For everyone that is travelling to a hot 'n happy honeymoon destination, the Environmental Working Group has tested and rated 783 different products with sunscreen and written a report on the safest and most effective sunscreens available on the market. Ratings include sunscreen effectiveness from blocking both UVA and UVB rays and health hazards from ingredients that the products include.

They also have a list of "worst sunscreens" as well.

Actually, we all would do well to use this information. I'm training my beau to wear sunscreen everyday!

Since there are quite a few Hawaii-mooning brides out there, I thought I'd share my favorite Hawaii guidebooks. Ever.

Last year, Mr. Eggplant and I vacationed in Maui with a group of our friends. Before the trip I picked up a book called Maui Revealed, published by Wizard Publications. The text was literally my bible during those seven days. It had more useful information than any other guidebook I had ever read and it was written from the perspective of someone with the inside scoop.

Well, as it turns out, Wizard Publications is a small Hawaii-based company that takes years to produce each of its guidebooks. The guides are created by locals that live on the islands and only write about subjects that they've had direct experience with. The writers have stayed at the hotels, eaten at the restaurants, and hiked the trails that are in these books. The Wizard Pub also keeps their website updated with any changes that occur between printing (like hotels that have changed management and shows that have been cancelled).

For those of you who are currently planning a Hawaii honeymoon, you can find a few of Wizard Pub's hotel reviews on their site, but the bulk of them are in their books. The online reviews are only an overflow of what couldn't fit into their published guides. Included in each review (book and internet) are aerial photographs of each resort so that readers can see if the "beachfront property" really means located directly on a beach or one block away.

Wizard Pub guides are definitely the best Hawaii guidebooks out there. I just wish there were guides like these for every single place on the planet!

(You can pick one up at Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble.com.)

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Mr. Eggplant bought our honeymoon plane tickets! We are travelling to the Hawaiian islands for eight indulgent days. I can't wait!

First stop: Kauai. We're kicking off our honeymoon with a romantic four-day retreat on one of the quieter islands of Hawaii. I'm looking forward to relaxing and spending lots of time on warm sandy beaches. Mr. Eggplant has never been to a spa before so I want to do a his & hers massage session. And what I'm looking forward to the most: We're taking a helicopter tour of the island! *Cue the Jurassic Park music*

Next stop: Oahu! I love this island. Oahu is not a new destination for me, but Mr. Eggplant has not visited this island yet. He's the type of guy who can't veg-out on a beach too long or he'll start to pull his hair out. I don't want him balding just yet so we are spending the bulk of our vacation on this lively island. Here, we'll schedule tons of activities including snorkeling, hiking, beach hopping, and more! 

I love this hotel. We'll be staying here for the duration of our trip.

Choosing our honeymoon destination was an easy decision for us. We had a few constraints that we had to work with:

1. Distance. I'm taking vacation from work for the entire week before the wedding, so I will only have eight extra vacation days left for honeymooning. Spending two of those days on a plane did not entice me so we wanted a destination that was within a six hour flight from SF.
2. Weather. Our wedding is in October, fall season for most areas, but I still wanted a sunny, beachy honeymoon. Originally, we thought of going to Playa del Carmen or another city near Cancun. Unfortunately, October is peak hurricane season for the Caribbean. No thanks!
3. Cost. Our reception venue gave us an amazing perk for doing business with them: A free seven-night stay at any of their hotels across the world, redeemable up to one year from our wedding date. Yay! So, for our one-year anniversary, we will be travelling to Europe! That said, we decided not to splurge *too* much on our honeymoon. Since October is off-season for Hawaii travel, our round-trip plane tickets cost us less than $300 a piece, and that's after tax. Also, Mr. Eggplant is eligible for unbelievable hotel discounts from his workplace, so we are saving 60% on our lodging costs. Hooray for affordable indulgence!

I can't wait for the wedding to be over so that we can go on the honeymoon!

Once Mr. Eggplant and I were officially engaged in January, we worked diligently to secure all of our wedding vendors on our short timeline. We did a-heck-of-a-lot in one month. I found my dress and booked practically all of our vendors by the end of February. It was quite busy time for us! I must've disappeared off of the face of the earth for those thirty days.

One of the very first vendors I negotiated was my makeup artist. I knew exactly who I wanted to book after seeing her fabulous work in another wedding: Nam Vo (makeupnv.com). My trial with Nam was scheduled on a Friday evening before a dinner out with Mr. Eggplant and some friends. Originally, I wanted to ask for their opinion before I officially booked a makeup artist, but once Nam had finished applying my makeup, I was so pleased that I booked her on the spot!  The trial was one hour long and during the session Nam was professional, friendly, and very skilled at her craft.

Before. This is the normal amount of makeup I wear on a daily basis.

After. (On the right, not the left. ) Nam's services made quite a difference! I loved how the makeup made my complexion look more alive and photographed so well. Goodbye greasy forehead!

Again, with a brighter flash and 6 hours after application. One of my favorite products Nam applied was Nars blush in a shade called "orgasm" (yes, orgasm). Apparently it's one of the best selling colors around. I bought one for myself after the trial.

 
I need to take a class from her. I love the way she applies eyeshadow! She also applied airbrush makeup all over. Let me tell you, that stuff stays on forever! I had to wash my face three times to get it off. Well, at least I won't need touch ups on wedding day!

  
Close-up of my eyeball. She used individual fake lashes and at least 3-4 different shades of eyeshadow colors.

For on-site services, the bride is $325 and bridesmaids are $85. She will travel to any primping location within 30 miles without additional fees. I admit, Nam isn't cheap. But I needed an on-site makeup artist and after I compared her fees to quotes that I received from other on-site artists, I found that the bottom line was the same. Other vendors charged less for the bride but more for bridesmaids. I'd prefer to eat the cost than have my bridesmaids pay more out of their pockets.

After many months of deliberation, I finally figured out what I'mgoing to get my girls as gifts! Well, at least part of the gift anyway.

If you're one of my bridesmaids, stop reading right here please!...  I mean it!

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Ireally wanted to give the gals a gift that would be attractive, useful,and something I could personalize at least a little bit. Basically, if I had $$$ to spend on myself, what would I buy? Earlier this year, my team at work received really neat messenger bags as a thank you for participating in an event. The bag was designed by Timbuk2 and it was spacious, well made, and pretty cool looking too. I've been using mine nearly every day since I got it.

I checked out the Timbuk2 website today and low and behold, the messenger bag comes in five different sizes and can be customized in 23 different colors with up to three colors per bag. For $15 less,they also have predesigned color palettes available in all of their bags. Timbuk2 also sells backpacks, totes, laptop bags, and other accessories. Here's a demo of one of their totes: http://preview.vergencemedia.net/demo/timbuk2/ (My nerdy Mr. Eggplant and his friends made that demo. If you hold your mouse over the arrow, the bag spins. )

I don't want to give the girls an empty bag, so I need a little something to put inside of them. Perhaps a handmade journal, some makeup treats, ora pair of fuzzy bunny slippers? Do you guys have any suggestions? I know this question has been asked a million times, but what did you getyour bridesmaids?

And a few more options from Timbuk2:

Messenger bags in all sizes:

Purses and totes: 

And backpacks:

While debating over an evening purse for the wedding, I wanted to purchase something that wouldn't sit in the closet and gather dust after the vows were over. My choices were narrowed to silver, pink, or baby blue silk. Silver won out as an elegant alternative to white since it was versatile enough to be used for any evening soiree.

I ordered this knotted clutch by Franchi from Zappos and I loved it so much that I had to share more of their lovely creations (prices are listed below each picture and most purses can be found on zappos.com).

$108.95 (but I can't find this one online anymore so it might be out of stock)

 
Lynette Crystal Framed Clutch for $198.95. The rhinestones are lovely on this little clutch.

A slightly less expensive option: Franchi's Jewel Too Clutch - $138.95

To add sophisticated flare to a romantic gown, Franchi's Tulla Black Lace can be purchased for $158.95

Lyssa Silk Framed Clutch for $198.95. Also available in black, silver, and gold (shown in champagne).

Bella Bow Clutch - $180.95. Available in black and champagne (it looks like silver is currently sold out).

Clarice Silk Bow Clutch for $138.95 (also available in pink, black, & champagne).

Judith Satin Clutch - $126.95 (comes in silver & gold too)

For those of you who want "something blue"...

Wendy Silk Clutch for $113.95 (comes in champagne, black, gold, and pink)

Inge Palm Springs for $198.95, also available in blush and black 

With so much money going into the wedding, I'd have to say that the wedding cake is near the bottom of my list of priorities. Mr. Eggplant and I will be hosting a chocolate fountain for guests, and Mr. Eggplant thinks this should cover the "dessert" portion of the meal. I agree, although I see the wedding cake as a fun tradition (and a really cool photo-op) that I don't want to completely eliminate, even with a dessert bar. Using my female powers of persuasion, I was able to convice (brainwash?) Mr. Eggplant that we should still order a wedding cake, but keep it simple and inexpensive.

Luckily, there's a great little bakery in the bay area called The Cakery that sells reasonably priced wedding cakes that taste good and actually look quite pretty. It's a simple pastry shop with no frills (not even a website), but what they lack in amenities, they make up for in price. I researched many bay area bakeries before settling on The Cakery for both value and quality. Last weekend, Mr. Eggplant and I traveled to Burlingame, CA for a cake tasting session.

The Cakery Bakery. Say that five times fast.

Our cake samples. We knew we wanted hazelnut cake because unlike the chocolate cake,  hazelnut was moist and light
(similar to the spongy texture of cakes found in Chinese bakeries). The Cakery pepared hazelnut with four different fillings: Grand Marnier, mocha, chocolate, and apricot.

Cake all gone! (*burp*)

This is the silver stand that will display our cake at the wedding.
 

A snapshot of what we are modeling our cake after (designed by Sylvia Weinstock Cakes in NY and found in a recent issue of Elegant Bride). We're ordering a three-tiered cake that will serve around 130 people. Additional sheet cake (which was very reasonably priced) will be purchases for the remaining 70+ headcount. The Cakery's prices included fondant covering which surprised me because typically fondant work is additional $$$ and very expensive. Instead of the sugar flowers pictured, we'll be using silk or real flowers to save even more money.

One last picture outside their window of wedding cakes.

I'd have to admit that the cake at The Cakery wasn't my favorite of the cakes that Mr. Eggplant and I tested. By far, Draeger's had the best tasting cake out of all the bakeries we visited and their customer service was superb. We sampled a white cake with fresh strawberry and Grand Marnier filling that was to-die-for. Mmmm, it was so good. But alas, the prices at Draegers were way out of our budget and a wedding cake would've cost nearly twice what we're paying at The Cakery. Well, one can't have it all! I'm just happy we get a cake, period. After all, Mr. Eggplant was pretty set on not getting one at all!

Overall, I'm very satisfied with the combination of value and quality that we're getting at The Cakery. I'll keep you updated as to how it turns out!

Our reception venue (photo by http://www.chungphoto.com/)

When Mr. Eggplant and I first began meeting with wedding vendors, one of our designers told us each to separately write down a few words that would describe the feel of our ideal wedding and then compare notes. The words I listed were: intimate, romantic, and charming. Mr. Eggplant came up with: whimsical, fun, and minimalist/modern. I wanted a wedding with romantic, indulgent decor while Mr. Eggplant preferred clean and minimal design.

Now that we're further along in the planning process, our wedding is emerging as a blend of both our tastes. I recovered from my obsession with having a "dream wedding" many moons ago. Now I just want a fun, memorable event with lots of personal touches. Because Mr. Eggplant is super extroverted, his guest list is pretty long. Our wedding will host almost 200 people so my desire for a truly intimate gathering is out the door. I still want to keep an close-knit feel. To compromise, we selected a small boutique hotel for our reception. The venue has an enclosed courtyard and our banquet room has low ceilings. Hopefully both will create an intimate environment with an otherwise large guestlist. The hotel can only host one wedding at a time (well, two if the second wedding is very small) so I'm crossing my fingers that we'll have the entire venue to ourselves rather than being bride #5473 of a wedding factory. I fell in love with the place because it's reminiscent of a Mediterranean villa although it's in the heart of bustling Silicon Valley.

For decor, Mr. Eggplant wants minimalistic centerpieces with sparse flowers. I like a more ornate look with tall silver vases and candlesticks, so we compromised and are having both tall and low centerpieces with clear vases and lots of flowers. Compromising was easy because I'm just grateful that Mr. Eggplant actually had a vision for our event and wanted to be involved in every part of the planning process.

So now our "wedding words" have changed to a blend of both of us: whimsical, charming, and fun. Mr. Eggplant and I definitely do not want to put on a show, but we do want to surprise our guests with little things throughout the night and keep them asking "what's next?"

What are three words that describe your ideal wedding? Does your FI share your vision?

Amy Kuschel Bride is having a summer sample sale that's going on right now!

I loved every minute of my totally indulgent visit to Amy Kuschel's beautiful salon in downtown SF. They have stunning couture gowns that are modern, classy, and very reasonably priced. If you purchase a sample gown between the 13th & 16th of June, Amy Kuschel Bride is offering an additional 15% off of their already reduced dresses.

To complete your bridal look, all in-stock veils, wraps, and jewelry is also being offered at 10% off.

Awesome deal!

Although I envy you NY gals who have easy access to all things fashion-forward, I honestly can't complain too much. Being a bay area native, I'm fortunate to live near plenty of amazing bridal designers and salons, including Jin Wang, Amy Kuschel, and Haute Bride who have all made their homes in San Francisco. This weekend, I took advantage of my close proximity to these lovely shops and I scheduled a noon appointment at Haute Bride.

Getting to the Marina district of SF is no easy trek. The area is located at the northern-most tip of SF without any convenient freeway access. After my morning visit to the Flax sample sale, I journeyed half an hour through the busy SF streets only to circle 20 more minutes looking for a parking space (SF parking is a total nightmare). I lost twelve quarters to a ravenous parking meter, but it was all worth it when I was finally greeted by this:

It was beautiful day--75 degrees and not a cloud in the sky!

I made my way through Haute Bride entrance and up the stairs...

And made a beeline towards their bracelet section. Above are just a few of the gorgeous jewelry samples on hand.

Next I tried on hairpieces. I loved this delicate tiara that could double as a headband. (Please ignore my cross-eyed expression in this picture and the next. )

Before I visited Haute Bride, I vowed that I would never ever in a
million years don a tiara. Ever. Until I tried this one on (while pretending to hold my hair in some semblance of a bridal updo). I fell completely
in love with it! But it's a little on the pricey side. What to do?

An arrangement of brooches were displayed on the wall. These lovely
pieces could be used do adorn a bridal sash or accent bustle. As an alternative, they could be custom-made into a bracelet of the bride's liking.

Above is a sampling of the bridesmaid jewelry that decorated the shelves.

Haute Bride is a full-service bridal salon so in addition to their jewelry, they also sell gorgeous gowns and bridal shoes to match. Through the window you can see the Marina district of SF--an area filled with tons of trendy boutiques and delicious eateries.

Since I will not be wearing a necklace on my wedding day, I'd like to purchase a pretty bracelet to compliment the rhinestone detailing on my gown. What do you think of these? (If you can, pretend you don't notice my furry arms. )

Haute Bride made this bracelet especially for Vera Wang's fashion show.

This is the bracelet I've seen featured in many Knottie bios. Miss Plum has this one also, I believe. Totally pretty!

Here's a third option that looks a bit like a cross between the first and second bracelets.

Fun stuff! Expensive stuff, but definitely fun.