Country club weddings are all well and good, but if you’re hoping to say “I do” at a more imaginative location, there’s a whole world of phenomenal wedding venues to explore. Here are 20 of the most amazing in the country, curated by our friends at Wedding Spot, a site that helps couples compare venues based on location, style, and price. (Hey, unless you have a full-time wedding planner, we recommend taking all the help you can get.)

1. AHWANEE HOTEL, CALIFORNIA

The Ahwanee Hotel—which has played host to several presidents and queens—sits right in the middle of Yosemite National Park, which means your wedding will play out against a backdrop of towering mountains and lush valleys.

2. BROOKLYN GRANGE FARM, NEW YORK

The perfect combination of alternative and glamorous, this herb-scented venue—a rooftop farm that overlooks New York City—offers unparalleled skyline views.

3. BROOKMILL FARM, NEW JERSEY

This property features ancient trees, a trout-stocked pond, bridges, a waterfall, and a Colonial home dating to 1807. Best of all, you and your guests get the farm all to yourself for the entire weekend.

4. DOVER HALL ESTATE, VIRGINIA

A private English Tudor estate located in the hills of Virginia, Dover Hall offers 33,000 square feet of grounds overlooking endless acres of rolling hills and woodlands.

5. GLEN COVE MANSION, NEW YORK

This sprawling estate within New York’s historic Gold Coast can host up to 220 of your closest friends.

6. HAMMOND CASTLE MUSEUM, MASSACHUSETTS

Hammond Castle offers all the allure of a European castle—without having to ask your wedding guests to dust off their passports. The medieval-style castle overlooks the Atlantic shoreline and showcases Roman, medieval, and Renaissance artifacts.

7. HONU KAI LANI, HAWAII

Your tropical destination wedding doesn’t have to be officiated in the sand by a local. Honu Kai Lani, on Honolulu Island, is a one-of-a-kind modern chapel that offers a glass aisle and the sound of crashing waves.

8. INN ON BILTMORE, NORTH CAROLINA

Tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Inn on Biltmore features a grand ballroom with chandeliers and serene panoramic views of the surrounding mountain peaks and lush forests.

9. KUKAHIKO ESTATE, HAWAII

Kukahiko Estate is a scenic family owned tropical estate nestled in a cove of lava rocks, which form a spectacular backdrop for an intimate outdoor reception.

10. MELLON AUDITORIUM, WASHINGTON, D.C.

For the couple that wants a piece of American history, the Mellon Auditorium—located across the street from the Smithsonian—is a good place to start.

11. ROBERT YOUNG ESTATE WINERY, CALIFORNIA

There are plenty of winery venues to choose from in Sonoma County, but few can hope to match this historic estate, which is set on 300 acres of vineyards, lawns, and gardens.

12. SALISH LODGE & SPA, WASHINGTON

Waterfalls await: At the Salish Lodge and Spa, couples are invited to swap vows atop the stunning Snoqualmie Falls.

13. SEDONA GOLF RESORT, ARIZONA

Set in the heart of one of the most scenic regions of the Southwest, the Sedona Golf Resort offers sweeping views of Sedona’s towering red stones—and one of the finest golf courses in the world.

14. THE ADDISON, FLORIDA

Say “I do” in a courtyard covered by a 100-year-old banyan tree, then host your reception inside the 1926 house, which was built by an acclaimed architect Addison Mizner and features art deco chandeliers and restored French doors.

15. THE PEAKS RESORT & SPA, COLORADO

Your Telluride wedding stars with a ceremony overlooking the San Juan Peaks then flows effortless into the reception, where your guests can watch the sun set behind the mountains.

16. THE WESTIN LAKE LAST VEGAS RESORT & SPA, NEVADA

Your Vegas wedding doesn’t have to involve an Elvis impersonator or a drive-through chapel. This resort is tucked on the banks of the scenic Lake Las Vegas—but still just a short drive from downtown for guests (and couples) who want a true Vegas experience.

17. VENTANAS, GEORGIA

Sorry, sparklers: For brides and groom who want to make an unexpected exit, the helipad at the Ventanas makes for the most dramatic send-off we can think of.

18. VILLA ANTONIA, TEXAS

Wait, are we in Texas or Tuscany? Well, Texas, but Villa Antonia has serious European vibes. The historic mansion, perched on a green hill an hour outside of Austin, offers terraces, gardens, bridges, and waterfalls.

19. WILD IRIS RETREAT, CALIFORNIA

You don’t need to host your backyard wedding in your backyard: The 300-acre Wild Iris Retreat, set among towering redwoods, gives majorly outdoorsy vibes—plus, private hiking trails, gardens, and river access. (The place is yours for the weekend. Enjoy.)

20. WINN HOMESTEAD EVENTS, OREGON

A barn-style wedding can’t get much more authentic than this: Winn Homestead offers couples a 1916 red barn with dramatic vaulted ceilings.

Want to see more? Click your way over to Wedding Spot to start searching for your perfect wedding venue.

Need more wedding inspo? Here’s a wedding-worthy updo from the BAFTA Awards.

It seems Amal Alamuddin was just as surprised as the rest of us when George Clooney proposed: the two didn’t have the “Should we get married?” talk ahead of time so he didn’t know if she’s say yes—and she didn’t, for about 25 minutes!

To set that scene for his proposal, George—whose appearance on Ellen will air today—lit candles, hand-picked music (“Why Shouldn’t I?” by his aunt, legendary cabaret singer Rosemary Clooney) and set out a home-cooked dinner for his then-girlfriend—and she walked away from the table to wash dishes. (“Which she’s never done,” George told Ellen.)

George blew out the candle—part of his plan all along—and then asked his confused girlfriend to hand him the lighter in a box, which had an engagement ring inside!

“She pulls it out, looks at it, and says, ‘It’s a ring.’” remembers George. “Like somebody had left it there some other time. So I got down on my knee and said, ‘I couldn’t imagine spending the rest of my life without you.’ And she kept looking at the ring and looking and me and was like, ‘Oh my god.’”

But she still didn’t say yes!

“We now know, because there was playlist, it was like 25 minutes! And I finally said, ‘I hope the answer’s yes, but I need an answer, because I’m 52, and I could throw out my hip pretty soon.’ And then she said yes. So it worked out pretty well.”

If you want to watch, the proposal story starts two and a half minutes minutes in.

For more George, watch Gold Globes Stars Talk Fashion, Cats, and George Clooney on the Red Carpet.

You can fall in love with a venue almost as hard as you fell for your partner. But as the saying goes, you can’t judge a book by its cover—or a ballroom by its gorgeous Grecian columns. What a venue offers and—perhaps more importantly—what it doesn’t offer is not always obvious. But our experts have given you all the questions you need to ask any and every potential venue in order to arm yourself with all the information you’ll need to make an educated decision on where you’ll exchange your vows or hear your first toast.

1. How many weddings would take place on site the day of my wedding? Being double-booked at a massive hotel may be no big deal. But if your small barn venue books back-to-back events, proceed with caution. “This might effect the set up time for vendors,” who may not be able to make your wedding vision come true in the time they’ll be given, warns Kelly Heyn, owner of SociaLife Event Planning in New Jersey.

2. How early can we arrive? Your vendors need adequate time to erect a chuppah or drape tables in glittering linens—and you may want precious moments before the party starts to take your portraits. “But some venues limit your time to only an hour prior to the start of your wedding,” says Heyn, “and that could effect the set up time for vendors and what you have time to accomplish.”

3. When must the venue be cleared? Just because the party ends doesn’t mean the fun is over—someone has to clean up what’s left behind. And Alicia Matsumoto, owner of Bespoke Design in California, warns that many venues tack on an overtime fee if you or your vendors don’t clear out in time. “Some venues require that the venue is cleared that night, which can mean overtime costs for your vendors and an added layer of logistics,” she says.

4. Do you require liability insurance? This special insurance protects you—and your venue—from any accidents that may take place during your wedding, such as damage to the facility or a drunken guest’s twisted ankle. But whether you have to purchase such insurance could make or break whether you can afford a venue. “Liability insurance is fairly affordable for events,” says Matsumoto, “but it's an additional cost that should be factored into the cost of the venue.”

5. Does the venue have a backup generator should the power go out? You may be thinking a major power outage would be a freak accident that even your worst wedding nightmares can’t imagine. But, says Heyn, “being a planner from the Jersey Shore, this is a question we started to ask after Hurricane Sandy when many weddings had to be cancelled because venues were without power for weeks!”

6. How is parking handled during an event? You may have found the perfect space for your guests but not their cars. “If the venue has limited parking, you'll most likely need to use shuttles,” warns Matsumoto, “which can be a very large additional sum if you weren't planning on providing transportation.” So before you sign a contract, be sure to ask what alternatives a venue offers when it comes to parking.

7. What is the maximum number of guests the venue can seat comfortably, with a dance floor? Venues will often give a maximum capacity without a clear picture of what stuffing a room with that many people actually looks like. So, “ask to see pictures or a floor plan if you are planning on coming close to that number,” advises Heyn. “Some venues will try and cram more guests into a space because they can generate more money. But in many cases, guests are very cramped together and uncomfortable.”

8. Is there an additional cost for ceremony space? Especially if your prospective venue offers indoor and outdoor options, you may assume a single fee covers both. But you must ask, Matsumoto says, “if there is there an additional fee for an on-site ceremony. Make sure there are no additional costs and fees that will be tacked on.”

9. If my wedding takes place outside, what is the rain plan? You can control your color palette, your wedding dress, your signature cocktail—but you cannot control the rain. So before you book a venue with an outdoor ceremony space, “make sure you ask to see pictures of what the set up will look like if you must move indoors,” says Heyn. “You must always love your rain plan. It’s the one thing you can’t predict with the planning so make sure you are happy with the space if it does rain.”

10. Are we required to use any specific vendors? Whether you’ve fallen in love with a florist or a craving a certain cake baker won’t matter if you venue requires you can only hire vendors off its approved list. “Some venues will require you to use a specific caterer, rental company and florist,” advises Heyn. “Make sure you know the prices of these vendors before you book so that there are no surprises.”

Celebrities pull out all the stops for their weddings, so it’s no surprise you’d want to copy your favorite A-lister on your own wedding day. To help you steal stars’ style secrets, we polled some of our favorite wedding vendors for their tips on throwing a Hollywood-worthy wedding.

LAUREN CONRAD + WILLIAM TELL

A photo posted by Lauren Conrad (@laurenconrad) on Dec 31, 2014 at 10:39am PST

TIP: Score on-sale accessories. We’re still swooning over Lauren’s jewel-encrusted Badgley Mischka shoes. If you have your eye on an expensive pair, resist the urge to splurge: Keep a close on the stock at designer outlets, like Neiman Marcus Last Call and Saks Off-Fifth, where you can find pumps for a fraction of the original price.

Event Design: White Elephant Events. Photographer: Alexis June Weddings.

TIP: Opt for a petite wedding cake. Lauren and William’s was a dainty two layers. A small cake is also a good way to save money: The bakery can make a small “just for show” cake, then your caterer can cut up supermarket sheet cake (much less expensive) in the kitchen for guests to eat.

Rex and Regina Events.

JOHN LEGEND + CHRISSY TEIGEN

A photo posted by Aaron Delesie (@aarondelesie) on Jun 14, 2014 at 2:46pm PDT

TIP: Indulge your inner foodie. Cookbook author Chrissy and her groom picked a decadent four-tiered naked carrot cake layered with cream cheese frosting. The ring shaped-sugar cubes below are a less-extravagant—but just as sweet—touch for your reception tables.

Sugar Shoppe LA.

SNOOKI + JIONNI LAVALLE

A photo posted by Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi (@snookinic) on Nov 29, 2015 at 9:51am PST

TIP: Opt for small, sparkly touches—they can make a big impact. Snooki and Jionni had loads of sparkly accents at their Gatsby-themed wedding. Instead of sequin-covered table cloths (which can cost more than $150 each) at every table, rent just one or two for focal point tables (like the cake table and the escort card table) and the use smaller, less-expensive touches of sparkle elsewhere.

Event Design: Rothweiler Events. Photographer: Sarah Schulte.

NIKKI REED + IAN SOMERHALDER

A video posted by Nikki Reed (@iamnikkireed) on May 26, 2015 at 6:07pm PDT

TIP: Don’t forget the details. Having a vintage-rustic wedding like Nikki and Ian? These monogrammed hankies are perfect for wiping away happy tears.

The Handkerchief Shop.

TIP: Keep your palette clean and classic. Nikki and Ian opted for flowers in shades of white and with lots of unfussy, wild greenery, which is great for texture and volume—and also easy on your budget.

Event Design: Megan Dileen Events. Photographer: Ambre Williams Photography.

DESIREE HARTSOCK + CHRIS SIEGFRIED

A photo posted by Desiree (Hartsock) Siegfried (@desireesiegfried) on Jan 18, 2016 at 9:10am PST

TIP: Look to the great outdoors. Celebs’ favorite venues are often outside—and they’re often available for non-famous people to rent. Desiree and Chris (also pictured below) swapped vows at Wayfarers Chapel in California. Here are more celebs’ wedding venues.

Photo: Brandon Kidd Photo.

SOLANGE + ALAN FERGUSON

A photo posted by Solange (@saintrecords) on May 16, 2015 at 9:31pm PDT

TIP: Look for a minimalist venue. Solange’s wedding pictures look as though they were taken in an empty warehouse. If you want your wedding to feel similarly stark (in a good way!) pass on venues with busy wallpaper or loud carpeting.

Love Me Do Photography.

JASON KENNEDY + LAUREN SCRUGGS

A photo posted by Lauren Scruggs Kennedy (@laurenscruggs) on Jun 14, 2015 at 7:33pm PDT

TIP: Embrace matchy-matchy. Lauren and Jason kept things classic, with bridesmaids in matching floor-length gray dresses and groomsmen in matching black suits. If you have a big wedding party, a dress in a single, flattering silhouette and color will look better than a mix-and-match assortment.

Event Design: Couture Events. Photographer: One Love Photography.

EMILY MAYNARD + TYLER JOHNSON

A photo posted by Emily Maynard Johnson (@emilygmaynard) on Sep 22, 2014 at 9:02am PDT

TIP: Look for money-saving shortcuts on classic details. You can splurge on fancy-looking invitations if you cut a few corners: Print the reception info right on the invitation (instead of paying for a separate reception card) and opt for invites with one color of ink. (The more inks used, the more the stationery will cost.)

Stationery: Bella Figura. Photographer: Kate Ignatowski Photography.

KIM KARDASHIAN + KANYE WEST

A photo posted by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on Sep 2, 2014 at 3:38am PDT

TIP: Emphasize your eyes—and keep hair simple. When she said “I do” to Kanye West, Kim Kardashian skipped the fussy updo and wore her hair straight and shiny. For makeup, it was all about the dramatic eyes.

Makeup: Beauty Entourage. Photographer: Blue Diamond Photography.

RILEY KEOUGH + BEN SMITH-PETERSEN

A photo posted by Riley Keough (@rileykeough) on Feb 3, 2016 at 10:30pm PST

TIP: Search for out-of-the-box venues. Riley and Ben said “I do” at a ranch. You can get a similar vibe at other spaces that aren’t dedicated event venues. Julia and Ben, in the video below, held their wedding at Caramoor in upstate New York, which is a center for music and arts.

Julia & Ben - Trailer Film (Basic) :: NST Pictures The Caramoor Wedding Video from NST Pictures on Vimeo.

NST Pictures

ALLISON WILLIAMS + RICKY VAN VEEN

A photo posted by Allison Williams (@aw) on Sep 20, 2015 at 12:05am PDT

TIP: Don’t get too attached to a couture gown. Sure, Allison Williams looked amazing in Oscar de la Renta, but a dress that costs more than a mid-size sedan isn’t in every bride’s budget. Decide what details you like—a peekaboo back, lace details—and look for those details in lower-priced gowns. (The Celia Lace gown below is under $3,000.)

Celia Grace.

For more wedding inspiration, check out this wedding hair how-to.

From across the bar, you spot your husband laughing — at another woman's joke. You experience a ping of jealously, but then let it slide. After all, he's just flirting, not cheating — or is he? The question of whether flirting equals infidelity is an age-old one with different answers depending on who you ask. So to get to the bottom, we asked experts whether it's anything to worry about.

"Flirting can feel like cheating because they both evoke similar emotions," says Julie de Azevedo Hanks, Ph.D., licensed clinical social worker and owner of Wasatch Family Therapy. "It's common for spouses to feel worried or jealous when their spouse's attention is focused on another person, especially when it hints at sexual attraction. Whenever our primary love relationships are threatened it usually triggers anxiety and fear of loss."

But almost across the board, all the experts we spoke to, including Hanks, agreed innocent flirting — the kind meant merely for amusement — isn't an act of infidelity. "In fact, if done properly, flirting can be a healthy ingredient to fan the flames of sexual desire within your relationship," says Jane Greer, Ph.D., relationship expert and author of What About Me? How to Stop Selfishness From Ruining your Relationship.

See More:8 Things Married Couples Are Doing Wrong in Bed

So when, if ever, does flirting cross the line to infidelity? "If the flirtation targets one specific person only, it may be seen as real romantic interest, and that could be understood to be a threat to the primary relationship," says Ursula Ofman, New York City-based sex therapist. Adds Hanks, "If the flirting can be defined as a 'romantic relationship' or a 'sexual relationship' it could be considered infidelity. Or, if the flirting consists of sexual conversations or sexual touch it is infidelity."

If you think your spouse's flirting has gone too far, it's OK to mention it to your partner in a non-accusatory way. "Bring it up when you are not acutely upset, and when the two of you have privacy and time to talk," Ofman suggests. "Don't assume your partner means to hurt you and address the topic from that perspective. Know what specific behavior change you want to ask for, and be realistic in that."

Alternatively, you could ask your partner to amp up his or her flirting with you. "The best thing to do is, rather than trying to get them to stop flirting with others, ask him or her to flirt with you at least as much — if not more — than other people," says Greer. "Make sure you're getting enough of the action with them."

Need more wedding-y talk? Copy this wedding-worthy updo from the BAFTA Awards.

The term “placeholder ring” couldn’t be less romantic. But the trend has gained traction the last few years with couples who want to pick out their “forever ring” together, yet don’t want to miss out on that once-in-a-lifetime moment when she says yes, and he slides a pretty ring onto her finger to seal the deal. (Also: So guys can avoid that stricken look on their bride-to-be’s face when he proposes with a ring that’s the absolute opposite of her style.)

So would you want your guy to propose with a placeholder ring? Once you picked out the perfect real-deal ring together, you could move the placeholder to your right hand, or swap it in on vacations when you’d rather leave the other at home. Check out these 10 gorgeous options, all under $500.

Simple Raw Diamond Solitaire in Rose Gold, $295, clay-pot.com

Heart Jewel Ring with Thai garnet and gold plate, $305, meadowlarkjewellery.com

Deco Point Ring, $430, twistonline.com

Threadbare Ring in rose gold, $44, catbirdnyc.com

White Enamel 'Mrs.' Ring, $270, twistonline.com

Twig Ring with Scattered Diamonds, $390, etsy.com

Hexagon Solitaire Ring with Morganite and sterling silver, $249, meadowlarkjewellery.com

Fine Studded Stacking Band in red gold, $479, meadowlarkjewellery.com

Pas de Deux Ring, $410, catbirdnyc.com

Crescent Moon Ring, $480, etsy.com

Double Love Knot Ring, $280, etsy.com

Three Diamond Ring, $260, twistonline.com

Want more love and marriage? Watch First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage.

When it comes to tiers and buttercream, the options are endless. (Hell, you could even ditch the tiers and buttercream all together.) That’s why we spoke to the best wedding cake designers and bakeries in the country—and selected the best almost-too-pretty-to-eat cake trends of 2016. These designs are predicted to, well, take the cake this year. (We couldn’t resist.)

Naked Cakes

Photo: Milk Bar.

Metallic Cakes

Photo: Jennifer Roach.

Textured, Monochromatic White

Photo: Jennifer Roach.

Black Details

Photo: Cake by Amy Beck Cake Design. Photo by Jolie Images.

Deconstructed (Non-Tiered) Cakes

Photo: Magnolia Bakery.

Geode Designs

Photo: Cake by Sainte G. Cake Company. Photo by Corbin Gurkin.

Painted Cakes

Photo: A White Cake.

Geometric Patterns

Photo: Made in Heaven Cakes.

Want to try your hand at baking? Here’s how to pipe leaves and roses.

To celebrate his upcoming flick The Choice, Nicholas Sparks opened up on all things romantic with IMDb Asks. Among the rom com chatter, a few reader questions snuck in, including one from a guy hunting for advice on how to propose to his girlfriend on Valentine's Day. {Hi, Eric from Chicago! }

"I'm going to go with the practical side," Sparks started with. "If you're going to pop the question, sometimes nerves get involved. You have the ring in your pocket and you might want to do it too soon, so I'd say if you're gong to do it over dinner, make sure you do it at dessert. If you propose at, let's say, appetizers or during the meal, you might just end up eating alone because she's going to run out to call her mother and call her sister and call her best friend and then you sit there by yourself."

Hear that guys? Keep it simple and classic, but wait so that you can enjoy the entire night before launching into newly engaged status. For any guys who might complain that that's a lot of nerves to sit through an entire dinner, Sparks says man up: "It's tough, but you're putting yourself in this position."

[Also, editor's note: If someone could work out a way to propose in a pond when it's raining, we'd likely concede that that, not the dinner scenario, is the best option available.]

For the women out there, Sparks also admitted that he gets the complaints that he's made real-life romance pale in comparison to the big screen. "My daughters do say I've ruined men for her forever, but she's not the only one. I hear that from other women I guess," he said. "I just try to write stories they like and that I like and that everyone likes."

Crop-top wedding dresses have been around for so many seasons they’re basically mainstream now: The style that made head turns at Houghton and Hayley Paige a couple years back can now be found at David’s Bridal, after all. But crop-top bridesmaid dresses are a new player in the wedding game. And this two-piece look, from J.Crew, does “crop-top bridesmaid” exactly right.

If your maids wear the skirt low or lift their shoulders, you can see a solid three inches of skin—but for the most part, you can barely get a peek. The figure-skimming shape of the skirt keeps the look demure. (Body-con + crop tops is probably a bad idea for bridesmaids—although now that I’ve said that I’m sure a designer’s going to prove me wrong.)

Floral Lace Short-Sleeve Crop Top, $98. Floral Lace A-Line Skirt, $148.

If you prefer a skirt that’s less voluminous, there’s a pencil-silhouette option, but we’re partial tot the fuller A-line—it’s just more festive. (And easier to move in on the dance floor.)

Floral Lace Pencil Skirt, $138.

Of course these dresses aren’t appropriate for every wedding or every bridesmaid. If your ceremony is religious or your bridesmaids are shy or have a limited budget, you should probably keep looking.

There’s a distinct chance that Bachelor producers are just throwing us off their scent, but last night Bachelor Ben Higgins flashed an engagement ring (after shedding an alarming number of tears and inexplicably pulling out a cell phone?) so we’re going to talk about that (maybe) Bachelor engagement ring.

Here are two shots of the engagement ring in the previews we saw last night for the weeks ahead. Looks like a princess-cut center stone (although it could be radiant-cut) in a halo.

It’s hard to tell exactly what the side-stone situation is, but it looks like it could be some combination of baguettes set in different directions, as with these rings, both from Neil Lane’s couture collection:

Although the ringBen’s holding might have two sides stone flush on either set of the halo with another diamond set into the band on both sides. Of course all this discussion could be in pointless: If you remember two seasons ago, Chris Soules flashed this ring in a preview:

And then proposed to Whitney Bischoff with this ring:

Of course, the Prince Farming fake-out ring looked pretty fake. The Bachelor has never had an engagement ring with a center stone that’s under a carat, and the cameras were so zoomed in on the ring that we couldn’t tell whose hands they were. But with Ben’s maybe-engagement-ring, that’s definitely the shirt-tie-jacket combo he’s wearing when he has his teary meltdown. Yes, the producers could have handed him a red herring engagement ring to paw at as he blubbered, but we’re kind of thinking the preview ring is the real deal.

For more on last night’s Bachelor, read Bachelor: Bay of Pigs.

And for more on the franchise that’s held our hearts through 2,519 seasons: A Statistical Analysis of Love on The Bachelor.

You’ve made a budget and checked it twice. But even the most thorough bride is sure to forget a few line items, our experts warn. So leave only delightful surprises for your big day by checking your budget against these hidden costs you can’t afford to forget.

1. Stamps. They may be small, but stamps can be a mighty cost. “Stamps are so important to factor into the costs of the save-the-dates and wedding invitations,” says Alicia Matsumoto, owner of Bespoke Design in California. And it’s not just the 49-cent price tags that quickly add up. Matsumoto says that if you fall head-over-heels for a thick or multi-piece invitation suite, you can expect to pay more in postage than you would for a simple flat card.

2. Shipping costs. You’re saving a bundle by ordering online—or so you think, until you see that package of mason jars will cost you hundreds in shipping fees. “It's easy to order wedding items and—even if the items don't have a high price tag themselves—watch as the cost of the shipping adds up and makes the items unaffordable,” says Matsumoto. “So just be smart when hitting that 'buy now' button!”

3. Gratuities. Tipping your wait staff, bartender, valet, or even security personnel is not always added into your final bill. “Most vendors are in the service industry,” says Matsumoto, “and it's considered good etiquette to tip them accordingly for all their help on your big day.” Check to see if showing your appreciation has been built into your contract and if not, says Matsumoto, “it's a good idea to create line items in your budget to track these costs.”

4. Hotel costs. You may have built into your budget a suite for sexy time on your wedding night, but Matsumoto says many brides forget to budget for a room to get ready—which means booking the night before the big day—or any hotel costs incurred when you travel to scout vendors for a destination wedding. “Additionally, decide if you are footing the bill for any of your wedding party or family members and make sure you include this in your wedding budget,” Matsumoto advises.

5. Welcome bags. Offering goodies to out-of-town guests is always a sweet gesture—but sometimes, Matsumoto warns, it can be an expensive one is ways you didn’t anticipate. “Even if it appears you can afford welcome bags in your budget, make sure you're not forgetting any costs that come along with these fun gifts,” she says. “Who is delivering the bags to all the hotels? Will you need to hire someone?” Not only that, she adds, but many hotels will charge a fee—per bag!—to deliver your wares to guests’ rooms.

6. Delivery fees. You’re paying so much for that delicious three-tiered confection that you can’t imagine another cost could come with it. But your cake—along with your rental items, flowers, lighting, or sound systems—could come with an additional delivery fee. “If you are having anything delivered for your wedding, make sure the delivery and pickup fees are on the contract,” Matsumoto says. “Also, find out if there will be additional costs should you need a late night strike or a timed delivery.”

7. Alterations. Says Matsumoto, “The price of your wedding day outfit comes to more than the cost of the dress.” Depending on your wedding dress—and whether it’s made from silk, satin, or draped entirely in beads—your alteration costs could climb close to the cost of the dress itself. Add to that, Matsumoto says, you must factor in “steaming and dry cleaning following the event, which can add on a large percentage of the price.”

Are Rob Kardashian and Blac Chynaengaged? Um, don’t think so. And still, when we noticed that Blac Chyna is wearing what appears to be an engagement ring, we couldn’t help but freak out a little bit. Because it really looks like an engagement ring.

Here are Blac Chyna and Amber Rose flanked by two friends at Carnival in Trinidad yesterday. You don’t even have to squint to see what appears to be an enormous diamond on Blac Chyna’s left hand.

A photo posted by 1badbish (@1badbish) on Feb 9, 2016 at 5:48pm PST

Of course this isn’t the first time the Kardashian-Jenners and their significant others have taunted us with a maybe-engagement ring: Kris Jenner flaunted boyfriend Corey Gamble—and a massive diamond—back in November. And Kylie loves to flash bling on that finger—even though she swears she and Tyga aren’t getting married any time soon.

For move photos of Blac Chyna’s is-it-or-isn’t-it ring, you can make your way to the Daily Mail.

It’s good to learn from our mistakes—but it’s even better to learn from the mistakes of others. So with that in mind, we asked five real brides to reveal their biggest wedding-planning blunders and what they’d do differently given the chance.

1. Not hiring a professional wedding planner. Callie says she trusted a family friend to make sure everything ran smoothly on their big day. “But she ended up bailing at the last minute,” says Callie, “which meant that instead of spending more time with our family and friends, everyone—including us—had to pitch in to make sure things got done when we should have all been enjoying time together.”

2. Assuming yours is the only event in town. When Colleen and her fiancé selected their wedding date, they didn’t consider what else might be happening in town on the big day. “It turned out there was a major convention was planned for the same weekend—with more than 20,000 attendees—and we could not get any room blocks for our guests,” she says. The couple swapped their wedding date in time to send out save-the-dates, “but it could have been a disaster,” Colleen says.

3. Not listening to your heart. Annie simply couldn’t decide whether a destination wedding was really the right move—even though she knew deep in her heart she craved getting married with crashing waves in the background. “I wasted a lot of time talking to local vendors, because I never found anything as amazing as the beachside vision I had in my mind,” she explains. In the end, she opted to go international. “If I had just listened to my heart,” she says, “I could have saved a lot of time and effort.”

4. Not ordering extra everything. Anna was trying to cut costs however she could—and that meant when her caterer suggested budgeting for an extra five to 10 meals for her sit-down dinner, she balked. “I thought, why would I pay for things I won’t use?” she says. “But when three guests showed up with uninvited plus-ones, I really wished I had listened.” Her caterer was able to whip something up on the fly to feed her extra guests, but Anna says it was stressful trying to squeeze them in at already full tables. “I should have ordered a few extra place settings and chairs too!” she says.

5. Trying to please everyone but yourself. When it came to planning everything from her engagement party to her bachelorette fete and how her venue should be decorated, Morgan made things easier by deferring to what her friends and family wanted. “But I started to see I was trying to please everyone at the expense of compromising what I wanted,” she says. “During the planning process, it became about what everyone else wanted and who they wanted to invite.” If she could do it over again, Morgan says, “I would stick to what I wanted and let others know ahead of time.”

Let’s get one thing straight: You have to choose a wedding date that works for you as a couple—so if, for whatever reason, you select a single day that doesn’t work for one or more of your guests, the world will not fall apart. But that being said, it’s only smart to give certain dates, such as holidays, a second glance. And to get you started on your wedding date search, we’ve rounded up the dates you might want to steal for yourself and several you may want to avoid at all costs.

Some holidays are to be avoided at all costs—hello, Christmas!—but others such as Presidents' Day afford guests who must travel for your wedding an extra day off, while New Year’s Eve weddings up the celebratory factor of your wedding even more. Here, then, are a few dates you might want to take advantage of this year and next.

Presidents’ Day weekend: Feb 13-15, 2016, and Feb. 18-20, 2017

Memorial Day weekend: May 28-30, 2016, and May 27-29, 2017

Labor Day weekend: Sept. 3-5, 2016, and Sept. 2-4, 2017

New Year’s Eve: Dec. 31, 2016, and Dec. 31, 2017

Veterans Day weekend: Nov. 11-13, 2016, and Nov. 10-12, 2017

Regardless of your religious affiliation, it’s a good idea to consider all sacred holidays when selecting your wedding date. Here—from Christian to Jewish to Hindu and Muslim religions—are a few dates you might want to scratch off the calendar.

Lent: Feb. 10 through March 24 in 2016, and March 1 through April 13 in 2017

Palm Sunday: March 20, 2016, and April 9, 2017

Easter weekend: March 25-28, 2016, and April 14-16, 2017

Christmas weekend: Dec. 23-25, 2016, and Dec. 22-25, 2017

Purim: March 24, 2016, and March 12, 2017

Passover: April 22-30, 2016, and April 10-18, 2017

Rosh Hashanah: Oct. 3-4, 2016, and Sept. 21-22, 2017

Yom Kippur: Oct. 12, 2016, and Sept. 30, 2017

Holi: March 23, 2016, and March 13, 2017

Diwali: Oct. 30, 2016, and Oct. 19, 2017

Mahashivaratri: March 7, 2016, and Feb. 24, 2017

Day of Ashura: Oct. 11, 2016, and Oct. 1, 2017

Mourning of Muharram: Oct. 2, 2016, and Sept. 21, 2017

But even when you take religion off the table, there are still dates to avoid. Think Martin Luther King Day weekend is a good idea, for example? Think again. Many African American families use this holiday for family reunions. So setting religion aside, here are a few more dates to cross of the list this year and next.

Martin Luther King Day weekend: January 16-18, 2016, and January 14-16, 2017

Super Bowl: Feb. 5, 2017

Mother’s Day weekend: May 7-8, 2016, and May 13-14, 2017

College graduation weekends: Varies in May and December

Father’s Day weekend: June 18-19, 2016, and June 17-18, 2017

World Series weekend: Oct. 30 through Nov. 1, 2016

New York Marathon: Nov. 6, 2016, and Nov. 5, 2017

Thanksgiving weekend: Nov. 24-27, 2016, and Nov. 23-26, 2017

In the mood for love? Watch Love Letters with Jim and Jeannie Gaffigan.

Your vows might be forever, but that engagement ring? Let’s just say, times have changed.

As with most other aspects of your big day (most famously, the dress), those rocks have gone through a style evolution all their own over the past century—the engagement ring custom really picked up steam in the 1900s, who knew?

In our latest Glamour video, we explore the ring’s humble origins, from the geometric designs of the 1920s to the distinctive emerald cut diamonds that were all the rage in the ’70s, to the top ring trend today. And we remind you which celebs are famous for sporting each style.

Take a look, and attempt to answer the age-old question: Which ring is best?

Whether you say “I do” on February 14 or one of the other 364 days of the year, there should be some amount of romance. If you want to take that romance factor up a few notches—and who wouldn’t, on her wedding day—here are more than three dozen ideas to inspire you.

Dress up a sweetheart table with gold accents.

Event Design: A Charming Fete. Photographer: Emily Millay.

Amp up the romance with hanging candles.

Event Design: A Good Affair. Photographer: Brandon Kidd Photography. Florals: Square Root Design.

For fresh florals, think UP.

Event Design: All You Need Is Love Events. Photographer: Wildflowers Photography.

Mix bright shades of pink for a bold bouquet.

Event Design: Anais Events. Photographer: Milou + Olin Photography.

Sweet treats can be party of your decor—and offer a snack for guests.

Photographer: Anna Delores Photography.

Give plain programs pretty flair with oversize bows.

Event Design: Antonia Christianson Events. Photographer: Lindsay Collette Photo.

Keep tablescapes simple: A single bloom in a vase adds color without clutter.

Event Design: Bridal Bliss. Photographer: Rebecca Matson Photography.

Mix bright accents (like yellow and blue) with a delightfully unruly pink bouquet.

Flowers: Brie’s Honeybees & Flowers. Photographer: Be In Love Photography. Fashion: Joanna August. Makeup: Nicol Artistry.

Petite cakes can double as place cards, thanks to edible ink.

Event Design: Caroline Dutton Events. Photographer: Lelia Marie Photography.

Get graphic: Paper gems suspended in a heart shape hint at modern romance.

Event Design: CCL Weddings & Events. Photographer: Christine Farah Photography.

Let Cupid’s arrows inspire your stationery suite.

Stationery: Cooper Willow. Photographer: Juan Turcios.

Build a dessert buffet with pastel sweets and matching flowers.

Event Design: Couture Events. Photographer: Arina B Photography.

Send Cupid’s arrow straight through your wedding cake.

Event Design: Cristen and Co Events. Photographer: Lauren Halvorson Photography.

For a contemporary feel, pick a no-frills stationery design cast in romantic hues.

Stationery: Dear LC.

The writing’s on the wall. And it says LOVE. (Here’s how to apply temporary wall stickers.)

Rentals: Found Rentals. Photographer: Studio EMP.

Draw eyes up with bountiful bouquets in extra-tall vases.

Florals: Hidden Garden Flowers. Photographer: Samuel Lippke.

Bold red lips + smokey eyes = instant romance.

Event Design: I Do I Do Wedding Planning. Photographer: Magen Davis Photography.

Flowers aren’t just for vases: When glazed with sugar {edible varieties only, please! } they’re also for dessert.

Sugared flower petal how-to on Inspired By This. Photographer: Melanie Gabrielle Photography.

Make your bridesmaids stand out in the prettiest possible way with dusty red dresses.

Fashion: Joanna August. Photographer: Krista Mason Photography. Makeup: Kacee Geoffroy. Florals: Flower Duet.

Share the love: A kissing booth-themed selfie station might lead to another perfect match.

Photographer: Juicebox Media.

Wrap the stems of your bouquet in gold for an unexpected hint of elegance.

Event Design: Just Wenderful Event. Photographer: Lauren Scotti.

Welcome guests to your ceremony with plentiful blooms, suspended programs, and a happily-ever-after sign.

Event Design: Kate & Co. Photographer: Megan Thiele Photography.

Mother Nature can help with your palette too: Raspberries are ripe for romance.

Event Design: La Cosa Bella Events. Photographer: Pattie Mims Photography.

Just when you thought lace couldn’t get more dreamy, this portrait-ready wallpaper shows up. (Scout your venue for equally dreamy photo op spots.)

Fashion: Love & Lace Bridal Salon. Photographer: This Modern Romance.

Sorry, Carrie. Carnations are A-OK with us, especially when they’re twisted into vines.

Photographer: Love Me Do Photography.

Take your bar signage up a notch with gold calligraphy and a dense floral arrangement.

Event Design: Magnolia Bluebird. Photographer: Eli Turner.

Add a soft pop of color with a pastel printed menu at every setting.

Event Design: Michelle Edgemont. Photographer: Brklyn View Photography.

Another hat tip to Mother Nature: All that greenery can soften a space’s rough edges.

Event Design: Mint Julep Productions. Photographer: Ariel Renae Photography.

Love bites!

Catering: Modern Art Catering. Photographer: Brian Leahy Photo.

Pluck a bold bloom from your bouquet to incorporate into your updo.

Fashion: Mon Amie Bridal Salon. Event Design: Cristen and Co Events. Photography: Annmarie Swift Photography.

Not a fan of pink-on-pink? A palette of dusty ivory, peach, and green is just as charming.

Event Design: Nicole George Event Planning & Design. Photography: Garrett Richardson Photography.

Not for shy brides: A dramatic reddish-pink wedding dress will ensure eyes are on you all night long.

Videographer: NST Pictures.

Go bold boho with an outsize floral wreath.

Fashion: Petals & Stones. Photographer: Rani Lu Photography.

Pink champagne is even more fanciful in rose-tinted coupes rimmed in gold.

Event Design: Rebecca Rose Events. Photographer: Nancy Ray Photography.

Go ahead and give blush tones the middle finger: A bold red-and-gold palette is oh so glam.

Event Design: Rock Paper Scissors Events. Photographer: Fiorello Photography.

Rock candy makes for an inexpensive upgrade on a plain white cake. (Love rocks!)

Event Design: Shi Shi Events. Photographer: Z Media.

Skip traditional drink garnishes in favor of gummy lips. xoxo

Food: Sugar Shoppe LA. Photographer: The Flair Exchange.

Serve guests a modern take on chocolate-covered strawberries.

Dessert: Milk Jar Cookies.

In the mood for more love? Watch Love Letters with Jim and Jeannie Gaffigan.

Inspiration rounded up by Inspired by This.

Whether you're Daddy's little girl or his independent sidekick, one thing is for certain: Your father wants nothing but the best for you, and that includes one happy, healthy marriage. Here, four fathers break down exactly what they want their daughters to experience in marriage and with their partners.

"I want her to have the kind of marriage where she and her husband realize it's not always going to be happy, and are willing to stick through it anyway," says one dad. "I think too many people throw in the towel when marriage gets tough, rather than really doing the work it takes to make it through a rough patch."

See More:Everything the Father-of-the-Bride Needs to do Before, During, and After the Wedding

"When she's sad or stressed, my wife can always count on me to make a joke and lighten the mood. I want my daughter's husband to do that for her," says another dad. "I think lightening your partner's load and making them smile is one of the best things you can do for one another."

"I want them to understand the value of compromise and sacrifice," says one father. "I spent a lot of my marriage worried about what I was getting out of it and subsequently, my marriage ended in divorce. I hope these two can see that it's not about what they're getting out of it—it's about working together to make sure both their needs are met."

"To soak up each other before they have kids," says another dad. "I want her to travel with her husband and go on date nights and stay up late talking in bed. I want them to feel like they had a marriage before they had a family."

Check Out 100-Plus Years of Engagement Rings—and Help Us Decide Which Is Best

Bachelor in Paradise’s Jade Roper and Tanner Tolbert met in front of television cameras, so it only makes sense that they’d say “I do” in true reality TV fashion: with the cameras rolling, and with Bachelor-franchise host Chris Harrison officiating their wedding ceremony.

Jade and Tanner were married last month at California’s St. Regis Resort Monarch Beach; the event was coordinated by BTB Event Production. The ceremony site was dripping with twinkling chandeliers, flickering candles, willow trees, and white flowers from Flower Me Wild, including hundreds of blooms atop the canopy where the two swapped vows. The bride’s bouquet featured white, cream, and pink roses.

A photo posted by Jade Roper (@jadelizroper) on Feb 14, 2016 at 7:55am PST

Jade’s wedding dress was a custom gown by Galia Lahav, which she paired with a cathedral-length veil. Her bridesmaids, including fellow Bachelor/Bachelor in Paradise alum Carly Waddell, wore mix-and-match convertible bridesmaid dresses from Kelly Faetanini.

A photo posted by Jade Roper (@jadelizroper) on Feb 14, 2016 at 11:26am PST

In addition to Chris Harrison, more Bachelor Nation favorites made the guest list, including current Bachelor Ben Higgins, as well as Kaitlyn Bristowe, Shawn Booth, Nikki Ferrell, Michelle Money, Ali Fedotowsky, Bob Guiney, Chris Soules, and Nick Viall.

A photo posted by Tanner Tolbert (@tanner_tolbert) on Feb 13, 2016 at 8:28am PST

Jade (who we met on Prince Farming’s season of The Bachelor) and Tanner (a castoff from Kaitlyn Bristowe’s Bachelorette) paired off on day one, sharing the season’s third one-on-one date and swapping roses back and forth at every rose ceremony. The two were engaged after a mere three weeks, and without meeting each other’s friends and families.

Jade and Tanner’s Bachelor in Paradise wedding airs at 8 P.M. ET tonight on ABC as part of The Bachelor at 20: A Celebration of Love. If you just can’t stand to wait until then, here are even more wedding pictures.

ICYMI: The Bachelor's Chris Harrison on How Long He'll Host, How Ben's Doing Now, and Why the Heck There Are So Many Helicopters

Want more Bachelor? Watch this:

Hot off her jaw-dropping Super Bowl halftime performance (#slayqueen) Beyonce could have worn any designer on the planet for her surprise Grammys appearance last night, and we’re thrilled that she chose one of our personal favorites: Inbal Dror.

The menswear-inspired wedding dress—fresh from the Israeli designer’s fall 2016 runways—features a row of buttons and a collar atop an illusion neckline on the bodice and cut-to-there sheer panels on the skirt.

Here it is on the runway:

And here it is on Beyonce:

The look is a far cry from Beyonce’s actual wedding dress, a figure-hugging mermaid gown with a sweetheart neckline and a dramatically flared skirt. (Her something blue was blue nail polish!)

Click here for the latest from Inbal Dror.

ICYMI: How to Look Like Beyonce in Your Wedding Pictures

Hi, ladies. Kim here. We’re thrilled to welcome back Stacy Tasman to share another one of the amazing proposal stories from her site, How He Asked. If you missed the first one, check it out: There’s a dog, and you will get chills. And don’t miss the second—which started with the prettiest tulle skirt—here. The How He Asked story below is told by Karlie, who’s now a bride-to-be.

HOW WE MET
We both grew up in a town south of Seattle. We had lived there nearly our entire lives and our parents homes literally four miles apart. We had tons and tons of mutual friends but for some reason, we had never even heard each other’s names before and we had never been introduced by our friends until the time was right.

From the second I met Alec, I knew I wanted to spend my life with someone just like him. I remember being a senior in high school telling all my friends about my new found Prince Charming and specifically telling them I could spend my entire life with him. I just knew it. We spent eight long months playing “hard to get with each other” but we knew and everyone around us knew we were crazy about each other.

He told me he loved me at a country music festival here in Washington, called Watershed, five days before asking me to be his girlfriend. We have been inseparable ever since and we make sure to attend that festival each year to go back to where our love officially began.

HOW HE ASKED
To preface: Alec and I are dog obsessed, and I mean obsessed. It’s all thanks to our good friends that have the most adorable french bulldog. We spend our days searching dog photos and videos on Instagram just dreaming about our own and laughing until we cry. But it was always just talk.

So, the day Alec decided to propose to me was very unexpected. I had all my family and friends lying to me all day about what they were doing that night and asking me to join in on their plans. Then in the evening, Alec’s mom called him and asked if we could run by her house and “let her dog out”. We’d done this before so I didn’t think anything of it.

We headed over and walked in the dark towards what I thought was a vacant house. I walked over to their beautiful tree to scope out the gifts when I saw a pet carrier under it. Even at that moment, I was oblivious and I kept asking him who had a cat? I am not sure what I was thinking!

Then Alec told me to open the carrier. And that’s when I saw.

Inside was a perfect baby blue brindle frenchie and I was instantly in shock. I lifted him out and asked if it was for us!?! At this point, I still had no idea it was more than just a Christmas present but then Alec told me to look at the tag. When I did, I read the words “Will you marry me?”

And that’s when he kneeled down and whispered the sweetest words to me while slightly giggling with the biggest smile in his eyes.

Of course I said yes as I kissed him. He put the most perfect ring on my finger that he custom made, and I sat there hugging him with our new little son, Leo, in between us.

Then, all of a sudden I heard footsteps and people screaming in celebration. Both of our entire families ran into the room with some of our closest friends. I couldn’t believe they were all there!

When they turned on the lights there was champagne and a dessert bar along with the cutest engagement decor. Both my dad and his dad made toasts that had me in tears, and I have never felt so much love in a room. We all got to share such a special night; one of the best nights of my life. Everything was perfect, and I got myself my dream soon-to-be-hubby and the most precious pup—the start to our little family.

OUR VIDEO

Watch more proposal videos here.

ICYMI: This Sweet Guy Pulled Out All the Stops for an Epic At-Home Marriage Proposal