It’s one of those universal beauty truths: Skin-toned polishes are a particularly great option for brides who are (like me) challenged in the nail-length department. A neutral, flesh-like tone can leave even the stubbiest nails looking subtly but wildly chic. That said, the perfect nude-y neutral shade is not so easy to find. Some formulas are too sheer, others too chalky. After trying dozens of shades, I found the perfect hue a couple of years ago, and have stayed with it ever since. Behold: OPI’s Samoan Sand. Turns out my go-to shade has other fans, too.

Both Amy Adams and Stacy Keibler rocked the refined shade on the red carpet last night. The polish paired perfectly with both silver (on Amy) and gold (on Stacy) gowns, so just think how killer it will look with bridal whites and ivories. Oscar-worthy and aisle-worthy!

—Mary Clarke

Are you as depressed as I am without your weekly visits with Lady Mary and the Dowager Countess? I also miss radical Lady Sybil and loyal Anna—a lot. I know that I can visit my friends both upstairs and down via Netflix and pbs.org, but really it isn’t the same knowing how Daisy will react and if Miss Lavina Swire is truly so sweet or not. So instead of trolling the internet for information about the Gratham family and the back stories to the plot lines, I’ve decided to—gasp—take a day trip to Downton Abbey itself! And you can, too. I know!—it is such exciting news, it almost seems impossible.

NoteWorthy Events tours, a British outfitter, is offering day-long adventures to Highclere Castle, the private home in which the fantastic series is filmed. The private excursion includes morning coffee in the Countess’ day room. a house tour, lunch in the Drawing room and a glimpse of the Crawly House. There is also a Jeep ride across the grounds and a tour of the on-site archaeological caves. Of course, High Tea is also served—Cora wouldn’t have it any other way. Go to noteworthyevents.com for more information.

—Jenna Mahoney

Photos courtesy of Masterpiece

Each week, we feature wedding music recommendations from Scratch Weddings, the nation's leader with the best wedding DJs at affordable prices. This week's post comes from DJ Kuato. His unique blend of feel-good music has extended from New York to Boston and overseas in London. He has shared the stage with the legendary Patti Smith and DJed alongside Justin Timberlake, Tim Gunn, and Nigel Barker. His talent has also taken him to NYC's hottest clubs, secured top corporate clients and led to an appearance as the DJ on the hit television series, Gossip Girl. But don't let these A-list names fool you. Kuato is a down-to-earth guy who gets it when it comes to weddings. "I enjoy meeting new couples, understanding their backgrounds, influences and how they got to where they are today. The highlight of the wedding night for me is always watching the bride and groom smile and dance the night away, alongside their closest friends and family members.” For Kuato, weddings are special affairs—one of the most memorable nights in a couple's life —so he always comes prepared to rock the dance floor and help make the celebration a tremendous success.

One of the first decisions that a newly-engaged couple has to make post-proposal is not only when to get married, but where. Beachy destination weddings are becoming especially popular, but in my opinion, they are simply not a good fit for everyone. BG brides, I'd love to share my experience attending my sister's wedding in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, with you, in the hopes that it will help you decide if it's the right choice for you and your groom. I'll also share what it's like to be a guest in this scenario, so that you can get some insight on what to expect if you'll be jetting off to a loved one's wedding soon. Let me take you through some of the details...

Photo Credit: kieraphoto.com

1. How do you feel about an informal dress code? The dress code for a destination wedding is likely to be more relaxed than a formal wedding, especially if the ceremony is taking place on or near a beach. Embrace it! My dad wore flip-flops as he walked down the aisle and Corey sported khaki shorts. Typically, if you're attending a destination wedding, you can pack light: a few summer dresses and swimsuits should be sufficient. Encourage guests to kick off their shoes and have some fun—my sister's entire bridal party jumped into a resort pool (with the bride still wearing her wedding dress!) after the reception festivities ended. Can you imagine a bride wearing a ball gown and tiara doing the same? I can't, either.