StyleSchool

If you’ve made a commitment to protect the environment by going green, then don’t stop with the blue recycling bins in your kitchen. You can transition your beauty routine as well, and just in time for your wedding. Here's how:

Skin
The organic plant extracts, vitamin E and nourishing organic oils in Revolution Organics (revolutionorganics.com) smoothes, hydrates, nourishes and protects your skin and body to give a beautifully, healthy glow. I love the Certified Organic All-Over Body Balm ($29)—it’s a must-have product to have and to hold on your special day. It softens dry spots (think rough heels from walking in stilettos), tames unruly eyebrows, smooths flyaways and relieves chapped lips (for those double air kisses you’ll give your guests all day).

Hair
From their recycled packaging to the all-natural ingredients used in every product, Aveda (aveda.com) is an industry leader when it comes to high performance products that really work and are good for the earth. Their number one seller, for example, The Rosemary Mint Shampoo ($9.50), is all-natural and adds body to fine hair without stripping. Stop by any one of their destination spas, concept salons or the Aveda Institute to experience their complete line of all natural products and services.

Makeup
Everything about Cargo’s PlantLove line (cargocosmetics.com) of eco-friendly makeup is beautiful, from the natural botanical ingredients to the biodegradable packaging. The line includes lipstick, eye shadow, blush and loose powder foundations in incredible colors so you're guaranteed to look amazing from your walk down the aisle to well after the guests have gone home.

—Tasha Turner, Senior Beauty Editor

The (Other) One

Well, I guess I will start by introducing myself. My name is Beverley Mitchell and you may know me as Lucy Camden from the television show 7th Heaven.

I have a new adventure now, though: my wedding. Michael, my fiance, and I have been together for over 7 ½ years and engaged for almost three years. Our wedding is almost here and I couldn’t be more excited. In Style Weddings asked me to blog a little about the adventures of planning a wedding and boy, are there a lot of them. I am so excited to share the fun! I hope you enjoy and find it helpful.

First and foremost, THE DRESS! Picking the dress was so important to me. I have been dreaming of this day for so long! I had to find the PERFECT dress. For me, the dress literally came to me. I was able to work with the most wonderful designer, Melissa Sweet. She came out to California from New York and I instantly knew she was my girl. She understood me and she truly cared about making me feel beautiful and special.

She has so many beautiful dresses, so I was overwhelmed at first, but when I saw my dress it was love at first sight. I tried it on and it literally brought me to tears. I had found the dress. I knew right away and I never changed my mind. There were times that I second guessed myself, but the truth is my first reaction was honest and pure and that was what I stuck with.

I also have a second dress for the reception to dance in and it is just as beautiful and wonderful as the first, but a different feel. This was also a dress that, as soon as I tried it on, I knew. It is so important to be comfortable on the day. I would wear these dresses every day--they are exquisite and they make me feel amazing. I hope Michael has the same reaction to me in the dress as I did. We’ll see!

—Beverley Mitchell

Click here to browse more gowns by Melissa Sweet.

We've been getting tons of great questions from brides-to-be out there, so each week we'll be answering one question here on Style School. If you have a question you'd like answered, email us at weddings@instylemag.com and check back often to see if we've posted an answer.

This week's question comes from Onasis. She writes:
What exactly is a save-the-date card? Is it something different from the RSVP card in your invitation suite?

Great question, Onasis. The save-the-date card is designed to let guests know that you're getting married and to set aside a specific date for your wedding. That being said, before sending out the save-the-dates, you of course need to know what day you're getting married. Keep in mind, this is very different from the day you want to get married. Once you've made a deposit at your venue ensuring your reservation, then send out the save-the-dates. They shouldn't go out any later than 6 months before your wedding date.

Your invitations go out 6-8 weeks before the wedding and typically include an RSVP card, which gives guests the opportunity to let you know if they'll be attending, whether or not they're bringing a guest and their meal preference.

Click here to browse some of our favorite save-the-dates.

Save-the-date by Oblation Papers & Press; Photo by Allison Gootee

—Jeanine Edwards, Associate Editor

Starting Monday, Style School will welcome our first (of many) celebrity bride guest blogger. Who's the lucky lady? Beverley Mitchell!

Beverley is probably best known for her role as Lucy Camden on the hit television show 7th Heaven. Most recently, though, she's been hard at work on her upcoming country debut album, which will be released later this year.

Oh, and of course, she's engaged! She's been planning an amazing wedding in Italy and will be sharing what's she learned along the way here on Style School.

So be sure to check back on Monday morning for Beverly's first post.

Photo by Amy Tierney/WireImage

Your out-of-town guests may be hungry when they reach their hotel rooms, so greet your travelers with a Boule hatbox to sweeten their stay. Boule, the L.A. pâtisserie known for its stylish packaging and delectable treats, has designed the ultimate goody bag especially for InStyleWeddings.com readers.

With so many delectable products to choose from, making a decision can be difficult. Fortunately, we did the hard work for you (sampling desserts is a tough job, but somebody had to do it). The custom In Style Weddings hatbox ($80, boulela.com) is loaded with our favorite goodies from Boule. Here's what's included:

The dark chocolate sables are an office favorite—the staff can’t get enough of these addictive fudge cookies. One bite into the sugar coated crust and we were hooked. The peppermint marshmallows are perfect for a winter wedding and the fleur de sel caramels are unlike any candy shop treat we’ve ever tasted. These iridescent cellophane-wrapped treats ooze with butter and burst with flavor.

Don't forget to order an extra hatbox for your hotel room. After all the dieting you’ve done to fit into your wedding dress, we suspect this gift box will be the first one you unwrap.

—Randy Miller, Editorial Assistant

There are, in my opinion, some things no honeymoon should be without: romance, luxury, and privacy. So if you've been thinking about doing your postwedding wind down in Italy, allow me to recommend Villa Feltrinelli in Gargnano. The positive attributes of this destination are numerous, so I've parsed them down to the top 5 (in no particular order).

1. The exclusivity. There are just 21 rooms in the hotel, 13 in the villa and 3 guesthouses. Some hotels have more people on a single floor. Plus, the villa is situated in the northern region of the country, far away from the more common tourist hubs of Rome, Florence, Venice, and the Amalfi Coast.
2. The history. Built in 1892, the villa still has some of the original furniture and architecture details. Seven of the guestrooms even have hand frescoed ceilings dating back to the 1890s.
3. The bathrooms. 500 square feet with heated marble floors and deep soaking French porcelain tubs. Need I say more?
4. The setting. Right on Lake Garda, the hotel offers private boat tours. The breathtaking Italian-style garden, which features olive, magnolia and cypress trees, is perfect for a lover's stroll.
5. The city. Verona is just 45 minutes east of the villa. Seriously, what could be more romantic than exploring the setting of "Romeo and Juliet" hand in hand.

For more details or to book your getaway, visit villafeltrinelli.com.

—Jeanine Edwards, Associate Editor

Call me a traditionalist, but I’m a firm believer that at a wedding, dessert should be the wedding cake. Maybe it’s because I’m obsessed with how smooth fondant is, the intricate design of sugar paste flowers, and the endless varietals of fillings.

That being said, it’s always nice to send your guests off with an extra something delicious. Why not satisfy their sweet tooth with Godiva’s new Limited Edition European Dessert Truffles? The chocolates come in six reinterpreted dessert flavors like Lemon Chiffon Cake, Caramelized Apple Tarte, Crème Brulee, Bananas Foster and Black Forest Torte. Think of each truffle as a compact version of the most elegant dessert. It's the perfect little nibble before your guests say their goodbyes. Stack the truffles by flavor near the exit, place the gorgeous boxes on the tables, or package the treats in customized favor boxes.

These limited edition truffles are available at Godiva boutiques, specialty stores, and finer department stores nationwide. Or, place an order right now at godiva.com.

—Rachel Jacoby, Assistant Editor

As much as it pains us to acknowledge it, times are rough. The economy could be...better, but we want you to know we feel your pain. Accordingly, we've partnered with our friends at Thread for an unbeatable bridal giveaway.

Now, you know Thread for their insanely of-the-moment, chic bridesmaid dresses (and if you don't, you should). The colors, the cuts...all amazing. Don't believe us? Check out the collection.

Well, they're giving away up to 6 bridesmaid dresses to one lucky bride. All you have to do to enter is send us a pic of the worst bridesmaid dress you've ever had to wear. That's easy enough, right?

Click here for more details on how to enter.

As you move down your checklist of things to do, be sure to take your time and do your research when it comes to securing the perfect makeup artist for the big day. Avoid the temptation of asking your favorite cousin whose makeup always looks great. The price may be right, but this is the time to look for professional with expertise.

So where do you begin? Not Google or even the phone book (if you still use one of those). Instead, head to the beauty counters at your local departments stores and follow these simple steps:

1. Do your homework. Take a look through your favorite magazines (say, In Style Weddings) and tear out the makeup looks that you think would look great on you. Or, test drive a few celebrity looks with our makeup match tool.

2. Search the market. Bring your ideas to the makeup counters and have the makeup artists recreate the looks on you. I recommend the Bobbi Brown, Prescriptives or Laura Mercier counters because if a makeup artist isn't in your budget, these companies offer custom palettes and compacts with application tips and tricks from the beauty specialists.

3. Take a test run. Get product recommendations for achieving the perfect pout, glowing skin and luscious lashes. Then, have the makeup artist create the look you've been envisioning using the products. Take note of how long the look lasts, and which products you'll want to carry with you for touch ups on your special day.

3. Negotiate the terms. Usually, the cost of a makeup artist is a set rate or based on the products you'll need to purchase. Don't be afraid to ask the beauty specialist specifics.

4. Seal the deal. Be sure to get everything in writing and make sure your makeup artist is on-board with your timeline for the big day. Exchange contact information and before you know it, you’ll be walking down the aisle, saying “I Do.”

—Tasha Turner, Senior Beauty Editor

Searching high and low for a bridesmaid gift that won’t end up at the Goodwill? These new colorful Rebecca Minkoff minkettes ($75, rebeccaminkoff.com) will help keep your maids organized on your big day. Perfect for carrying beauty essentials, room keys or credit cards during your wedding and beyond. Plus your gals will be on par with the fashionable elite; celebrities like Jamie Lynn Siegler and Vanessa Minillo have been spotted toting Minkoff’s leather goods. Available October 1.

—Erica Blick Sigel, Associate Fashion Editor