Inviting guests to join you at an exotic location to celebrate your wedding? Then you already know your timeline and planning is a little (or a lot) different than for a traditional wedding. While a standard save the date may not include more than your wedding date, the venue, and the URL of your wedding website, if guests will be pulling out their passports or joining you for a few days instead of just a night or two, there are a few more things you’ll want to tell them in advance. Here’s what our experts think you should include in your destination wedding save the dates.

The first thing to remember is timing. While a regular wedding’s invitation goes out eight weeks before the wedding and save the dates go out around four months in advance, a destination wedding invitation should go out at least 12 weeks in advance. And those save the dates? Plan on sending them a minimum of six months in advance, and up to eight months before the Big Day. This will give your guests plenty of time to compare flight options, make arrangements at work, and plan an extended trip before or after your wedding if they so desire.

Now come the details. Instead of a simple postcard, consider sending out a packet so you have room for additional information, and treat your save the date as more of a pre-invitation than just a notice that you’re having a wedding. You should have a general timeline for the weekend’s events, from the welcome party and brunch to any group activities you’ve planned, and should have already secured a room block at your hotel so guests can figure out which days to take off and reserve their hotel room.

Still figuring out what other activities you’d like to include? Ask your guests! Whether it’s in your save the date or on your wedding website, provide a few options and ask guests to pick what they’d be interested in participating in so you can plan accordingly.

Planning something particularly intimate or really remote? Ask guests to RSVP as part of your save the date, and use the invitation as more of a formality later on.

And of course, be sure to provide all of the information on your wedding website, too! If you’re pressed for space, keep your save the date basic, and let guests know to head to your site for all of the travel specifics and a schedule of the weekend.

See more: 3 Times You Should Call in a Travel Pro to Help Plan Your Destination Wedding

The father of the bride’s wedding toast is likely one you’ve been excited to give for a very long time. Now that the moment is growing closer and closer, it’s important to sit down and write a speech that not only you’re proud of, but that your daughter will remember for a lifetime. So, to get you started, here are eight must-know tips for writing that sure-to-be epic father of the bride speech.

1. Keep it Short
Though you’ve been waiting for this day to come for many years, try to keep your toast short and sweet. There may be a lot you want to say, and if that’s the case, consider writing some of those heartfelt sentiments down beforehand and giving it to your daughter in a card for her to read privately on her wedding morning.

2. Don’t Be Too Embarrassing
Skip the stories that may make your daughter cringe or those memories that she wishes you would just forget already. Remember, the speech is a toast and not a roast.

3. Skip Ex-BF Mentions
If you have an urge to call out how terrible some of her ex-boyfriends were in the past, skip that little tidbit and keep it to yourself. There’s never any good that can come from name-dropping old lovers at your daughter’s wedding.

4. Don’t Push for Laughs
Often times, you’ll get laughs when you’re not trying hard for them. Don’t feel like you have to color your toast with joke like after joke line — it may come off as forced.

5. Make Eye Contact
Attempt to memorize your speech. If that’s getting a little too difficult to do in such a short amount of time, be sure to practice it enough beforehand so that you can make eye contact with the couple and the other guests.

6. Include the Other Half
While you have so much to say about the bride, remember to mention and acknowledge her other new spouse, too.

7. Give Thanks
Since you’re the guy with the mic, don’t forget to thank the guests for coming to the wedding and the parents of the groom for anything and everything that they did. Also give a nice little shout out to your own spouse, and thank her for helping you raise such a wonderful daughter.

8. Add Some Parting Wisdom
Whether it’s a piece of marriage advice or just your most heartfelt wishes for the couple’s future together, pepper in some sage wisdom for the happy couple.

See More: 3 Things Every Father of the Bride Should Do at His Daughter’s Wedding

Jen Glantz is a “Professional Bridesmaid” and the founder of Bridesmaid for Hire. She’s the author of All My Friends Are Engaged and frequently wears old bridesmaid dresses to the grocery store and on first dates.

First comes love, then comes marriages, then comes the baby… Well, you know how this thing goes. Congratulations are in order for actor Eddie Redmayne and his wife Hannah Bagshawe, for they just welcomed their first child into the world and we have no doubt that she’s a cutie. Yup, that’s right — Redmayne and Bagshawe are now the proud parents of a little girl! What a picture-perfect first Father’s Day for Redmayne!

Last December, the British couple celebrated their first wedding anniversary with the happiest of news: A source close to the pair spilled the beans to The Sun that Redmayne and Bagshawe were expecting their first child. “Eddie and Hannah are delighted and extremely excited,” the source revealed. “They don’t want to find out the sex of the baby, but are happy to tell close friends and family they’re expecting.” Well, we know that their baby is a little girl and we couldn’t be happier for the new parents!

The U.K. newspaper The Times announced that The Theory of Everything star’s bride gave birth to their first daughter on Wednesday, June 15, who they decided to name — wait for it… — Iris May Redmayne. Pretty, classic, and just so gosh darn adorable — we’re loving the name!

Back in 2014, Redmayne and Bagshawe wed in a hush-hush ceremony at the luxe Babington House in Somerset, England, full of romantic candlelight and winter wonderland snow. “It’s been extraordinary,” Redmayne previously told People magazine of his relationship with his beautiful wife. “She is an absolute saint and it’s a ride for both of us. It’s wonderful doing it with someone you love because you also have a second eye on it all.”

Sounds like it’s been a whirlwind romance for these two and we can’t wait to watch this next amazing step unfold!

See More: Uh Oh! Eddie Redmayne Lost His Wedding Band

Wedding planning is stressful — sometimes so stressful, in fact, that it can lead happily-in-love couples to argue over the happiest days of their lives. Here, three women share the biggest wedding-related fights they had, plus how they solved them.

1. Fighting over whether children are allowed at the reception

As Anna explains, “We have lots of nieces and nephews and all of them were in the wedding ceremony, but I wanted to have an adults-only reception. The idea was this: the kids would be in the wedding, and then when it was time for the reception, which was a formal sit-down dinner, the kids would go to an adjacent room and have their own kid-friendly dinner. The room was set-up as a playroom with toys and crafts and everything a kid would want, and it was staffed by a bunch of nannies.”

Sounds more than reasonable, right? But, says Anna, “my husband’s family is very close knit and totally kid-obsessed, and everyone got really pissed off that I didn’t want to have the kids running around the reception while people were trying to eat dinner. My then-fiance and I got in this huge fight, and I ended up sobbing in my car and telling him that I wish we’d just eloped.”

It all ended well, however. “My husband is a smart man, and he knows that a happy wife means a happy life, so he caved to my wishes and stood up to his family. In the end, it worked out fine; the kids were much happier in the kids area, their parents enjoyed having some time to themselves, and I got my adults-only reception dinner.”

See More: 8 Fights Every Couple Has During Wedding Planning

2. Fighting over whether to elope or host a full-on wedding

Says Jane, “I’ve been married before, so when my boyfriend popped the question, I didn’t get excited at the thought of wedding planning like most fist-time brides do. Instead, I thought of all the things I felt that I’d wasted money on before, and told my boyfriend we should just elope and save the dough. He didn’t like that very much.”

As she continues, “I had to realize that just because this was my second wedding didn’t mean I should deny my boyfriend his first. So we compromised: We opted for a small ceremony and reception, and we left out some expensive details. We’re not going to worry about printing menu cards for every seat, we aren’t going to give out favors our guests would just throw out, and we are opting for candles instead of floral centerpieces. And we’re both pretty happy. ”

3. Fighting over their partner’s involvement in wedding planning

As Sarah says, “I don’t know if it was the stress of all the planning or what, but I remember exploding on my fiancé when he gave me a very non-committal response about which invitation suite we should pick. The fact that he didn’t have an opinion really angered me. It wasn’t like I expected him to care about the invitations — I get why he wouldn’t — but I felt like I had done so much myself, and this was another thing I would have to choose alone without his help.”

She says, “When I finally calmed down, I was able to explain why I felt like I had too much responsibility, and he jumped right in. No, he never did care about those kind of details — but he did handle our entire music list, he gathered our guests’ addresses, and did a million other tedious tasks that made me feel relieved.”

Kym Johnson is pirouetting into wedding planning. The Dancing with the Stars pro has been engaged to her former dance partner, Shark Tank‘s Robert Herjavec since February and like any excited bride-to-be, has been occupying herself with the big day details ever since! (Between endless rehearsals, learning intense choreography, and dancing on live TV, of course… Phew, this is one busy bride!) First, we caught Johnson looking for some bridal inspiration in an issue of BRIDES magazine. And her social media pages were previously flooding with potential big day ideas. Now, Johnson is busy deciding on one of our favorite wedding details of all — the dress! While — like any other bride-to-be will tell you — there are seemingly endless styles out there to choose from, Johnson already knows what kind wedding dress she definitely doesn’t want to rock come the big day.

When the Shark Tank star first slipped that engagement sparkler on the finger of the dancing pro, we were already envisioning Johnson donning a wedding dress as sparkly as a disco ball for the big day — much like the flirty frocks she rocks on the DWTS dance floor. So we were shocked to discover that Johnson plans to go in an entirely different direction when it comes to her wedding day wear.

“A lot of [the dresses] I tried on I felt like I was putting a Dancing With the Stars dress on I’d worn before,” Johnson told Us Weekly of her hunt for the perfect dress. “I’m used to wearing slinky sort of lace things, a lot of beading on Dancing With the Stars, so I wanted to stay clear of that.” Looks like Johnson will be hanging up her go-to glitter come the big day. Surprising, right? We totally thought she’d be a beaded ball gown type of bride!

Instead, Johnson revealed that her wedding gown will be “just very simple, actually,” and her vision is so clear, she’s actually lending a hand in the design process. “It’s been a really fun process [to help design the dress],” Johnson shared. “A lot of designers will look at me like, ‘What?’ But I’m used to doing it for the show!” Sounds like the woman has got it all under control!

Whether she’s in a beaded ball gown or simple sheath, we have no doubt that Johnson will be one beautiful bride on her big day!

See More: Spring 2017 Wedding Dress Trends

Your hair and makeup appointments are set for the morning of your wedding. But why stop there? Chicago salons and spas are at your service to ensure you’re plucked and primped as you walk down the aisle. Check out our favorite spots to book your getting-ready services–plus expert advice on how far in advance to schedule your appointment.

Eyebrow Shaping: Channing’s Studio & Spa
The studio caters to a ritzy clientele of celebrities and Gold Coast elite, so you can rest assured your brows are in the right hands. Before Cheryl Renella begins tweezing–she’s opposed to irritating waxing and threading–she’ll look at your face and shape each brow to highlight your features. She’ll also identify “no pluck zones,” which is helpful if you have time to let your brows grow in where they need to.

When to go: If your brows are in serious need of repair, schedule your first appointment two to three months in advance to begin the reshaping process. “The last appointment should be as close to the wedding as possible,” Renella says. “The day before would be ideal.”

Nails: Cowshed at Soho House
The experience at the Soho House’s spa is an intimate one; there are only six mani-pedi chairs. Since you’ll spend your wedding weekend surrounded by throngs of loved ones, revel in the chance to relax with a small group or go completely solo. The Ultimate Cowshed Manicure and Pedicure use Cowshed’s best-in-class products to leave your cuticles clean, skin soft, and nails filed and polished.

When to go: One to two days before the big day to maintain that just-done glossy look.

Facial: The Spa at Trump
The Spa at Trump’s Chicago Diamond Experience Facial offers equal parts relaxation and exfoliation. The former comes courtesy of spending 90 minutes in the zen spa environment and the use of balancing stones designed to help you calm, while the latter is thanks to a triple-exfoliation method that delivers that bridal glow.

When to go: Kendra Rice, spa director at The Spa at Trump, recommends booking an appointment one month before your wedding, another two weeks later, and the final two days before.

See More: Find More Chicago Beauty Services on Our Local Vendor Page

Waxing: Trim
It’s no wonder Trim is a regular destination for brides-to-be: Their services menu includes wedding packages that go beyond your basic bikini wax. One offers eyebrow shaping, a Brazilian wax, and a full leg wax to leave you fuzz free.

When to go: Make an appointment four to six weeks before the big day for a trial run. Then, plan to come back to the Bucktown or Lincoln Park salon two to five days before the wedding. That’s close enough to go time to ensure everything’s smooth while still giving any redness time to calm down.

Spray Tan: Glowout
Airbrushed Golden Girl Tanning at Glowout is the Chicago spot to score a faux tan that doesn’t look faux at all. An expert from the salon will apply the tan by hand and tailor the color to your skin. No need to worry about leaving the salon stinking like chemicals. It’s all odor free here.

When to go: “We suggest a trial a few weeks prior to the wedding so we can ensure the tan photographs and wears exactly how the brides envision it,” says Jennifer Dieas, founder and CEO at Glowout. Then, stop by the salon two days before the wedding for the real thing.

Everything: Spa at JW Chicago
The Spa at JW Chicago’s bridal packages take care of your primping needs in one fell swoop. The Spa-Luxe includes a manicure, pedicure, and hydrating foot exfoliation, plus your choice of a massage or facial. The Prime & Prep package offers a little bit of everything: a 25-minute facial, a soothing eye and lip treatment, polish change, and a massage or Moroccanoil body treatment. No matter what you choose, the spa will welcome you with Champagne to kick off the celebration.

When to go: The day before the wedding, suggests Marie Parodi, spa director at the Spa at JW Chicago. “The light exfoliation and hydrating masque prime the skin, resulting in a fresh and clean canvas–perfect for a flawless makeup application,” Parodi says.

Check out our favorite makeup artists in Chicago by visiting our Local Vendors page!

Brides, stop what you’re pinning right now! If you want to have a wedding that’s truly unique and doesn’t look like a carbon copy of every other bohemian or rustic affair, it’s time to step away from Pinterest and start getting your inspiration from the most unlikely places. You know, like music videos and old family photos…Here, 8 fresh sources for wedding day inspiration!

1. Music videos
Because what could be more inspiring than the work of Rihanna, Taylor Swift, and Beyoncé? They’re huge trend influencers and speak to what young women relate to, points out Erika Stone-Miller, Senior Wedding Designer for Premier Catering & Events in Chicago. “A blend of both fantasy and beauty, in three minutes music videos create glamorous visual worlds in color and textures, with hairstyles, clothing, jewelry, background elements, and makeup as the focus.” Basically, they’re a treasure trove of design inspiration!

2. Interior design companies, non-wedding photographers, artists, department store displays and more
Planner Samantha Wiley of Chancey Charm Charleston encourages brides to think outside the box. “Flip through interior design and fashion mags or check out Fashion Week coverage. Get inspired by department store window displays and d&#233cor (think Anthropologie), photography blogs, art galleries, museums and even restaurant d&#233cor.” Another great place to look is in your own home, as this tells you a lot about your own d&#233cor tastes and styling preferences, she notes.

3. Dreams and fantasies
Why not make them a reality? “Our dreams often communicate stories and those inner thoughts and emotions that can take place in one’s life,” says Greg Jenkins, founder of Bravo Productions. While you may not be able to recreate them exactly (and you probably wouldn’t want to anyway), you can pick and pull out certain elements to channel on your big day.

4. Nature
To get the wedding d&#233cor (or venue!) wheels turning, try taking a walk through the woods, an epic hike or a solo stroll on a beach in the morning. The quietness and unique aspects of nature can bring much freshness and inspiration, according to Jenkins. “It’s subtle, unassuming, natural and authentic.”

See More: The Most Inspirational Wedding Instagram Accounts to Follow

5. Cookbooks
And no, not just for the yummy dishes, but also for the themes and decoration, tells Amanda Holding, in-house wedding planner for La Bonne Cuisine Catering and Events in Oakland, CA. “Cookbooks are full of beautiful pictures of food and environments that will definitely get you inspired,” she says. Two of her favorites are The Big Dish by Barton G Weiss, which has tons of super fun and unique ideas, and The Forest Feast by Erin Gleason, which would definitely interest anyone going for a rustic or outdoor wedding.

6. Kids at play
Take your nephews and/or nieces out for a day of fun and simply watch and learn. “The kid within all of us is magical and something worth exploring in order to bring out that sense of innocence and a simpler way of approaching the entire wedding experience,” says Jenkins. Who knows, next thing you know you may find yourself planning your nuptials at a theme park or opting for a carnival theme; the pictures alone would make it so worth it!

7. Award shows
Inspiration is everywhere but in Creative Director of Anoush Banquet Halls & Catering and L.A. Banquets’ Ani Keshishian’s opinion, one of the most unlikely sources is from award shows. “From the Oscars to the Golden Globes to the Tony’s, you get to see the finest collaborators in the event planning industry come together. Think beautiful floral arrangements, elegant table designs and expertly crafted menus and dishes. Also, pay attention to who does what because each and every one of these vendors is going to show off their style and also write pieces about exactly what they did to create the best look.”

8. Family photo albums
Go old school and look at your family photo albums for inspiration, recommends Jessica Upton, owner of Uptown Events and Travel. “For example, perhaps grandma wore a small floral headpiece with her veil at her own wedding or the groom’s birthday cake every year was white sprinkle cake with lemon icing. Couples can easily recreate fond memories by incorporating them in their big day.”

When getting married in a house of worship, the requirements and rules go beyond just what the two of you need to do to ensure your wedding follows the necessary guidelines — there might be rules your guests need to follow, too! So how can you make sure your guests are ready for the religious wedding ceremony you’ve planned? Here are a few tips from our experts.

The first thing guests will want to know about your religious wedding ceremony is how long it will be. Ceremonies can vary widely, from hours-long Hindu ceremonies and full Catholic masses to something brief and to the point with just a little religious language mixed in. If you’re planning something on the longer side, be sure to inform your guests (especially if it will involve a fair amount of standing!) so they can make sure to be comfortable — stilettos aren’t always the best choice if you’ll be standing and sitting a dozen times over the course of an hour and a half!

You should also let guests know about any dress code requirements, whether that means having their shoulders covered or wearing flats and keeping the heels in their purse to protect the delicate floors of an historic church.

If your house of worship is particularly strict, make sure to have back-up options available for guests the day of your wedding. Set out a basket of light shawls so women in strapless gowns can cover their shoulders. Having a Jewish ceremony? If your synagogue doesn’t have yarmulkes available, look into ordering your own — especially for guests who are of a different faith and don’t have one of their own. You could pick a simple design, or have them embroidered with your wedding date as a keepsake.

You should also include an outline of the ceremony in your program to help your guests follow along with what’s happening. This could include translations of readings in different languages, the words to hymns, or an explanation of traditions with which they might not be familiar.

See more: My Fiancé’s Family Wants a Religious Ceremony, but That Means I’d Have to Convert. Help!

Summer is just around the corner (it officially kicks off on Monday, June 20!), so what better way to gear up for a season of fun-filled weddings than watching a couple wed beneath the sun? Our real wedding video channel is packed with tons of beautiful couple’s tying the knot across the country and abroad, in every single season. Each week, we’ve been taking you behind the scenes of one of these great love stories, and today we’re showing you Nicolette and Michael’s country celebration at a California winery.

The Adventures Of joined this bride and groom at the Longshadow Ranch Winery for a rustic-meets-romantic bash, including emotional vows in the fresh air followed by a celebratory barn reception. We can’t get enough of how this couple embraced the season — and their unique style — for their big day. The bride’s punchy-hued pink and yellow bouquet, along with the bright and cheery ceremony florals, are perfectly fitting for summer “I dos.” The couple’s young attendants embraced the season, too, donning pink and white sequin dresses and carrying arrangements of bright blooms.

See More: What Your Wedding Flowers Mean

While they kept the reception simple, there were signs of summer here, too. The couple chose bright flowers to decorate their simple two-tiered wedding cake and made sure to spend some time out in the wines with their guests.

There was no shortage of personal style at their wedding, either. The bride paired cowboy boots with her elegant wedding dress and glamorous accessories while her groom donned a Midwest-inspired belt buckle sure to incite the envy of every rancher around.

While wedding planners and their assistants are an amazing source of knowledge for advice when it comes to actually planning your wedding, the number of brides they’ve sent down the aisle means they’ve got a huge supply of insider tips that will come in super handy on your wedding day, too. If you have a planner or a day-of coordinator helping out on your wedding day, chances are she or he will come armed with their own solutions to everything from static to stains, but a girl can never be too prepared! Here are some tried-and-true tips that planners have picked up over the years — they’re usually a pro’s best-kept secrets, but they’re sharing them with you.

1. How to cure static
“Instead of static spray, which has a chemical smell, I rub dryer sheets on everyone’s legs to get rid of static,” says Stephanie Frazier Grimm, owner of Couture Parties.

2. How to clean dress stains
“I treat dress stains with bread and white chalk,” says Roey Mizrahi, founder of Roey Mizrahi Events. “I use the bread to soak up and remove the stain, then cover any remnants with the chalk.”
Alicia Falango, owner of Alicia K Designs, seconds the chalk idea. “It’s a great way to cover up stains on dresses,” she says.

3. How to avoid pollen stains from flowers
“For flowers with loose pollen (especially darker colored pollen, like on anemones), a spritz of hairspray will help keep the powder from brushing off onto your gown,” says Samantha Robertson, lead planner fo Bella Design & Planning. “And if your veil has creases or wrinkles, put down the steamer and instead use a blowdryer on a warm (not hot) setting to avoid melting the delicate fabric.”

And in a pinch, go back to your childhood. “If all else has failed, baby powder will help cover up pollen or lipstick smudges on white dresses,” says Amy Nichols of Amy Nichols Special Events.

4. How to avoid wardrobe malfunctions
Mizrahi also has a few tips for fashion malfunctions. “Hairspray will work as static spray in a pinch, and if you don’t have fashion tape, regular double-sided tape will work just as well to keep straps from moving and avoid a nip-slip!”

See More: Hiring a Wedding Planner? Here’s How to Make the Most of Their Services

5. How to keep linens in place
When it comes to the reception, head to the hardware store! “I use stick-on Velcro to hold down linen corners if it’s breezy,” says Grimm. “I also use zip ties to cinch linens around tall cocktail tables, then cover them with knots of fabric.”

Danielle Ehrlich of Danielle Evans Design loves museum wax (think of it as a heavy-duty version of the blue mounting putty you used to hang posters in college). “It’s great for hanging things or holding them in place when it’s windy — it works way better than glue dots!”