It’s easy to feel like love is in the air during the holiday season—because it is. Whether it’s the abundance of holiday cheer, the sales on engagement rings, or the togetherness of family and friends, it’s no secret that couples like getting engaged over the holidays. In fact, about 40 percent of engagements occur between November and February, giving it the nickname “proposal season.”

Though there’s no right or wrong time to get engaged—we’re big fans of the unexpected spring or summer proposal—there is something pretty magical about getting engaged this time of year. To celebrate this annual proposal season, here are seven reasons to get engaged over the holidays.

1. Your Friends and Family Will Already Be Around

What’s the first thing you have to do after you get engaged (besides plant a big one on your future spouse right away)? Tell your friends and family, of course! One of the big advantages of getting engaged during the holiday season is that you won’t have to send out any large group texts. Instead, you can pop over for a glass of bubbly at your aunt’s house or get together with your childhood BFFs and celebrate over dinner while you’re in town.

Telling friends and family over social media or text message that you’ve gotten engaged is exciting, but there’s nothing in comparison to telling them in person—where they can see the ring and hear every little detail of the proposal story.

2. You’ll Have Prime Photo Opps

Another advantage of getting engaged over the holiday season is that everything in town is a bit more dressed up thanks to all of the garlands, twinkle lights, and Christmas trees, which will make the ring photos even more stunning than they would have been already. Plus, you can have that classic ring pose right in front of the big family Christmas tree—always a favorite in our book.

3. Engagement Rings Can Be Less Expensive

Engagement rings are never exactly cheap, but getting engaged during the holiday season can be slightly more economical. Because jewelers are eager to get in on the proposal season action, you may find yourself a great deal. However, a word of caution: finding a diamond or another type of stone with a slashed price doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good deal. Always be prepared ahead of time before you head into the jewelry store and don’t just jump at the first deal that you see. You want to ensure that you’re finding a ring that fits your specifications—and not getting suckered into a deal because it was simply “on sale.”

4. It’s a Built-in Surprise Gift

If you are the one proposing to your future spouse, there’s really not a better time to surprise them with a ring than during the holiday season. This is your chance to get creative, and there are certainly a lot of fun ways that you could present the ring to them such as wrapping it up in a large box Russian nesting doll style or simply getting down on one knee after they are done opening up the rest of their presents. However you choose to do it, you can bet it won’t be a gift they’ll soon forget.

5. The Holidays Will Be More Meaningful

What better way to celebrate families coming together than to commit yourself to starting a new one? Although you may not be celebrating your engagement anniversary every year, there’s no doubt that the holidays will take on a new special meaning after a holiday season proposal.

While your wedding anniversary may eventually steal the spotlight, you can make a pact to take a moment and celebrate your engagement date—even it’s just a quick kiss under the mistletoe.

6. Your Future Spouse Can (Finally) Be Included in Family Photos

Remember all those awkward times that your future spouse was asked to take the family photo instead of being included? Now that you have the ring there’s no excuse for your Aunt Brenda to disclude him or her from the large family photo.

You may not have a date yet, but you have a commitment that your family can (finally) get behind. The downside? Someone is going to have to teach your aunt how to use the self-timer on her iPhone, which is a chore in and of itself.

7. Let’s Face it—it’s Romantic

There’s a good reason for why so many proposals happen during the holiday season: because it’s romantic. The hustle and bustle, the decorations in the stores and in homes, the cocktail parties and the abundance of cozy fireplaces all make for a romantic time. And although you may not be the only ones getting engaged this time of year, it doesn’t make it any less special for the two of you.

You’re about to ask the biggest question of your life—and understandably, you might be a little nervous. Luckily, there’s no right or wrong way to ask someone to marry you, but there are a few things that you can do to make the experience memorable for both of you. With these tricks up your sleeve (and some advice on what not to do) you’re sure to wow them on the way to that big “yes.”

Here are some proposal do’s and don’ts to follow before you pop the big question.

DO Make it Special

Now, don’t get us wrong: the proposal will be special no matter how you decide to do it—whether it’s in a hot air balloon, on top of a mountain, while you’re on a European vacation or during a Netflix binge at home—but you should still give it some forethought to make it special for both you and your partner.

The proposal doesn’t have to be an elaborate ploy with a dancing troupe or an announcement at a playoff game, but it does need to have a little creativity as well as a personal touch to let your partner know that it wasn’t an afterthought or was something that you were pressured into. If you’re hitting a brick wall of creativity, don’t be afraid to reach out to your partner’s parents, close friends, or someone who knows you as a couple to brainstorm some truly spectacular ideas to surprise them.

DO Think about Whether Your Partner Wants it Public or Private

You know your partner better than anyone in the world, so before you pop the ring out at a restaurant or during a family event, think about whether or not she or he would be comfortable answering this very important question in front of a lot of people. Remember: proposals are not any less special if they happen in private or in a quiet part of town. However, if your partner is always watching YouTube video loops of amazing proposals or nudging you in that direction, feel free to make a production out of it.

DO Consider Where Your Partner Will Be Coming in From

There’s no need for the two of you to be wearing your finest evening attire when you propose, but you should still consider your partner and whether or not they will feel like their best selves when you pop the question. For example, if you know that your partner always goes to the gym after work, you may not want to ask them to marry you right when they get home and they’re still sweaty from spin class. If you need advice on how to do it right, take cues from SNL star Aidy Bryant’s now-famous proposal story: her husband knew he only had about a minute-long window to propose when she got home from work—because he knew she’d want to be wearing a bra when it happened.

DO Have a Backup Plan

Like anything else in life, you should have a backup plan in place. Whether your partner is getting off work late or they happened to be in the bathroom when “Will You Marry Me” flashed across the screen, you should always have a second option to go to in case things go awry. No matter what, the most important thing is that you ask. If anything, it’ll make a funny story later of how things went terribly wrong on the way to the “yes.”

DON’T Try to Make Your Proposal Like Others

Even in something as classic as a proposal, there are trends that come and go—but whatever you do, don’t try to copy your proposal off someone else’s. It’s best to be as original and personal as you can so that it doesn’t feel too scripted or disingenuous.

DON’T Accidentally Let the Secret Out

If you’re trying to keep the proposal a secret, it’s best to keep it as close to the vest as possible. This means don’t share the news with any family members or friends who are known to spill the beans and definitely don’t keep the ring in a super obvious place (like a closet the two of you share) just in case your partner starts to reorganize.

DON’T Forget the Ring

The ring seals the deal of the proposal, but in the rush of all the excitement it can be easy to forget it at home! Make a note to yourself to put it in your pocket or your bag before you walk out the door. This is especially important if you are planning on proposing while on vacation. Keep it safely tucked away in your carry-on; the last thing you want to do is stress out about a lost checked bag with your engagement ring sitting inside.

DON’T Hide it in Food

Although this might seem like a tried and true way to propose, we think it might be time to ditch this idea once and for all. There’s just so much that could go wrong. Plus, you never know how hungry your partner may be during the meal, and you really don’t want to spend your first few hours as an engaged couple watching your future spouse get their stomach pumped.

First comes love, then comes prenup—then comes marriage?

While we tend to associate love and marriage with romance, fairy tale endings, and pledging to snuggle up on the couch together forever and ever amen, the hard truth is that a marriage is as much of a financial commitment as it is a romantic commitment. You may think that a prenuptial agreement is the most un-romantic thing in the world, but it can be a great way to protect yourself (and your future spouse) if you are financial imbalanced or are bringing some major assets into the marriage.

Here are a few things you should know about the prenuptial agreement—and how to know if you need one.

What Is a Prenup?

First thing’s first: a definition. A prenuptial agreement is a contract that two spouses enter into before marriage, which includes provisions on the division of property and spousal support if there is a divorce.

Although prenuptial agreements are typically only thought of as something that celebrities or wealthy business people do, there has recently been a rise in millennials requesting prenuptial agreements from lawyers before walking down the aisle. Prenuptial agreements tend to be more common with second marriages or for those who are coming into the marriage with significant assets.

Why Would You Need One

So, why might you need a prenuptial agreement? The main reason for wanting a prenuptial agreement is to protect any assets that you had before you entered into the marriage, but there are also other benefits.

A prenup can be an easy way to discuss money out in the open before you get married, ensure the financial protection of any current or future children that you may have together, and eliminate any confusion or guesswork over financial assets if there is a divorce or a death during your marriage. And yes, a prenuptial agreement does protect an individual’s assets that they had before they entered the marriage, but there is a huge benefit to discussing this while you’re still on speaking terms—just in case the worst case scenario happens.

What if My Partner Is Completely Against Getting One?

If you want to get a prenuptial agreement and your partner is completely against it, the best thing to do is discuss this carefully with them. They might understandably feel hurt or that you are anticipating a divorce before you’ve even exchanged rings. However, the truth is that just because you have a prenuptial agreement does not mean that the marriage is doomed or that you want to “hoard” you money.

At the end of the day, only the two of you can decide together if a prenuptial agreement would be a deal breaker either way.

What Should the Terms Be?

There are many stories and movies that would lead you to believe that only ridiculous things are put in the prenuptial agreement, such as punishments for weight gain or extra incentives if you have more than one child, but the truth is that most judges would throw out anything unreasonable or too one-sided.

The terms of your prenuptial agreement will largely depend on what the two of you are bringing into the marriage and how you would be splitting any of these assets. Your prenuptial agreement can include anything from your record collection to your pets to a stake in a family business. The important thing to remember is this: don’t leave anything out and don’t try to withhold information.

You Will Need Your Own Representation

If the two of you decide to get a prenuptial agreement, some states may require that you have your own legal representation to complete the deal. Even if it’s not required in your state, it’s still a good idea to make sure that your own interests are fully represented in order to make sure that everything is 100% fair. In fact, in many cases a judge will throw out a prenuptial agreement’s terms if both parties did not seek their own legal representation.

Remember: a Prenup Does Not Equal Divorce

A prenuptial agreement may not be the most romantic idea in the world, but just because you get one does not automatically mean that the two of you are destined for divorce court. On the contrary, a prenuptial agreement can mean that you are trying to take care of each other in the event that the worst possible scenario happens.

You Can Also Get a Postnup

If you initially decided against the prenuptial agreement and are having second thoughts after you’ve walked down the aisle—don’t worry. You can still get what’s called a postnuptial agreement. This works similarly to a prenuptial agreement in that it determines how assets are split in case of a divorce, but it’s just completed and notarized after the wedding. Should you decide to get a postnup, you want to do this as quickly as possible as any assets that you’ve accrued together since you’ve been married will make them marital assets.

Getting settled into married life may not sound as exciting as honeymoon-ing or opening up all your presents from the wedding shower, but we’re here to argue that it’s actually even better. If you’re suffering from a touch of the post-wedding blues or you’re not quite ready to go back to work yet after your incredible honeymoon, there are still plenty of things to look forward to in this new season of your life.

To help you keep the excitement alive and well throughout your first year of marriage, we’ve gathered our favorite first year of marriage bucket list items—perfect for you and your new spouse to try in this year and beyond.

Find Your Combined Décor Style

Even if you’ve lived together before, your first year of marriage is the best time to figure out what your combined decorative style is. When you first moved in together, your partner may have brought some of their more interesting (ahem, ugly) furniture, artwork or linens into the house and you both may still have the dishes you started out with in college. This is the perfect opportunity to spend some of those wedding shower gift cards and buy something that truly reflects both of your styles. Your first year of marriage is your chance to get a fresh start and finally start building that grown-up home you’ve always fantasized about.

Cook a Fancy Meal Together

The two of you may live for easy dinners on busy weeknights, but when you have a bit of extra time on the weekends, you should go all out and cook a fancy/incredibly complicated recipe together. Spend some time perusing through recipes on Pinterest, flipping through magazines or watching the Food Network to get some inspiration for your decadent meal. Then, head to the grocery store and search for all of the exotic ingredients that you need (and don’t forget the wine!).

Even if you don’t consider yourselves the best chefs, it’s still fun to try and work together to create something delicious. Besides, how else are you going to be able to use all of those kitchen gadgets that you registered for?

Have a Spontaneous Night Out

Who says married people don’t know how to have a good time? While you can think of nothing better than snuggling up on the couch and watching yet another episode of “Game of Thrones,” you should still make an effort to get all dolled up and enjoy a night out every once in a while. So, go see that movie you’ve been hearing about, go to that restaurant that just opened down the street or see if your city has any festivals or events going on downtown. Better yet, why not go out on a random Tuesday? Nothing will make you feel more energized and happy than shaking up a boring weeknight.

Take a Road Trip

Your honeymoon may be over, but that doesn’t mean that your traveling days are done. Now that you’re married, you have a built-in travel partner—and there’s nothing more fun than exploring new cities or new states together during a quick weekend trip. Dedicate a weekend or two in your first marriage to visiting a nearby city or state that you’ve always wanted to check out and prep the car with plenty of snacks + an incredible Spotify playlist for the road.

Start a New Tradition

One of the best things about getting married is getting to become part of your spouse’s family traditions—and vice versa. Another great part of getting married? Being able to start your own brand new traditions that are unique to the two of you. For example, you could make every Saturday blueberry pancake day—or maybe make every Sunday your museum day. You could also think up new traditions for holidays—such as actually going to buy a real Christmas tree instead of just using a fake one, or maybe going on a trip together instead of buying each other gifts. No matter what you choose to do, it’ll be special because the two of you thought of it together.

Talk About Money

No matter how you’re organizing your bank accounts (separate, joint, a combination), getting married means combining assets and working together to build a financial future. Money can certainly be a tricky subject—and is one of the leading causes of disagreements between couples—but it’s important to do a check-in with each other and have some financial goals to achieve. For example, do the two of you want to save up to buy a home in the next few years, or is the most important financial goal to pay off your student loan debt? Make it a priority to sit down with each other and have a discussion about your budget, financial goals, and investments at least once a month.

Wedding planning is a busy time, but it’s also a time for you to be reflective on your future: where you’ll live, what your holiday traditions will look like and, of course, if and when you’ll start a family. But if you’re starting a family a little sooner than what you thought—like, say, right in the middle of wedding planning—there’s no need to panic or postpone the ceremony.

Expecting a little one soon? Here’s what to do if you become pregnant while planning your wedding.

First, Calm Down

It’s easy to get overwhelmed with wedding planning as it is, but add in a pregnancy on top of it and that can be a recipe for a stressful situation—but it doesn’t have to be. Before you make any arrangements or start to take your pregnancy into consideration with your wedding plans, take a minute to breathe and celebrate your new little bundle of joy that’s coming into the world.

Whether you planned your pregnancy or it was a happy surprise, it doesn’t mean that your wedding plans have to drastically change. You’ll just have an extra little something to look forward to after the ceremony is over.

Plan Who You’ll Tell About the Pregnancy (or Decide to Keep it a Secret)

Depending on how soon your wedding is and how far along you are, it’s possible that you can keep the baby news under wraps until you’re further into the pregnancy (especially if you plan on wearing a loose fitting or flowy wedding gown). You can also choose to share the news only with your immediate family and a few close friends—and stress the importance of keeping it quiet until after the ceremony.

If, however, you’ll likely be showing by the wedding date and you feel comfortable sharing your news, then by all means ask your friends and family to celebrate all of your exciting life changes. And if you’re really bold, you could also wait until the wedding reception to announce the pregnancy in a fun and unique way, adding in a sonogram picture to the family photo table or having one of your parents make a speech and tell your guests how excited they are to be a grandma or grandpa.

Keep a Very Organized Calendar

When you’re planning a wedding, it’s wise to keep a calendar going for appointments with vendors as well as deadlines for sending out invitations, finalizing the menu, and reminders for when the checks are due. Add in a pregnancy on top of your wedding plans and you’ve got twice as many dates to remember for doctor’s appointments, Lamaze classes, and shopping trips for baby’s room.

All of these important dates need to be tracked in the same place to avoid over-scheduling and burnout. Keep a very organized calendar—and combine it with your partner’s—so that the two of you have an exact idea of what’s going on at any given moment.

Plan Your Wedding Dress Selection for a Growing Belly

You may have found the dress several months ago when your size was a bit more predictable, but now your body is changing—and fast. If your wedding date is approaching soon and your belly hasn’t grown too much, you might just need slight alterations in order to be comfortable on your wedding day.

However, if your wedding day is months away and you can’t imagine squeezing into that mermaid gown you picked out 15 pounds ago, you might want to consider an alternative dress or having a serious conversation with a tailor. Still haven’t shopped for a wedding dress? Look for a gown that’s got a looser fit and softer fabric that moves. Your best bets are an A-line or empire waist style that leaves a little more room for your growing baby belly.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help with Wedding Planning

Planning a wedding is already exhausting—but pregnancy will make you tired like you’ve never been tired before. Because you have all of these things piling up on your plate (and all you want to do is nap) don’t be afraid to reach out to your partner, your bridesmaids and your family members to ask for help with wedding tasks. Have a bridesmaid who’s got great penmanship? Recruit her to help you address invitations. Have a mother-in-law with connections to a caterer? Ask her to set up a meeting for you and ask for advice about the menu. Wherever you can, try to delegate tasks to those who would be happy to help so that you can take a beat, relax, and concentrate on growing your healthy baby.

Reconsider Your Menu Options for the Wedding Reception

While you may have had your eye on a cheese plate filled with Camembert and Brie or maybe a sushi bar during your wedding cocktail hour, things have changed since you became pregnant. As you plan the menu for the wedding reception, don’t forget to think about your new dietary restrictions. Of course you want to make your guests happy, but it’s important that you’ll be able to have a good meal on the night of your wedding, too!

Image via CNBC.

Wedding dress retail giant David’s Bridal filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday, but with promises to perform business as usual. Brides, however, can breathe a sigh of relief: the bankruptcy filing will not affect any orders and bridal appointments will not be rescheduled, according to the company.

David’s Bridal, the largest wedding retailer in the country, currently owes creditors between $500 million and $1 billion, according to CNN. The bankruptcy doesn’t come at a huge surprise as the company has been on the verge of this Chapter 11 filing since at least October, when they missed a key debt payment. David’s Bridal reached an agreement with their lenders to reduce their debt by $400 million as part of their bankruptcy terms. This will ensure that they can keep their 300+ retail locations as well as their online store open.

Flashbacks to Alfred Angelo Closings

This bankruptcy filing may have certainly given brides some haunting flashbacks of last year’s Alfred Angelo sudden closing, which left brides in the lurch without their dresses. Many brides were never able to track down their dresses at the stores and thousands lost the deposits that they had put down on their gowns. A year later, there have been $20 million dollars in claims against the now-defunct bridal retailer. Ironically, in response to this sudden shut down, David’s Bridal gave Alfred Angelo brides 40 percent off their gowns.

Changing Wedding Trends

Experts cite a combination of changing wedding trends as well as a high level of debt in their 2012 acquisition by private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice.

Because the wedding industry has in general become more casual, the market has become infiltrated with more low-key bridal wear from H&M and Anthropologie, which gives brides more choices than they’ve ever had before. Online retailers have also become a go-to for modern brides, causing them to skip over the once dominant chain. In addition, people are generally getting married less frequently than ever before. The number of new marriages per 1,000 Americans was 6.9 in 2016, which is down from 8.2 in 2000, according to the U.S. government.

“For more than 60 years, David’s has delivered beautiful, high-quality dresses and accessories for our customers’ most special occasions, and the actions we are taking will enable us to build on that tradition,” David’s Bridal CEO Scott Key said in a press statement. “Our team is laser-focused on providing brides and their families with the five-star service and experience they deserve and have come to expect from us.”

As of right now, everything is expected to be business as usual for David’s Bridal. But if there’s anything we’ve learned from the Alfred Angelo incident, it’s this: if you have ordered a dress with David’s Bridal, make sure you know exactly where it is at all times. Track the shipping with the store and don’t be afraid to ask how long it will take for the alterations to be completed. The last thing any bride needs is a missing dress before her big day!

With the average cost of the American wedding hiking up to an extreme amount of $20,000, it’s no wonder that couples are getting creative in order to keep costs down while still celebrating their nuptials. Enter the micro wedding—the latest in a string of quirky wedding trends—which is defined as a wedding that has anywhere between five and 50 guests. Like the name implies, it’s a wedding—but in miniature form—which means fewer guests and, most importantly, less money.

Other than fewer guests, what does it really mean to throw a micro wedding? How is it any different than a traditional ceremony and reception? And what are the biggest benefits of throwing a much smaller wedding? Let’s go over all the basics of a micro wedding—and why it might be the wedding solution you were looking for.

A Micro Wedding Is Not an Elopement

First things first: a micro wedding is not an elopement, which typically involves heading to the courthouse or jet-setting away to the nearest all-inclusive resort to tie the knot privately. An elopement will usually only have one or two witnesses at most and will not have all the bells and whistles of a traditional wedding ceremony and reception such as bridesmaids, a dinner, or a wedding shower.

A Micro Wedding Can Save You a Lot of Money

Obviously, fewer guests means less money you have to spend on the overall budget. The fewer people you invite, the less food, alcohol, invitations, wedding favors, linens, flowers, and wedding cake you will need to pay for. This is one of the biggest advantages to planning a micro wedding: you literally get to have your cake and eat it too. Many couples who choose to go the micro wedding route are eager to put their savings accounts to better use for things like buying a home, going on a vacation, or starting a family right away.

You Can Also Stretch Your Budget Further

On the flip side, a micro wedding is also a way for couples to get the wedding of their dreams—without having to pay an absolute fortune. With fewer guests, you can afford to splurge on that ’90s cover band you love so much or be able to spring for the plated three-course dinner. Whatever kind of wedding fantasies you may have can become more of a real possibility when you have fewer guests on your list.

A Micro Wedding Is Perfect for Those Who Can’t Do Large Crowds

If you and your partner are more introverted and are completely freaked out by the idea of getting married in front of 100+ people, a micro wedding can feel a little more intimate and less intimidating. A big bonus to a small wedding crowd is that you won’t feel like you have to break up your guest interactions into 30-second conversations. You can actually spend time with all of your loved ones and not have to feel rushed when you are catching up and socializing at the reception.

You Open Yourself Up to More Venue Possibilities

Have you always dreamed of getting married in your grandmother’s beautiful Victorian-era home? Do you always eye that gorgeous little gazebo in the park as a location for your dream wedding? Having a smaller wedding not only means that you can be more flexible in how you spend your wedding budget, but it also means that you can be more creative with where you get married. Because you’re not having to accommodate 100+ people (and find chairs, parking, and space for them to eat), you can get married in nontraditional wedding spaces like your backyard, a rustic barn, your favorite restaurant, or a small room at a beautiful local library.

You Can Skip Over all the Traditional Wedding Stuff You Don’t Like

While this is also true of a bigger ceremony, a smaller wedding means that there aren’t as many expectations to stick to the script. This means you don’t have to do any readings, have any special music, or do the bouquet toss if you don’t want to. You can just keep all the fun stuff, whether that’s the champagne toast or the cake cutting.

The Hard Part of a Micro Wedding? Narrowing Down Your Guest List

The appeal of a micro wedding is that there are fewer guests to pay for, but the downside to this of course is that you actually have to pare down your guest list. This can be especially difficult if both of you come from large families with dozens of cousins or have a big community of friends.

If you’re having a hard time narrowing things down, here are a few things to ask yourself as you make your guest list:

• Does the person you are inviting know the two of you as a couple?
• Have you spoken to this person in the last year?
• Can you imagine the ceremony or reception without them?

Your beauty team is there to make sure there’s no frizz in your updo and that your waterproof mascara will hold up during your vows (because there will be tears), but there are still a few things you’ll want to think about beauty-wise so that you feel like the best version of yourself on your wedding day. Should you choose to go all out for your wedding day look, we’ve created this easy-to-follow beauty timeline so that you can keep track of when to make all your appointments—because we know you’ve already got enough planning on your plate.

Six Months Before the Wedding

The first order of business is to schedule a visit to the dermatologist. If you’re having any skin concerns or are in need of any topical treatments, you’ll want to get this done good and early just in case your skin has any reactions to medication.

Six months before the wedding is also a good time to meet with potential hair stylists and/or makeup artists so you can book them as soon as possible. If you’re going the DIY makeup route, you’ll want to take a makeup lesson from a local professional and research/try as many products as you can so you can get a sense of what you like and what looks best.

Five Months Before

This is the time you’ll need to make some crucial hair decisions. If your hair is short, are you going to grow it out? If you’ve experimented with dyeing your hair, are you going to try to go back to your natural color? To help you figure all this out and more, it’s a good idea to schedule a consultation with your regular stylist and work together on making a wedding plan for dyeing, growing out, or cutting your hair.

Five months before the wedding is also a crucial time to get your skin prepped for the big day through a regular skincare routine. If you’ve been slacking on your skincare routine, now is the time to ramp it up by regular exfoliating, using a gentle cleanser, and moisturizing. Also, don’t forget to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water!

Four Months Before

We’re getting closer to your wedding date, and now is the time to put more of the focus on your face—and specifically on your brows. To get your brows in good shape, schedule a brow-grooming appointment so that a professional can help guide your misshaped brows into beautiful arches that frame your face.

Born with patchy brows or over-plucked for years? You might want to think about microblading (a semi-permanent tattooing technique that gives you the appearance of more brow hairs) so that you can get that full brow you’ve always dreamed of.

Three Months Before

You’re three months out from your wedding day, which means that plans are really starting to take shape, you’re wrapping things up—oh, and you’re super stressed out. Calm things down a bit by scheduling a facial that’s specialized for your specific skin type and/or booking a massage.

Three months before your wedding is also a good time for your hair and makeup trial run, so take full advantage of your gorgeous face by having an impromptu date night with your future spouse. Before the day of your hair trial, get a light trim and touch up your roots so that you can see your wedding day look exactly as it’s going to be.

Two Months Before

Not only do you want to look great on your wedding day, but you also want to smell fantastic. Two months before your wedding is the perfect time to pick your wedding day perfume so that it can always remind you of your special day that was filled with so much love.

Two months before your wedding is also prime time to try out a spray tan technician if you want a bronzed glow on your wedding day. Definitely don’t wait until the last minute to do this—the last thing you want on your wedding is orange skin.

One Month Before

Ready or not, the wedding will be here in a blink of an eye! One month before your wedding, decide on a lip color and keep an extra tube with you so you can touch up throughout your wedding night. It’s also a good idea to schedule a brow appointment to tame any strays and get your arch in good shape.

Two Weeks Before

It’s getting to be crunch time. The final details are being wrapped up and things are starting to feel real. In between all of your running around town doing wedding errands, you should schedule your final cut and color or at least just get a trim. Don’t do anything drastic—no matter how stressed you are. Now is not the time for last-minute hair changes.

If you’ve been slurping down iced coffees like it’s your job, you might also want to whiten your teeth with some white strips. You’re going to be smiling a lot, after all!

One Week Before

To prevent any puffiness on your big day, now is the time to cut down on your alcohol consumption (yes, even if your future mother-in-law is being difficult). You’ll also want to pack a beauty kit for the wedding day, which should include everything from hair spray to Q-tips.

Three Days Before

The last thing you want to do on your wedding day is shave your legs, so three days before is a good time to schedule a waxing appointment for your legs, arms, and bikini area, if you so wish.

Two Days Before

If you’ve decided to get a spray tan, now is the time to do it. Now is not the time to be shy—so don’t be afraid to get in there in your birthday suit because the last thing you want are bra strap lines.

You’ll also want those tootsies and fingernails to look polished, so book a manicure and pedicure two days prior to the wedding.

One Day Before

Wash your hair and style in the morning so that your hair isn’t completely fresh on your wedding day (slightly dirty hair always holds style better). If you have the time before your rehearsal dinner, schedule a massage so that you’re nice and relaxed before you see friends and family.

Day of the Wedding

It’s finally your wedding day! Take a minute to soak it all in before you get started on your beauty regimen.

Wash your face, exfoliate, and moisturize as you normally would because your makeup artist will want to start with a completely clean face.

Three hours before your wedding starts, get your hair done. Two hours before the wedding, put on your makeup. One hour before, attach your headpiece, if you’re wearing one. Now, pop a breath mint, take a shot, and walk down that aisle!

Weddings are full of decisions: the venue, the officiant, the food—and whether you’ll allow Post Malone songs to be played during the reception. But one of the most personal decisions during wedding planning is whether or not you’ll change your last name after the ceremony. While this is certainly a decision most brides need to make when they’re about to get married, it can sometimes be more complicated for same-sex couples who are tying the knot.

The landmark decision in Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015 allows same-sex couples in the United States the right to marry in the way that heterosexual couples have always had, which includes the right to change their last names. In “Equally Wed: The Ultimate Guide to Planning Your LGBTQ+ Wedding” by Kirsten Palladino, she writes, “If you, your partner, or both of you are changing your name, you don’t need to go through the hoops that your predecessors did just a few years ago: petitioning the court for permission to take your spouse’s last name, running an advertisement in the newspaper about your plans to change your name, and sometimes paying thousands in lawyer’s fees.”

Although it’s less common for married same-sex couples to change their last name, there are many reasons why you might want to consider it. Sharing a last name can be convenient when you’re traveling together abroad, make it easier for you to visit your spouse should they get sick and be in the hospital, and ease the ability to make healthcare decisions on behalf of your spouse.

The right to change your last name is legal and available, should you choose to do so, but it is certainly not a requirement. Because most wedding traditions are based on heterosexual norms and traditions (like changing the bride’s surname to match the groom’s), LGBTQ+ couples are coming up with creative approaches to fit what’s best for them.

If you’re thinking about changing your last name, here are a few options that are common for same-sex couples.

Choosing an Entirely New Last Name

You’re starting a new family unit, so why not take on an entirely new last name? Whether this is a combination of your current last names, an old family name, or maybe just a name you’ve long admired, this approach to changing your last name might be the easiest way to go about it (once, of course, the two of you can settle on a name). This might be a good option for couples who place heavy importance on their children having the same last name as both of their parents—or those who want to signify a new family to those outside the marriage.

Hyphenating a Current Last Name with the New One

A good compromise to changing last names is to become a hyphenated family. Although both of you will have to go through the legal name changing process, you’ll still have a piece of your last name. This is a popular choice for couples who want their children to share both of their last names. The only snags you can run into with a hyphenated last name are deciding on what to do if your partner already has a hyphenated name from their parents and choosing which last name is going to come first.

Choosing to take a Spouse’s Name

Choosing one spouse’s name over the other’s is also a choice that’s on the table for same-sex couples. There are many reasons why one partner would want to take another partner’s last name, such as shortening their name, getting away from a family name that has caused them pain, disassociating themselves from an unsupportive family or simply wanting to choose one partner’s name as a symbol of commitment. Should you choose to take on your spouse’s last name, you also have the option of moving your current last name to become your middle name. This is a symbolic way to keep a piece of your old last name while still celebrating the new.

Remember, You Don’t Have to Change Your Last Name at All

Just because it’s a tradition for couples to change their last name after the wedding doesn’t mean that you have to follow suit. Your name is your identity and getting married to another person doesn’t have to change that.

Many people who have an established writing, legal, or creative career don’t want to change their last name if they’ve built up a clientele or have name recognition. In many cases, changing a last name means more than just changing it on your social security card: it can also mean contacting clients to inform them of the change, updating your website and email address, and showing new employers or clients past work with a note that you’ve since gotten married. Even if you plan on having children, it’s not necessary for you to share a last name. You can choose for your children to have hyphenated last names or even choose for one child to have one parent’s last name and a second to have the other parent’s last name.

Whatever you choose, the choice is personal and doesn’t need to be explained to family or friends who may be inquiring. No matter what name choice you go with, the commitment to each other that you make is the most important thing to share.

One of the most romantic nights of the year is unquestionably New Year’s Eve. Think about it: you get all dressed up with your closest pals, go to a nice dinner or head to a party and, of course, you drink champagne and steal a smooch at midnight. There aren’t many nights better suited for a wedding than New Year’s—and a New Year’s Eve wedding celebration can be one for the books. If you’re considering a New Year’s Eve wedding, or if you’ve already set the date for one, here’s how to plan it without a hitch.

Inform Your Guests Extra Early

It’s always best when you can spread the word about your wedding date early, but when you’re planning for a holiday wedding—the absolute sooner the better. As soon as you book the venue and sign a contract, you should think about sending save the dates or putting up a wedding website right then and there before your friends and relatives start making holiday plans or booking vacations.

Make it Glamorous

The whole point on getting married on a night like New Year’s Eve is to take advantage of the glitz and glamour of the celebration. Lean into that with all of your decorations, bridesmaids dresses, and even the dress code for the guests. You want to make your guests feel as though they are attending the party of the season, so really make sure you give them everything you’ve got. Incorporate shimmery golds, metallic silvers and sparkly hues everywhere you turn in the ceremony and reception space to give the night a more elevated and romantic look than your average New Year’s Eve party.

Ask Your Vendors if There Will Be an Upcharge

Wedding vendors like bakers, DJs, or caterers can generally expect that they are going to be busy most weekends for events, but they may not have planned on being available during the holidays. Although technically New Year’s Eve isn’t a national holiday, many people take the opportunity to visit friends, attend parties, or even extend their Christmas celebrations with family. Because of this, booking a vendor for a New Year’s Eve wedding may be difficult, or potentially even more expensive.

As you’re looking into which vendors you’ll be booking for your wedding ceremony and reception, you’ll definitely want to ask if there will be an upcharge for their services on a holiday and what that fee is. The last thing you want is a surprise on the contract or on the bill at the very end of the night.

Hold a Fireworks Display

A fireworks display is always appropriate for a New Year’s celebration—but it can put your New Year’s Eve wedding ceremony over the top. To plan a fireworks display for your wedding, first check to see if your city is putting on its own show and whether or not it will be visible from your venue. Have your DJ or band make an announcement about the fireworks and then have all your guests head outdoors to enjoy the show—with coats on and patio heaters, preferably.

If your ceremony space is a bit tucked away, inquire with your venue about hosting your own professional-level fireworks show. They may ask that you seek out your own permits and may require you to have the show a certain distance from the venue, but nothing could be more magical or memorable for your guests than your own private fireworks show.

…Or Hoist up a Lantern

New Year’s Eve celebrations are more than just about leaving the last year behind—they’re also about making wishes and promises for the year to come. This is especially important if you’re a new husband or wife and you have an extra special reason to be excited about the upcoming year.

A beautiful way to celebrate your new marriage and the new year in general is to light paper lanterns and release them into the sky during the reception. Have your guests make wishes for the both of you as well as their own families during this elegant display of lanterns against a winter-y black sky. A wishing lantern release will make for beautiful pictures and will be a memorable experience for all your guests.

Have a Final Countdown

Having a New Year’s Eve wedding means that you have to incorporate a countdown of some kind during your ceremony or reception. Whether you wait to have your ceremony until 11:45—ensuring a first kiss around midnight—or you have your DJ stop the music a few minutes before 12, a proper countdown will only add to the festivities and fun of the night.

To make your countdown truly special, provide your guests with party hats, confetti, noise makers, and champagne to toast the new year, as well as your new marriage.