Why have an ordinary grand entrance at your wedding reception when you can have an extraordinary one? It is your big day, after all! Whether you’re working with an unlimited budget or you don’t have a ton of money to spare, there are so many ways to arrive at your wedding reception in style that you might as well do something out of the box.

1. Organize a flash mob with your wedding party
What better way to surprise your guests than with a flash mob only your wedding party knows about? Regina Osgood, owner of Meant2Be Events, had a couple that decided to go this route and it was a huge hit. “The bridal party was allowed to enter just as they normally would, but they were in on what happened next,” she tells us. “Once the bride and groom were announced, the DJ changed the song, cuing the full ballroom of guests to come to the dance floor where the flash mob began. Everyone talked about it all night long!”

2. Go big or go home
For brides whose wedding budgets know no bounds, it doesn’t get any grander than showing up at the reception in a helicopter. Wedding and event planner Courtney Hammons of A Magical Affair has literally seen it all. “We recently had a couple that did a kabuki drop for their grand entrance,” she says. But her personal favorite? The couple that arrived via ski boat to their reception.

3. Use a “built in” grand entrance
“Many catering halls have dramatic entrances built in, such as coming up through the floor in a glass elevator or doing a stage curtain entrance,” point out Lynn Jawitz, owner of Florisan Wedding and Event Design in NYC.

See More: Every Formal Portrait You Should Take at Your Wedding

4. Try a rose petal, confetti or balloon drop
All of these things can be done either expensively or inexpensively depending on your approach, notes founder & CEO of Vow To Be Chic, Kelsey Doorey. For example, you can buy a few thousand rose petals online for cheap (less than a hundred dollars) to create a beautiful and fun entrance, she says. “If you want a big bang while saving your bucks, you could run through a paper banner with your new spouse, like the finish line of a race. Decorate the banner with your married name or paint it to match your wedding colors.”

5. Put on a show
Impress your guests with some talents of your own! “Breakdance your way onto the dance floor, sing for the crowd or find yourself a great costume or mask to wear,” recommends Florida-based wedding planner Aviva Samuels of Kiss The Planner. Snow machines, fog machines and confetti cannons will also liven things up a bit.

6. Play with the lights
Key Largo wedding planner Lynn D’Ascanio of D’Asigner Events once worked with a specialty lighting company that projected fireworks and 3D flying dragons onto the ceiling of a tented event for a Chinese wedding as the couple walked in. If your theme lends itself to something cool like this, we say go for it!

7. Get some sparklers
“If your entrance is outside and after dark, super long wedding sparklers can make a really spectacular picture as you dance your way through them to the real dance floor to do your first dance,” says seasoned wedding planner Sandy Malone of Weddings in Vieques.

8. Do a silhouette entrance
According to Stefany Allongo, founder and chief consultant of The Majestic Vision, something different and fun is using a projection screen to create your silhouette for your guests to see. “You can start your first dance behind the screen and then proceed to the dance floor. It makes for a gorgeous photo.” Plus, it’s a total crowd pleaser too!

You’re working your butt off to create an amazing experience for your guests at your wedding. But how often do you ask yourself, “What do I want to remember most about my wedding day?”

Figuring out what you want to remember most about your own wedding day actually helps you, in two different ways. First, it helps you prioritize your time, energy, money and efforts into things that are truly meaningful to you (and give you permission to skip what’s not). And second, it gives you time to create strategies (and practice them) to assist you in remembering your important things.

Your wedding day, as you already know, will be a whirlwind of activity, people, and high emotion — that’s all good. But it will be hard to hone in on that that detail, that song, that moment in your wedding ceremony if you don’t prepare ahead of time.

It’s easier to do than you think. In fact, all it takes is 12 seconds to create a lifelong memory. Yep, just 12 seconds.

Rick Hanson, neuroscientist and author of Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence, writes that if you want to deeply, authentically remember something, you must deliberately internalize the positive experience into your implicit memory.

How do you do that? Step 1: Notice you’re having a positive experience — when you’re in that precious moment of your ceremony that you really want to remember, notice that it’s occurring right there and then. Get fully present. Step 2: Open yourself to the good feelings you’re having, really enjoy the experience as it’s happening. Step 3: Be conscious of how this experience is sinking into you, as you sink into it. Don’t just let the experience happen and move on. Instead, be aware of the experience becoming an event in your life history.

Done. Happiness hardwired, your special memory saved in your memory bank. All completed by being fully, fully present for just 12 straight seconds. (For a lot more detail, check out his book.)

Will your wedding day be a buzz of activity? You bet. Can you find 12 seconds to genuinely focus on what’s important to you, as it’s happening? Please do, so your memories can be vivid, fresh, and alive within you forever.

See More: 5 Things You Must Remember When Reciting Your Own Wedding Vows

Allison Moir-Smith is a bridal counselor and an expert in cold feet and engagement anxiety.

Brides-to-be dreaming of a destination wedding that is equal parts eco-friendly, exotic, and relatively close to home, look no further than Costa Rica. Readily accessible by direct flights from major cities across the U.S., this Central American country is known for its beautiful beaches, jungles, mountains, and incredible biodiversity.

“Nature is up close and personal here in Costa Rica,” says Larissa Banting, President of Weddings Costa Rica, citing dolphins, monkeys, sloths, and parrots as some of the usual suspects visitors encounter. “Also, it’s so varied — drive one hour and the landscape changes.”

Located just nine degrees north of the equator, Costa Rica’s weather cycles are similar to that of the Caribbean, with a dry season (December through April/May) and a green season (May through November). Being a tropical climate, it’s not uncommon to have a passing rain shower or two even on sunny days, although September and October generally see the heaviest rains.

Planning a destination wedding is all about location, says Banting. It’s a combination of finding the right fit for the couple’s vision and also for the guests: “A good host and hostess are always trying to make their guests feel comfortable,” says Banting.

Accessibility, climate, and choice wedding sites are three reasons why Costa Rica’s northwestern province, Guanacaste, is one of country’s most popular destinations for weddings and vacations in general. International flights land directly in its capital, Liberia, which is just a short drive from the resort enclave that surrounds the Gulf of Papagayo. Beachy surf towns, and resorts with a decidedly laid-back lifestyle, characterize the region’s Pacific coastline, which extends south into the Nicoya Peninsula.

For ultra high-end, the Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo and neighboring Andaz Peninsula Papagayo are two of the country’s most luxe offerings. On the opposite side of Culebra Bay, eco-chic El Mangroove offers brides fully customizable wedding packages on a beachfront property that has been awarded the highest possible rank by the country’s rigorous Certification for Sustainable Tourism (CST) program.

For a more bespoke affair, Guanacaste’s coastal region is home to a number of “villa-style” hotels that can be rented out in entirety, such as the 8-bedroom Villa Buena Onda, which comes with a dedicated support team that includes a wedding planner and event staff to attend to every last detail of the big day, and the Villa de la Luna, an all-inclusive retreat that can host up to 28 guests. Wedding packages include all meals, open bar, private transportation, butler and maid service as well as concierge services for activity planning.

For resorts with a more remote, beachy vibe, look towards Tamarindo, a popular surf town, where you’ll discover low-key gems such as Cala Luna Luxury Hotel & Villas and Florblanca Resort, two boutique hotels that are well equipped to host intimate affairs on the beach and on their grounds.

While options in Costa Rica’s Guanacaste province abound, one thing’s for certain — when the big day arrives you’ll be imbued with pura vida — that quintessential, joyful Costa Rican attitude towards life.

“Costa Rica is all about pura vida,” says Banting, an expat herself that fell in love with the country almost two decades ago. “When you come here, everything slows down and you live in the moment, really taking the time to enjoy everything around you.”

For a celebration as monumental as this one, that sounds just right.

See More: 10 Things to Know Before Planning a Destination Wedding

It’s not the most romantic place in the world, but this sweet couple proves that you can find love anywhere — even on Wall Street. Though they met in 2006, Rochelle and Shelley were friends for six years before their friendship turned to romance, while both were enrolled at Columbia Business School in 2012. They dated for two years before Shelley popped the question (after having spent months planning the proposal!). “Shelley was coming home from a trip to Germany, so I spent the evening making him a surprise dinner,” says Rochelle. But little did she know, he had a surprise up his sleeve, too, popping the question in their home before celebrating with a champagne toast. “Dom Perignon never tasted so good!” says the bride.

Deciding where to get married was easy: Shelley’s family’s home on Martha’s Vineyard was the clear choice. “It felt so natural and right,” says Rochelle. They planned a September 19, 2015, ceremony on the lawn, followed by a reception at the nearby Farm Neck Golf Club, with stunning ocean views and plenty of space for an airy, vintage fête with unmistakable Vineyard vibes. With a gold, ivory, blush, and navy color scheme, we’d say they captured it perfectly! Take a peek inside the elegant waterfront bash, photographed by Lauren Methia Photography, and get ready to book a ferry ticket of your own!

When Rochelle couldn’t decide between two Berta and Reem Acra wedding dresses, she decided to go the custom route and incorporate elements of both into her bridal look. She worked with Mika Inatome to create a beige gown with an ivory overlay, combining hand-embroidered accents, Alencon lace, and a fit-and-flare silhouette. “I had a good idea of what I wanted, and Mika created the most beautiful wedding dress. It was the perfect combination of classic and sexy, the lace was to die for, and the embroidery… I was near tears every time I tried it on!” says the bride.

She paired the gown with her stunning solitaire engagement ring and a hint of sparkle, courtesy of strappy Badgley Mischka sandals.

The 10 (yes, 10!) bridesmaids wore blush Jenny Yoo gowns with convertible straps and flowing skirts.

Rochelle carried an all-white bouquet of roses and dusty miller, while bridesmaids carried smaller versions accented with gold-painted leaves.

The bride’s bouquet was wrapped with the same lace used on her wedding dress, and finished with two pins: a pearl pin from her grandmother and a brooch that belonged to her god-parents’ grandmother.

“We got ready at the house next door to Shelley’s parents’,” says Rochelle. “It’s actually the first home where Shelley spent summers on the Vineyard, which made it extra special!”

With the ocean in the background, the ceremony took place beneath a birch altar draped in white fabric and decorated with roses and greenery. Shelley, in a blue Bonobos tuxedo, waited at the altar to see his bride for the first time. “I got so emotional when I first saw him, but I did my best to keep it together,” Rochelle remembers.

The pair exchanged traditional vows, with the groom’s uncle and the bride’s brother doing readings.

Shelley’s father is from New Orleans, and he came up with the idea to surprise guests with a post-ceremony Second Line parade! Says Rochelle, “My mother-in-law ordered flip flops for the ladies to wear for the walk. I’m still in awe of how some of our ideas came together so perfectly!”

The newlyweds led the group on golf carts, but hopped off toward the end to circle back and dance with their guests.

“Martha’s Vineyard is like a second home to Shelley, where so many of his closest friendships and most lasting memories began,” says Rochelle.

We can’t get over all of the details of Rochelle’s dress, from the two types of lace to the delicately scalloped fishtail skirt.

Guests’ table assignments were displayed on a vintage mirror, with table names in gold calligraphy and affixed to cards with ornate silhouettes.

Beneath the sailcloth tent, a combination of round and rectangular tables surrounded the dance floor. “I wanted the whole evening to be lit by bistro lights and candles to create a more romantic and soft ambiance,” explains Rochelle. A mix of gold and glass vases held anemones, sweet peas, roses, and soft greenery, with pops of brighter pink to add extra drama.

In lieu of menus, each guest’s seat was marked with a personalized place card and a letter from the bride and groom to their guests.

To encourage people to get to know one another throughout the evening, Shelley and Rochelle chose a family-style dinner service. “We wanted it to feel like a dinner party,” she says. “We also kept the food a surprise to build anticipation as each course came out!” They offered a salad, two pasta courses, and entrés of fish and lamb, all ending with a dessert buffet and a coffee bar stocked with Kahlua and Bailey’s.

Instead of numbers, each table was named after a place on Martha’s Vineyard, from Narragansett to Vineyard Avenue.

Rochelle collected all of the vases herself, scouring shops to create the perfect combination of styles and sizes. “Our caterer wanted to keep them at the end of the night!” she laughs.

The first dance was to John Legend’s “All of Me,” but not the traditional version. “I surprised Shelley and recorded me singing the lyrics, instead!” says the bride. The DJ went straight into “The Wobble,” then mixed Notorious B.I.G. and Ginuwine with oldies that guests loved so much they almost forgot to eat dessert! When the evening wrapped up, everyone headed to Martha’s Vineyard Chowder Co. to keep the party going.

“If you can, take a break from planning,” says Rochelle. “Shelley and I went to Paris two weeks before the wedding. I was worried because I had so much left to do, but I managed to let go and enjoy the trip. It was so nice to have a few days off and relax!”

Ceremony Venue: Private residence || Reception Venue & Catering: Farm Neck Golf Club || Wedding Coordinator: Heather Dawn Events || Bride’s Wedding Dress: Mika Inatome || Shoes: Badgley Mischka || Makeup: Sea Spa Salon || Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Jenny Yoo || Groom’s Attire: Bonobos || Engagement Ring & Wedding Bands: Tomas Edipson New York || Florist: Island Ambiance || Invitations & Paper Goods: Wedding Paper Divas || Music: DJ B-Hen || Cake & Dessert: The Black Dog Bakery & Café; Murdick’s Fudge; Back Door Donuts || Rentals: Big Sky Tent & Party Rentals || After Party: Martha’s Vineyard Chowder Co. || Photographer: Lauren Methia Photography

Did you love this couple’s beautiful celebration? Then check out another couple’s vintage-inspired wedding in the video below.

While most guests nowadays choose to buy wedding gifts online and ship them directly to the couple, there are still a few holdouts who would rather bring the gift in person, especially if it’s cash or a check. Collecting these gifts on your wedding day can be a hassle but, while having a cards and gifts table definitely makes it a little easier, it also takes up space (and means you have to rent an extra table and linen!). So do you actually have to have a designated table to collect gifts guests bring with them to your wedding? Our experts weigh in.

There are definitely good reasons to have a specific place where guests can put cards and gifts. It will keep items from getting lost, it allows guests to put the bag or box they’re carrying down instead of trying to tuck it under their table at dinner, and it makes for easy packing at the end of the night. But if you’re short on space or simply don’t think many guests will be bringing anything with them on your wedding day, you can definitely skip the table. However, you should have a backup plan.

The best way to accept gifts and cards on your wedding day without setting up a table is to let your wedding planner and the venue staff know, and ask them to collect gifts from your guests. They can put everything in a safe place for you during the reception, and then can help coordinate delivering the gifts to your hotel room (or loading them into your car) at the end of the night. Let your wedding party know about the plan so they can spread the word, especially if they spot a guest holding a beautifully wrapped box, looking for somewhere to put it!

See more: The Etiquette of Destination Wedding Gifts

One of the most agonized over things in wedding planning? The wedding dress and the bridesmaid dresses. The bride wants to feel like, well, a bride — she wants a gown that’s not just beautiful, but makes her feel beautiful. She wants her future husband to love it, her mom to love it, and she wants to wow her wedding guests. And the bridesmaid dresses? That’s a sticky situation too. The bride wants to pick pretty bridesmaid dresses, in her color scheme, that flatter each ‘maids’ figure — and, of course, the bridesmaids want this too! Price can also be a big issue when it comes to these gowns, as most ‘maids are hoping their to-be-wed friend will choose affordable bridesmaid dresses — and the bride doesn’t want her friends going broke over her wedding! But, er, one real bridesmaid’s recent tale tells a totally different kind of story, and it’s taking the Internet by storm.

The anonymous bridesmaid, who detailed her experience on Mamamia.com, confessed that she was initially “overjoyed” when her engaged friend Caroline asked her to be a bridesmaid in her wedding. As most bridesmaids usually are! However, this bridesmaid’s “joy quickly turned to utter despair” when Caroline turned into a total bridezilla over every aspect of her wedding — and we mean EVERY aspect. Need proof? One day, she asked this anonymous bridesmaid to make an Excel document of wedding cake baker suggestions, including the pricing, contact info, flavors and “prestige” level — oh, and she wanted it that same day, just to make matters worse, according to Yahoo. Sounds like this bride was in serious need of a wedding planner, vendor listings, and a chill pill.

The bride also insisted that the seven bridesmaids accompany her on shopping trips to find a wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses…three weekends in a row. The bridesmaid dresses ended up being $550 each. We love ourselves some gorgeous designer bridesmaid dresses, but even we have to admit that that is A LOT to ask of your ‘maids.

But, alas, that’s not even the worst part.

See more: How to Pull Off Mismatched Bridesmaids, According to Real Weddings

The bride (who apparently has very expensive taste) fell for a wedding dress priced at $10,500, which happened to be twice the amount allotted in her wedding budget for a dress. Her seven bridesmaids rooted her along, telling her to “totally splurge” on her big day. So she did.

Then she requested her bridesmaids “pitch in” for her “dream dress.” Huh?!

The bride’s reasoning? It would be a sentimental treasure that all the bridesmaids would have a part in if they paid for it.

The anonymous bridesmaid was, rightfully so, outraged by the Caroline’s request to contribute around $150 each for her gown. This was in addition to those over-half-a-grand bridesmaid dresses, the bachelorette party, bridal shower and three spa days she wanted the bridesmaids to plan prior to the wedding. Basically, that’s a lot to ask of your bridesmaids.

While three of the bridesmaids replied saying they’d love to pitch in for the dress, the anonymous bridesmaid who authored the post is not so quick to give in to Caroline’s request. In fact, she’s thinking about ditching: “I’m starting to think I might have to bail on this wedding, and friendship,” she wrote.

What would you do if a bride put you in this position? Sound off on Facebook!

Blake Lively juxtaposes a hoodie and feathers, Duchess Kate is clad in one of her favorite bridal designers, and Naomie Harris gives the LWD a modern and fresh spin. Here, the red carpet looks we couldn’t get enough of for bridal fashion inspiration this week.

Blake Lively in New York City: Blake Lively has been averaging two to three outfit changes per day: no small feat for a celebrity without a stylist — especially one with a growing baby bump! One of our favorite ensembles on her this week was a pearl gray cashmere hoodie and white feather-embroidered mikado tank dress from Michael Kors Collection — the perfect post-ceremony brunch ensemble that combines comfort and class. Her ponytail and simple accessories will be the only things you’ll have energy to wear after a night of partying and celebration.

See More: Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds Want Even More Kids and We Can’t Contain Our Excitement

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at a Gala Dinner To Support East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices’ Nook Appeal: Duchess Kate always gets it right in the style department, doesn’t she? She was the epitome of elegance in one of her all-time favorite designers this week: none other than Jenny Packham. Her pink embellished gown from the brand, with wispy short tulle sleeves, was made for the bride who wants to wear a bit of color on her big day, or one who wants to change into something dazzling for her nighttime reception. With a number like this, you’ll want to let it play centerstage. Case in point: Kate’s refined chignon and sparkling diamond earrings.

Naomie Harris at The Boodles Tennis Event: A LWD (little white dress) will never go out of style—at least not in our books. If you’re looking for outdoor engagement party inspiration, then look no further than Naomie Harris’s strapless white Victoria Beckham dress with a flirty bow. Did we mention we pretty much love everything that Mrs. Beckham designs? We loved the addition of Naomie’s Aquazzura flats and Milly clutch: just the right accents for schmoozing on the grass while still making a statement.

Rainy weather backup plan? Check. Stain remover for wedding dress spills? Check. Snake bite kit? Umm… What? This is definitely a wedding day emergency we wouldn’t have been prepared for! But a Colorado couple recently had to deal with the rudest wedding crasher ever when a rattlesnake sunk his teeth into the groom — in the middle of his wedding pictures! Not cool, snake, really not cool…

As much as you prepare for unexpected wedding surprises and pack your bridal emergency kit to its limits, this is definitely one couple who now knows that it never hurts to expect the unexpected. And we don’t mean an intoxicated wedding toast by your second cousin! After saying their “I dos” in a Fort Collins, Colorado church on Monday, newlyweds Johnny Benson and Laura Loretz headed to a nearby field with their wedding photographer to capture a few beautiful snapshots. Enter a wedding crasher rattlesnake who just had to get in on the fun…

As the newlyweds were posing, the snake slithered up and bit the groom on the ankle. Worst wedding present, ever. “I was like, ‘You gotta be [kidding] me. Did this really just happen?'” Benson told The Washington Post. Yup, it did. And their photographer, Maddie Mae, was there to capture what she’s calling her “craziest adventure wedding yet.” Yeah, that sounds about right.

“The only thing I could think of is we’re going to miss our big expensive party,” noted the groom. (We so feel you on that one, Benson…) After the snake slithered away, the trio waved down a park ranger who happened to be driving by. “He rolls down the window and we yelled, ‘He just got bit by a rattlesnake!'” the photographer shared with BRIDES. “The ranger, obviously not hearing what we said, yelled back, ‘CONGRATULATIONS!’ at the couple in wedding clothes.” Polite, but not exactly helpful.

After further explaining the situation, the park ranger finally called an ambulance to the scene. Usually a limo is a bride and groom’s big day transportation of choice, but these two took it all in stride, making jokes and posing for probably the most unique wedding photos we’ve ever seen!

At the hospital, doctors determined that luckily the snake hadn’t actually injected any venom into Benson’s ankle, and he was cleared to leave — and finally join his reception! “When we came up, everyone was jumping up and down, and cheering and crying,” the groom said of his and his bride’s grand entrance.

A guest even went out to buy rubber toy snakes for the wedding party, remembers the photographer. The hilarious couple even exchanged the traditional garter toss for a fake snake throw!

“We’ll tell our kids someday,” said the groom. “Maybe it’s good luck to get bit by a snake between your wedding and reception.”

See More: 5 Unique Photos to Take on Your Wedding Day

When it comes to marriage, everyone wants to only do it once, of course. But, sometimes the second time is the charm — with the same person! Here, real brides share the crazy stories of how they remarried their exes.

“We remarried 30 years after the split! The two main stressors the first time around were finances, and him hating his job. I was a stay-at-home mom. Now we are both smarter financially and love our professions. We remarried on what would have been our 38th anniversary and I wore my (modified) wedding dress from 1979.” —Karen

“The first time around Patrick and I married after nine months of dating. We recognized there were issues but believed our immense love would be enough. We divorced in year seven when our son was three. I was devastated and didn’t date for several years, eventually marrying a nice guy. (The love of my life was taken so I settled for second best!) My ex remarried too — with both our marriages ending two years later for unrelated chaos. After much hesitation we agreed to try again and went to counseling, marrying 11 months later. That was 2004. The first time we had a traditional church ceremony. Our second marriage was at Opryland Hotel in Nashville – the only ones present were our eight-year-old son and a handful of guests… I joke I’ve been married to Mr. Right, Mr. Wrong and Mr. Right at the wrong time. We both had lessons to learn and some of them had to be exaggerated and learned with other partners so we could see our part. When the same issues show up with different partners, it’s time to ask, ‘Who is the common denominator?'” —Angela

See More: Marriage Advice from Past Exes Who Remarried Each Other

“Four years after our divorce we moved back in together. It took another three years before we decided to remarry — driving from Los Angeles to Vegas and eloping at a tiny chapel. It’s been 10 years and our relationship is better than ever!” —Sheila

“My husband and I were married the first time right before we turned 22, back in 2007. We were so immature (I had never lived anywhere but my parent’s house and was still in college), we didn’t know how to cooperate as a unit — and we both definitely did not want to compromise. We fought constantly; resented each other and often times regretted getting married. We finally called it quits in 2010. Through the years, we toyed with the idea of getting back together. We dated, talked, but never really made a definitive decision on whether to be together. We dated others, he was actually engaged at one point to another woman, but we never really moved on from one another, even though he lived in another country. October 2015, I told him that I was done trying and if he wanted us to ever be together again, he needed to make a statement to show me he was serious. He promised things were different, that he was ready to be with me and that he never wanted to be without me again. Two months later he made a trip to visit me, and proposed in the middle of Disneyland! I said yes on the condition he move back to California from Canada and make a real effort to make things work. We remarried May 21, 2016. Our first wedding was huge — 150 guests. This time we went to the courthouse and had a backyard reception. We both now realize healthy relationships take compromise, having interests outside of each other, and communication is key. —Sara

“Bill and I had a big church wedding. We were 22 and 23 respectively. Twelve years in, his work involved a lot of international travel and we grew apart. When I packed a bag and left, he was shocked. He’d had no idea I was so unhappy. He wanted to try again, and I refused. Following our divorce, we only spoke through lawyers. I had another brief marriage, which ended with my husband’s infidelity. After my sister died from cancer, a friend told Bill, who subsequently showed his love and support in ways he hadn’t when we were together. We’d both come to realize what was really important in life — having someone to love and count on. We married spur of the moment while on vacation in Hawaii. This time it’s for keeps.” —Ellyn

Sherry Amatenstein, LCSW is a New York City-based marriage therapist and author.

At bachelorette parties, your plan is to post up by the pool with a drink in hand all weekend and probably post pics with your other one because girls just wanna have fun, right? But before you start sharing all the bachelorette party shenanigans to the rest of the world, you’ll want to read up on these need-to-know social media etiquette rules that EVERY bachelorette party attendee should follow.

1. Respect the bride’s wishes
Some may want to share every detail and hashtag the party, while others may want to keep it on the down low, notes national etiquette expert Diane Gottsman, owner of The Protocol School of Texas. “Ask the bride if there are any social media sites that are off limits, as she may or may not have a preference on where and how she wants to share.” For example, Snapchat can be a tricky one since the photo/video evidence technically disappears, meaning the bride may never actually see what you post if you don’t send them directly to her, points out international etiquette expert and founder and CEO of Protocol & Etiquette Worldwide, Sharon Schweitzer. “Snapchat videos may also capture many of the moments in real-time that the bachelorette party participants may want kept privately.” If the bride (and everyone else there) isn’t worried about it though, Schweitzer suggests making a Snapchat Geotag for the occasion to celebrate and preserve memories throughout.

2. Don’t tag without permission
Don’t tag anyone in the picture without permission or post a late night snap of them that might make them, er, snap! Why? Well because what may seem like innocent fun to one person could put the other in a compromising position, explains Gottsman. “For instance, sitting in front of a grouping of 10 empty bottles may be completely innocent or send a message of overindulgence. Or, you may really like the candid shot of you by the pool but the bride has her eyes closed or is making a weird face.”

3. Do consider the wording
Think before you post, not just about the photo but the caption too, advises Gottsman. “Avoid negative comments like ‘It’s almost D-day’ or ‘There’s still time to change your mind’ and keep the tone positive and upbeat.”

4. Keep your public posts classy
Remember that the bride’s entire family and her soon-to-be-in-laws will see everything that is posted and that she’s tagged in so it’s best to err on the side of caution and post appropriate pictures of the group early in the evening, says Schweitzer. “Share the playful, late-night photos in less public ways for your bridal party to enjoy. For example, using an iCloud Photo Sharing Stream allows everyone to comment, like and save photos. Creating a Shutterfly Album or a Google Photos Album gives you a private platform as well.”

See More: No Pictures Please! How to Plan an Unplugged (Social Media-Free) Wedding

5. Avoid spamming your friends and followers
Don’t over share multiple photos or subject your entire contact list to bachelorette party spam, stresses Gottsman. “Much like flooding your feed with too many pictures of your children or favorite pet, even mutual friends may only be interested in seeing a few party posts and everything else will start to feel like spam.”

6. Remember who is on your social media list
“Your friends may think the fun and games is entertaining, but your boss or supervisor (they shouldn’t be your FB friend!) may feel your behavior is a bad reflection on their company and judgment to hire you,” warns Gottsman. Also, keep in mind that even deactivated content remains on the Facebook server, informs Schweitzer. “Recruiters and employers routinely ‘vet’ candidates by running their names through social media. In 2010, the Library of Congress started collecting Twitter posts as well.”

7. Be present
This rule is perhaps the MOST important. Social media is great at keeping us all connected, but definitely don’t let it keep you from enjoying the bachelorette party, tells Schweitzer. “Whether you’re the bride herself or a bridesmaid, don’t be on social media all night. Instead, put the phones down, make some memories and get involved in the party.”