed honeymoon. Whether you’re on the beach, lounging by the pool or souvenir shopping for everyone back home, anytime you lift up your face to worship the sun, you know your skin will come home looking bronzed and beautiful, not battered.

To find these dresses check out justinalexander.com, carolinaherrera.com and jlmcouture.com.

Posted by Naima

Looking for a fun getaway with the girls or a relaxing couples’ weekend away from the wedding chaos? I think I may have a solution: Foxwoods Resort & Casino. Nestled in the woods of Connecticut, this resort features everything you could possibly need for a weekend away. I recently visited this property for a Ladies’ Weekend and it was amazing!

I stayed at the Grand Pequot Tower, one of four hotels at Foxwoods, which also includes the MGM Grand at Foxwoods. After I explored the nooks and crannies of my room, I decided to climb into my bed and rest a little before meeting everyone for cocktails. Let’s just say it was one of the comfiest beds I’ve ever been in—made it very difficult to leave my room.

My oh-so comfy beds. No, I didn't jump from one to another--but I was tempted.

A view of the other side of the room.

The view from my window.

I took this pic while I was waiting for the elevator. Look at all those trees!

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: