Food is the number-one priority at my wedding: I believe that meals should be an experience, not just a mindless string of bites. Your wedding menu helps set the tone for the reception. The main focus for my husband Michael and I is to create a fun atmosphere, so we decided to build our party around Mexican cuisine. It encompasses all the flavors that Californians love—fresh, spicy, and full of flavor. You're sure to find disagreements about who does it best, but most San Diegans can agree that we capture that south-of-the-border essence pretty darn well.

Although I may not be Mexican myself, I've enjoyed eating Mexican food ever since I was a little girl. I have fond memories of Mom making quesadilla dinners for my brother and I, Dad taking us to a local taco shop every other Wednesday night, and even crossing the border into Tijuana to get authentic street tacos. Here's how I'm incorporating all of my Mexican favorites into the wedding menu.

1. Start the party with a kick. While Michael and I are busy taking photos, I thought it might be fun to serve plates of chips and guacamole to guests. We'll get the party started with margaritas (both blended and on the rocks), and micheladas for the folks who want to start slow. A michelada is beer mixed with either lime or tomato juice and a ton of spices.

Photo Credit: espimraim via Flickr

This season, the top knot hairstyle was a fave on the bridal runways. Needless to say, when I tried it at home, it did not feel polished and "white carpet ready." But last week, I received this fun DIY updo kit by stylist Theodore Leaf. With his kit, I created a gorgeous updo. While filming NBC's hit show Fashion Star with Suave Professionals, Theodore Leaf created a lovely top knot. "We did a knot, and everyone wanted to try it" said Leaf.

After researching and developing, the "Bored With Your Hair Top Knot Kit" was created! In three easy steps, you can have a classic yet sleek look to last all day. And the best part — no straighteners, irons, or styling skills needed.

"I created the 'Bored With Your Hair Top Knot Kit' so that girls could have everything they need to create perfect top knot every time," said Leaf. The kit is available in three colors: Blonde, Brunette and Black, for $20 at boredwithyourhair.com.

Here, the video, complement to this easy kit. Check it out for yourself....

—Naima DiFranco

Weddings offer an amazing opportunity to make a difference. In addition to saving energy, conserving resources, and decreasing pollution, imagine what a boost green brides and grooms can give to sustainable businesses. Other than a house, a wedding is generally the most expensive thing a young couple will ever “buy”. Brides feel a lot of pressure to make everyone happy and are willing to spend whatever it takes — the average cost is around $27,000 these days — to make their wedding “perfect.” Many couples even go into debt to pay for their weddings. Part of having a green wedding is conserving resources — including money.

These days, you don’t need to sacrifice style or beauty to have an eco-friendly wedding. As celebrities like Natalie Portman have shown us, the only difference between a green bride and a bride who doesn’t know about eco-chic alternatives is that creating her fabulous wedding has less impact on human health and the environment.