The Knot Fall 2023

Isle never forget this moment

The promise of forever. The wedding of your dreams. The honeymoon you’ll never forget. Extraordinary moments like these deserve to be celebrated at the adults-only oasis of Sandals® or the family-friendly resorts of Beaches®. Fall in love with the Caribbean and experience the excitement that comes with saying, “Isle do.”

Rock the Plan 2023

FEATURES

60

THE NEW CLASS OF WEDDING VENDORS

An inbound wave of creative talent is making a splash in the industry.

74 LOVE AND THE LAW

What happens when policy and the law influence your love story?

88 PUT A CAP ON IT

The ultimate roundup of social captions to elicit all the feels from your followers.

92 ENNEAGRAM

WEDDING PLANNING

Our tips for how to thrive while planning, according to your personality type.

110

Hard Rock

Dress & coat by Temperley London; shoes by Jimmy Choo.

96

MONEY TALKS

An inspiring journaling exercise from the author of I Will Teach You to Be Rich.

98

MEET THE MAKERS

Get acquainted with Hollywood’s biggest names—and learn how the stars are aligned with today’s couples.

110

HARD ROCK

Bring the drama with stunning fashionforward looks.

120

READY, SET, JET

Romantic getaways inspired by binge-worthy TV shows and movies.

ON THE COVER

Photography by AB+DM; On Reilly, top & skirt by Mônot; shoes by Alexandre Vauthier; jewelry, stylist’s own. On Mayo, blazer by Issey Miyake; pants by Willy Chavarria; shoes by Zara. On model, dress by Wiederhoeft; shoes by Christian Louboutin; veil by Ariel Taub; jewelry by Alexis Bittar. On Kimble, skirt & belt by Gucci; shirt by Vince; shoes by Brother Vellies.

CONTENTS

Rock the Plan 2023

FASHION & BEAUTY

56

NO TO THE NEEDLE

Pamper yourself with these noninvasive, “no-tox” treatments.

62

LOVE IS IN THE HAIR WITH JONATHAN VAN NESS

A beauty pro talks prewedding hair care tips and embracing individuality.

84 SUIT YOURSELF

Find wedding day swagger with custom suiting options.

STYLE & PLANNING

23

EDITORS’ PICKS

Trendy Barbiecore bach ideas, our top wedding sneaker picks and more.

64

WHICH VENUE IS BEST FOR YOU?

The key to picking the right locale for your wedding day.

65

50 SHADES OF PINK Decadent sweets take center stage at this modern shower.

65

70

THE TIME (LINE) IS RIGHT Create a planning checklist to match your schedule.

106 VIBE CHECK

The buzzwords behind popular wedding themes explained.

LOVE

36

MIDNIGHT CARNIVAL

A Cirque du Soleil–themed wedding ushered in the new year.

44

FLUORESCENT FETE

This epic neon celebration featured 19 (yes, 19!) outfit changes.

50

AT DUSK, WE WED

An evening under the stars was just the ticket for this couple.

80

FOR THE LOVE OF TACOS AND TATTOOS

Personal touches were on the menu at this vow renewal.

IN THIS ISSUE

12 ED LETTER

14 THE DOWNLOAD

20 DEAR LENNON

90 THE SEASON’S INGREDIENT 128 WISE WORDS

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Lauren Kay CONSULTING CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Nathalie Kirsheh

EDITORIAL OPERATIONS MANAGER

Meesha Diaz Haddad

PLANNING & STYLE

FEATURES & TRAVEL

DEPUTY EDITOR Esther Lee

SENIOR EDITOR, RELATIONSHIPS & SEX Jamie Cuccinelli

EDITOR, ENTERTAINMENT & CELEBRITY Sarah Hanlon

SENIOR EDITOR Kim Forrest

SENIOR EDITOR, WEDDINGS Hannah Nowack

EDITOR Samantha Iacia ASSISTANT EDITOR Chapelle Johnson

STRATEGY, OPERATIONS & COMMERCE

DIRECTOR, DIGITAL CONTENT STRATEGY MaryKate Callahan

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, EDITORIAL OPERATIONS Samantha Langabeer

SENIOR MANAGER, COMMERCE CONTENT STRATEGY Emily Platt

COMMERCE EDITOR Cathryn Haight

FASHION CONTENT STRATEGIST Nicole Taliaferro

PLANNING & STYLE CONTENT STRATEGIST Taylor Whitten

ASSOCIATE COMMERCE EDITOR Naoimh O’Hare

ASSISTANT COMMERCE UPDATES EDITOR Emily Rumsey

DIGITAL EDITORIAL PRODUCER Julie Le Blanc

ASSISTANT DIGITAL EDITORIAL PRODUCER Ella Kilroy

SOCIAL MEDIA & TALENT

DIRECTOR, SOCIAL MEDIA Whitney Little

SENIOR MANAGER, SOCIAL MEDIA Mina Garagozlo

MANAGER, SOCIAL MEDIA Danielle Savoy

SPECIALISTS, SOCIAL MEDIA Lucy Ferut, Alli Kennon

COORDINATORS, SOCIAL MEDIA Meghan Ho, Kerre Jo Lattanzio

SENIOR INFLUENCER MANAGER, SOCIAL MEDIA Heather Kon

INFLUENCER SPECIALIST, SOCIAL MEDIA Kimberly Brown

FASHION & BEAUTY

SIZE INCLUSIVITY & BEAUTY EDITOR Lauren Whalley

ASSOCIATE FASHION EDITOR, MENSWEAR Tres Dean ASSISTANT FASHION COMMERCE EDITOR Sofia Deeb

VIDEO, VISUALS & PRODUCTION

DIRECTOR OF EDITORIAL VIDEO PROGRAMMING Amanda Miller

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, EDITORIAL VIDEO Ash Tulett

EDITORIAL VIDEO MANAGER Kelsey Theisen

DESIGNER Ashley Detmering

DIGITAL DESIGNER Tiana Crispino

CONTRIBUTING PHOTO EDITOR Lauren Kill

CONTRIBUTING COPY EDITOR Rebecca Dalzell

CONTRIBUTING RESEARCH EDITOR Keith Bearden

CREATIVE SERVICES

SENIOR DIRECTOR, HEAD OF GLOBAL CREATIVE Jeffra Trumpower

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, VIDEO & PHOTO PRODUCTION Daniela Kelley McInerney

MANAGER, BRAND VIDEO PRODUCTION Siobhan Carty

VIDEO EDITOR Malu Frasson Nori JUNIOR VIDEO EDITOR Raul Ferrari

CREATIVE PHOTO PRODUCTION MANAGER Jessica Kane

GLOBAL MARKETING

CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Jenny Lewis, jlewis@theknotww.com

VICE PRESIDENT, GLOBAL CONSUMER MARKETING Kiara Kempski, kkempski@theknotww.com

HEAD OF GLOBAL EDITORIAL CONTENT Annie Lennon Carroll, acarroll@theknotww.com

SENIOR DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS Melissa Bach, pr@theknotww.com

DIRECTOR BRAND MEDIA, GLOBAL CONSUMER MARKETING Pamela Solis, psolis@theknotww.com

DIRECTOR, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS Anni Jones

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, PUBLIC RELATIONS Jennifer Myers

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, INTEGRATED BRAND PLANNING & ANALYSIS Jesse Geiger MANAGER, INTEGRATED BRAND PLANNING & ANALYSIS Chelsea McArdle

GLOBAL MEDIA SOLUTIONS @ THE KNOT WORLDWIDE

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, GLOBAL MEDIA SOLUTIONS Nicole Aste, naste@theknotww.com

SENIOR DIRECTOR, REVENUE OPERATIONS & YIELD Dominique Walker, dwalker@theknotww.com

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, REVENUE OPERATIONS Jenna Bruno, jbruno@theknotww.com

VICE PRESIDENT, AD SALES Risa Aronson, raronson@theknotww.com

BRIDAL FASHION SENIOR ACCOUNT DIRECTOR Brett Olsen, bolsen@theknotww.com

SENIOR ACCOUNT DIRECTOR Tina LoRegio, tloregio@theknotww.com

ACCOUNT DIRECTORS, EAST Cara Goldberg, cgoldberg@theknotww.com Erin Perley, eperley@theknotww.com

Debbie Konstadt, dkonstadt@theknotww.com

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES, EAST Brooke Morgan, bmorgan@theknotww.com Giavanna Cifelli, gcifelli@theknotww.com

ACCOUNT DIRECTOR, PACIFIC Karen Argow, kargow@theknotww.com

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, WEST Debbie Lucas, dlucas@theknotww.com

ACCOUNT DIRECTOR, MIDWEST Laura Adrian, ladrian@theknotww.com

SENIOR DIRECTOR, INTEGRATED MARKETING Priya Junnarkar

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, SALES DEVELOPMENT MARKETING Jessica Bendes MANAGERS, SALES DEVELOPMENT MARKETING Zoë Ferranti, Carly Kleinman

ASSOCIATE MANAGER, SALES DEVELOPMENT MARKETING Giovanna Rubino

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, CREATIVE SOLUTIONS Elizabeth Roehrig

SENIOR MANAGER, BRANDED CONTENT Kate Traverson

EDITOR, BRANDED CONTENT Sarah Fine

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR Amanda Kocis Gallagher

ASSOCIATE GRAPHIC DESIGNER Anahí Garza-Runfola

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Nicole Smith

ASSOCIATE SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Gabriela Maceira

SENIOR DIRECTOR, ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT Nicole Vogel, nvogel@theknotww.com

SENIOR MANAGER, ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT Courtney Carlesimo, ccarlesimo@theknotww.com

TEAM LEAD, ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT Jessica Van Alphen, jvanalphen@theknotww.com

SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER Elena Semenza, esemenza@theknotww.com

ACCOUNT MANAGERS Alaina Gosh, agosh@theknotww.com

Melanie Hurley, mhurley@theknotww.com

Kaitlin Fitzgerald, kfitzgerald@theknotww.com

Jaclyn Lash, jlash@theknotww.com

Lindsey Aloia, laloia@theknotww.com

ACCOUNT MANAGER ASSOCIATES Daniela Lopez, danlopez@theknotww.com

Jordan Speranza, jsperanza@theknotww.com

PUBLISHED BY XO GROUP INC.

2 Wisconsin Circle, 3rd Floor, Chevy Chase, MD 20815. TheKnot.com

The time to plan is now.

Let me just say what I know you’re thinking: Holy sh*t, wedding planning is a lot of work. You’re not wrong. It’s a little (okay, a lot) like a second job. But I promise you this: It’s so worth it. I didn’t want a wedding. I planned the whole thing in eight months and almost not-so-quietly quit half a dozen times. But sometime after we said “I do” and before the epic dance party began, I looked out over the long dining table of guests and felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Tons veered from the plan (it rained—the audacity!) and yet, to this day, I have no regrets.

Here’s another truth. There’s no right way to plan a wedding—and only one wrong way to do it: Don’t skip out on hiring pros. If you delegate the details to people who are champions of their craft, then you won’t be disappointed. We sat down with three industry icons (p. 98) to get their candid wedding advice for looking and feeling your best. You’ve also got us—and we’ve dedicated this issue to the details of planning! We’ve rounded up the best wedding sneakers, our favorite pastel gowns and the must-haves for your day-of emergency kit (p. 23). Beyond the obvious wedding prep work, there are a few topics worth discussing with your partner when it comes to matters of money (p. 96) and the law (p. 74). If you’re still finalizing honeymoon details, we’ve got some memorable choices straight from the screen (p. 120). And lastly, we’ve taken the guesswork out of the wedding timeline—thank us later—and sliced it three ways, so staying on track is simple.

If you need a wedding planning bestie, hit us up. We’re here for you.

— LAUREN KAY, EXECUTIVE EDITOR

It’sFREE

IF YOU’VE EVEN SO MUCH AS STARTED TO PLAN YOUR WEDDING, YOU KNOW THE WORD FREE IS RARELY, OK NEVER, UTTERED. BUT WE KNOW BETTER THAN ANYONE HOW MUCH YOU NEED A WIN WHEN YOU’RE JUGGLING A BUDGET AND A BIG DREAM. WE DO FREE. SO WHAT CAN YOU GET FOR NOTHING? A LOT.

AKA THE PLACE WHERE WE SHAMELESSLY PROMOTE OUR OWN STUFF.

The Download

Our App. The holy grail of digital planning tools, the Wedding Planner app for iOS and Android is like having a little magician in your pocket. You can search for pros (and, more importantly, read real reviews from couples like you), and track your spending along with your RSVPs. It also helps you manage your registry—cue the giftgetting notifications!

Our Wedding Websites. Yes, these are free too. It’s the perfect place to include all of your wedding details, like accommodations and dress codes—basically the place to answer all your guests questions. It’s also the only appropriate spot to list your wedding registry. But best of all, you can shop invitations that match your website theme for a totally cohesive look.

Guest List + RSVP Tools. As if deciding on the guest list wasn’t hard enough, now you have to track down RSVPs. Nope. You have more important things to do. Our tools help you manage your list, start to finish, with easy address collection and automatic RSVPs.

Personalized Recommendations. The Knot Marketplace is legendary—and for good reason. Not only can you read reviews from other couples, but we can make personalized recommendations based on your locale. Once you’ve secured your venue, we can hook you up with pros booked by other couples who got married there too.

ARE YOU ON THE LIST?

Let The Knot join you on your wedding journey with a yearlong subscription for just half of the newsstand price ($24.99). Plus, isn’t it awesome getting something other than bills in your mailbox? Thought so.

The Pro Take

We know pros. And they know weddings. Sacia Matthews has roots all over the Southeast (and a business presence in Charleston, South Carolina, and New York City). She is a boss behind the camera, shooting a combo of polished and candid shots that truly capture the energy of the day (and look great framed, just saying). She loves honoring a couple’s roots and creating heirlooms for generations to come. Book her on The Knot Marketplace. Did we mention she has 60+ 5-star reviews? Casual.

First Look

Add to Cart

Is there anything better than getting an “it’s shipped” notification? We’ll wait. The beauty of your wedding registry is you’re adding things you want to a phantom cart for your loved ones to purchase. The Knot Registry Store lets you register for, well, just about everything. Ooni pizza oven, check. Wine fridge, you bet. You can even register for experiences like NBA tickets or a sunset cruise in Maui.

Oh yeah, and cash.

FAVORITE WEDDING SONG

“I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me),” by Whitney Houston

BEST LATE-NIGHT SNACK Churros

COOLEST WEDDING TRADITION

You’ve dreamed for decades about your perfect wedding, and it was all over in a blur of flowers, champagne, and cold chicken or fish. Now it’s time to refocus on the only thing that really matters…each other. With sultry breezes, incredible food, epic sunsets and miles of warm, clear water, it’s hard to imagine a better place to fall even deeper in love than Key Largo.

fla-keys.com/keylargo 1.800.322.5397

Party of 2.

Organized AF

It’s easy to go over budget or let a wedding todo slip through the cracks (do you even know all the things you’re supposed to do?). We won’t let it happen. Having an epic checklist will keep you on track and ensure no task is overlooked.

Everyone’s wedding looks different, which is why our checklist is completely customizable. Add and remove to-dos till your heart’s content. Head to our app for what to do when and how to do it. You can thank us later.

Your Wedding Needs These Invites

Sure, you could blast a group text, but a wedding invite sets the tone for your celebration and gets guests excited for what’s to come. Don’t skimp. We’ve got tons of designs to choose from: rustic, modern, floral, vintage, classic…we could go on. We also arm you with free design support and easy envelope addressing to make it foolproof. Still not convinced? Visit TheKnot.com/paper and use code 3FREE to get three free samples, and then come back to us.

Play That Video!

Calling all wedding content lovers! Join wedding planner Brian Green as he unpacks the truth behind iconic weddings in TV and film. From an intimate office wedding on Parks and Recreation to all the pricey details in Crazy Rich Asians, learn industry secrets about how these events were created and how’d they’d be executed in real life.

Dear Lennon…

Am I invited or not?

Dear Lennon,

I recently ran into a friend who mentioned she was sending save-the-dates for her wedding later that week, and we talked about her venue and dress shopping. Since then, I heard from mutual friends that their savethe-date had arrived, and yet weeks later, my fiancé and I still have not received one. As someone currently planning an intimate wedding myself, I completely understand that sometimes difficult cuts have to be made. I also really do think there’s a chance our save-the-date was lost in the mail. Is it impolite to ask if we’re invited? If it is a case of lost mail, I’d like to say something before our formal invitation also gets lost and before it becomes the elephant in the room at the next group gathering.

Snail Mail Fail

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it’s likely you’re not invited. Your friend was probably trying to make polite conversation and spilled a bit too much about her wedding. If you want to know for sure, you can have your mutual friend casually ask the bride if you’re on the guest list—maybe under the guise of wanting to split a hotel room or transportation to the event. It’s a little less awk than asking yourself, and you’ll get the answer you’re seeking—even if you’re a bit disappointed by the outcome.

Is a private meal a bad idea?

Dear Lennon,

I’m seeing a new wedding trend on TikTok where couples step away during the reception to enjoy their first meal as newlyweds… privately. I’m easily overwhelmed by social situations and think this would be a great way to step away from the craziness of the reception for a bit. (It’s also so romantic!) I could, however, see guests thinking it’s rude for us to ditch the party. What do you think?

Dinner for Two

If you were invited to a friend’s house for a dinner party and your hosts left to eat elsewhere, you might feel pretty slighted, right? The same goes for a wedding reception. You invited all of your guests to join you for this celebration, so being present for dinner is a pretty big deal. However, I totally get your desire to step away during the reception—it can be a lot to take in. My recommendation would be to take some shorter breaks, like taking a few private minutes after the ceremony (in Judaism, this tradition is known as the yichud) or enjoying a private last dance (which also happens to be another social media trend). Ultimately, your mental health comes first: If you need to step out during the meal, that’s absolutely okay.

Do I choose a kid-free wedding over my future SIL?

Dear Lennon,

My future spouse and I want to have an adults-only destination wedding. However, my future SIL says that if her kids aren’t invited, she won’t attend our wedding. (Both kids are under two years old.) Do we abandon our “no kids” policy or stick with our original plan and accept the fact that my future SIL won’t be there?

Kid-Free or Bust

Planning a wedding is all about prioritizing— and that’s exactly what you’ll have to do. Is it more important to you to have a kid-free wedding or to have your sister-in-law attend? If it’s the former, you’ll have to accept that your future SIL won’t be there, and you may even risk ruffling your future in-laws’ feathers. (Not an ideal way to start your marriage.) If you agree to let the kids attend, you won’t have the adults-only wedding you wanted. Typically, we say that if you make a rule, it needs to apply to all guests. When it comes to saying “no kids,” however, you can make exceptions for immediate family members—which would be the case here. To go above and beyond (and perhaps find a compromise), you can also see if your future SIL would be interested in hiring a babysitting service (that you’d pay for) during the ceremony and reception. But most importantly, what does your partner think?

Got a question for Lennon?

Email advice@theknotww.com or slide into our DMs—we’ve got the answers.

BY HANNAH NOWACK

Barbiecore Bach

1. Rock Barbie’s iconic high pony with this silky pink scrunchie. Gift your besties matching ones so you can all channel Superstar Barbie. Satin scrunchie, $25, Anthropologie.com

2. “Wake up and see the sparkle” atop your sweet treats with this glitter silhouette cupcake topper. Cupcake topper, $7, Amazon.com

3. These vibrant plates will have you feeling like Greta Gerwig directed your entire trendy weekend. Zebra plate, $2, Zazzle.com

4 You can make a Barbie bach bash into anything you want—after all, “life is your creation.” What’s not to love about a pool party? Pool tube float, $69, Funboy.com

5. With all this fun in the sun, you’re going to need some UV protection. Grab a few so the whole crew can have on-theme hats. Baseball hat, $30, Creations.Mattel.com

6. “Life in plastic, it’s fantastic,” thanks to these wavy acrylic tumblers. Wavy plastic cup, $30, XOFetti.com

7 This sweet ride will transform a simple pool party into a Malibu Barbie party weekend to remember. Golf cart pool float, $139, Funboy.com

Meet Your Sole Mate

1. Larry Allover Crystal men’s platform sneakers, $1,590, Alexander McQueen, BergdorfGoodman.com

2. Chuck 70 De Luxe Heel $120, Converse.com

6.Chuck Taylor All Star Daisy Cord sneakers, $75, Converse.com

7. Lauren sneakers in Lace, $595, Chloe.com

3. Bennett embellished sneakers, $190, MatisseFootwear.com

4. Carmensa sneakers, $208, ZigiNY.com

5. White Classic Center Hi-Top, $70, PFFlyers.com

8. Original Achilles leather high-top sneakers, $435, Common Projects, MrPorter.com

9. Ace leather men’s sneakers, $750, Gucci.com

Pick e TH CA

Picklers Serve

THE FASTEST-GROWING SPORT IN AMERICA SHOWS NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN.

Play, Then Plan

IT’S OKAY TO TAKE A BREAK FROM WEDDING PLANNING. IN FACT, WE ENCOURAGE IT! A HEALTHY HOBBY CAN RELIEVE WEDDING-RELATED STRESS AND HELP YOU REFOCUS ON YOUR RELATIONSHIP. IT’S WHY WE SUGGEST A JOINT ACTIVITY LIKE PICKLEBALL—THE SPORT CURRENTLY PLAYED BY NEARLY 9 MILLION AMERICANS.

BY ESTHER LEE

1. You’ll be grateful you stocked up on athletic socks— especially this polished pair. $20, Anthropologie.com

2. A design paddle like this one does wonders for play— really. $86, Recess, Anthropologie.com

3. Complete the pickle aesthetic with a tasteful tote. $168, Kule.com

PLAYCATION!

KLEBALL

PROGRAMMING IS THE LATEST TRAVEL TREND AT HOTELS

4. Sweat-wicking and stylish, this skort was made for the court. $72, Spanx.com

5. Sport this statement-making hat, which comes in a variety of preppy styles. $60, ModaOperandi.com

6. Make it a set combo from the home to the kitchen. (The CEO is getting married this year!) $200, PlayNettie.com

ALREADY HOOKED, HERE ARE A FEW ROMANTIC OPTIONS FOR A WEEKEND IN “THE KITCHEN.”

Aurora Resort, Anguilla. With an in-house tennis pro to host pickle clinics and privates, the property is a slice of heaven for couples who want to golf, snorkel and dink all day. From $500. AuroraAnguilla.com

The Pridwin, New York. Cookies are available throughout the property—including courtside—at this historic and recently renovated resort on sleepy and quaint Shelter Island.

courtside at

and Shelter Island From $550. CapeResorts.com

From $550. CapeResorts.com

Esperanza, Los Cabos, Mexico. Fuel up on after an match can on property’s three courts with a shot of AubergeResorts com

Esperanza, Los Cabos, Mexico. Fuel up on electrolytes after an invigorating match. Players can end each session on the property’s three courts with a shot of pickle juice. From $735. AubergeResorts.com

Best (Hair) Day Ever

GIVE YOUR LOCKS EXTRA LUSTER WITH THESE WINNING HAIR ACCESSORY PICKS.

BY LAUREN WHALLEY

1. Chic and practical, this pearl floral comb can easily be added to any updo or half-up half-down style. Floral pearl comb, $225, Nestina Accessories, Anthropologie.com

2. Say hello to this classic bridal hair comb that plays well with all hair types. Perfect Finale gold rhinestone barrette, $19, Lulus.com

3. In search of something blue? This luxurious doublefaced silk satin bow does the job. Simply clip the barrette into loose curls for effortless styling. Virginia Bow barrette, $140, JenniferBehr.com

4. If ever there was a time to embrace pearlcore, it’s your wedding day. This padded headband is encrusted with luminous pearls that glimmer from end to end. Bailey pearl headband, $425, JenniferBehr.com

5. Channel your inner Kate Middleton with this heirloom-worthy flower crown adorned in shimmering crystals. Bianca Crown, $1,717, MariaElenaHeadpieces.com

6. These dainty butterfly hair pins will surely set your heart aflutter. Sicily pin clip set, $298, Emma Katzka, Anthropologie.com

Dresses Soft Serve

1. Symphony gown, $22,310, InesDiSanto.com

2. Indy gown $598, Mac Duggal, Anthropologie.com

3. Inman dress, $7,690, AnneBarge.com

4. Hydrangea gown, $12,990, SarehNouri.com

5. Mae II gown, $4,690, ChantelLauren.com

6. Elisa gown, $3,000, NadiaManjarrez.com

7. Mixed tulle gown, $699, Eloquii.com

8. Greta gown, $8,770, MarkIngramAtelier.com

9. Hutton dress, $1,184, Willowby, Watters.com

To locate a jeweler in your area, visit EverandEver.com. @everandeverbridal #EverAndEverBride

Emergency Kit

Morning-Of Must-Haves

for unexpected cuts or blisters. Mini first aid kit, $9, Target.com

2. Throw it back to the ’90s by asking your wedding party to document the day with disposable cameras. (The best part is getting the postwedding printouts developed.) Disposable camera, $28, XOFetti.com

3. Get yourself a steamer that can do it all. This portable option presses lapels and collars. Plus, it’s ideal for final touch-ups on dresses and skirts. The Nori Press, $120, Nori.co

4. If you’re having recurring nightmares about spills on your wedding day, these individually packaged wipes counter coffee or food stains within seconds. Stain removing towelettes, $9, PinchProvisions.com

PREP FOR LAST-MINUTE ACCIDENTS AND SQUEEZE IN SOME FINAL PAMPERING WITH THESE WEDDING DAY ESSENTIALS.

IN SOME FINAL PAMPERING

BY SAMANTHA IACIA

5. Indulged in one too many rehearsal dinner cocktails? These cooling eye patches are infused with antioxidants and hyaluronic acid to help boost skin and refresh dark circles. Gel eye patches, $15 for 5, Ulta.com

6. With fun flavors like strawberry, passion fruit and celebratory confetti cake, this editor-approved floss helps you get your smile in top shape for photos. Dental floss, $10, CocoFloss.com

this charger so you don’t have

7. Capturing all the BTS photos while getting ready is fun, but it drains your phone battery. Stay connected with a backup charger so you don’t have to worry about finding an outlet. Power bank, $10, Target.com

cake,

1. This handy box holds an assortment of 18 bandages, hand sanitizer packets

Midnight Carnival

ON NEW YEAR’S EVE, A CIRQUE DU SOLEIL–THEMED WEDDING USHERED IN A NEW YEAR AND NEW UNION.

TIMMESHA & DONELL

STORY BY HANNAH NOWACK PHOTOGRAPHY BY DMITRY SHUMANEV

The clock strikes midnight, gold confetti blankets the dance floor, and you share your first New Year’s kiss as a married couple. But let’s back up—because Timmesha Butler (33, a professor and psychotherapist) and Donell Davis (36, a senior manager of biomedical engineering) didn’t get here overnight.

Years ago, while mindlessly scrolling Instagram’s “Discover” page, Timmesha came across a photo of Donell and could tell right away that he was “a handsome man who clearly had a large personality.” At the time, Timmesha lived in Maryland and Donell in New Jersey. After briefly messaging back and forth and scheduling a few failed meet-up attempts, the two fell out of touch. A few years later, the pair once again connected on social media— this time for good. Donell slid into Timmesha’s DMs, and from there, they were hooked, as evidenced by their five-hour initial phone conversation.

To avoid letting history repeat itself, the determined future spouses set a firm plan before hanging up the phone: They’d meet halfway in Philly. “From the moment Donell pulled up to meet me, it felt like God purposely crafted us for each other,” recalls Timmesha. “Our first date lasted for three days, and it was filled with laughter and some of the best conversations we ever had. Five years later, here we are.”

Showstopper

Timmesha opted for minimal jewelry so her sparkly headpiece and embellished off-the-shoulder dress could get their moment in the spotlight.

Shortly after becoming an official couple onNewYear’sEve2017,Donellknewhewanted to “do life with her as my partner. It was as if time stood still and nothing mattered.”

Picking a wedding date was straightforward after that moment: They would ring in the new year while celebrating a new union. Appropriately, they planned to set the stage at Union Market in Washington, DC, which holds sentimental value for Timmesha.

“When I was a child, Union Market was known as 5th Street Market,” says Timmesha. “In 2011, the market burned down and over the past decade, it has been revitalized as Union Market, with a warehouse at the rear of the building that serves as an event space. My family and I would grocery shop at the market when I was a young girl, and my grandfather owned a small food stand inside it. This location was a reflection of my childhood.”

With December 31, 2022, set as the date, not just any wedding theme would do. Early on, the couple bonded over a shared love of speakeasies, carnivals and fairs. And Donell loved the circus-themed romance film Water for Elephants. But a red-and-white big tent look wasn’t the vibe they wanted for their special day. Instead, they infused it with a moody palette and a “more grown-up and sexy” edge to steer the aesthetic in the direction of Cirque du Soleil. Thus, the plum, emerald and black Cirque du Davis was born.

Before diving into design, though, Timmesha and Donell had to conquer one of the hardest planning tasks: their 170-person guest list. Donell believes couples should put a lot of thought into who makes the cut. “Initially, you may want to invite everyone under the sun, but that comes with a lot of pressure and funding,” he says. “When thinking about your wedding guests, think of the people who will hold you both accountable in your marriage, who will support you along the way and who truly wish you well.” And a killer wedding menu to feed those who love you so dearly is a nice token of appreciation for your core group of pals.

“Come on. We know that the best part of any fair is the food,” says the couple. (Truer words have never been spoken.) Timmesha and Donell dished up BBQ pulled-pork croissant doughnuts (an inventive combo), maple-glazed pork belly, honey-butter fried chicken biscuits, truffle mac-and-cheese tarts and black-sesame shrimp toasts. Now that’s the definition of a delicious menu if we’ve ever heard one. But wait—that was just the cocktail hour.

“We are foodies to the core,” they say. “We wanted to take our guests on a journey of some of our favorite entrees, but more elevated.” At dinner, guests chose between Bordelaise short ribs, shrimp and grits or smoked tomato and basil risotto.

Keeping the mouthwatering theme going, the couple offered a sweet and savory latenight combo of mini cheesesteak and fried pie stations. Guests ended the night with custom buckets of popcorn as a parting gift. Was it even possible for the drinks or cake to top that? The couple’s signature cocktails nodded to two carnival acts: knife throwers and tightrope walkers.

“When we saw the transformed reception space, I cried tears of joy,” says Timmesha. “It was breathtaking and beyond our wildest dreams.”

The Greatest Show on Earth

Like any carnival worth its salt, Timmesha and Donell’s reception was packed with bright lights and memorable activities, like a photo booth with a funky LED backdrop.

3, 2, 1

Instead of a grand exit at the end of the night, the couple joined guests to count down the last seconds of the year.

Wedding Date: December 31, 2022

Ceremony + Reception Site: Dock 5 at Union Market, Washington, DC

Photography: Dmitry Shumanev

Videography: Bricks Media Group

Event Planning + Design: B Astonished Events

Floral Design: Amaryllis Floral & Event Design

Officiant: Rev. Kevin Vandiver

Gown: Alonuko

Suit: Welthē NYC

Shoes: Timmesha: Jimmy Choo; Donell: Louis Vuitton

Accessories: Timmesha: Ai + Eva; Donell: Cartier; Lanvin; Tom Ford; YSL

Engagement Ring: James Allen

Wedding Rings: Timmesha: James Allen; Donell: Cartier

Hair: Dommie Cole

Makeup: Makeup by Pnang

Stationery: By Dami Studios

Rentals: Something Vintage; Table Manners

Catering: RSVP Catering

Bartending: Molecular Food & Cocktails

Cake: Buttercream Bakeshop

DJ: DJ Mpure

Entertainers: Artstella Productions

Photo Booth: Smile Social Photo Booth Transportation: Infinity Limo Car

Donell’s Flaming Knife Thrower was a PB&J-flavored old fashioned with spicy cinnamon. Timmesha’s Equilibrist was a classic gin sour creatively garnished with a smoke-filled bubble.

To top off the epic menu, the couple served a three-tier elderflower-soaked lemon cake with blackberry-lavender buttercream and blackberry jam filling. A blackand-white swirl design decorated the side.

The decor and entertainment were as carnival-worthy as the food, beginning with ticket-inspired escort cards. An aerialist and juggler dazzled in front of a custom carousel sweetheart table that anchored the space. Lush flower arrangements reinforced the night’s look thanks to an assortment of astilbes, hydrangeas, orchids, ranunculus, roses and thistles.

Leaning into a more-is-more mindset, Timmesha and Donell didn’t choose one first dance song: They had two. “Anything,” by Jahiem, started things off before “No Better Love,” by Young Gunz, came on. For the rest of the evening, the DJ spun hiphop, R&B, oldies, DC go-go, Jersey club and house music.

Timmesha recalls just how overjoyed she was when she and Donell first got a sneak peek at the reception space. To “see all of our ideas come to light was a dream come true. We never imagined a blank warehouse turning into this lavish event,” she says. And the couple’s key to an event that slayed? A stellar wedding planner. “Our number one piece of advice is to hire a planner,” Timmesha says. They initially thought they could do it on their own, but soon realized it was too intricate to pull off. “A wedding planner relieves you of so much stress and pressure. Our wedding day ran smoothly, and we never had to worry about any mishaps because of our amazing team. It was beyond our wildest dreams.”

Come One, Come All

Entertainers, like a gold-clad aerialist and a juggler who performed with LED bowling pins, transported guests from the moment they entered the reception-slash-carnival.

We Came to Slay

For the welcome party, Vita and Jesse wore the same charming chartreuse looks they had on during the proposal.

Fluorescent Fete

THE COUPLE MADE 19 OUTFIT CHANGES AT THIS COLORFUL CELEBRATION.

VITA & JESSE

STORY BY HANNAH NOWACK PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALTERNATIVE STANDARDS

When someone says “vineyard wedding,” what comes to mind? Before now it probably wasn’t anything like Vita Newstetter (26, the founder of an online fashion platform) and Jesse Beller’s (26, a fintech cofounder) epic neon celebration. But their prismatic wedding set a brilliant new standard for vineyard vows.

Vita and Jesse started dating in high school. At the time, Vita’s moms joked it was a shame, because Jesse was the kind of guy you marry, not have a high school fling with. But as time would reveal, their love wasn’t a passing phase: Jesse really was the guy Vita would marry. Knowing this, Vita planned a proposal that ended up informing the decor for the wedding.

Chartreuse is Vita’s favorite color and Jesse’s favorite liqueur. Vita sneakily got Jesse’s measurements and had a chartreuse-colored suit made as a proposal gift. She orchestrated a plan to get Jesse into the suit, along with a whole ensemble inspired by a chartreuse-focused cocktail called “the last word.” A burgundy pocket square represented a maraschino cherry, a crisp white shirt stood for gin, and limepatterned socks nodded to the last ingredient of the drink. Once Jesse donned this ’fit, Vita proposed at his family’s vineyard (where they later held the wedding) with matching plastic yellow rings as a stand-in until they could design the official jewelry together. “We then had a ring made, and nine months later I proposed back, with

Color Blocking

Before the dusk ceremony, guests mixed and mingled among five vibrant, monochromatic lounge tents.

the ring Vita designed, in Griffith Park in LA, where we live,” says Jesse.

There was only one path forward after the inventive and colorful proposal—an equally out-of-the-box and vibrant wedding weekend. “We had a clear vision for what we wanted and a lot of ideas. Our planning team brought them to life with sensational execution, reality checks (hot air balloons need a lot of space) and pure, scrappy creativity,” recalls the couple. “They knew when to DIY and when to hire a professional. We miss talking to them every week.”

While hot air balloons got cut from the grand vision, the result was nothing short of spectacular. Most guests came from out of town, and Vita and Jesse invited them to glamp on the property for their multievent wedding weekend. Each evening had its own distinct theme that cohesively fit into the overall palette of yellow, lime, bright orange and hot pink.

Over the course of four days, Vita wore 11 outfits and Jesse sported eight. But bold fashion wasn’t the only thing anchoring their looks: The color palette even influenced Vita’s hair. At the onset, she rocked a blue-green pixie cut and then dyed her hair back to brown before the main event.

“We made the first night chartreusethemed, so we could both wear our proposal outfits and serve everyone ‘the last word’ cocktails,” explains the couple, who asked guests to wear yellow or green. The next night’s directive (after a relaxing pool par-

ty) was suits, but with a caveat: no black, gray or navy allowed. “At one point our planner mused that by having our guests dress so colorfully, they would become part of the decor. She was so right,” says Vita.

While the color-clad guests were a sight to behold, the rest of the decor held its own. “I just wanted everything to be colorful and to blow people away. We wanted it to be unforgettable,” says Jesse. The couple got right to work on that mission with alpacas greeting guests on Thursday and then a jaw-dropping neon acrylic chandelier at the rehearsal dinner on Friday.

On the day of the wedding, the couple had a Jewish ceremony. “So we couldn’t get married until after sundown on Saturday, but we wanted to make sure people could eat before the ceremony,” says Jesse. “We set up five different stations (one for each of the theme colors, plus indigo) where people could mingle, eat, and drink before the ceremony. Each station had a drink that matched the color, and when it was time to process, we had the Napa High

“I just wanted everything to be colorful and to blow people away. We wanted it to be unforgettable,” says Jesse.

500-Foot Runway The processional involved a perfectly pink aisle runner.

Evening of Love

Wedding Date: May 14, 2022

Ceremony + Reception Site: A private residence, Napa, CA

Photography +

Videography: Alternative Standards

Event Planning: The Adventure School Floral +

Event Design: DIY

Officiant: Rabbi Michael Lezak

Vita’s Attire: Alice + Olivia; FRÈRE; Happy Isles; Martina Liana, Janene’s Bridal, San Francisco; Staud

Jesse’s Attire: FRÈRE; Staud; StudioSuits

Shoes:

Vita: Nodaleto; Jesse: Sid Mashburn

Accessories: Vintage

Engagement + Wedding Rings: JK & Co.

Hair: DIY

Makeup: Raquel Cipriano

Nails: Nail Jerk

Stationery: Shipwright & Co.

Rentals: Bright Event Rentals

Catering: Calistoga Catering Company; Leave it to Peter

Cake: No Good Cakes

Music: Jonathan Bayer; MoreSF

The couple’s ceremony began right as a full moon rose in the sky.

School marching band lead the crowd to the ketubah signing ceremony, about a mile down the road.” For both Vita and Jesse, the ketubah ceremony was the highlight of the weekend. “I don’t think anything in my life will ever compare with that,” says Vita. “The energy was incredible, and everyone I love was there—most of them crying.”

To get from the ketubah ceremony to the chuppah for the exchange of vows, a 500-foot pink aisle led everyone through the vineyard. Both Vita and Jesse processed down it, escorted by their parents, to a chuppah eclectically decorated with lollipops and zucchini. “We timed the ceremony precisely for when the sun set and the full moon rose, and that was the main decor,” says Vita. Witnesses were in tears as Vita shared, “Jesse, when I think about what I want for our life together, I want to be an absolute refuge for you, I want you to feel so irrevocably and unconditionally loved by me and to build a foundation so strong that nothing else ever feels too scary.” And to Vita, Jesse proclaimed, “Vita, when I can’t sleep, I turn over and gaze at you—seemingly glowing in the moonlight or the morning sun. Through the stress and sleep deprivation, I cannot help but feel a smile creep across my face. That you are there, lying at my side, makes me feel like I might just be enough.”

Vita and Jesse weren’t the only ones to share a few words during the ceremony. Vita’s moms also read from journal entries Vita penned upon meeting Jesse on the first day of high school. “He’s so hot, rude and obviously sensitive,” her parents read. “I stand by that first impression,” says Vita. A reception with a five-hour dance party followed the ceremony. The biggest surprise of the night was a flash mob to “Gloria,” by Laura Branigan, choreographed by Vita’s nine-year-old niece, Mia. And to keep everyone fed and energized, there were 11 (yes, 11) vegan wedding cakes in five different flavors. Guests also enjoyed a toast with champagne left over from Jesse’s bar mitzvah.

Vita and Jesse “wanted to throw a fabulous party for all the friends we’ve made over the years” and they did just that, and then some, with their fluorescent fete.

Wow-Worthy Welcome

The prismatic palette kick-started on Friday at the rehearsal dinner, which was decorated with a neon acrylic chandelier handmade by a friend. They tapped the same talented pal for all their stationery needs as well.

At Dusk, We

WHEN A WEDDING PLANNER’S OWN DAY ROLLED AROUND, AN EVENING UNDER THE

JULIAN & FRANCISCO

STORY BY HANNAH NOWACK

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ABBY JIU PHOTOGRAPHY

Wed

STARS WAS JUST THE TICKET.

When an interior designer and an event designer get hitched, the decor has to be, well, nothing short of perfection. Add the fact that both experienced the pomp and circumstance of the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018, and your own big day is a tall order. Thankfully, Francisco Diaz (36, an interior designer) and Julian Leaver (42, a wedding designer and former royal correspondent) were up to the task.

The epic event started with a proposal for the books. Picture this: It’s sunset and you’re sailing around St. Barts on a catamaran, sipping champagne and eating canapés. But there’s no way a proposal would happen because there’s no photographer to capture it. Well, that’s what Francisco was thinking. As it turns out,

the boat hand serving drinks was actually a professional photographer, there to capture the very moment when Julian asked Francisco to marry him. Cue the tears.

And then came the fun part: planning a wedding as an event professional. Choosing the venue, a monumental task for most couples, was simple for the Dallas-based Julian and Francisco. Julian previously consulted on the construction of Hall of Lights, an events space in Carrollton, Texas. Little did he know that he was laying the groundwork for his own wedding day.

In a creative twist, the couple chose to hold their November ceremony at night, so they could exchange vows under the stars. They leaned into a dark and moody aesthetic to make their wedding “as sexy of an evening as possible.”

When it came to bringing that vision to life, Julian shares that “the theme here was trust your vendors.” (We love to hear that!) The couple simply provided their floral designers with a color palette and let them run with it. Similarly, Julian trusted Sarah Kane, the lead project manager of Julian Leaver Events, to handle many of the design and logistics decisions. “Our planning experience was quite unique,” he notes. Julian met with his team regularly, as they would with any client, to make decisions together. “We brought together design inspiration from each of our cultures and personalities and ultimately left it in

Sarah’s very capable hands. She guided us the entire way and it truly wouldn’t have happened without her. Sarah had a real vision for the way that all of our wild and crazy ideas were going to come together, and we trusted her to help make that happen.”

But design wasn’t the only way the couple’s day authentically represented who they are and their story. They got ready and drove to the venue together for some meaningful alone time on their wedding day. They also had a bilingual ceremony, conducted in Spanish and English.

Julian looks back especially fondly on the ceremony, because “the love in the room was incredibly electric. Like you could cut it with a knife. Every single person in that room had fought for us to be there, to make it and to be loving each other in this way. It was an unreal feeling.”

During the ceremony, Julian shared, “I love that you bring spontaneity to my sometimes too-planned-out life. I love your dancing, your funny faces and your ability to go from zero to 100 in seconds.

“Our wedding felt like each detail was perfectly curated to represent our story and the way we live,” recalls Julian.

Through the Looking Glass Glass accents studded the reception decor, continuing the ceremony’s sleek aesthetic.

Eat to Your Seat

Escort cards came in the form of individual charcuterie trays, displayed under mini cloches, so guests could nosh while making their way into the reception.

Wedding Date: November 11, 2022

Ceremony + Reception Site: Hall of Lights, Carrollton, TX

Photography: Abby Jiu Photography

Videography: Candle Light Films

Event Planning

+ Design: Julian Leaver Events

Floral Design:

GRŌ Floral & Event Design

Officiants: Cathy Razo; Carla Rosenberg

Suits:

Q Clothier; SuitSupply

Shoes: Christian Louboutin

Accessories:

Dior; Seigo New York

Wedding Rings: David Yurman

Hair + Makeup: Maitee Miles

Stationery: Southern Fried Paper

Rentals: Bella Flora; Center Stage Floors; Jacob

Co Creative; Nüage

Linens; Party! Dallas; Perch Decor; Sandone Productions; Top Tier Event Rentals

Catering: Blue Fire Catering

Cake: Fancy Cakes by Lauren; cake stand: CB2

Music:

Ceremony: Justin Cash; Garrett McGrew; mariachi band:

Mariachi Fiesta USA;

DJ: Hooligan; band: Jordan Kahn Orchestra

Photo Booth: The Pictsy Booth

Transportation:

DFW Vintage Cars; Premier Transportation

I love your kind heart, emotional soul and soft spot for your grandparents and literally every small dog you see. And most of all I love you, all of you, the very most.”

As for Francisco’s vows, he shared, “Julian, I love you because you make me proud. I promise to love you for who you are, and for who you have yet to become. I promise to share my whole heart with you and to remember to show you how deeply I care for you, no matter the challenges that may come our way. I promise to hire a professional, even if I really want to try to do it (and probably make it worse) myself.”

It was important to the duo that their reception honor Francisco’s Latin heritage. “The most important thing for us was that the event spoke to the Latin side of the family. We had the team spice everything up across the board,” explains the couple. The wedding menu included salad with jicama and roasted elotes (corn) topped with a charred chile and tequila vinaigrette. For the main course and dessert, there were plenty of options. Guests enjoyed two different entrees before diving into one of three cake flavors: champagne-berry, strawberry–cream cheese and chocolatemocha. Given the over-the-top dessert selection, Julian and Francisco knew that no ordinary cake stand would suffice. “We couldn’t find one we loved, so we ended up purchasing a marble charcuterie tray and a marble wine cooler. We glued them together to make our amazing base,” the couple admits. “We will use it at home to chill champagne and hold glasses.”

Keeping with the more-is-better mentality, the couple had three musical acts perform during the reception. A mariachi band regaled the room during dinner, and a live band and a DJ entertained guests on the dance floor. Looking back, Francisco recalls how special it was to “dance the night away with all of our loved ones and the incredible party unfolding exactly as we had planned it.”

Sculptural Sweet

The couple’s cake was a piece of art—the top two tiers appeared to float. Flowers disguised the support mechanism.

Let’s Boogie

After a first dance to “Over and Over Again,” by Nathan Sykes, an evening of revelry commenced.

BEAUTY PREP

No to the Needle: Alternative Beauty Prep for “I Do”

OUR FAVORITE NON-INVASIVE “NO-TOX” TREATMENTS FOR PREWEDDING PAMPERING.

BY LAUREN WHALLEY

If it seems like wedding beauty has become synonymous with injectable treatments lately, you’re not wrong. While there’s been a shift in recent years to small transformative tweaks, Botox and filler treatments are still not for everybody. Maybe you’re not a fan of needles. Maybe it’s out of the budget. Or maybe you just don’t want to inject toxins into your body. No matter the reason, there are plenty of ways to get smooth, youthful skin ahead of your wedding day—no needles necessary. Here are some wedding-worthy treatments to consider.

Plasma Fibroblast

What it is: Plasma fibroblast therapy is a cosmetic treatment that targets collagenproducing cells with a pen-like device that discharges high-frequency currents into the skin to produce regeneration and help maintain skin firmness and tightness.

Who it’s for: To-be-weds looking to increase smoothness and reduce wrinkles.

Average cost: $350–$750 per treatment area

Where it’s done: In-office

When to start: Six to eight months prior to the wedding date

What experts have to say: “Fibroblast skin tightening is a simple treatment that can dramatically improve areas prone to lines and wrinkles, even out skin tone and texture, fix enlarged pores, etc.,” says DiCarlo. “It’s important to keep in mind that the downtime is around 5 to 10 days, so plan your wedding events accordingly.”

What people are saying: Make sure you plan ahead and do this months before your wedding, giving you time to fully heal. It’s not for the faint of heart, but it works!

My eye area is definitely tighter, my crow’s feet aren’t as deep and my lids are far less hooded. I look great! —Amanda M.

MEET THE EXPERTS

“Adding this practice into your routine before your wedding will amplify your natural beauty and confidence.”

Jeana DiCarlo

Licensed medical esthetician and owner of J Glo Skincare in Middletown, New Jersey, specializing in advanced skin care treatments.

Gianna Graham

Licensed esthetician based in New York City who specializes in facial massage.

Gua Sha

What it is: Gua Sha is a traditional Chinese healing practice that uses a flat-edge stone to release muscle tension, reduce puffiness and promote blood circulation. It can even help calm prewedding nerves by sending freshly oxygenated blood to the head.

Who it’s for: Anyone looking to reduce inflammation in the face, eliminate toxins and reduce muscle tension and puffiness.

Average cost: Tool costs up to $75

Where it’s done: At home

When to start: As soon as possible. Gua Sha can be done daily for up to 10 minutes per session.

What experts have to say: “Stagnant fluid buildup can lead to dullness in the complexion, skin conditions and can weigh down the face. Adding this practice into your routine before your wedding will amplify your natural beauty and confidence,” Graham tells us. “With proper use, your skin should look and feel tighter and lifted.”

What people are saying: “I used Gua Sha almost every day leading up to my wedding. It gave me a natural, sculpted look without the price tag! Plus, I was able to do it at home.” —Delilah

L.

Lymphatic Drainage Face Massage

What it is: Lymphatic drainage is a gentle massage technique that helps drain the lymph nodes around the body and face. Who it’s for: Anyone can benefit from a lymphatic drainage face massage. However, if you have a lymphatic disorder, be sure to consult with your doctor prior to treatment.

Average cost: Starts at $75–100 per session

Where it’s done: In office

When to start: As soon as possible, planning for one or two sessions ahead of your wedding day.

What experts have to say: “Your eyes will be more open and less puffy; your cheekbones and jawline will be much more defined; the neck will be smoothed and lifted; and you can iron out fine lines on the forehead too,” Graham says. “You can also do a lymphatic face massage at home by using upward lifting motions from the center of the face out toward the perimeter and then lightly gliding down the sides of the neck to drain.”

What people are saying: “I didn’t want to pay for Botox, so I tried out lymphatic drainage, and it exceeded my expectations. I felt light as a feather after each session and could always see a difference right away.” —Judi O.

Retinoids

What it is: Retinoids are vitamin A–derived topical treatments that increase cell turnover, reduce fine lines and can be used to treat acne. Consider it the holy grail of at-home skin care.

Who it’s for: We start losing 1 percent of our collagen by age 25. As such, anyone with pigmentation irregularities, fine lines or wrinkles can benefit. If pregnant or nursing, DiCarlo strongly advises against using any type of retinol or retinoid.

Average cost: $25–$125 for a 30-day supply

Where it’s done: At home

When to start: 12–14 months before the wedding (at a low concentration)

What experts have to say: “Ramping up your skin care routine is critical leading up to your wedding. In fact, you should get yourself on a skin regimen the day you get engaged,” DiCarlo says. “If there is one triedand-tested ingredient you should add to your prewedding beauty routine for a clear complexion, smooth appearance and radiance, it’s retinoids.”

What people are saying: “Don’t sleep on retinoids! It was legitimately the best thing I did for myself before and after my wedding, I was blown away by how good my skin looked when I got my wedding photos back.” —Lo V.

Radio Frequency

What it is: Radio frequency is a noninvasive procedure that heats up skin layers to stimulate collagen and elastin production for smoother, lifted skin.

Who it’s for: To-be-weds dealing with loss of collagen or wanting to tighten skin around the face.

Average cost: $150–$500

Where it’s done: In-office

When to start: Six to eight months prior to the wedding date

What experts have to say: “Radio frequency is my favorite treatment. I love to combine it with Gua Sha and lymphatic drainage face massage,” says Graham. “This is an ideal treatment for prewedding prep because it’s long-lasting when you’re consistent with sessions. You can really tighten up any thin or lax areas of the face. There’s no downtime, it’s painless, and it’s still giving me real results!”

What people are saying: “I came across radio frequency when searching for Botox alternatives and decided to give it a shot. Game changer. You’ll really see a difference if you have consistent appointments.” —Paul E.

Please note: The Knot and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical advice and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a medical professional about your specific circumstances. This information contained herein is not necessarily exhaustive, complete, accurate or up to date and we undertake no responsibility to update. In addition, we do not take responsibility for information contained in any external links, over which we have no control.

“There’s no downtime, it’s painless, and it’s still giving me real results.”

ELEVATE YOUR SOUND.

WELCOME TO SOUND SOCIETY, WELCOME TO SOUND SOCIETY,

OUR ARTISTS ARE AMONG THE WORLD’S MOST GIFTED TOURING AND STUDIO MUSICIANS. THEY DELIVER UNRIVALED ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCES THAT GET PEOPLE DANCING – AND TALKING.

The New Class of Wedding Vendors

YOU MAY WANT TO HIRE THESE EMERGING BUSINESSES.

WILL

BY SARAH HANLON

secret:

Interactive Entertainment

Couples want memorable wedding experiences. In addition to live music, unexpected entertainment options like tarot card readers and artists add a “wow” factor to the wedding day. “Couples are constantly looking for ways to stand out and make their wedding even more unique and memorable. Social media has undeniably played a huge role in the growing popularity of live wedding painting,” says Kim-Vi Tran, a painter who captures events through her work. “I never get tired of the shock on guests’ faces when they see a blank canvas turn into a realistic scene by the end of the wedding night, just hours after the moment has happened.”

Kim-Vi Tran (@kvtfineart) is a fine artist and live event painter.

Wedding Content Creators

You may want to repost IG stories throughout your wedding weekend or pursue TikTok trends with your bridesmaids while you’re getting ready. But you should ditch the phone for the important IRL moments. Enter: wedding content creators. These social media gurus will work alongside your photographer and videographer to document special moments you can’t predict. “We add real value for couples by giving them incredible content quickly,” says Lauren Ladouceur, who’s assumed the role in the events industry. “I turn photo galleries around within 24 to 48 hours.”

Lauren Ladouceur (@ planwithlaur) provides real-time content creation, editing and social strategy.

Bach Party Planners

A bach party is like a dry run for the wedding itself (considering the planning that comes before the revelry). “Researching great vendors, what to do and where to stay is incredibly time-consuming,” says Allison Odhner, whose business helps groups plan their ideal bach parties. “Collecting payments from guests and managing thousands of dollars can also be overwhelming and stressful— but that’s where we come in.” Odhner and most bach party planners will book travel, accommodations and reservations for your trip. Plus, some have brand partnerships to score discounts on merch, activities and more.

Allison Odhner (@ bachtobasic) is the founder and CEO of Bach to Basic, an all-inclusive bachelor/ bachelorette party event planning concierge service.

Wedding Wardrobe Designers

Wardrobe

The concept of a “wedding wardrobe” is a buzzy trend. Some to-be-weds are allocating additional funds for a collection of outfits for prewedding events. “Creating a wedding wardrobe is like creating your own red-carpet looks,” says Caroline Crawford Patterson, who helped popularize the #WeddingWardrobe hashtag. “Everyone wants to feel like a new, glowing, elevated version of themselves during their engagement.” Another benefit? Bonus: She already knows where to shop the best white ensembles.

Caroline Crawford Patterson (@ carolinecrawfordpatterson) is a fashion designer and wedding influencer.

Scan the QR code to discover more about each business.

We’ll let you in on a

As trends evolve, so do couples’ needs. A new wave of upand-coming creative talent has arrived in the industry. Supplementing traditional wedding vendors (like photographers, caterers and planners), these experts will capture content, curate your wardrobe and create an Insta-worthy bach party.

Love Is in the Hair With Jonathan Van Ness

NETFLIX STAR, MULTIHYPHENATE BEAUTY EXPERT AND FOUNDER OF JVN, JONATHAN VAN NESS TALKS PREWEDDING CARE, EMBRACING YOURSELF AND CREATING A GENDER-INCLUSIVE HAIR LINE.

BY LAUREN WHALLEY

Q: Okay, no gatekeeping—what are your favorite hair trends right now? Anything you love for weddings?

A: I always love timeless style, especially for wedding hair. If you go trend-forward, your hair can look very dated very fast. When deciding on your wedding hairstyle, it’s best to think about what looks good on you and what will align with your overall vision and style. And don’t forget about color. It can take a few months to perfect a hue, or even longer to grow out natural color, so be mindful of your timeline.

Q: What tips can you give couples looking to kick-start their prewedding hair care routine?

A: Pre-wash scalp oil is a great way to improve the scalp and overall hair quality. Also, set aside time to understand how to work with your hair a year or so before your wedding. This will allow you to explore your hair’s full range and consider potential styles ahead of the day.

Q: What advice would you give to someone who is struggling to embrace their natural hair texture?

A: A good stylist can help you achieve a range of looks, but staying power is the real wild card. Generally, the closer you style your hair to its natural state, the longer the style will last. If that’s important to you, keep experimenting and embracing your natural hair. Trial and error is a big part of finding success. Go on the journey!

Q. You are such an advocate for wellness. Planning a wedding can be, well, stressful. How can couples practice self-care leading up to the big day?

A: Make sure to schedule downtime. Relaxing and self-care can fall by the wayside at any time, but especially when you’re busy. Nights and weekends can be a good time to say no to extra social events so you can center yourself.

Q: How can we erase the narrative that beauty and selfcare are only for one gender?

A: For many of us, it’s already erased—unless you only have straight friends. We need to decouple beauty and self-care from our socially constructed gender binary. Many women do not care about traditional beauty, and many men do. It’s more important to understand that beauty and self-care can mean volunteering, therapy, yoga or walking, and can also be beauty-related. We are all interested in beauty and self-care, whether we’re encouraged to be or not.

Q: What’s your top secret hair tip—something we might not know or should already be doing?

A: Sleep with your hair up on top of your head in a silk scrunchie and no tension on your hairline. It will make your hair less tangly and more manageable in the morning.

Q: You got married in 2020 and just dazzled. Tell us about your look.

A: It was just my husband and a judge, plus my assistant to take photos. I kept it really natural, with an effortless beach wave and natural makeup. I wanted to feel comfortable and like myself, and I did.

Q. Why was creating a sustainable, inclusive hair product line important to you?

A: My goal was to make a luxury hair care line that punches far above its value. I used to overdraw my checking account to get a high-end hair care product that, as it turns out, wasn’t even that amazing of a formula. I knew I could make better formulas for less money, with an inclusive ethos that celebrates all beauty! Simultaneously, we have been able to prioritize glass and aluminum packaging to ease our plastic dependence. We also created a sustainable hemisqualane out of fermented sugarcane. I’m so proud of what we’re making.

Q: How do you hope to make others feel when they use JVN hair care products?

A: I hope that people feel joyful, grateful and, most importantly, confident in their beauty.

ISLAND VIBES

the

NEWEST RESORT made-for-romance

JAMAICA | ANTIGUA | ST. LUCIA | THE BAHAMAS | GRENADA | BARBADOS | CURAÇAO | TURKS & CAICOS

BARBADOS SANDALS BARBADOS

The undeniably chic Sandals Barbados is set on the white sands of a flawless beach, with awe-inspiring views at every turn. Indulge in decadent accommodations, unwind at lounges and bars with a calypso beat as the soundtrack and savor mouthwatering dining options. Experience more than you’ve ever expected, where exclusive is always inclusive.

SANDALS ROYAL BARBADOS

This all-suite retreat takes romance to whole new heights at a rooftop pool and a rooftop restaurant and bar. The glass-edge main pool blurs the line between land and sea. Strike it lucky at the bowling alley, enjoy a chill vibe at the craft beer bar or indulge in epicurean delights and sweet treats.

ANTIGUA

SANDALS GRANDE ANTIGUA

A serene haven set on Antigua’s best beach, Dickenson Bay, this resort faces a pristine stretch of sand and unforgettable blue waters. The Caribbean Beachfront Village is a lush seaside oasis with majestic palms hovering over charming cottages at the water’s edge, while the Mediterranean Oceanview Village brings the Riviera to the Caribbean with sumptuous villas and suites.

GRENADA

SANDALS GRENADA

Discover life with more spice at Sandals Grenada, where pools are suspended in the sky and a living room is found in a beachfront pool. Retreat to suites you can swim up to or secluded villa sanctuaries with private plunge pools. At this exotic hideaway, breathtaking scenery meets creative innovations, delivering an escape beyond extraordinary.

Sandals Royal Barbados

ST. LUCIA

SANDALS REGENCY LA TOC

At Sandals Regency La Toc, every exceptional moment comes with a spectacular view. Retreat to exclusive accommodations set high on a clifftop or at water’s edge. Hit the links at the rolling fairways of two challenging golf courses. Savor extraordinary restaurants and bars that will tempt your palate. This is a place designed to naturally impress and embrace you in a state of pampered serenity.

SANDALS GRANDE ST. LUCIAN

At this picture-perfect resort on the edge of one of the island’s best beaches, you’ll revel in grand views at every turn. Over-the-Water Bungalows and beachfront Rondoval™ Suites are the resort’s most sought-after accommodations. Explore a diverse world of flavors every day and night, including the romantic Gordon’s Over-the-Water Restaurant. Love is in the air as you wind down your day setting the night ablaze beneath the stars.

SANDALS HALCYON BEACH

Tucked into ever-blooming gardens and edged by a tranquil, translucent sea, this intimate resort embodies the charm and beauty of this corner of paradise. With its brand-new beachfront suites, it is a true Garden of Eden. And with nature as its centerpiece, every elegantly appointed accommodation becomes a romantic retreat. You’ll enjoy true halcyon days thanks to creative bar concepts and palate-pleasing restaurants.

THE BAHAMAS

SANDALS EMERALD BAY

Indulge in the laid-back spirit of the Bahamian Out Islands. Here, being pampered with the ultimate service while surrounded by so much beauty defies the imagination. Sumptuously appointed villas and suites, impressive pools, exceptional restaurants, an award-winning championship golf course and a signature spa are all deliberately designed for pampering.

Sandals Grande St. Lucian

Sandals Regency La Toc

Sandals Emerald Bay

3

REASONS THIS NEW RESORT IS A HONEYMOON DREAM

After months of budgeting, wedding venue hopping and vendor shopping, a relaxing tropical vacation with your one and only probably sounds pretty good right now. (We’re willing to bet that’s why honeymoons were invented.) But where can you find the right balance of excitement, sun and relaxation? Look no further than Sandals’ newly opened resort on the national treasure of Jamaica’s north coast: Sandals Dunn’s River. This luxury all-inclusive destination takes advantage of its lush surroundings and pristine beach to offer the ultimate romantic getaway. Here, our top three reasons to consider a stay at this unforgettable destination.

1CAPTURES THE SPIRIT OF JAMAICA

Ocho Rios is where the late founder of Sandals grew up, and bringing a resort back to Dunn’s River was one of his greatest dreams. This incredible new resort is designed to embrace the essence of Jamaica, the land of wood and water, with rolling rivers and lush landscapes. And, of course, every amenity is included: from 5 alluring pools to world-class cuisine, golf and unlimited watersports.

2

ONE-OF-A-KIND ACCOMMODATIONS

Sandals’ SkyPool Suites make their Jamaican debut, featuring their own private plunge pool balconies that boast an extended ocean view. Or take luxury to the next level in one of the Coyaba Sky Rondoval™ Villas. These unique circular accommodations include a swim-up pool, private open-air terrace on the roof and butler service

3

UNMATCHED NATURAL SPLENDOR

Jamaica’s north coast is graced by stunning scenery, where rivers flow through forests and waterfalls cascade over the landscape—all conveniently located on your doorstep. Explore this green, tropical paradise by climbing up the famed Dunn’s River Falls, playing a round of golf or snorkeling at one of the many reefs just off shore.

CURAÇAO

SANDALS ROYAL CURAÇAO

Discover a cultural crossroads with beautiful cove beaches nestled in rocky cliffs, a colorful capital and a dramatic landscape built for adventure. At this brand-new resort, a fusion of flavors seduces the palate, and a two-level main pool melts into the distant horizon. Exquisitely designed bungalow suites perched at water’s edge may be hard to leave, but with access to a Mini Cooper to explore the island, temptation abounds.

JAMAICA

SANDALS DUNN’S RIVER

Let life flow where tranquility sets the mood and worries float away on cool, gentle breezes. The one-of-a-kind accommodations bring luxury to a new level—from beachfront SkyPool Suites to the Swimup Rondovals with rooftop decks. Sustainability is at the heart of this brand-new resort where cascading waters from the heart of Dunn’s River greet you. Epicurean temptations, trend-setting bars and endless activities on land and sea make this a true paradise.

SANDALS ROYAL CARIBBEAN

Experience a place where endless amenities come with warm island hospitality. Plated perfection is found in decadent restaurants, while a private offshore island offers your choice of adventure or relaxation. Over-the-Water Villas & Bungalows—the most coveted suites in all of the Caribbean—are the romantic escape couples dream about.

SANDALS NEGRIL

With a reggae beat and carefree spirit, it’s no surprise everyone loves Sandals Negril. Its gorgeous shoreline is perfect for every water sport you can imagine. The island chic beachfront Swim-up Suites, Millionaire Suites and beachfront Loft Suites come with the exclusive services of a personal butler. And the spectacular sunsets? They’re the main event on the beach every night.

SANDALS ROYAL BAHAMIAN

Love comes easy at Sandals Royal Bahamian, with the slower pace of island life. A private offshore island offers exotic adventures and romantic indulgences while the beach club offers the perfect escape. Every day feels luxurious in a Swim-up Suite and in the island chic accommodations found in the Island Village. Foodies and water sports enthusiasts will find their appetites sated here, while those looking to lose themselves may just forget about time altogether.

SANDALS ROYAL PLANTATION

Discover the understated elegance and exquisite privacy at this boutique all-butler, all-suite, all-oceanview resort. Spend your days lazing at the water’s edge with cool libations delivered by a beach butler. Take high tea on the terrace. Indulge your palate at a caviar and Champagne bar. Hit the links at Upton Estate Golf & Country Club. In a place where your every need is anticipated, get ready to be spoiled.

Sandals Royal Bahamian

SANDALS DUNN’S RIVER NOW

SANDALS OCHI

Beachsidetobluffside,thisresortofferssomethinguniquelyspecial.Get closer to the water’s edge—at a sexy beach club, tempting beachside and over-the-water restaurants, lively bars and even an over-the-water wedding chapel. You can also head to the hills and a private oasis of the most extraordinary villas with private pools or to nearby Upton Estate Golf & Country Club where green fees are complimentary. It’s two sides of paradise in one extraordinary destination.

SANDALS SOUTH COAST

Water is the inspiration for everything extraordinary at Sandals South Coast, a seaside oasis on a two-mile stretch of white-sand beach, with indulgent Over-the-Water Bungalows, beachfront Swim-up Suites and Rondoval Suites. Say “I do” at an Over-the-Water Serenity Wedding Chapel, or float on a hammock at Latitudes Overwater Bar. In a place where you can watch the sun rise and set on the same stretch of beach, you’ll discover romance at its most serene.

SANDALS MONTEGO BAY

Sandals Montego Bay captures a carefree spirit bathed in tropical beauty. It embraces its idyllic locale along the water’s edge with an Over-the-Water bar, Over-the-Water Serenity Wedding Chapel and beachfront Swim-up Suites. When the sun goes down, Sandals Montego Bay rises to the occasion with dining and entertainment worthy of celebration and romance.

BEACHES NEGRIL

Set along the widest stretch of Negril’s famed 7-Mile Beach, this resort is the very essence of a laid-back paradise, complete with beachside bars and restaurants where you can dig your toes in the sand, a water park overlooking the sea and rooms and suites that make you feel at home. It’s all about spending time with those you love, any way you want.

BEACHES OCHO RIOS

Escape to a beachfront getaway for the entire family, a tropical garden oasis lining an impossibly blue sea. Design your day around endless possibilities, from an ocean of water sports and an exhilarating water parktotherollinghillsofan18-holegolfcourse.Everypalateispampered at seven extraordinary restaurants, and sumptuous accommodations are the perfect retreat at the end of a perfect day.

TURKS & CAICOS

BEACHES TURKS & CAICOS

There are so many reasons why this resort is so popular. Amazing accommodations for families of all sizes in five magnificent villages. Mouthwatering dining experiences at 22 restaurants and a 45,000-square-foot water park. And it’s all set on a 12-mile beach lined by the bluest water you’ve ever seen, so bring on the fun and the romance!

Beaches Ocho Rios

Sandals South Coast

CELEBRATE YOUR LOVE IN PARADISE

Your new life together starts here, in a place created for romance and fun in the sun. Destination weddings and honeymoons at Sandals and Beaches Resorts are designed to create unforgettable moments in some of the world’s most beautiful locations. Whether you’re dreaming of an adults-only party or a familyfriendly celebration, it’s possible to find exhilaration, rejuvenation and relaxation, all in the same place. And with a beginning like this, the incredible memories you’ll create together will stay with you for a lifetime. Your honeymoon starts the moment you say, “I do!”

LISTEN, WE WON’T LIE TO YOU…PICKING THE RIGHT WEDDING VENUE IS TOUGH. GET READY FOR THE GRAND REVEAL OF YOUR DREAM SPOT WITH GUIDANCE FROM THIS NIFTY FLOWCHART.

Which Venue Is Best for You?

BY CHAPELLE JOHNSON ILLUSTRATIONS BY SHELBY WARWOOD

All-inclusive venue? All-inclusive venue? All-inclusive venue?

Def—please do it all Not necessary

I’m a city dweller at heart.

I need scenic views ASAP.

What’s the vibe?

Dream dinner?

Totes Pass

Size matters. Who makes the cut?

HOTEL

Invite guests to a decadent hotel ballroom with endless decor potential.

DESTINATION RESORT

From white-sand beaches to mountain chalets, you can’t go wrong with a resort venue.

MUSEUM

Between abstract artwork and ancient artifacts, a museum is a unique choice. Perhaps it’s for you.

RANCH

Then BBQ. Need Gordon Ramsay–level catering (without the yelling).

Refined and modern Rustic and natural

“I do.”

Cozy and petite, please.

PRIVATE RESIDENCE

The bigger, the better.

WINERY

Toast your loved ones while enjoying unforgettable vineyard views.

DESTINATION RESORT

Lean into the sentimental factor with a backyard wedding.

Embrace the natural beauty of a romantic ranch.

Discover Even More Venues Don’t limit yourself to these six wedding spots. Scan here to discover other types of venues to consider.

DECADENT SWEETS TAKE CENTER

STORY BY CHAPELLE JOHNSON

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CALEN ROSE

STAGE ON THIS ROMANTIC TABLE FULL OF RICH PINK HUES AND CHIC DETAILS. IT’S THE PERFECT FLIRTY FOUNDATION FOR A MODERN WEDDING SHOWER. of

50 Shades of Pink

Pink

Royal Behavior

Gemstone tiaras and big velvet bows are perfect party favors for a regal fete. Guests can rock these accessories during (and after) the luxe celebration.

Flower Fantasy

Don’t limit your arrangements to a single stem. Pick flowers of different textures and sizes for an eye-catching look. Pro-tip: Finish with berries for a firework effect.

Photography: Calen Rose

Event Design & Coordination: Le Petite Privé

Floral Design: Designs By Ahn

Shoes: Aquazzura

Accessories: Lelet NY

Stationery: Erin Braun

Decor: ABC Carpet & Home;

Anthropologie;

Astier de Villatte; Ginori 1735

Cakes: Bakes By Marie

Desserts: Creative Edge Parties

Back in Style

Lambeth cakes, seen here, use an old English overpiping technique that’s all the rage today. Garlands, scrolls and ribbons characterize this lavish dessert, making it ideal for an elegant wedding shower.

Dress to Impress

There’s nothing casual about this affair. Ask your guests to dazzle in their highest heels, snazziest suits and most striking attire.

Mind the Design

Stationery is the perfect place to reinforce the shower’s theme. This beautiful blindembossed menu with hints of red does just that.

Unique Sweets

More is more—cake doesn’t have to be the only dessert on the menu. Offer a variety of confections to satisfy and delight, like these raspberryflavored fruit tarts and macarons (which blend perfectly with the color scheme, btw).

Dazzling Dishes

Use plates that play into the color palette and majestic vibe. These scalloped pink platters with floral motifs elevate the table effortlessly.

Double Down on Drama

The cake’s bows and intricate buttercream piping are just the right amount of extra, while pops of red throughout the decor add a playful punch.

DRESSES BRIDESMAID GET3FREE SWATCHES

UNDER $100

YOU CAN’T PLAN A WEDDING WITHOUT ONE.

The Time(line) is Right

ILLUSTRATIONS BY ABBY MCCARTIN BY KIM FORREST

THE BIGGEST WEDDING MUST-HAVE ISN’T A CUSTOM NEON SIGN OR AN ICE SCULPTURE. IT’S A PLANNING CHECKLIST TAILORED TO YOUR ENGAGEMENT TIMELINE. WE’VE DONE THE HEAVY LIFTING FOR 12-MONTH, 6-MONTH AND 3-MONTH TIME FRAMES (YOU CAN PERSONALIZE FURTHER IN OUR APP). READY? LET’S DO THIS.

NO TIME, NO PROBLEM!

Hire a planner.

A full-service wedding planner will make sure everything gets done.

Be flexible. Focus on making decisions quickly and don’t agonize over the choices.

Consider all-inclusives.

A venue that offers in-house catering and other services can help save time and money.

Size doesn’t matter.

Accept the fact that some of your loved ones may not be able to attend on short notice. An intimate wedding has its own benefits.

3

MONTH PLANNING CHECKLIST

With a tighter timeline, you’ll have to be flexible—it’s all still doable.

3 MONTHS OUT

Find a Wedding Venue

Set a Date

Set a Budget

Create Your Guest List

Hire a Planner

Ask Your Wedding Party

Create Your Vendor Team

Book Hotel Room Blocks

Shop for Attire

Set Up Registry

READY ?

LET’S DO THIS. Old school? Tear out your preferred checklist page. Rather plan online? Scan the code below to get your own personalized (and free!) checklist.

Communicate With Your Guests

Purchase Wedding Rings

Plan Your Honeymoon

Decide If You’ll Have Prewedding Events

Figure Out Rehearsal

Dinner Plan

2 MONTHS OUT

Send Out Wedding Invitations

Write Vows Order Favors

1 MONTH OUT

Secure Your Marriage License Start Seating Chart

2 WEEKS OUT

Schedule Final Calls With Vendors

THE WEEK BEFORE

Share Final Head Count

Confirm With Vendors

THE DAY BEFORE

Organize Gratuities

Give Gifts to Loved Ones

Bring Any Special Items to Venue

Rehearse the Ceremony and Have the Rehearsal Dinner

THE DAY OF Showtime!

Love and the Law

BY ESTHER LEE

In the narthex of a New York City Catholic Church, a wedding planner runs through his final checklist. The wedding party is neatly arranged. He smooths the bride’s train, scans her hair for flyaways and adjusts her veil one last time. It’s a sequence he’s completed many times throughout his career as an event planner, but this time, something unexpected occurs.

The priest of the church hurries over and points to the planner, a gay man. “You’re not welcome here,” he says. “Please leave.” The wedding party turns around in horror as the planner stands frozen. The bride, a mere seconds away from walking down the aisle, turns to him and whispers, “I’m so sorry.” It’s clear: The figure running the show has been asked to exit the building.

Jove Meyer, a Brooklyn-based wedding planner and designer, knew his footing in the world of weddings wasn’t equal after that interaction, which occurred early in his career. “I didn’t want to make a scene. It was her wedding day,” he recalls. “I walked outside, sat on the stairs of the church, and I cried my eyes out. The drivers were like, ‘What are you doing out here? You’re supposed to be inside.’ I had just gotten kicked out of a church. I was enraged.”

Indeed, couples and wedding professionals are feeling the reverberations of a deeply divided nation in 2023. With a six-three conservative majority on the US Supreme

Court, couples feel the effects of policies across issues. “It’s distressing for each individual in a relationship when the news reports on [potential government] policies or voting that will impact people’s financial wellbeing, job security, physical and emotional safety, and basic human rights,” explains Candice Nicole Hargons, the founder and director of the Center for Healing Racial Trauma. “What stresses the individuals in a relationship stresses the actual relationship,” affirms Stan Tatkin, developer of the Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy. “We live in a dangerous, hostile and unpredictable world. Partners have to work together as allies.” Before the ink dries on the marriage license, couples may broach policy-related discussions. After all, the law can influence lives; however, the wellbeing of your relationship will depend on how you respond to these external events.

Millions of people felt policy’s impacts in June 2022 when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade after half a century. But some knew in advance that a conservative majority would affect their rights. The ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which reversed Roe v. Wade, prompted policymakers to introduce reactive legislation. The House of Representatives quickly introduced the Respect for Marriage Act (RFMA), a bill that

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN POLICY DECISIONS AND THE LAW OF THE LAND INFLUENCE YOUR LOVE STORY? “WHAT STRESSES THE INDIVIDUALS IN A RELATIONSHIP STRESSES THE ACTUAL RELATIONSHIP,” SAYS ONE EXPERT.

Couples who long took these rights for granted are concerned about the unraveling of decades of institutional change and fundamental human rights.

statutorily protects couples’ fundamental rights—including interracial and same-sex marriages—and President Joe Biden signed it into law in December 2022. Many received the news with relief, but it also generated concern, particularly within the LGBTQIA+ community. In an evershifting and dubious political atmosphere, some felt as though they were now salvaging their fundamental right to be in a loving relationship.

“If Obergefell v. Hodges were to be overturned, samesex couples would find themselves in a situation where their marriages didn’t exist the moment they entered a state that didn’t recognize their marriage as legal. That is why the RFMA was such an important step,” says Marilyn Chinitz, partner in the matrimonial and family law practice group at Blank Rome in New York City. “We still have a number of states that do not recognize samesex marriage.”

Chinitz gives a hypothetical example of a same-sex couple who falls in love in New York, has a child, and then moves to a state where their marriage isn’t recognized. “If your spouse or child gets sick, you might be denied access to them. Some states that don’t recognize same-sex marriages do still recognize portability and the validity of your union from states that do,” she says. “But if you marry in a state or move to a state that doesn’t recognize the portability of same-sex marriage, you are not afforded any of the rights that a married couple has, including medical rights, inheritance, joint taxes and estate taxes. You want to be sure your state recognizes those rights, because you have a lot to lose. Those considering moving should look into the legal recognitions and rights granted by the state, and stay away from those which do

not recognize their marital union.”

Historically, Americans believed that Supreme Court rulings regarding marriage had settled these issues. In 1967, Loving v. Virginia established the right of interracial couples to marry, deeming the ban on those unions unconstitutional under the Fourteenth Amendment. In 2015, Obergefell v. Hodges gave same-sex couples the constitutional right to marry under Loving’s precedent. Such decisions seemed like settled law. Now, couples who long took these rights for granted are concerned about the unraveling of decades of institutional change and fundamental human rights.

“When we brought [RFMA] up to interracial couples, they were completely unaware of it,” says Michele Davis, who is in an interracial marriage and chose to wed her husband on Loving Day, the anniversary of the court decision, in 2020. “Some learned they had representatives in their [districts] voting against the protection. We researched who had voted against RFMA, and it turned out that some of our friends had been supporting the very representatives who voted against their right to marital protections. It is essential that couples be aware of policy and Supreme Court rulings. Don’t assume that just because we are in 2023, those protections are guaranteed.”

Meyer adds, “As a gay man in a relationship who has been thinking about marriage my whole life, it’s heartbreaking. Our community has fought for every right we have, and we’re not asking for more than anyone else. We’re fighting for equal rights, human rights, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It’s not just a wedding that I’m fighting for—it’s the tax benefits, the legal rights and

protections that come with marriage. It’s being able to be there if your partner is sick in the hospital: You can’t be there unless you’re legally family. It’s having a family together. It’s adoption or surrogacy.”

FAMILY PLANNING

Since Roe was overturned, individual states have instituted early-term abortion laws. In April, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a six-week abortion ban, and within days, the governor of South Carolina followed suit. Today, Virginia is the only state in the South that allows abortions in the second trimester, banning the procedure after 26 weeks.

“With Roe v. Wade overturned, couples’ sex lives may be at risk,” speculates Hargons, who is also a sexologist. “Couples who do not wish to have children, or any more children, may be facing additional risk, especially if they’re no longer using condoms. Other forms of birth control are valuable, but some have health side effects that not everyone can tolerate. Couples may feel forced to return to condom use, given that there are fewer options if they become pregnant.”

“We know that women’s health care is going to degrade further,” adds Tatkin. “People are afraid that IVF might be affected too. Everything is up for grabs.” For couples, topics like physical intimacy and family planning influence interpersonal dynamics. Clearly, Tatkin notes, “These issues put stress on relationships.”

HEALTH CARE

Along with family planning and other health issues that may affect marriages, simple access to health care in the US also impacts millions of couples. Treatment and hospital visitation costs often lack transparency and clarity; there’s also a lack of access. For many of the poorest citizens, health care is neither affordable nor accessible.

Marriage can leave you on the hook for your spouse’s medical expenses. “Health care costs are a financial drain,” says Chinitz. “There are cases where couples have divorced to remove themselves from that burden. Some go to great lengths to plan ahead to relinquish their assets in case they need to enter a senior care facility. This is where the government should be stepping in. Nobody should be impoverished as a result of their health or the health of their spouse.”

IMMIGRATION REFORM

Immigration is another subject that divides the population. Title 42—a pandemic-era emergency health authority that denied asylum to migrants crossing the border— expired in May. Under Title 42, US border officials could

turn away migrants (and did so 2.8 million times in the last three years) for reasons related to public health. A 2020 study published in the Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work revealed the impact of immigration policies, particularly on immigrants from Latin America. Participants surveyed reported increased mental health symptoms, such as anxiety, depression and stress, in response to immigration issues. “This happens not just at the individual level, but also on the family unit level,” says Hargons.

For other couples, immigration policy impacts their relationship in a different way. In the 2009 romantic comedy The Proposal, a publisher (Sandra Bullock) ropes her assistant (Ryan Reynolds) into marrying her to prevent her from being deported from the US to Canada. Though the film is intended to be lighthearted, the premise is much heavier in reality. “The government is cracking down on what is a valid marriage and what is a fraudulent marriage,” says Chinitz. “It’s currently spending a lot of time, money and resources to determine what marriages are real and enforce consequences for those trying to circumvent the system. While everyone is entitled to get married, the government can take action against fraudulent marriages.” She predicts that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the federal government will start cracking down on such unions, and both the citizen and the immigrant could face serious penalties.

HOW LOVE WINS

As Americans are divided on these issues, it’s important to approach conversations with empathy and grace. Couples facing these challenges should acknowledge them together. “Honor the stress with empathy, rather than denial, dismissal or minimization,” says Hargons. “Hold space for the fear and pain that can come when policies have a personal impact. Create joyful experiences with each other to balance the dismay, but also consider that engaging in resistance together, even if it’s writing letters to lawmakers, is a bonding activity.”

“Keeping an eye on policy helps everyone stay informed and make decisions that work for them within this political context. But more importantly, it helps couples build a coalition and resist,” affirms Hargons. “Couples have more power than individuals, so when more than one person goes to speak with a lawmaker about a potentially harmful policy, it is more likely to have an impact.”

Even if you aren’t directly affected, you could consider civic engagement. “Schedule phone calls and visits with these lawmakers to express how the policies are impacting your relationship health [or that of a loved one],” adds Hargons. “Connect with organizations who are leading the resistance against many of these policies. Donate to or-

As you plan your wedding, make your partnership the priority.

ganizations that have developed resistance strategies.”

As you plan your wedding, make your partnership the priority. “The task of couples as a unit is adaptation,” says Tatkin. “Sometimes that means moving to another state, or even out of the country. The biggest thing to remember is that the couple system needs to share power and authority. Think of it like you’re running in a potato sack race with your partner.”

The Timeline of Policy

September 2020

Liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg dies, leaving a vacancy on the Supreme Court.

October 2020

Conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett is appointed to the Supreme Court to fill RBG’s seat.

June 2022

Roe v. Wade is overturned by the new conservative court.

July 2022

Congress introduces the Respect for Marriage Act (RFMA) to preserve marriage equality.

December 2022

President Biden signs and codifies RFMA into law. However, states are still able to determine the legality of same-sex marriages should the Supreme Court overturn Obergefell v. Hodges.

May 2023

Title 42 expires and states enact early-term deadlines for pregnancy terminations. More SCOTUS rulings are pending.

Discussion Topics

TAKE A MOMENT AND REFLECT ON HOW POLICY RELATES TO YOUR RELATIONSHIP.

Sources: Jove Meyer is a Brooklyn-based wedding planner and designer who runs an eponymous events business.

Stan Tatkin is the developer of the Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy® (PACT) and the bestselling author of In Each Other’s Care

Marilyn Chinitz is a partner in the matrimonial & family law practice group at Blank Rome in New York City.

Candice Nicole Hargons, PhD, is a sexologist and the founding director at the Center for Healing Racial Trauma.

1. What are your feelings around how policies relate to a woman’s right to choose? If there was a complication during pregnancy that put the mother’s life at risk, how would you proceed?

1. What are your around how choose? If there was a pregnancy that put the mother’s

2. If we are unable to wed in our current state, or feel like our state doesn’t afford us the benefits associated with marriage, what are our next steps?

3. You and your partner disagree on policy issues. Discuss your opinions without imposing your beliefs or trying to change their mind.

Please note: The Knot and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, legal advice and should not be used as such. You should always consult with your legal advisors about your specific circumstances. This information contained herein is not necessarily exhaustive, complete, accurate or up to date and we undertake no responsibility to update. In addition, we do not take responsibility for information contained in any external links, over which we have no control.

For the Love of Tacos and Tattoos

WONDERING WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS…AT TACO BELL? WHY, A VOW RENEWAL, OF COURSE.

ALEX + STEFAN

Story by Hannah Nowack

Photography by Logan Cole

Doing life with your partner is no easy feat, especially when you navigate major changes together. For Alex (27, a destination wedding planner and designer) and Stefan Moreau (28, a logistics analyst), transitioning from military to civilian life was one such milestone.

The military has long played a role in the couple’s relationship, and its absence would eventually require a huge shift once Stefan re-entered civilian life. As his military stint ended, it conveniently coincided with the couple’s five-year wedding anniversary. To celebrate both, Alex and Stefan did what every “self-proclaimed dirtbag” does: head to Vegas, baby. “The prospect of hitting the casinos, racing sports cars, getting tattoos and chowing down on tacos was an absolute dream come true,” says Alex.

Let’s rewind: The pair, who live in Austin, met in high school and dated longdistance while Stefan attended the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. (It sounds like a movie meetcute, does it not?)

“Our relationship was complicated by the distance and the added challenge of his military commitments,” recalls Alex.

“Despite the challenges, we stayed connected with each other every chance we got and cherished every moment we spent

Spice and Seltzer Soirée

The couple’s “intimate affair that captured our unique personalities” creatively included hot sauce and hard seltzer.

together. This allowed us to build a strong foundation for our relationship that has withstood the test of time. The obstacles we faced early on helped us mature as a couple and strengthened our bond.”

Stefan and Alex initially said “I do” on June 10, 2017, with over 250 of their loved ones in attendance. “Overall, our journey has been worth the hurdles we’ve endured, and we are proud of the love that we’ve cultivated together,” reflects Alex.

Naturally, the couple chose to reinforce and honor that bond in no place other than…Taco Bell. With an Elvis impersonator as the officiant and a bouquet made of hot-sauce packets, Alex and Stefan committed to each other again. “It was the perfect way to kick off the next chapter of our lives together,” says Alex.

The off-the-cuff theme even influenced the vows. Alex recited her words off her phone, as it was either that or the envelope of a water bill (the only scrap of paper she could hunt down). As for Stefan, he penned his vows while watching Storage Wars

As a seasoned wedding planner and

Let’s Get Inked

To commemorate their lasting love, the couple made an equally permanent decision: They got new tats on their ring fingers.

Vow Renewal Date: June 10, 2022

Ceremony Site: The Chapel at the Taco Bell Cantina, Las Vegas

Photography: Logan Cole

Event Planning + Design: XO Moreau

Officiant & Music:

Dimos, The Mini Elvis

Ordained Minister Alex’s Attire: Dona Matoshi

Stefan’s Attire: Bonobos; Vintage Rockmount Shoes: Nike Accessories: Ellifam; Rebeka Jewelry

Hair + Makeup: Kim Katunis

Catering: Taco Bell

Cake: Cinnabon

Tattoo Shop:

Pair-A-Dice Tattoos

Accommodations: Bellagio

designer accustomed to organizing largescale events, Alex was thrilled by the chance to do something against the grain with her intimate vow renewal. “In fact, we had the idea for our vow renewal long before our first wedding, and we knew the iconic Taco Bell Chapel was the perfect setting to bring our vision to life. It was an experience we’ll never forget. After the ceremony, we got the holy grail of wedding gifts: a taco twelve-pack. Getting married in Vegas seems to have some kind of magical effect on your appetite.”

At this point in the story, you may be wondering: What does one wear to a Taco Bell vow renewal? Sweet kicks. Alex rocked

metallic sneaks with shoelace tags that read “forever and Stefan into special edition Nike Air Force 1s. The two are

metallic sneaks with shoelace tags that read “forever baby” and Stefan slipped into special edition Nike Air Force 1s. The two are big sneakerheads, in case it wasn’t clear.

After downing a few hard seltzers, Alex and Stefan made their way to a local tattoo parlor to get inked on their ring fingers. They also hit up a casino, because no Sin City rendezvous would be complete without time at the slot machines.

“We just went with the flow that night,” reflects Alex. “We completely broke from tradition, and it was a blast. But if we had done this for our actual wedding, our parents might have had a few choice words for us.”

Our Day, Our Way

The couple’s casino-centric adventure threw tradition to the wind. Alex jokes that the couple even pretended to marry Elvis instead of each other during their vow exchange. “We were feeling so light and carefree, like nothing else in the world mattered,” recalls Alex.

The only thing that truly matters is creating a lasting union and hosting a celebration that reflects your relationship to kick that chapter off. Sounds cliché, but be unapologetically you,” says Alex.

MENSWEAR

Suit Yourself

FINDING THE ELUSIVE WEDDING ’FIT IS NOW EASIER THAN EVER. CUSTOM SUITING COMBINES DETAILED MEASUREMENTS WITH PERSONALIZED ELEMENTS GUARANTEEING WEDDING DAY SWAGGER.

BY TRES DEAN

Wedding photos last a lifetime. The last thing you want is to look at those photos 20 years down the road and wish you had worn a better-fitting suit. Trust me. A great way to nip that potential problem in the bud is to look into custom suiting. Custom is a weighted word in the world of suiting, with a ton of room for interpretation. Some guys interpret “custom suiting” as anything that’s been purchased off the rack and taken to a tailor. While a good off-the-rack suit can be made great with a few alterations, the true custom suit is one that’s made to measure. Now that’s the kind of custom I’m talking about.

Interested? You’re in luck. These days, made-tomeasure suiting (M2M from here on out) is more accessible and affordable than it’s ever been. We can thank brands like Indochino and Suitsupply for that. Over the last decade, these businesses have utilized online retail and strategic brick-and-mortar locations to cut out the middleman and make truly custom suiting available to the masses. Other brands have followed suit (sorry, I had to), with companies like modern menswear juggernaut Todd Snyder creating specialized departments focusing on M2M.

It’s important to clarify the difference between an M2M suit and a bespoke one. The latter is the most intricate form of custom suiting, a garment made entirely from scratch to the exact measurements of the customer. Bespoke suits are made over the course of

“With all attention on you on your wedding day, your suit deserves to be perfect.”

months, often requiring three or four separate fittings, as tailors cut and sew every piece of the ensemble together to create the finished look. “The benefits of ordering bespoke are many, but first and foremost is fit. A proper bespoke garment will be made to your unique specifications based on measurements taken at your initial consultation,” explains Steve Knorsch of Cad & The Dandy, a tailor on London’s Savile Row with a shop in New York City. “You get to ‘design’ all of the details— width and shape of the lapels, drape of the trouser, finishings and linings—and choose from a selection of exceptional cloths. This makes the bespoke process not only perfect for your big day, but an investment in a garment that you will wear and enjoy for years to come.”

They’re works of art, but they’re also very expensive—we’re talking thousands of dollars. Bespoke suits are made by specialists—if you sign on for one, you have to be present for multiple fittings over several weeks. It’s a commitment, but the result is damn near perfection and the best option if you can afford it.

Now, don’t get it twisted: M2M suits are absolutely stellar works of tailoring too. Better yet, they’re lowermaintenance, require a less-involved fitting process, and can be ordered online once a manufacturer has your measurements. They usually cost quite a bit less too.

Todd Snyder himself explained it best: “With all attention on you [on your wedding day], your suit deserves to be perfect. Made to measure allows for just that by taking a pattern and adjusting the blueprint to your build’s unique measurements and your personal style.” M2M suits let the wearer customize not just the fit but also the details. How many sleeve buttons, and should they be functional or decorative? Which pattern do you want for your suit’s lining? It’s all up to you with M2M.

M2M suits are cut from a preexisting pattern to fit the wearer’s measurements. Everything from thigh circumference to the slope of one’s shoulders is taken into account. When I was at a fitting for a Suitsupply double-breasted beauty a few years ago, the employee taking my measurements noticed that my right shoulder slumps slightly lower than my left and accounted for the difference in the measurement of the right arm sleeve. If your suit designer has a location close by, you’ll usually have the suit delivered to their store and then come in for a final fitting to make any necessary adjustments. All in all, the process usually takes four to six weeks. What once felt like an extravagance only available to the elite is now as affordable and accessible as most offthe-rack suiting—just way better fitting. You can, in fact, get an M2M suit for just a few hundred dollars. There’s something special about wearing clothing made especially for you—every detail reflects your personality and taste, chosen by you. A made-to-measure suit will get you down the aisle in a look worthy of all eyes on you.

Some guys interpret “custom suiting” as anything that’s been purchased off the rack and taken to a tailor. A true custom suit is one that’s made to measure.

Put a Cap

FROM THE PROPOSAL TO THE MOMENT YOU HIT THE RECEPTION DANCE

FLOOR,

EACH WEDDING MILESTONE DESERVES A SPOT ON YOUR FEED.

BY SARAH HANLON

FOR THE ENGAGEMENT PARTY

Just said yes? Once you’ve told your loved ones the happy news, it’s time to go viral with our favorite Insta captions.

The first of many parties to come.

I guess you could say it’s serious.

It’s about time.

An everlasting love for me. We’re getting married (!!!!)

FOR THE BACH PARTY

Embarking on one final fling before the ring? We love this for you! These cheeky bach party captions are def post worthy.

If you see me out during my bachelorette, no you didn’t.

What happens at the bach party stays at the bach party.

Making one last splash.

One last rodeo.

A sweet ending before a new beginning.

FOR THE SHOWER

If you’re all captioned-out by the time this event rolls around, have no fear. If nothing else, your shower outfit deserves its moment on the feed. Today’s forecast calls for showers.

On cloud nine. Good and showered. The countdown is officially on. Pass the bubbly.

FOR THE WEDDING COUNTDOWN

You’ve been planning this day for a decade (if we’re being honest). Give those engagement photos one final shining moment in the sun… before they’re upstaged by the real deal.

We’ve waited X days for this. Party accordingly.

Hey [fiancé’s name], got any plans on [wedding date]?

X days until the knot is tied for good.

This time, next [week, month, year].

X days until we do.

Coming up with fresh captions for each prewedding or wedding event is easier said than done, but that’s where we come in. We understand the importance of a well-curated photo dump, so we’ve created the ultimate roundup of wedding captions to make your followers laugh, cry and double tap throughout the engagement.

p on It

FOR THE WEDDING DAY

After you say “I do,” you’ll probably want to post all the wedding content—and we don’t blame you. Use these captions next time you want to share a wedding photo on the ’gram. Hard launch.

Hopelessly devoted. It started with a kiss.

I’d marry you anytime and anywhere.

With my whole heart and for my whole life.

FOR GUESTS ON THE WEDDING DAY

Guests need great wedding captions too, especially if the social calendar is quickly filling up with save-the-dates. If you’re in this category, a standout wedding guest IG caption is a must.

All you need is love… and an open bar. Did someone say wedding season?

You can find me on the dance floor.

Basically the royal wedding Forever looks good on these two.

FOR THE HONEYMOON

Unless you’re going on an unplugged-moon, we bet you’ll post about your honeymoon on the ‘gram. (Your friends and fam deserve to see those glowing newlywed pics, after all.) These honeymoon captions are perfect for every kind of getaway, from an oceanside adventure to a European holiday.

Caught flights *and* feelings. Always in the honeymoon phase.

The best stories are in our passports. Do not disturb. Ticking off the bucket list.

THE SEASON’S INGREDIENT

Oh, D

D

Looking to infuse your bouquet with some meaning? Meet your stem: the dahlia. Floriography (the language of flowers made popular in the Victorian era) dubbed this flower the symbol of devotion, love, beauty, commitment and kindness. Can you think of anything more perfect for a wedding? It comes in 42 varieties and blooms from May to October, making it an excellent choice for summer and early fall nuptials. Oh, and they play nice with just about any other stem.

Dahlia!

8

CHALLENGER

1

2 7

6

LOYALIST

5

4

INDIVIDUALIST

3

REFORMER ACHIEVER

Enneagram Wedding Planning

THIS POPULAR PERSONALITY TEST CAN TAKE YOUR WEDDING PLANNING EXPERIENCE (AND RELATIONSHIP) TO NEW LEVELS OF BESPOKE.

BY JAMIE CUCCINELLI

Some swear by spreadsheets, others go with the flow, but somehow everyone gets it done and makes it down the aisle—albeit with plenty of help from pros along the way. What if you could take the trial and error out of finding what works for you? The Enneagram system, which groups individuals into nine personality types, can provide insight into our behavioral patterns, interpersonal relationships and even wedding planning styles.

“The Enneagram is one of the most popular typologies used in the US to help us understand our personality,” says psychologist and relationship coach Jacqueline

Sherman, PhD. “Each personality type is characterized by common motivations, desires, strengths and areas for growth.” By understanding your (and your partner’s) Enneagram type and what traits and challenges are associated with it, you can better support yourself and your fiancé while wedding planning—and throughout your relationship too.

To begin, find your Enneagram type by scanning the QR code and taking the quiz. Then, read on to discover tips for how each Enneagram personality can best plan their bash with minimal stress.

If you want a seating chart planned in record time, give it to a Type One: They’re known for being self-disciplined hard workers with a strong moral code.

However, this type faces relentless inner critic who sometimes needs to be quieted.

If you’re a Type One, commit to having at least one hour of screenfree time before bed. This could help you unplug from the selfimposed perfectionism of planning.

If your partner is a Type One, know that they may try to power through all the heavy lifting themselves. Remind them that you’re meant to take on challenges together.

Optimistic and giving, no one can deliver a pep talk like a Type Two. Nurturing their relationships and caring for others rank

high on their priority list.

(Think: Olivia Benson from Law & Order.) Since Type Twos find it difficult to address their own needs, be diligent about setting boundaries when it comes to things like family involvement and the guest list.

(It’s all too easy to let yourself overspend on extra guests to avoid hurt feelings.)

If your partner is a Type Two, shift the focus to them: Plan activities or surprises that prioritize their happiness, such as a much-needed massage or weekend mini-moon.

THE REFORMER

THE HELPER

Take the quiz to discover your Enneagram.

MELISSA ERGO PHOTOGRAPHY

Of course, everyone wants their wedding to look off-the-charts stunning—but no one quite like Type Threes. This ultra-adaptable Enneagram type is imageconscious and can find it difficult to maintain a

healthy work-life balance (or work-life-weddingplanning balance).

Avoid burnout if you count yourself among this group. Ask for help with smaller tasks while you focus on your logistical planning strengths.

As it goes in any relationship, it’s important to keep the lines of communication open if you’re in a partnership with a Type Three. Since they tend to run forward with their vision, ensure that your voice is being heard too.

FIVE

Sherman describes Type Fives as being extremely innovative and intense. Unlikely to ask for help from others, their inquisitive and self-reliant nature may lead them to isolate themselves when stressed.

Safety and security motivate steadfast Type Sixes. Since they’re likely risk-aversive, they’re less inclined to drop a deposit on a florist or venue without shopping around first.

From candy-colored gowns to over-the-top afterparties, unique details are highly important to free-spirited and expressive Type Fours.

Due to their sensitive nature, it’s easy for a Type Four to feel overwhelmed. Sherman recommends they find healthy outlets for stress, such as breath work or gratitude journaling, especially during busy times.

You can support a Type Four partner by taking stressful logistical tasks off their plate. If they’re happiest getting creative with wedding invitation designs, do your part by keeping the RSVP list organized.

If you’re a Type Five, delegation is the name of your wedding planning game. Recruit wedding party members if you and your partner are drowning in details or DIY projects.

This personality type appreciates their alone time, so be understanding if your Type Five partner requests the space to recharge their social batteries. A solo coffee date or an hour with a book can help them relax and reset.

Type Sixes should remember that they can’t control every last detail or unexpected event.

Real talk: As long as you marry the love of your life, the day is a success!

If your fiancé is a Type Six, keep them from fixating on worst-case scenarios by planning the backup logistics, like what happens in case of rain. Your partner will feel supported, as they’re likely the one who always puts out fires.

THE INVESTIGATOR

THE LOYALIST

Fun-loving Type Sevens are full of energy and always willing to try something new. The consummate wedding guest or wedding party member, they aim to get everyone out on the dance floor. In short, Type Sevens certainly know how to throw a memorable event.

Type Sevens should lean into their positive nature while wedding planning. You can make anything a party, so turn envelope stuffing into an athome date night with tunes and takeout.

If your partner is a Type Seven, understand that they may have trouble processing their feelings amid all the excitement. Be consistent with emotional check-ins and schedule regular quality—and quiet— time together.

s e v e n

8

According to Sherman, Type Eights are self-confident, decisive and bold. Experts at negotiating vendor contracts and wrangling family members for photos, they’re less comfortable with public displays of emotion.

If you or your partner is a Type Eight, prioritize scheduling special wedding day moments just for yourselves, such as a first look or a private last dance. Moments like these will allow you and your love to comfortably bask in the emotions of the day together—sans the anxietyinducing flashes of iPhones.

“Type Nines are very easygoing, receptive and agreeable,” notes Sherman. “But they can be pushovers.”

Peacemaker Type Nines tend to avoid conflict. So, as planning stress or family drama rears its head, Sherman says to use assertive, clear and controlled communication skills regarding your decisions. Type Nines are used to accommodating others. Check in frequently with your Type Nine partner to ensure that they feel heard—both in your relationship and regarding plans for the nuptials.

Jacqueline Sherman, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and certified intimacy and relationship coach. Follow her @DrJacPhd.

THE PEACEMAKER

Money Talks

Podcast host and personal fnance expert Ramit Sethi challenges you to envision your richest life yet—together—through an inspiring journaling exercise.

BY ESTHER LEE ILLUSTRATION BY ABBY MCCARTIN

The author of the bestselling book I Will Teach You to Be Rich advocates on behalf of the average consumer. (In fact, he’s been blacklisted by some of America’s top financial institutions.) Coupled with a focus on the principles of abundance, his approach to money management recently landed him on one of the most-watched Netflix shows this spring.

“Part of leading a rich life is planning for things before you need them, like your wedding,” Sethi says. “In our culture, it’s weird to put money aside for a wedding or honeymoon. I think it’s weird to pretend something isn’t going to happen. You lose time that could’ve been spent on saving, investing and compounding.”

What do you remember learning about money when you were a kid?

Once married, couples must address money matters in partnership. “In a relationship, managing money isn’t a chore like emptying the dishwasher. It’s something that can’t be outsourced,” Sethi says. “Both partners have to be involved.” Save this exercise for future money talks and take action to achieve your goals.

What does a rich life mean to you?

If you could do more with your money, or if you could spend more on something, what would it be?

Scan the code for more exclusive tips from Ramit Sethi and a look inside his Netflix series How to Get Rich

Please note: The Knot and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, financial or tax advice and should not be used as such. You should always consult with your financial and tax advisors about your specific circumstances. This information contained herein is not necessarily exhaustive, complete, accurate or up to date and we undertake no responsibility to update. In addition, we do not take responsibility for information contained in any external links, over which we have no control.

Mayo: Blazer by Issey Miyake; pants by Willy Chavarria; shoes by Zara. Kimble: Skirt and belt by Gucci; shirt by Vince; shoes by Brother Vellies. Reilly: Top and skirt by Mônot; shoes by Alexandre Vauthier; jewelry, stylist’s own.

Hair by Charles McNair; nails by Jazz Style Nails; tailoring by Jessica Yuen; set design by Bette Adams; produced by Petty Cash Production.

MEET THE

BY ESTHER LEE PHOTOGRAPHY BY AB+DM

FINDOUTWHY THENAMESBEHINDTHE STARSAREN’T SODIFFERENTFROM WEDDINGPROS.

mAbout four years ago, interest in Maeve Reilly’s business reached a fever pitch. It was she who styled model Hailey Bieber’s stunning wedding look—an elegant lace gown by the late Virgil Abloh—and the role catapulted her to fame. The bride was still Hailey Baldwin at the time, reflects Reilly, who is also the pro behind Megan Fox’s wardrobe. “It was prewedding, and it was all snowballing at that point.” The avalanche of interest and success that followed was hard earned.

Though Reilly has a sizeable social media fan base, she is grounded, effusive and direct. Here’s someone

MAEVE REILLY

“The wedding is a more heartfelt day, obviously...than a red carpet. But it’s exactly the same.”

Trench by The Frankie Shop; shoes by Saint Laurent; tights by FALKE; jewelry: stylist’s own.

WORKED WITH PETER DUNDAS

THAT

who’s seen the industry at its worst, but loves the work she does. She gets wistful as she recalls Abloh’s cultural impact, collaborative presence at the Bieber wedding and death in November 2021, at age 41. “Virgil wanted to bring his elements of design into the dress, and Hailey was specific about the silhouette—she knew exactly what she wanted. At the last minute, I suggested we add lace around the veil. It was [a partnership among] all of us,” she reflects, before pausing and clearing her throat. “He was just…It’s so hard to talk about him passing. He was so collaborative and there was no ego.” She elaborates: “Some designers aren’t willing to hear other opinions, and that couldn’t have been further from the truth with Virgil. I thought it was so special, and I’ll never forget the wedding day.”

The things that go on behind the scenes are so hard.” (Roach’s representatives didn’t respond to our request for comment.) In those moments of “I can’t,” Reilly transcends the doubt somehow. “I’ve learned balance,” she assures us. “I’ve learned I can’t just give everything to my career. I have my man, family, friends. I take trips. I do a lot of self-care, so that I can continue to give to other people. If my cup is empty, I can’t fill someone else’s.”

rates: “Some aren’t to hear other and that couldn’t have been further from the truth with Virgil I it was so special,

Several years before that had another win. At the 2017 Oscars, she Janelle Monáe in an Elie Saab Haute Couture one that received numerous accolades

to rank on its coveted list of the 25 most

Several years before that milestone, Reilly had another big win. At the 2017 Oscars, she styled Janelle Monáe in an Elie Saab Haute Couture number, one that received numerous accolades from fashion critics. It also likely led The Hollywood Reporter to rank Reilly on its coveted list of the industry’s 25 most powerful stylists.

But none of this was nor was it an success story. achievements didn’t with one viral TikTok. followed 18 years of navigating the ups and downs of showbiz, thousands of hours spent in requests, favors, coneach client’s and buildover time “I still have moments where I’m like, ‘I can’t

But none of this was coincidental, nor was it an overnight success story. Reilly’s achievements didn’t happen with one viral TikTok. They followed 18 years of navigating the ups and downs of showbiz, including thousands of hours spent pulling pieces, calling in requests, asking favors, arduously constructing each client’s image and building relationships over time. “I still have moments where I’m like, ‘I can’t keep going.’ And yet I do. That’s what separates the people who stay and have long-term careers and the people who don’t. Because it’s so hard.”

There’s much more to the job than meets the eye, as the stylist Law Roach signaled in March. The force behind Zendaya sparked a debate when he announced his sudden retirement at the end of awards season in 2023. In interviews, he described contributing factors such as unconscious (and rather conscious) biases, burnout, grief and loss, and the antics of celebrity styledom. At the pinnacle of his career, Roach proclaimed he was done with celebrity styling, though he subsequently backtracked. He said he’d retain one star client, Zendaya, while focusing on fashion projects where he, the artist behind the scenes, would be the focus.

“Look at what Law just went through,” Reilly reflects. “He went out at the top of his game. He is, in my opinion, the best stylist of my generation—without a doubt.

Scan here for video interviews and more with our makers.

Years ago, Reilly wrote out exactly what she was looking for in a lasting partner. She tucked the paper away in her nightstand, and released it. “Well, we met on Raya,” she says of her fiancé and we both start giggling. Not because the insider-y, membersonly app itself is comical, but it’s a classic West Coast meet-cute. Showbiz is a small world once you cross its threshold: Google her fiancé, Zach Quittman, a real estate agent, and you’ll see he dated the actress Paula Patton. The timing just worked for both Reilly and Quittman.

in her and released it we met on she says of her fiancé and we both start giggling

“From the beginning, I was like, ‘These guys really do exist,’” she says. “He was ready. I had to work on myself. If I’m honest, I didn’t know I deserved a guy like that. I was in a funny place. I was like, ‘I’m giving up and giving this to God.’ Then my person showed up. I was opening the app to delete it and there was a message from him.” Within eight months of dating, the two were engaged.

As a bride-to-be, Reilly says there’s not much difference between a couple choosing their wedding attire and a celebrity planning a red-carpet look. “It’s exactly what we’re doing every time a celebrity couple steps onto a red carpet. The wedding is a more heartfelt day, obviously, with more friends around than a red carpet. But it’s exactly the same.”

For her wedding, Reilly is leaving it to the professionals. “I trust them,” she says of her planning team. “Just like I don’t know how to throw a wedding, I take over the styling for someone who doesn’t know how to style themselves. I love giving someone complete creative control in their field.”

For Reilly, of course, that’s styling. “It’s not about the clothes. It’s so much deeper for me,” she says. “It’s hard to walk out the door and stand in front of a million photographers or walk down the street and there’s [paparazzi following you]. Your clothes are your protection, your armor, your personality and your mood at the time.”

Especially on your wedding day.

“WE

TO STYLE A LOOK

WAS BOLD, STRONG AND SEXY—WORDS I’D USE TO DESCRIBE MEGAN.”

Megan Fox, 2021 Met Gala

k KIM KIMBLE

Some blame it on retrograde, others fault technology. My first impression of Kim Kimble was that this largerthan-life maker—the lead hairstylist on the set of HBO’s Euphoria, who counts Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland as clients—couldn’t hear me. We laughed our way through the choppy Zoom intro and switched to FaceTime. I breathed a sigh of relief.

A third-generation hairstylist, Kimble grew up in the business. But she didn’t fall in love with it until she understood the creative aspects of the trade. “I wanted to be a fashion designer first,” Kimble admits. “Back in the day, I looked up to Patrick Kelly and Willi Smith—Black designers. I really loved sewing.” At 16, she got a taste of what would become her eventual career, working as “the shampoo girl” in her mother’s salon. “The first time I saw a client light up and smile after she got her hair done, I fell in love,” says Kimble, who has described hairstyling as her destiny. “I feel I was born for this.”

Her foray into showbiz was facilitated by actor and trailblazing filmmaker Robert Townsend, who first connected with Kimble for a play he directed. Impressed with her prowess, he later hired her as the hair consultant for 1997’s B.A.P.S, starring Halle Berry. A celebrity hairstylist was born. “It has taken me far beyond the chair,” Kimble muses of her career. “To see how people’s lives change when you finish their hair? It’s just the most incredible thing to watch. That’s why I fell out of wanting to do fashion and fell in love with hair.”

Every morning, Kimble’s first waking hours begin with God and self-care. “You have to start your day off right,” she says. “I listen to speakers and preachers who inspire me. I love to do that in the morning. I’m working on exercise because it’s important to do it every day.” Kimble prioritizes well-being. “It’s important to eat healthily, get rest and treat yourself to a massage. I do that when I’m working hard,” she says.

For some, hair is one-dimensional and simply needs occasional maintenance. Others view their tresses as an extension of their personalities or a point of expression. Kimble is among the latter group, and she sees a world of opportunity. “When it comes to hair, I can work at a salon and specialize in one thing: I could be a colorist. I could be a haircutter or an educator,” she elaborates. “I could stand in front of thousands of people teaching hair care. I can work on a movie set, a photo shoot, commercials. I’ve been working on tutorials. I can also have hair products or be a manufacturer. There are so many doors as a hairstylist.”

The industry has evolved, she notes, especially with the increased consumption of social media and new educational mediums, like video content. “How do I continue to grow and elevate myself?” Kimble wonders. “You have to grow. That’s part of the business.”

Lately, she’s figuring out social media like the rest of her cohorts as part of her evolving business plan. “I look at my son, his friends and people his age. It’s like

Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland trust her with their tresses—and she wants you to trust the pros.

second nature for them,” she observes. “They get in on the conversation.”

Wetalkaboutgrowthmindset,namely,whatthatmeans to Kimble as she’s seemingly reached the pinnacle of her career. She may have once thought that point was in 2003, while working with Beyoncé to conceive the hairstyling for her first solo album, Dangerously in Love Like the songs featured in the hit LP, the cover image of the breakout singer in a bedazzled, encrusted mesh top, hair perfectly and voluminously blown to one side, remains a hallmark of that era. “I wasn’t able to go to New York to do the album cover, so we created the look beforehand,” says Kimble. She was there to style Beyoncé’s sleek ballerina bun for her 2008 wedding to Jay-Z, as well as her Lemonade album cover (and companion film) and a headline-making Coachella act in 2018. The hair artist was also there for the singer Rowland when she married Tim Witherspoon in Costa Rica. Most recently, Kimble oversaw the hair department for season two of the award-winning series Euphoria, including Zendaya’s tresses. Between character assessments, screen tests and on-set collaboration, Kimble’s hand is everywhere.

These are reasons why big names trust Kim Kimble: She’s a professional who puts the work in. “I put that energy out there and get good energy back. You put the hard work in and you reap the benefits,” she says in a steady tone. She gives the same advice when it comes to hiring pros for your wedding day. “This is your day. You want to put the trust in someone else who knows what they’re doing,” Kimble says. “I’ve seen people who didn’t have an event planner at their wedding, and [what did you expect to happen]? Some people like to be in control of everything. They want to do it. Others love the idea of: ‘I’m going to relax on my wedding day and

ZENDAYA, 2020 CRITICS’ CHOICE AWARDS

let the cards fall where they may.’”

That’s where Kimble says trust is essential. “I am one of those people who likes to be in control, but I want to go into my wedding day relaxed, without worrying about how this is going to flow. Hiring a person who knows what they’re doing and has done this before, you feel confident in them. They’ve got your back. I just think that’s how your wedding day should be.”

moment a fashion icon. she every I create her ”

“I selected this hairstyling moment because she is a fashion icon. Plus, she complements every style I create for her.”

Shirt by Nili Lotan.

“THIS IS YOUR DAY. YOU WANT TO PUT THE TRUST IN SOMEONE ELSE WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY’RE DOING.”

ALEXX MAYO

There were two distinct moments when celebrity makeup artist Alexx Mayo knew he was on the right path. Both involved billboards. “The first time was in my home state of New Mexico, on Interstate 40,” recalls Mayo. “There’s a huge billboard owned by this local jewelry company. I remember seeing that all the time as a kid. It featured beautiful women wearing Southwestern jewelry and it was captivating. Years later, my work was featured on that billboard for the same company. Seeing my mom react to it and driving past something I’ve seen my whole life was the first time I had an ‘I can do this’ moment.” Little did Mayo (pronounced “mah-yo” over “mayo”) know, his work would someday be in the billboard hall of fame: New York City’s Times Square. “That’s when we really jumped the scale from a billboard in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to New York City. My first time going to the city, I was 22. Every little thing was like the movies. Even getting to New York was a dream come true, because it seems so far away from my world. People where I’m from don’t go to New York.” He adds, “I made it. I did it.”

Makeup is his medium. Lizzo, his muse. Inclusivity is his vision.

Shirt by COS; pants by Emporio Armani; shoes by Tod’s.

started,” says Mayo this intense I overcame a lot of hard circumstances to get to where I am

Since then, Mayo has experienced numerous pinch-me moments and career milestones. He is the principal on Lizzo’s glam team and the beauty professional credited behind a few of Tinashe’s and former client Mariah Carey’s sultriest looks. “I look back and see where I started,” says Mayo. “Having this intense imagination, I overcame a lot of hard circumstances to get to where I am now: moving to LA and manifesting this life for myself. I feel very grateful to be where I am and to have done some of the things that I’ve done. I always talk about this on social media: dreams really can come true, because they have for me.”

At 15, Mayo decided makeup would be his chosen path. “I lived in a trailer with dirt roads. There was no cement, no grass. It’s the middle of the desert,” he remembers. “I used to spend so much time in my room dreaming of being a part of Hollywood and makeup.” He imagined being behind the scenes on MTV’s Making the Video or doing makeup for magazine photos. As many of his dreams have come to fruition, “There have been a lot of pinch-me moments.”

There is a through-line between the three makers in this story. Those who succeed in showbiz will tell you it starts with a vision, followed by action. “As a teenager, I did a lot of journaling, and then it evolved into visualization and having quiet time with myself.” But, he notes, “The difference between a dream and a plan is action. You can dream and want something all day long, but you have to break it down. That’s what I did.” Mayo has been relentless in the pursuit of his career. “I’ve always been a person who doesn’t take no for an answer,” he says. “As far as my work goes, I’ve been told so many different things. A lot of people can be defeated by that. But it really fueled me to hone in on my craft.”

The beauty world has become more inclusive since Mayo joined it, with

sizeable shifts in consumer demand. “Drugstore makeup is more accessible now in so many shades,” he reflects. “I didn’t have that when I was younger.” He’s noticing it among couples too. Mayo is building a world, albeit one focused on beauty and expression, and he works with couples of all backgrounds. The artist himself lives with his partner of six years. As Gen Z enters the world of weddings, personal values and inclusivity are important for couples when hiring a vendor team. Similarly, Mayo’s clients reflect his values. “I’ve been lucky to work with some of my favorite people,” he reflects. “I had the pleasure of working with Mariah Carey for about three years, and that was so fun. We just laughed and had such a great time getting ready. I’ve also worked with Kimora Lee Simmons, who was one of my idols growing up. I’ve worked with her daughters as well, Ming Lee and Aoki Lee. I worked with Tinashe for about five years on all of her music videos, covers for her albums…I’ve been really fortunate.”

with of all backgrounds The artist himself lives with his partner of six years As Gen Z enters the

One similarity between the world of weddings and celebs is the power of referrals, says Mayo. “Word of mouth is a huge part of my career. When I first started getting into the industry, I was working at an online magazine,” he recalls. “It gave me a chance to work with other professionals and network with photographers and hair and makeup artists. People on a shoot notice how you adapt to the client, whether that is someone who doesn’t wear a lot of makeup or who wants to experiment and do something edgy and editorial. A makeup artist can set the tone for the photo shoot and help execute the vision.”

So what came about from his shoot with The Knot? Mayo says that on his sets, Beyoncé must be played. “Kim Kimble and I had a moment on the shoot,” Mayo says as he breaks into laughter. “I got to show her my moves and I wonder, who did them better?”

Mayo puts his final touches on a model on the set of our “Hard Rock” fashion shoot. Check out the makers’ incredible talent and artistry on page 110.

Lizzo, 2023 Met Gala

“I CREATED A TIMELESS LOOK TO SHOWCASE HER TRUE BEAUTY, BY PAYING HOMAGE TO AUDREY HEPBURN… WITH MY OWN TWIST.”

Vibe Check

BY HANNAH NOWACK

ILLUSTRATIONS

BY

TIANA CRISPINO

WHAT’S IN A THEME? WORDS LIKE ‘CLASSIC,’ ‘ROMANTIC’ AND ‘WHIMSICAL’ ARE TOSSED AROUND AD NAUSEAM—BUT WOULD AN AESTHETIC BY ANY OTHER NAME BE AS SWEET? WE’VE CRAFTED A BLUEPRINT OF FIVE OF THE MOST COMMON WEDDING THEMES TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.

FOR PHOTO CREDITS, SEE PAGE 109; ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SARAH HANLON.

Rustic

A rustic wedding theme is all about connecting your celebration to nature. This concept can take many forms, from a farm-to-table garden dinner to a ceremony in a wildflower field or even an intimate vow exchange in a rugged mountain chalet. A focus on warmth and hospitality guides this casual aesthetic.

Buzzwords:

Warm, down-home, relaxed, bucolic

Must-Have Materials: Wood, leather, grass, linen

Ideal Venues: Beyond barns, you could wed at a mountain lodge, cattle ranch, apple orchard or at home.

Beautiful Blooms: Baby’s breath, cornflowers, hellebores, lisianthus, hydrangeas, astrantia, chrysanthemums, zinnias

Top Priorities:

A rustic wedding is all about hospitality—invest in great food, entertainment and welcome bags for guests.

The Eats: Think farm-to-table cuisine. Crudité hors d’oeuvres kick things off before family-style comfort food is served.

Color Considerations: Forest green, rust, copper, terra-cotta, sea-foam

Registry Recs: Alpaca throw blanket, castiron skillet, personalized butcher block cutting board

Romantic weddings are all about creating a dreamlike setting. Think in layers as you approach planning. A warm color palette, lush flowers and soft fabrics work in harmony, all enveloped in the glow of candlelight. We’re going for warm fuzzies—bring the feelings you have for your S.O. to life.

Buzzwords:

Ethereal, elegant, delicate, cozy, inviting

Must-Have Materials: Mirrors, gold, velvet, satin

Ideal Venues: To embrace a refined ambiance, lean into an outdoor event if possible. You could pitch a sailcloth tent along the coast or invite loved ones to a garden or vineyard.

Beautiful Blooms:

Dahlias, roses, ranunculus, peonies, sweet peas, delphiniums, scabiosa

Top Priorities: Invest in flowers and table design to bring your dream to life.

The Eats: Pay special attention to your drink offerings. Consider specialty ice cubes with edible flowers or rosé from your first-date restaurant.

Color Considerations: Blush, dusty blue, sage, cream

Registry Recs: Wine subscription, stand mixer, scented candles

Modern

A modern wedding is all about exquisite simplicity— embracing a minimalist mindset to make maximum impact. Meticulous attention to detail is the cornerstone of this less-is-more approach.

Buzzwords:

Clean, sleek, avant-garde

Must-Have Materials: Acrylic, concrete, slate, marble

Ideal Venues: Look for a blank canvas. Art museums, wine bars, lofts and industrial warehouses are all solid picks.

Beautiful Blooms: Birds of Paradise, anemones, cherry blossoms, anthurium

Top Priorities: Emphasize decor and fashion to achieve the edgy event you’re envisioning.

The Eats: Get inventive with the menu. From unique preparations to artfully plated dishes, there’s no one way to dish up modern fare.

Color Considerations: Black, gray, olive, chartreuse, cherry Registry Recs: Espresso machine, digital picture frame, airline gift card

Do you have an affinity for the finer things in life? For the lavish and the luxe? A glam wedding is the way to go. It’s all about creating a once-in-a-lifetime experience for your loved ones through top-notch service and attention to detail.

Buzzwords: Regal, luxe, dazzling

Must-Have Materials: Silver, glitter, silk, candles

Ideal Venues: A destination that exudes opulence is the key. That could be a castle ballroom, swanky rooftop or historic estate.

Beautiful Blooms: Phalaenopsis orchids, calla lilies, roses, lilies of the valley

Top Priorities: Communicate your eye for style from the onset with chic stationery. From there, wow your crowd with epic entertainment and over-the-top decor.

The Eats: We’re partial to oysters, caviar and cauliflower steaks. And remember, next-level service is just as important as top-of-theline food offerings.

Color Considerations: Black, white, emerald, navy, ivory

Registry Recs: Crystal stemware, a couple’s massage, high-end luggage

Boho

Bohemian wedding decor is trendy and bold, with an emphasis on achieving an inviting, cool vibe—in other words, don’t get caught up in trying too hard. To create that down-to-earth feel, there’s just one place to look: Mother Earth. Tap into natural details for a cool and comfortable experience.

Buzzwords:

Relaxed, effortless, freespirited, laid-back

Must-Have Materials:

Rattan, grass cloth, macramé, pottery, leather, dried grass

Ideal Venues:

Think about the places you find most calming and move them to the top of your list. You could book an all-inclusive resort or botanical garden, or build a space from the ground up in a forest or desert.

Beautiful Blooms: Bougainvillea, Icelandic poppies, butterfly ranunculus, pincushion proteas, thistle, amaranthus

Top Priorities:

It’s all about curating a mindful guest experience. Focus on food and decor. Don’t forget to carve out some of your budget for cozy lounge furniture.

The Eats:

Kick things off with a decadent grazing table for guests to enjoy during cocktail hour. For the main course, lean into stations that allow guests to mix and mingle while grabbing dishes like pizza, shrimp and grits, or gyros.

Color Considerations: Sand, caramel, dusty rose, salmon, dove gray, burgundy

Registry Recs: A couple’s cooking class, luxury candles, local hand-thrown pottery, organic linen sheets

Photo Credits: Lead Collage: Ashley Goodwin Photography

Darinimages

La Vie En Rose

Josh & Dana Fernandez

Kate Supa Photography

Lynn Dunston Photography

Mary Claire Photography

Merari Teruel Photography

Stetten Wilson

Stanlo Photography

Rustic: Ashley Sawtelle

Rachel Havel

Rebecca Yale Photography

Kate Supa Photography

Stetten Wilson

Romantic:

Anya Kernes

Emily Loeppke

Photography

La Vie En Rose

Josh & Dana Fernandez

Mary Claire Photography

Modern:

Lynn Dunston Photography

Emily Wren Photography

Stetten Wilson

Glam: Ashley Goodwin Photography

Callie Biggerstaff Photography

Caroline Tran

Merari Teruel Photography

Stanlo Photography

Boho:

Cassie Valente Photography

Porterhouse LA

Stetten Wilson

More Styles That Slay Scan to get the lowdown on other popular wedding themes.

CHUNKY CRYSTALS AND POLISHED PEARLS BRING THE DRAMA TO THESE FASHIONFORWARD WEDDING LOOKS.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY AB+DM

STYLING BY MAEVE REILLY

HAIR BY KIM KIMBLE

MAKEUP BY ALEXX MAYO

H A R D R O C K

Headpiece by House of Emmanuele.

Opposite: Dress, gloves and tights by Wiederhoeft; shoes by FEMME LA; headband, hairstylist’s own.

Dress by Sébastien Luke; earrings by Maria Tash.

Dress by Richard Quinn; earrings by CZ by Kenneth Jay Lane.

Veil by Wiederhoeft; bodysuit, stylist’s own; shoes by Jimmy Choo; earrings by House of Emmanuele.

Dress and jacket by Prabal Gurung; shoes by Christian Louboutin; earrings by SHAY.

Dress and coat by Temperly London; shoes by Jimmy Choo.

Jacket by LAPOINTE; earrings by Lili Claspe.

Model: Adot Gak of MUSE NYC; set design by Bette Adams; nails by Jazz Style Nails; tailoring by Jessica Yuen; produced by Petty Cash Production.

Ready, Set, Jet

WHAT’S MORE SATISFYING THAN SINKING INTO YOUR COUCH AND BINGING YOUR FAVORITE TV SERIES OR MOVIE TRILOGY? BRINGING THE PLOTS TO LIFE DURING A ROMANTIC GETAWAY.

BY JEN MURPHY ILLUSTRATION BY TIANA CRISPINO

These days, it’s easier than ever to follow in the footsteps of your favorite characters and even stay in the same dreamy hotels glorified on screen. Visiting the filming locations of blockbusters like The White Lotus and Mamma Mia! has become so popular, it even has a name: set-jetting. According to a recent study, nearly 40 percent of global travelers have booked trips to destinations they’ve seen in films or TV shows. Whether you want to set foot in the world of your favorite show or crave a honeymoon with Hollywood glamour and action, these 11 destinations deliver.

SICILY, ITALY

The White Lotus

Why go: The largest island in the Mediterranean dazzles visitors with its contrast of azure waters and rocky volcanic coastlines. The food is so good that Sicilians refer to their island as “God’s kitchen.”

Best time to travel: Crowds thin out and temperatures grow comfortably cool in September and October. These months also coincide with the vendemmia, or wine harvest.

Where to stay: A dramatic cliffside perch with a backdrop of Mount Etna and antique-lined interiors full of original frescoes helped San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Hotel win out as the setting of the second season of the HBO hit series The White Lotus Before it became a glamorous hotel, the building—one of the oldest in the town of Taormina—was a convent.

(Yes, monks once slept in the rooms where those scandalous scenes were filmed.) Meticulously restored, the 111room property is a gem with exquisitely manicured gardens, a Michelinstarred restaurant and an infinity pool overlooking the Ionian Sea. From $2,100; FourSeasons.com/taormina/

Recreate the moment: The show’s sun-soaked beach scenes were filmed on the soft sands of Cefalù, a northern coastal town located about a 2.5-hour drive from the rocky shores of Taormina.

BUCHAREST, ROMANIA

Wednesday

Why go: It’s fitting that the country that inspired vampire lore was chosen as the filming location for Wednesday, Netflix’s hit spin-off of The Addams Family. In addition to moody, Gothic backdrops, you’ll find a remarkable mix of architectural styles and some of Europe’s best museums. Best time to go: The parks are at their greenest and full of blooms in spring. Where to stay: Located on the city’s oldest and

prettiest street, Calea Victoriei, the 424-room Radisson Blu Hotel, Bucharest is within walking distance of main attractions like the National Museum of Art, Cișmigiu Gardens and the café-filled Old Town. From $110; RadissonHotels.com

Recreate the moment: Transport yourself to Wednesday’s botany class by visiting the Bucharest Botanical Gardens. Home to 10,000 plant specimens, the gardens were a stand-in for the fictional Nevermore Academy’s greenhouse.

PARIS, FRANCE Emily in Paris

Why go: Romantic strolls along the River Seine. Meals in old-school brasseries. Leisurely days spent wandering museums, parks or boutique-filled neighborhoods. When it comes to honeymoon destinations, Paris still lives up to its reputation as the city of love.

Best time to go: The city’s legendary gardens put on their best show in spring. The winter months are always festive, with Christmas markets and decorated storefronts, and the chilly weather is a great excuse to cozy up in a wine bar or spend all day in a gallery. Where to stay: The

quintessential Parisian hotel, Le Bristol strikes just the right balance of Old World luxury (polished marble and Louis XV furnishings) and modernday amenities (a spa by La Prairie and an indoor pool with views of the Eiffel Tower). From $2,630; OetkerCollection.com

Recreate the moment: Le Jules Verne, the Michelinstarred restaurant on the second floor of the Eiffel Tower, is featured in the first episode of season three. Reservations are a must to experience the multicourse menu. Arrive early and head to the summit to toast the City of Lights from the champagne bar set at 900-plus feet.

KAUAI, HAWAII Jurassic Park

Why go: The aloha spirit is contagious and the island’s untamed natural beauty—pristine beaches, towering cliffs that tumble to the sea, rugged mountains, cascading waterfalls— feels frozen in time.

Best time to go: Avoid the rainy winter months. Take advantage of the

shoulder months— April, May, August and September—when there are fewer crowds and better deals.

Where to stay: The ecodriven 1 Hotels brand recently opened a 252room resort on a dreamy patch of beachfront overlooking Hanalei Bay. A popular surf break with easy access to excellent hiking trails,

the property is also conveniently located to the nearby shops and restaurants of Hanalei town. On the site, there’s an adults-only pool with jade-pleated mountain views, a serious spa and a creative, plant-forward restaurant. From $1,600; 1Hotels.com

Recreate the moment: Island Helicopters’ Jurassic Falls tour allows

guests to experience the 1993 film’s early scene when the main characters arrive to the lush, waterfall-covered fictional Isla Nublar by chopper. The 75-minute tour lands at a spot where guests can walk through the jungle to the base of the 400-foot Manawaiopuna Falls. $808 for two people; IslandHelicopters.com

WADI RUM, JORDAN Dune

Why go: To experience the UNESCO World Heritage–listed, Martian-looking landscape of canyons and rose-hued sand that served as the setting for Dune’s desert planet of Arrakis, minus the sandworms.

Best time to go: Avoid the searing heat and visit in spring or fall.

Where to stay: Get a taste of Bedouin life at SunCity Camp. This glamping experience set amidst Wadi Rum’s towering sandstone peaks features comfy tents and geodesic domes; traditional meals like zarb, a Bedouin barbecue where meat and vegetables are cooked underground; and unreal stargazing. Bedouin tents from $180 and domes from $330; SunCityCamp.com

Recreate the moment: Trek through the desert like the fictional main character Paul Atreides on a tour with Experience Jordan. Active couples can tackle a private four-day trek through “the Valley of the Moon” that includes up to six hours of walking per day and overnights in tented camps. Private Jeep tours are also available. $3,200 for two people; ExperienceJordan.com

MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA

Big Little Lies

Why go: This charming fishing port is home to the worldfamous Monterey Bay Aquarium and can easily be tacked on to a road trip along California’s Pacific Coast Highway. Best time to go: Humpback, blue whale and orca season is from April to mid-December.

Where to stay: Set right on the plaza near Old Fisherman’s Wharf, Portola Hotel & Spa is a short drive to main attractions like the restaurants of Cannery Row and Del Monte Beach (Jane’s favorite jogging beach on the show). Many of the 379 coastal-inspired rooms have harbor views, and the property has every imaginable amenity, including an on-site brewery, wine lounge, spa, and outdoor pool and jacuzzi

From $379; PortolaHotel.com

Recreate the moment: In real life, Blue Blues Café— Madeline, Celeste and Jane’s go-to hangout—is Paluca Trattoria, a family-run restaurant located at the end of the historic wharf.

NEW ZEALAND Lord of the Rings

Why go: You don’t have to be a Tolkien fanatic to appreciate this adventure mecca’s diverse mix of natural wonders, from snow-capped peaks and glaciercarved fjords to sparkling lakes and

GREECE Mamma Mia!

Why go: Island-hopping doesn’t get any better than on the Aegean Sea. Greece has about 6,000 islands and islets, each with its own distinct character, from the blue-and-white houses of Santorini to the golden-sand beaches of Skiathos and the historic ruins of Crete.

Best time to go: The high season (mid-June to mid-September) offers more ferry routes and flight and dining options. The weather is still nice in May, June and September.

Where to stay: The film’s fictional setting of Kalokairi is actually Skopelos, one of the 24 islands in the Sporades archipelago, located off the northeastern coast of mainland Greece. Adrina Resort & Spa spills down from a green hillside to a private rocky beach and is within walking distance of the beaches of Panormos, Milia and Kastani. The resort’s beach taverna is one of the best on the island. Be sure to order the signature kakavia (fish soup). From $165; AdrinaResort.com

Recreate the moment: If you’re willing to climb 200 or so steps, you can visit the Agios Ioannis chapel, the venue for Sophie’s wedding ceremony. The site is perched on a rocky hill near the town of Glossa on the north coast of Skopelos.

fairy-tale-worthy kauri forests. Best time to go: Flip-flopped seasons mean you can get your summer fix from December through March, when days are long and sunny, and temps are perfect for outdoor pursuits.

Where to stay:

Set on 2,500 acres of trail-laced native old-growth forest, 13-room Treetops Lodge & Estate is a nature-lovers paradise in Rotorua, on the North Island. It’s also an hour’s drive from Hobbiton, the sheep farm turned Shire setting for Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings

and Hobbit trilogies. $500; Treetops.co.nz

Recreate the moment: A tour of Hobbiton’s 12-acre set includes stops at Hobbit Holes and the Green Dragon Inn, a favorite watering hole of characters Frodo Baggins and Samwise

Gamgee (from $110 for two people; HobbitonTours.com).

Kaitoke Regional Park, the Elven city of Rivendell, where the Fellowship forms, is a 50-minute drive north of Wellington and is full of native tree-lined trails.

DUBROVNIK, CROATIA Game of Thrones

Why go: This magnificent walled city overlooking the Adriatic Sea was a central filming location for King’s Landing. Its cobbled stone streets are lined with chic wine bars, quirky museums (one devoted to Love Stories) and historic palaces.

Best time to go: Sun worshippers will love the buzzy summer vibe but will battle peak-season crowds. September and October cool off and quiet down.

Where to stay: The cast and crew hunkered down at the 158-room Hotel Excelsior, whose storied guests have included Princess Margaret and Elizabeth Taylor. You can’t beat the sweeping views of Old Town and the glimmering Adriatic Sea. Sunset spritzes on the terrace of the piano bar are the perfect way to start your evening. From $706; AdriaticLuxuryHotels.com

Recreate the moment: Take a 15-minute water taxi ride to Lokrum Island and visit the former Benedictine Monastery featured in season two. Superfans can snap a photo of the original Iron Throne at the island’s visitor center.

MONTANA Yellowstone

Why go: Big Sky Country’s wide open landscapes, ranches and cowboy culture epitomize the romantic notion of the American West, and Yellowstone National Park is a bucket-list experience.

Best time to go: Fall is wonderful for horseback riding and hiking. June through September are peak times for fly fishing. The park is particularly magical in winter when crowds have thinned and the steaming geothermal features are even more dramatic.

Where to stay: Family-run Chief

Joseph Ranch in the small town of Darby doubles as the show’s Dutton Ranch. Die-hard fans may rent the cabins that belonged to characters Lee Dutton and Rip Wheeler (from $1,200, ChiefJosephRanch.net). If you’re fine snapping photos from behind the gate, base yourself nearby at the all-inclusive, adultsonly Triple Creek Ranch. From $1,300; TripleCreekRanch.com

Recreate the moment: Channel your inner John Dutton and join the wranglers of Triple Creek Ranch on a working cattle drive ($600 for two people).

PACK YOUR PATIENCE

Things may go awry while honeymooning—the most practical explorers know that this is the very nature of travel. “Pack your patience, and by that, I mean please travel with an open mind,” says Piper Fenton of Remarkable Honeymoons. “While our clients call us directly in the event there’s an emergency, you may be in a situation where you don’t have that option.” Read on for expert tips on traveling during peak season.

1. Pack a change of clothes in your carry-on (helpful in the event of lost luggage).

2. Remember essentials, like prescription medications.

TOKYO, JAPAN Lost in Translation

Why go: Arguably the world’s ultimate metropolis, Tokyo ignites the senses with its neon frenzy of skyscrapers, outrageous fashion and unparalleled food scene. Best time to go: From late March to early April, the city is an explosion of cherry blossoms. Fall’s golden hues are equally impressive.

Where to stay: Filmmaker Sofia Coppola wrote the script for her 2003 comedy-drama around the Park Hyatt Tokyo. An oasis of calm in the frenetic Shinjuku district, the elegant 177-room hotel stretches from the 39th to the 52nd floors of a high rise,

affording guests sensational views of the skyline and Mount Fuji. From $1,200; Hyatt.com Recreate the moment: The film’s main characters, Bob (Bill Murray) and Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) first meet at the Park Hyatt’s top-floor cocktail lounge, the New York Bar. Bob is in town to film an ad for Japanese whisky brand, Suntory, so do him right and order a Hibiki 17 to sip while enjoying the bar’s nightly jazz performance.

3. Prepare a point-to-point itinerary to spare yourself of added stress on the ground.

4. Ensure ample time between connecting flights.

5. Purchase travel insurance.

6. Get a travel credit card and acquire points too.

—Esther Lee

Scan the code for more travel hacks and tips during peak seasons.

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.

— The Beatles