However, there are hundreds of scenic destinations throughout the country, and finding the best option isn’t always easy. In an effort to help, here are 10 great wedding venues across the country to consider for your special day.

Lakedale Resort

If you’re looking to hold your wedding at a gorgeous outdoor escape, consider Lakedale Resort. This scenic 82-acre resort is located on the stunning San Juan Island in Washington and features meadows, lakes, and forests for you and your loved ones to explore.

It offers several beautiful places to hold your reception, ceremony, and other events, from cozy lodges to expansive meadows and everything in between. There are also numerous options for lodging, including log cabins, yurts, camp sites, and more.

Cliff House Maine

Cliff House Maine is an iconic resort located near the southern tip of Maine on a coastal cliff that offers amazing ocean views in nearly all directions. It has several on-site amenities such as pools, spas, and dining, as well as luxurious rooms.

The venue offers both indoor and outdoor event spaces to get married, including a spectacular ballroom with a window wall offering amazing ocean views, as well as a lawn that lets you get married only steps away from the coast.

LeMay – America’s Car Museum

Located in Tacoma, Washington, LeMay – America’s Car Museum is truly one of the most unique wedding destinations in the country, and is perfect for car-loving couples. It’s among the largest automobile museums on the planet, and it contains more than 300 vehicles and a variety of interesting and exciting exhibits to check out.

It has both indoor and outdoor event spaces to hold your wedding, including small private rooms, a mezzanine overlooking the Showcase Gallery, the Showcase Gallery itself, and many others.

If you’re also looking to cater your wedding at America’s Car Museum, consider choosing Gallucci’s Catering, as they’re a preferred caterer and provide a variety of delicious culinary options to choose from for your big day.

Enchantment Resort

Couples who want a beautiful, peaceful, and secluded setting should consider the Enchantment Resort. This resort, located in Sedona, Arizona, is full of trees, red-rock formations and is surrounded by wilderness on all sides.

The picturesque desert setting is a wonderful backdrop for a wedding, and the venue offers a variety of ballrooms, courtyards, and various other indoor and outdoor spaces to say “I do”.

Beach Plum Farm

The Beach Plum Farm is a rustic, charming, and private setting for couples looking for an intimate wedding. Located in West Cape May, New Jersey, this venue features acres of raised beds full of flowers, trees, shrubs, and a stunning barn. 

It offers a relaxing and serene atmosphere, and the venue contains luxurious cottage accommodations and a farm-to-table dining experience, made with many ingredients sourced from the farm itself.

Clay Theatre

If you’re looking for a unique wedding destination in Florida, consider the Clay Theatre. Originally built in 1937 as a movie theater, the Clay Theatre is now an event venue that blends modern and elegant design, alongside vintage charm. 

It features a personalized theater marquee that displays your wedding date and names, a state-of-the-art integrated lighting system for your reception, and beautiful architectural features both inside and out.

Castle Farms

Couples who want a location that blends charm, history, and elegance into one should consider Castle Farms in Northern Michigan. This venue features an enchanted forest (complete with a dragon statue), stunning landscaped gardens, beautiful castle-inspired architecture, and the largest outdoor model railroad in the state.

There are several indoor and outdoor spaces to hold your ceremony, and each of them is incredibly beautiful and lets you enjoy a wedding fit for royalty.

Treehouse Point

Treehouse Point is a collection of one-of-a-kind treehouses in the forests of Washington, and having weddings here gives you exclusive use of the entire four acres of forest space. This venue offers a beautiful natural escape full of trees, lush greenery, and a river to enjoy.

Also, being able to take your wedding photos up in the trees on wooden bridges that connect treehouses to one another is a truly unique experience. When getting married here, your ceremony can take place either on the Lower Lawn amongst the towering forest trees year-round, or in the cedar-lined Pond Room between November and April.

George Peabody Library

Often seen as one of the most beautiful libraries in the world, the George Peabody Library in Baltimore, Maryland, is a magnificent place to get married. The Reading Room features over 300,000 books spread across multiple floors, and the opulent architecture throughout the venue is a treat to look at.

The room features cast-iron columns, beautiful railings, and has an adjoining Exhibit Gallery, which is great for gathering guests before and after your ceremony.

Hermitage Museum & Gardens

Located in Norfolk, Virginia, near the shores of the Lafayette River, the Hermitage Museum & Gardens is a historic estate that features a mansion, lush gardens, and waterfront views that make for a peaceful and beautiful wedding.

It’s also a great place for art lovers to get married, as the venue has an art collection, with pieces that date back thousands of years.

The post Where to Tie the Knot: 10 Unforgettable Wedding Venues appeared first on Bridezilla.

Sharing Your Big Day: Hiring a Professional

Couples all over the world have been sharing the ins and outs of their weddings on social media. TikTok videos of the first dance have grown incredibly popular. This isn’t the only platform to share them, however. There are more and more professional wedding influencers that have started to really capture a wedding for social media.

One of the newest trends in content creation is sharing the wedding day as if it is an entry in your digital diary. We all love to look back on our posts as memories or photo albums, so why not treat your wedding the same way? Your wedding is one of the most important days in your entire life, so why not hype it up all over social media? There are plenty of ways to social your wedding.

Communicate With Your Photographer

Step one is to have a chat with the photographer that you have hired about social media on your wedding day. One wedding photographer, Jenny Fu, writes, “While the primary focus of photographers is documenting the wedding day for the couple, discussions about social media coverage can certainly be integrated into contract negotiations. It’s essential for couples to understand that while social media coverage adds an extra dimension to their wedding experience, it requires careful planning and coordination.”

When hiring a photographer, it is important that the couple has a plan of what they want. The photographer will do their best to get the styles that they want and make the pictures perfect for smartphone viewing. This will help to build your followers on social media once they see how amazing the photos for your wedding came out.

Hire A Social Media Pro

The second step for socializing your wedding is hiring someone who can add TikTok or Instagram videos for you. During your big day, the last thing you need is to have to take the time to do this for yourself. You don’t want to think about making videos of your reception, you just want to enjoy it. There are wedding companies that will help do this work for you. These content creators will help you and your family on your wedding day. They want to help you to be present on your wedding day and be able to unplug and live in your moment. These content creators are able to take away the extra stress that goes into your wedding day. Why not be able to enjoy your champagne and relax once the ceremony is over? They will take care of all of this for you.

There are so many great moments during your wedding that you will want to remember. From the first kiss, vows, speeches, and first dance, the last thing you want to do is have to capture it all yourself. This is why there are plenty of professionals that are ready to do it for you. They will be able to capture all of the behind-the-scenes details for you that you may not have been able to do on your own.

Sharing Your Wedding Day: On Your Own

If you have decided that adding a professional to your wedding isn’t the right fit for your budget, you can do some social media work on your own for your special day. You can create special hashtags as a way to add to the excitement of your wedding day. Some couples have even gone Live on Instagram during their reception and this is a great way to fully capture the excitement of your special day.

#Wedding2024

If you need some ideas for a special hashtag for your wedding day, you can use some of these examples. You can use your last name and the word wedding with the year. For example, #ThomasWedding 2024. You could also try and make a cute couple name like Brangelina. Some couples have used puns as their hashtag or make simple jokes about their new life together. There are actually wedding hashtag generators online that you could use as well. The ideas are endless and most of them are a lot of fun.

Livestream Your Wedding

Another way that you can add social media to your wedding is by Live streaming on Facebook. You don’t have to hire someone to take over this because you can get one of your wedding guests to do it. This is a great way to share your wedding with those who can’t make it. If you want an easy way to do this, be sure to get a tripod and set that up with your phone.

If you don’t want to share the wedding all over Facebook, you can start a private group where your friends and family can watch the Live stream. When you start this group, be sure to invite only those you want to see the wedding. Also, post regularly in the group so that everyone can prepare for your big day. This is a way to remind them when the wedding will stream and what to look out for.

Snapchat

Another way for you to add your wedding to social media is to design your own Snapchat filter. Snapchat is incredibly popular and it is a great way to communicate with friends who live outside of your area. There are some “city-inspired” filters that you can use and add to your wedding. There is a fee to pay in order to do so, but many couples have found that it is worth the fee. These filters help you share your wedding day festivities with everyone who follows you on Snapchat.

There are plenty of ways to socialize your wedding day. Social media is a great platform for you to share your special day with your friends and family all over the world. You can do it all yourself or you can pay the professionals to help you celebrate this beautiful day.

The post How to Social Your Wedding appeared first on Bridezilla.

Cheap or Free Venues For Your Wedding

Enjoy Your Wedding At Home

If you can’t quite decide about your perfect wedding venue, one free place is in your home. It will motivate you to get your yard done and perhaps clean your house more. This is ideal because you will save a ton of money. You can use your yard as the wedding venue and the inside of your home for the reception. This will also add a lot of memories to your home as you think about the way the trees looked that day or how your guests felt cozy in your home.

Local Parks

There are parks everywhere, and you may be able to find one that is completely free for your wedding. Some parks do require a reservation, but for the most part are free to hold your wedding. You will have to find out what they allow, but once you have this information, this could be the spot for you and your spouse. Not only do parks generally have decent bathrooms, but there are also tables and places for children to play. If you want nature in your wedding, this is one way to do it.

Botanical Garden

For nature lovers, a botanical garden is a great place to get married. Some of them are willing to host your ceremony for free or for a small, tax-refundable donation. It all depends on what type of botanical garden it is. Not all have the same rules, so you must double-check about the ones in your area. What’s great about these gardens is that they are filled with flowers, so you likely won’t need to decorate anything. Some do not allow the reception to be held here, but you must check on this before your wedding.

Historic Buildings or Landmarks

Finding a historic building or landmark for your wedding venue can be very special for history buffs. Part of the allure of these historic buildings is the amazing architecture and the history of the building. If there are some landmark areas in your city, it is best to research what happened in the venue before your wedding. Another thing to consider is how much space is available for you and your guests. This is one of the best cheap or free options for your wedding if you are on a budget.

Local Community Centers

In your community, you may have centers that would work for your wedding ceremony. These centers generally have large spaces for entertaining and can accommodate everyone in your wedding party. Some of these community centers also offer catering, which could cut down the costs involved with your wedding as well. All it takes is a quick phone call to your local community centers to see if they do allow weddings. It can be a pretty cheap way to say “I do.”

A Library Wedding

For bibliophiles, getting married at a library is a one-of-a-kind experience. What is better than being married in such a unique location? There are local libraries that will help you with your special day. Most will allow you to rent out the space, which is fairly inexpensive or even free. Some libraries ask for a donation to have your celebration there. No matter the cost, this venue will likely be less expensive than any other you have been seeking.

Wedding Campout

Getting married at a campground is ideal for those who love the outdoors. Local campgrounds can offer couples and guests a very rustic setting like no other. The natural setting will allow you and your guests to be free in the woods with an unforgettable setting. The camping accommodations for your guests will be much cheaper than any hotel. If you do get married on the campground, you can take a deep dive into the camping theme and make it all your own. You can have s’mores at your reception to fully commit to this theme.

Beach Weddings

The beach is one of the best locations for a couple to exchange vows and can be completely free. There are plenty of private areas on the beach; however, other areas are open to the public and can accommodate you and all of your guests. A beach wedding can be inexpensive or free if you find the right spot. Couples find a beach wedding to be very romantic and even sexy. You can check with the local parks and rec department to see what the rules are for weddings on public beaches and if a fee or permit is needed.

Local Farm or Ranch

A beautiful venue for a wedding is a local farm or ranch. Nature lovers find these locations very beautiful and pleasing to everyone at the wedding party. They have become incredibly popular lately, and rustic themes have been highly desired. Many farms and ranches will allow weddings on the property for little or no cost. There are a lot of questions to ask if you have a farm in mind, such as whether animals will be on the property on the day of your wedding. Overall, a farm is a wonderful place to get married because of the fresh air and open space.

Return to School For Your Big Day

Plenty of couples feel that getting married at their old school or college is very romantic. If you met your spouse at school, this is a sweet way to exchange your vows. Many of these schools do not require a fee for weddings, but you will have to find out the rules they have about food and beverages for your reception. If you truly love your alma mater, this is a prime location for your wedding.

As you can see, there are plenty of free and inexpensive locations to have your wedding. It does take a lot of research, but you should be able to find the right venue for you.

The post Ten Wedding Venues That Can Be Almost Free appeared first on Bridezilla.

Choosing Your Wedding Venue

When it comes to choosing a wedding venue, there are plenty of steps to follow to ensure a great experience for all. The most important thing is to start researching a venue early. You want to ensure that the venue is available for your wedding date and can accommodate all of your guests.

The next step is deciding what location will work best for you. Do you want to have your wedding outside or inside? Is this a destination wedding, or are you getting married close to home? You will also need to figure out where your guests will stay if they travel to attend your wedding. There are a lot of steps to take when it comes to the location, so remember that this is a lot to figure out.

If you are stressed about the wedding and the venue, it may be time to enlist the help of a wedding planner. Wedding planners enjoy helping you have the best wedding possible, and there is plenty to choose from. They can tell you from experience what the venue will be like, and they can help find accommodations for everyone attending the wedding. A wedding planner will take a lot of added stress off of you and your fiance and give you more time to focus on your special day.

Lastly, determine your wedding style. If you are going for a rustic look, that can help you determine your venue. If you want a more traditional wedding with all of the frills, the venue will look a lot different. There are plenty of styles that you can go with, and you must make sure the venue suits the one for you.

The Worst Wedding Venues Ever

When it comes to horrible wedding venues, plenty have gotten poor reviews from the brides, grooms, and guests of the wedding. By searching for the worst wedding venues, you can also discover locations with bad reviews in your area. We have a few examples that readers have shared. These venues are from all over the world and could ruin your wedding day.

Destination weddings often appear in these searches online because many guests do not want to spend the extra money. While destination weddings may be magical for the bride and groom, some of their friends and family do not agree. Some couples love to share their sense of adventure with their wedding guests, but these destinations seem a little odd, and their friends and family may not feel the same way about the destination.

One of the worst destination weddings is to get married hanging from a crane. It may sound weird, but there have been several of these weddings in the past. Although marriage in the sky may sound like a good time to some, it may not be the best wedding for you. This venue can cost a pretty penny, but remember, not all your wedding guests will find it exciting.

Another horrible idea for a wedding is to do it on a rollercoaster. Some adventurous wedding companies love to give the bride and groom the adventures they have always wanted. However, your wedding guests may not want to be on the rollercoaster when you both say, “I do.” Be aware of that as well.

An underwater wedding may seem like a great idea for your wedding day, but you may not want to wear scuba gear when you exchange vows. There are destination weddings worldwide that include saying your vows underwater. Again, your wedding guests may not be thrilled by this idea, so take that into account when you decide if this is the type of wedding for you.

Las Vegas is very high on the list of the worst places to get married. When you go to Las Vegas, you are more than likely very sleep-deprived and possibly intoxicated. This is why Las Vegas could be one of the worst places to get married. Many quick weddings occur here, and some aren’t exactly romantic. If you want romance, rethink your wedding plans because Vegas isn’t it.

Are you ready to explore all of the options for your wedding venue? These are just a few suggestions of places to avoid using as your venue. They are some of the worst venues in the world for getting married, and your guests will thank you if you do not choose one of them.

The post The Worst Wedding Venue Ideas appeared first on Bridezilla.

You want your wedding to be unique and beautiful, and the perfect venue will allow you to do so. You may want it to be outdoors for a more natural feel or to share your love in a museum or gallery that shows your interests. Let’s take a closer look at the ten most extraordinary wedding venues in the United States.

Bok Building

The Bok Building is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is a former school, and the building itself is 340,000 square feet. It takes up an entire city block, and it is filled with creative businesses, as well as a rooftop bar and restaurant. The building can be rented out for your wedding, using the rooftop or the school’s original gym. The Boy’s Gym is a restaurant where you and your guests can dine and dance. The Bok Building is a beautiful venue for your wedding, and you will be happy to celebrate your love here.

U.S. National Arboretum

In the Washington, D.C., area, you will find the U.S. National Arboretum. This is a beautiful place if you want a garden wedding. It is a 446-acre botanical center. The park now hosts weddings for those who want a natural big day. It is one of the largest private outdoor spaces in Washington, D.C.The garden is beautifully Ancient Greece-inspired, and it is an amazing venue for your wedding. All of the photos and ceremonies can be done here.

The Neon Museum

The Neon Museum is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and has drawn brides and grooms there for years. Las Vegas is known as one of the most popular places for couples to elope and getting married at the Neon Museum can be a great touch. This is a non-profit museum that was founded in 1996. It is a collection of old casino and hotel signs from the Las Vegas Strip. The main area in the museum can hold about 70 guests and it can be reserved for your wedding. There are several wedding packages offered here and you can book yours today.

Thorncrown Chapel

In Arkansas, the Thorncrown Chapel is a beautiful location for a wedding. It was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright’s apprentice, E. Fay Jones. It was built in 1980 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. This chapel is surrounded by glorious woods and has 425 windows. The chapel will hold 100 guests and is a beautiful location for a wedding. The chapel is a Christian organization, so they do want the wedding to be “Christ-centered.”

The George Peabody Library

Fans of the Harry Potter series will love this building since they can’t get married at Hogwarts. Located in Baltimore, Maryland, the George Peabody Library opened in 1878 and contains 300,000 books. There is enough space for a wedding of 170, and the marble floors will be a beautiful addition. All of the proceeds from weddings go to keeping up the library. George Peabody wanted nothing more than for the space to stay open for the public to enjoy.

Camp Wandawega

If you love the idea of an outdoor wedding, Camp Wandawega is the perfect retreat for you and your spouse. Located in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, there are rustic cabins, canoeing, and even making Smores over a fire. It is like being at summer camp all over again. This is a beautiful place to get married; if you are outdoorsy, it will be a perfect wedding venue. This site can host 50 guests overnight and a reception room for 150.

Oakland Cemetery

It may be odd to think about getting married in a cemetery, but some couples love the idea. This is Atlanta’s oldest cemetery, which features beautiful gardens and unique architecture. It is known for Halloween-inspired weddings. However, there are couples who love the history of cemeteries and want nothing more than to be married in one. The gardens here are beautiful, and couples love to pose for their wedding photos in them. There is also an on-site greenhouse that adds to the allure of the cemetery.

Bear Flag Farm

Bear Flag Farm is located in Winters, California, between Sacramento and San Francisco. It is a 33-acre vineyard estate, and for those wanting a farm wedding, this is the perfect spot. There are orchards, lavender fields, and grapevines everywhere on the property. The views are beautiful, and the perfect venue for a wedding. The reception spaces are part of an amphitheater and surrounded by sycamore trees. The wedding dinners provided by the vineyard contain fresh ingredients from the property. You can also add a Ferris wheel to your wedding here.

Dunton Hot Springs

Located in Colorado, Dunton Hot Springs is a beautiful location for a wedding. If you want a winter wedding, this is the place for you. It is a bit smaller for an intimate celebration. The experience here in the winter is one that you will never have anywhere else. The resort is nestled in the San Juan Mountains, and the former mining town will sleep 44 guests. The log cabins are just the perfect touch to this adorable venue. Not only will you get a chance to soak in the hot springs, but you can go snowmobiling and dog-sledding as part of your mountain adventure.

TWA Hotel

The TWA Hotel is located in New York City and is a very ornate location for a wedding. It has a retro-chic feel to it, and it is located at JFK Airport. A cocktail hour is available for your wedding, as well as an infinity pool that overlooks Runway number four. There is a 1958 plane parked right on the tarmac that can be part of your cocktail party. The reception is located in the Howard Hughes Presidential Suite, and you can watch planes take off and land in this beautiful location.

If you need help choosing the right venue, these are just a few examples of the most extraordinary venues in the United States.

The post Ten Extraordinary Wedding Venues appeared first on Bridezilla.

A spin-off, Marriage Boot Camp, followed five of the couples on Bridezillas. Fans of Bridezillas were captivated by the brides and all of the drama that went along with planning their weddings. What happened to the Bridezilla reality show?

Bridezillas’s Episodes

Each episode of Bridezillas focused on two different brides-to-be and their stories. Time was split equally between their stories. The brides would share how they met their fiances, from how they met to how they fell madly in love. While telling their stories, the brides would also share what their dream wedding would look like. Most of them had some extravagant weddings in mind, but they weren’t sure they could make it happen on their budgets.

The episodes then would dive into every moment of planning their wedding. Viewers would be introduced to the wedding party, the fiance, the families, and the wedding planners. As much as the show wanted to be a way to show brides-to-be that wedding planning is stressful, there were a lot of positive moments on the show. However, it became so popular due to tension, uncontrolled feelings, and emotions while trying to plan the perfect wedding. The whole idea is that the bride is the only one who gets what she wants on her special day.

Bridezillas Were Too Serious

During the show’s third season, a new executive producer came on board. Her name is Laura Halerpin. She was ready to take the show in a completely new direction. She felt it was a bit ‘sleepy’ and needed to jazz it up. She turned the focus of Bridezillas into a more negative and dramatic one.

Halperin told viewers, “There really weren’t many wedding shows on. I think that we said what we needed to say, which is sometimes the ladies take things a little too seriously.” After the brides appeared on the show, many of them told viewers that they should have just eloped and not had the stress of a big wedding. Their stories were all captured for the show, and most of them really didn’t think all of this drama and hard work was worth it.

Bridezillas was a very popular show on WEtv, and it is available on several streaming platforms for those who would like to watch it again. The show’s drama will never be recreated, but fans can rewatch all of the madness that they went through when planning their weddings.

The post What Happened to the Bridezilla Reality Show? appeared first on Bridezilla.

The groom didn’t throw the garter. His groomsmen chided him, his family chided him, and everyone wanted the spectacle of the groom getting down on his knees and pulling the garter off with his teeth. Everyone except for the bride, that is. “Not in front of my grandma!” she proclaimed. I’d never really thought about just how risqué the garter tradition was. I don’t know how comfortable I’d feel hiking up my skirt either.

It made me wonder what kind of racy traditions were par for the course in other cultures. Here are the three best ones that I found.

Traditions of Iceland

In Iceland, home to only about 350,000 residents, engagements tend to last for a long time. Like four or so years long. When the wedding day finally comes around, though, things get saucy fast. The bridesmaids take the bride to the bridal chamber where they undress her until she’s nude, save for the bridal headdress.

Next, the groom enters the room and also undresses and hops into bed with the bride. They exchange gifts that they’ve gotten for one another. Then, in perhaps the strangest twist, the priest enters the chamber and blesses the pairing.

Traditions of Denmark

Does your prospective groom have hot friends? If you live in Denmark, you probably hope so. During a typical Danish wedding ceremony, the groom will leave the proceedings for a bit. Why? So that the bride can kiss all of the single men at the ceremony. One last hurrah before marriage, I suppose. But don’t worry; they keep it fair in Denmark. When the groom returns, the bride leaves and it’s time for him to kiss all of the single ladies.

Traditions of Northern Borneo

I’m not certain if this one is sexy or just, well, plain weird. When a couple is newly married in the Tidong tribe of North Borneo, they are shut off in a home together for three full days. Three days alone on honeymoon? Pretty sexy, no?

But wait. There’s a catch. The families of the bride and groom keep watch on the door to the house and the couple is not allowed to leave. Especially not for a restroom break. That’s right. The bride and groom are forced to hold it for 72 hours straight. If they can make it through the torture, sexy torture, then it’s assumed that they’ll make through just about anything.

Know of any risque wedding traditions? Let us know in the comments.

The post Racy Wedding Customs from Around the World appeared first on Bridezilla.

Remember to keep an open mind and heart when having these conversations; you’re trying to find the places your lives mesh and understand where they diverge. You might learn some new things about your partner, and there is a small possibility that some of the things you’ll learn are game changers. Be honest about what you really want—it’s the best way to ensure both of you are happy for the long haul.

Do We Want Kids?

This is a big question for a lot of couples because there isn’t much middle ground. How many kids? Would you adopt if you couldn’t conceive? What does a happy family look like to you?

How Will We Manage Money?

Should you share a bank account? If you get a bonus, what happens to that money? How much debt do you each have today and what kind? You can’t start building for the future until you know where you stand, so talk openly and create a plan together. Money is one of those things that couples often fight about when they really want to be fighting about something else, so plan ahead to spare yourself the pain.

Where Will We Live?

City or country? Beach or forest? House or apartment? Ideally, you’ll want to cohabitate with your fiancé or fiancée after you tie the knot. But you may not have discussed some of these fundamental things. Do you need to be able to walk to a coffee shop or wake to the sound of birds? Perhaps you’ve always dreamed of living abroad. Chances are there are big overlaps in your dreams that could take the two of you places you never even dreamed of.

What Makes You Feel Loved?

Sometimes the smallest gestures speak volumes, but they can also go unrecognized if they aren’t the things that speak to our hearts. Some people really appreciate unexpected gifts. Others like dinners out or letters or to have the door held open for them. There is no wrong answer to treating each other right.

How Do You Want Me to React When You Have a Bad Day?

Bad days happen to everyone, but we can be very individual in how we handle them. Some people want space to think, which might include a walk, a half hour reading, or TV time. Others want to talk about what went wrong during the day.

What Role Does Spirituality/Religion Play in Your Life?

Some couples bond over faith. Others live happily in interfaith relationships. If your religion is a big part of who you are or who your intended spouse is, you should talk about how you will celebrate holidays and other big moments in your life. If you are planning to raise children, what do you want them to believe?

How Do We Incorporate Our Families Into Our Lives?

The mother-in-law jokes come from somewhere. Even if you adore your in-laws and want them to be a large part of your lives, you and your partner should discuss how often you want to entertain and whether visiting relatives should stay with you or in a hotel.

What Happens if I Get Sick?

It’s the last thing you’re thinking about as you’re preparing to get married. I wish you a long and happy life together, but just in case, you might want to talk about how you would want to handle some of life’s harder days. You can’t predict what form the hardships will come in, but they will come and go as they please. Talk about how you’d like to be taken care of and whether you’d want your partner to remarry if the worst were to happen.

What Do You Want Your Life to Look Like 5 Years From Now? 10? 30?

This question gets to the heart of your priorities. Work, family, and self all play an important role in our lives, but the balance we strike between those is unique to each couple. How are responsibilities like housework, income generation, and child rearing shared?

What is Your Biggest Dream?

If money was no object, what would your life look like then? This conversation can be the first step to working together to achieve those big dreams.

I’m really glad that Susan Piver encouraged me to ask my guy some hard questions before we got married. It started us on the path of talking honestly about our hopes and fears. To start the great habit of broaching important conversations in your relationship, read Susan Piver’s book. And don’t be afraid to really open up to the one you love.

This post was written by Isla McKetta, a novelist. She and her husband (a painter) are living out their artistic dreams in Seattle.

The post 10 Essential Questions to Ask Before You Get Married appeared first on Bridezilla.

6 Inappropriate Wedding Songs

“Papa Don’t Preach” by Madonna

Madonna sure was kicky and independent back when she had short hair and less conspicuous muscles. You may remember her giving Danny Aiello what’s what in the music video. You may not remember that the lyrics are all about an unplanned pregnancy and whether she should get an abortion. Considering “Like a Virgin” and “This Used to be My Playground,” we suggest you steer clear of the Material Girl altogether.

“I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” by U2

We love U2—they’ve written some of the sweetest love songs of all time. But this song about searching for your spirituality is not what your in-laws want to hear you singing along with. Trust us. Especially since it could come off sounding like you are still looking for the real love of your life. And don’t substitute “The Sweetest Thing” either—the title is pure irony.

“The One I Love” by REM

There aren’t a lot of lyrics in this song, but the line “A simple prop to occupy my time” caught our eye. Um, yeah. This song goes out to the rebound girl you had a fling with when you and the fiancée were on a break, not to your blushing bride.

“Crash Into Me” by The Dave Matthews Band

Sure, the song sounds pretty romantic. And it gets a little racy (but not too racy) with lines like “hike up your skirt a little more.” But if you knew the song was about a peeping tom, would you still want it to be the tune for your first dance? We didn’t think so.

“Every Breath You Take” by The Police

Sure, we all want to be wanted. And maybe some of us fantasize about being watched. But this song is flat-out creepy. If this song defines your relationship, don’t go to the altar; go to a counselor. Love doesn’t have to hurt.

“Hit Me Baby One More Time” by Britney Spears

Speaking of love that hurts… we like to believe that dear Britney meant “come back baby” when she said “hit me.” But she’s fragile, and we just can’t be sure. Abuse ain’t romantic, so leave this song off your playlist to avoid giving anyone the wrong idea.

The post 6 Worst Wedding Songs and Why Not to Play Them at Your Wedding appeared first on Bridezilla.

Here are three tips to keep you on the bride’s good side while keeping you out of debtors’ prison:

USE COUPONS

Seriously, unless your friends return your gift, they have no idea what you paid for it. And these days with a little internet savvy, you can find a coupon for literally anything. Some sites, like the Coupon Concierge, even help you find the perfect gift and a coupon for it at the same time.

MAKE SOMETHING

Handmade gifts are actually super traditional for a wedding. Long before brides were selecting their favorite china pattern, their mothers, aunts, grandmothers (and every other female relative) were embroidering linens to help a new bride make her new home more comfortable. Heck, sometimes these handmade goods were even part of the dowry. If you aren’t good with crafts, you can still pick an easy project like a hand-made solar lantern and paint the happy couple’s name on it and you are good to go.

OFFER HELP

Anyone can buy crystal candlesticks off of the gift registry. And, no offense, but when was the last time you saw anyone actually use their crystal candlesticks? What most newlyweds, especially couples setting up a new home, need most is help. Print up or handwrite a few coupons for weeding a garden, planting trees, or painting a room. When your friends redeem these coupons, you’ll get to spend time together which is the best gift of all.

Unless, of course, you don’t honor the coupons. Only give this kind of gift if you really intend to show up and help.

Now that you don’t have to worry about the bill for wedding gifts, relax and celebrate the happy couple. Remember, it’s an honor to be invited.

The post The Secret to Saving Money on Wedding Gifts appeared first on Bridezilla.