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.

Posted by Maureen

Posted by Naima at 10:25 a.m.

Is post-bridal depression real? Yes, post-bridal depression is very real. While getting engaged and planning a wedding are very exciting, it brings emotions to another level. When it’s all over, some brides are left feeling like there’s a void in their lives. Here are my answers to some questions you may have about post-bridal depression:

How common is it?

It's a lot more common than you would think. Most of the time you might say these emotions are just because you have too much on your plate. We tend to put a lot of pressure on ourselves to make this day perfect. Everyone has her own idea of what perfection means. Some take it to another level and allow every little task to be a priority. They cannot focus on anything else but the wedding. This becomes very unhealthy and can lead to horrible anxiety and depression, especially if things are not going the way they feel they should. With emotions running high and low on a daily basis, you can certainly develop a chemical breakdown in your system, especially with hormones and endorphins running in every direction.

Why might one experience it?

A new bride might experience this if she has been on a high from the planning and attention that has been given throughout the experience. When she has what I would call "Bridal Coma," she is in a place where nothing matters except the upcoming wedding. She may be obsessed with the wedding to the point that she cannot focus on anything else. Once the wedding is over and all attention goes by the wayside, it's a pretty quiet time. It may come as a shock to her system and make her feel like there must be something wrong with the relationship because that excitement is gone. While some brides are thankful that the planning is over and they can focus on their new lives, others may feel something is missing.

Here's a lovely idea: Win a Ketubah! If you're Jewish, you probably know what a Ketubah is (it's a traditional marriage contract) that the bridal couple signs in the rabbi's study. Nowadays some non-Jewish couples are also opting to have one. These contracts are really quite beautiful, and come in many styles and in any number of renditions of the traditional text. After the wedding, couples usually choose to display their Ketubah in their home and may pass it down as a family keepsake.

Go to Ketubah.com, where the Ketubah people will be giving away one a week for 14 weeks beginning on May 11, 2010.

To the winner: Mazel tov!

Posted by Susan at 3:12 p.m.