In addition to helping couples prepare for their lives together, sending a wedding gift is a great way to congratulate the newlyweds on the exciting step they’ve taken in their lives together. But what if your friends have opted to skip the big to-do of a wedding? Here’s what our experts think about sending a wedding gift to a couple that has eloped.

While couples planning to elope often don’t put together wedding registries, sending them a gift is a great way to share your excitement once the news breaks that they’ve tied the knot. If you’d like to surprise them with a present, go the more traditional route. A great bottle of champagne, a gift certificate to their favorite restaurant, or a beautiful frame to hang in their home are all great ways to honor the occasion.

You could also ask them if there’s something in particular they’ve been saving up for, whether it’s a new gadget for their kitchen or a roomier tent to take on their next camping excursion. Sure, it won’t be a surprise, but you’ll be happy to know you’ve gotten them something they’ll love — and use!

Cash gifts are always appreciated, and are a great fall-back if you aren’t sure what to get. No matter the reason they’ve eloped, any couple would be happy to have money to spend on dinner during their honeymoon or an album of photos from their private ceremony that they can show to family and friends.

Of course, some couples who elope do decide to put together a registry, especially if they’re planning to have a reception with family and friends at a later date. In that case, their registry information will be shared by family members or on their wedding website, so keep an eye out for that link!

See more: The Elopement Essentials: 7 Things Every Bride Forgets

Love pizza as much as your fiancé? Us too. Turns out, there are super easy and fun ways to serve pizza at your wedding reception — regardless of how casual or formal your wedding might be. From the cocktail hour to a late-night snack, from passed appetizers to a make-your-own-pizza station, here are six creative ways to serve the beloved grub at your wedding.

1. DIY Pizza Bar
Have your guests get their hands dirty with a DIY pizza bar. Let them pick toppings, cheese, and even the sauce. You can do this as the main dish or just as an ongoing option throughout the night.

2. Late-Night Snack
As the party goes on and guests sweat off some calories on the dance floor, offer a late-night snack of pizza slices. Either order in from your favorite local pizza place or coordinate with the venue to have them bring out some pies at midnight.

3. Passed App
Who says you need to have trays of fancy hors dourves during cocktail hour? Instead of formal finger food, offer different kinds of pizza squares as an appetizer option.

4. Dessert
Because everything tastes better in chocolate, right? Forgo the mozzarella and tomato sauce and serve up a lip-smacking dessert pizza — a chocolate base, some strawberry jam, slices of bananas… yum! Feel free to think super outside-the-box with your caterer on this sweet treat.

5. To Go
Wondering what to box up and give your guests as a take home party favor? Give them something they can munch on during their commute home or back in their hotel rooms. Fill up to-go boxes with mini slices or squares of pizza and have the venue keep them warm until the night ends.

6. Sub for Dinner Rolls
Instead of serving bread and butter with the salad course, put a cheesy flatbread on the table, cut into squares for your guests to share. Trust us: Nobody will complain about starting their night off with a good slice.

See More: This Couple Threw a Pizza Party in Brooklyn for Their Fall 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.

How long did you date your partner before he or she popped the question? It may have only been months, or perhaps it felt like an eternity. Here, nine couples reveal how long they waited and why.

Five months: “We were in love and wanted to start the rest of our lives together. We are both really happy with how fast everything happened. We got married less than six months later than our engagement. We are both in our 30s, and I think once you reach a certain age, you know what you want and you know what you need and when you find it, you hold on tight.” — Mara

Nine months: “I remember thinking at three months that I would totally marry him right now. But then we got to know each other even more, we got into some necessary arguments, and our love grew even stronger. I think it happened at the right time, though we would’ve loved to have been able to move in together right away instead of waiting a few months to buy a house together. This was both of our second marriages, so we knew what we wanted and did not want in a partner, no need to wait years. And as a wedding planner, I was able to plan our wedding in three-and-a-half months. It all just made sense for us.” — Amanda

11 months: “We dated long distance for 11 months before getting engaged. The thing that factored most was waiting for my head to catch up with my heart. We knew that we fit each other very well within the first two weeks of knowing each other. It took some time for my head that was saying, ‘this can never work — we don’t even live in the same country,’ to catch up with my heart that knew he was the one for me. I think the timing was perfect. Although, I was worried that other people would think it was too fast, especially because we were dating long distance — but ultimately, it doesn’t matter what other people think. When you know, you know.” — Jessica

Two years: “A lot of timing fell to my fiance once we decided we were going to get married. My fiance wanted time for it to feel special, be able to plan his proposal, and find a ring he thought fit my personality. We also waited to get engaged until after we moved in together and had tons of conversations about what our family’s life would look like afterwards including living, work, location, religion, traditions, and more. At the time, I wished it would have happened sooner. I know my fiance felt I was being a bit pushy, but I knew we were going to get married, so it felt unnecessary to wait any longer for an inevitability.” — Tara

See More: 9 Signs You’re Ready for Married Life

Three years: “We move every three months to a year for my partner’s career, and three years allowed us to really test out the waters to ensure this lifestyle was a good fit for both our relationship and our future together. If I were able to go back, I would not change the time frame. The three-year time span gave us enough experience with one another to really learn each other’s life dances. Meaning, three years of dating also allowed us to build a strong awareness of our expectations of one another, and how we view and interact with each other and the world.” — Jackie

Five years: “I couldn’t afford to save for a ring for nearly two years. I was ready to propose after three years. However, I lost my job around the time I wanted to propose and spent my free time finishing school. After graduating, it took me nearly a year-and-a-half to find another job. If I had to do it over again, I may have used a less expensive ring and extended the engagement.” — Kevin

10 years: “As the child of divorced parents, it was important to me that my fiance and I had our careers more or less established, had some financial security, and could give our children happy, healthy and financially secure homes. In retrospect, it is possible we were overly cautious in getting engaged in our pursuit of perfect timing. If I could go back I think we would probably have waited a shorter amount of time.” — Krystle

10 years: “We started dating in high school and continued through college, so there were always a lot of other things going on. Both of us valued our relationship, but wanted to accomplish other goals before making getting married a priority. Once we both graduated from college and got started in our careers, my husband proposed. I believe that you shouldn’t get engaged until you are truly serious about getting married. To me, you date to get to know each other and then you get engaged to plan your marriage.” — Meredith

11 years: “I had issues with [my now-wife] being older than me. The age thing really factored into my waiting forever. Looking back, this was foolish on my part. Sure, [my wife] is older than I am, but she is so deeply grounded and down to earth. If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to marry her after we took a wonderful vacation on Kauai when we were first dating. We were madly in love after Kauai, but I was scared. I wish I had been a smarter cat and married my girl earlier.” — Bob

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Looks like Derek Jeter just pulled off the most important home run of his career — saying “I do” to his stunning sweetheart, Hannah Davis! The too-perfect pair just tied the knot in a small and intimate wedding taking place at the beautiful Meadowood Napa Valley Resort in St. Helena, California. And guys, if you thought the Sports Illustrated swimsuit model looked jaw-dropping in a bikini, just wait until you see her in a wedding dress!

We’ve been waiting for this “I do” day between the baseball legend and the supermiodel since last November when Jeter finally confirmed his engagement to Davis through an F word (that’s fiancée, of course!) slip-up in a blog post he penned about his life at home with Davis and their shared pooch. “He was a Christmas gift last year from my fiancée,” Jeter wrote. Davis, on the other hand, also grabbed our attention with the sparkly engagement bauble on her finger — a four to six carat round-cut diamond, that was likely to cost somewhere between $150,000 and $200,000. Since then, we’ve been following the cute couple’s wedding plans closely. This is like the World Series of nupitals, after all!

The big day finally arrived on Saturday July 9, according to Us Weekly, where Davis donned a custom confection by Vera Wang for the alfresco occasion. The bridal gown featured a high neck design and Davis completed the luxe look with a tulle veil, her blonde locks tied up on a classic chignon. Meanwhile, Jeter exchanged his Yankees uniform and baseball cleats for a traditional black suit.

At their early evening ceremony — that reportedly lasted a short and sweet 20 minutes — Davis carried a bouquet of lush white blooms down the aisle. “After the ceremony, they walked around holding hands and looking ecstatic,” a sourced shared.

The newlyweds managed to keep their reception guest list short, says Page Six, with less than 100 friends and family making the cut. A few of the groom’s former fellow Yankees were in attendance, like Jorge Posada, Andruw Jones and Tino Martinez.

Next up? The honeymoon, of course! Wonder what stunning swimsuits this Sports Illustrated model packed for her post-wedding getaway…

Today's cover: Derek Jeter marries Hannah Davis https://t.co/TIfceK5uIL pic.twitter.com/1uniRnhId4

— New York Post (@nypost) July 10, 2016

Photos from Derek Jeter and Hannah Davis' wedding ???????? https://t.co/1AJ4ej51dL pic.twitter.com/rq3LzfPNvC

— Page Six (@PageSix) July 10, 2016

A photo posted by Derek Jeter Diehard Fan ??Y (@derek_s_jeter) on Jul 10, 2016 at 3:36am PDT

See More: Memorable Vows from the Best TV and Movie Weddings

For those brides lucky enough to be planning a beautiful beach wedding, one crucial aspect of your wedding day look will be the right shoes. After all, the sands of Malibu may not be easy to navigate in those four-inch heels! Thankfully, these L.A. stores stock posh, bridal-perfect flat sandals that will keep you both comfortable and elegant while reciting your vows next to the ocean.

Barneys
Barneys New York in Beverly Hills offers, without a doubt, the most variety when shopping for upscale footwear. While they do carry the well-known heavy-hitters like Louboutin and St. Laurent, Barneys is also home to smaller, harder-to-find designers like Sarah Flint and Loeffler Randall, both of whom make strappy flat sandals that would enhance any wedding gown. Loeffler even adds tiny stars and tassels to some of their summer footwear for a touch of whimsy on your big day.

Elyse Walker
This edgy Pacific Palisades boutique is home to all the cool-girl designers, which doesn’t stop at ready-to-wear. The store also features a fresh mix of footwear you won’t find at your average department store, with everything from Ancient Greek minimalist lace-ups to tastefully bedazzled sandals from Bionda Castana. Regardless of the style, all of your guests will be coveting your bridal shoe choice if it’s from Elyse Walker.

See More: On the Hunt for the Perfect Veil? Find Your Perfect Head Accessory in LA Here!

Vamp
While the name may suggest over-the-top sexy, Vamp’s inventory is anything but. This Los Feliz shoe boutique is a haven for styles of the calmer and quieter bridal style. The beautifully crafted choices from independent designers like Ariana Bohling and Anne Thomas are best for brides who are seeking something simpler — yet still elegant — with a tinge of hipster chic mixed in.

Heist
Heist’s shoe selection seems to have been created specifically for the no-frills beach bride. The store’s selection is definitely low-key, but still impeccably made and incredibly flattering. Flat leather sandals from K Jacques come in bridal-appropriate hues like bronze and gold while still maintaining a casual feel. And if you’re the type of bride who wants to venture into other styles of sand-appropriate footwear, you can shop espadrilles and even sneakers here too.

Jimmy Choo
If you want your wedding sandals to emanate a glamorous, decidedly bridal feel, Jimmy Choo is where you’ll locate that perfect sparkly pair. While the name may evoke images of sky-high, impossible-to-wear stilettos, Jimmy Choo actually designs ornate flat shoes too, including glimmering slides and metallic strappy sandals. They’re not for the budget-conscious per se, but will definitely make a wow statement next to the sunset and surf.

Still not sure where to buy your wedding accessories locally? Search more LA vendors here!

Congratulations are in order for fashion designer Christian Siriano (who recently launched his first bridal collection with Kleinfeld) and his new husband, musician Brad Walsh! The pair tied the knot last night at their charming summer home in Danbury, Connecticut, and gave BRIDES an exclusive look at their day — dishing on everything from their attire and the décor to the A-list guest list (and wedding party!) and how it feels to finally be married.

“It went off without a hitch,” the newlyweds said of their big night. “We both managed to eat a lot of food, thankfully, as the advice from all of our married friends was to make it a point to eat otherwise you never will.”

Ready to see how their summer nuptials came together? Then read on to see their entire day, as captured by Victor Castro and shared exclusively with BRIDES.

When it came time to pick their wedding venue, Christian and Brad looked no further than their own backyard. “We wanted to have the wedding at our vacation house in Connecticut because it’s got plenty of serene outdoor space and it’s our favorite sanctuary away from the noise of the city,” the couple says. “Many of our friends and family members have been to the house as guests so it’s a comfortable place for everyone to have a good time.”

The style-savvy groom’s turned to designer David Hart for their wedding attire. “David does menswear so well and he is a friend, so we set up an appointment for custom suits!” Christian and Brad share. Their all-black ceremony attire was a purposeful decision, as they asked their wedding party and entire guest list to come dressed in white.

As for their wedding party, Christian designed each of the couple’s 12 attendant’s custom white gowns. On Brad’s side stood his cousin Nicole Palladino, performance artist Anna Hafner, singer Alicia Solombrino, blogger Nicolette Mason, and friends Lisa Graham and Geneva Simms. Christian was joined at the head of the aisle by sister Shannon Greenwood, models Anna Schilling and Jasmine Poulton, friends Elizabeth Ferguson and Sarah Roffee, and actress Danielle Brooks.

“Since there was no bride, we wanted our best friends to wear white gowns, all from Christian Siriano, of course, as they stood by our sides during the ceremony,” the groom’s say. “Then it became a fun idea for the whole event to be a white wedding.”

White flowers were everywhere at the couple’s ceremony, which was officiated by actress Kristen Johnston. “She’s a close friend and a beautiful writer, and she knows us both so well, so it made sense for her to officiate,” the couple shares. “She got ordained just for us!” The ceremony was capped off by a awe-inspiring performance by Danielle Brooks. “We were both bowled over by Danielle Brooks performance — the entire wedding party was in tears before the ceremony even started,” the couple added.

The duo even wrote their own vows but kept the ceremony short and sweet, opting to exchange longer letters in private.

In addition to their star-studded wedding party, Christian and Brad celebrated their day with A-listers like Alicia Silverstone, Kelly Osbourne, Christina Hendricks, and Veep’s Anna Chlumsky.

“Our biggest unexpected challenge was planning for rain,” the couple says. “We had four large tents on standby in case the weather wasn’t in our favor.” Another tricky pre-wedding task? Covering the property’s pool to make room for a dance floor! “It was a challenge, but totally worth it.”

The couple’s favorite moment of the night? “Both of our mothers hit the dance floor for over 3 hours and never left,” the happy newlyweds shared.

Guests gathered at tables decorated with blue toile printed linens and mix-and-match vintage place settings. White floral centerpieces were twinkling with candle light, designed by Diane Gaudett. Christian and Brad made sure their wedding menu had something for everyone. “Our guests had a lot of dietary restrictions,” the grooms explained. “We worked with our longtime caterer, Bonnie Altholz from Certe, and decided to serve one of everything.” That meant steak, chicken, fish, shellfish, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options were all available for guests to sample.

Dessert followed the same suit, with a delicious wedding cake baked by Bonnie and an array of sweets to appease even the pickiest of palettes.

No wedding is complete without a champagne toast, and Christian and Brad made sure there was plenty of Veuve Clicquot on hand for their friends and family to enjoy.

“We plan several large events every year, including fashion shows and parties, which involve invitations, seating charts, catering, custom clothing, and more, so planning a wedding was probably a little easier for us than most people,” the couple says. “But that doesn’t mean it’s easy!”

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Private Residence || Ceremony Attire: David Hart || Reception Attire & Wedding Party Attire: Christian Siriano || Floral Design: Diane Gaudett || Caterer: Bonnie Altholz of Certé New York || Music: Ultragrrrl; KarenPlusOne || Rental Furniture: NY Lounge Decor || Tents: All Season Party Rentals || Videographer: McKenzie Miller Films || Photographers: Victor Castro || Second Shooter: Sara Kerens

While it’s not possible to have lost loved ones physically present at your wedding, it is possible to have them there, in some small way. Here at BRIDES, we see how real brides (like you!) honor their late relatives and friends in the most heartwarming of ways—always intimate, personal, and in some way fitting to the individual’s personality.

So we asked our editors to weigh in with their own unique ideas, from what they did at their weddings to sweet sentiments they’ve seen their friends and relatives do on their big days. Here, nine creative ways to honor lost loved ones on your wedding day.

“My friend honored her mom, whose name was Violet, by placing a bouquet of violets in the seat where she would’ve been.” -Jamie C.

“My cousin played our grandmother’s favorite song at her reception and the whole family got up and danced to it.” -Erin B.

“My friend and her husband served his grandmother’s famous chocolate pie as dessert, and then gave away the ingredients and recipe as their favor.” -Mary F.

“My husband and I did a table with photos and candles in memory of our deceased relatives and held a moment (probably more like 15 seconds!) of silence during our ceremony in their honor.” -Jennifer T.

“My boyfriend’s sister wore her grandmother’s engagement ring and great grandmother’s bracelet.” -Gabriella R.

“My sister lit a single candle for each immediate family member who had passed and asked the officiant to explain the symbolism.” -Samantha K.

“My friend cut a heart out of her dad’s favorite dress shirt and had it sewn on the inside of her dress.” -Michela H.

“I had a photo of my aunt engraved on a gold heart and hung it from my bouquet. My husband and I also wrote a special note to her and his late father in the program so guests could read it during the ceremony.” -Anastasia C.

“My friend and her husband exchanged vows in front of a beautiful wooden cross that was made from a tree at her late uncle’s house.” -Anna O.

See More: 7 Ways to Honor Deceased Loved Ones Without Bringing Your Wedding Down

When you’re walking down the aisle for the second time, you may decide to do things a little differently than you did the first time around, from how you choose to celebrate to whether you want to wear white. The same goes for pre-wedding celebrations like the bridal shower and bachelorette party. If this is your second time saying “I do,” can you still mark your upcoming marriage with these parties? Here’s a little advice from our experts.

There’s nothing stopping a second-time bride from having a bridal shower or bachelorette party, though she may decide to address the celebrations a little differently this time around.

Traditionally, a bridal shower is an opportunity for guests to gift the bride with items she’ll need to set up a new home. Most brides getting remarried already have stocked kitchens and well-equipped homes, so the usual suspects may not be the best fit. Instead, opt for a bridal shower that’s more of an activity, like a cooking class or an afternoon of wine tasting and pairings. You could put together a list of new cookbooks you’d love, or choose your favorites out of the wines you all taste and ask guests to purchase a bottle or two as a gift for you to share with your new spouse over the coming years. You could also opt to skip shower gifts completely, and instead just focus on the experience.

The same goes for the bachelorette party. Whether you’re a little older and have outgrown a bachelorette party’s crazy late nights or would rather plan something that’s a far cry from the party you had the first time around, now’s a time to get creative. Consider an afternoon at the spa followed by an indulgent dinner or a weekend on the beach. The two of you could also have a joint bachelor-bachelorette party, planning a fun evening of cocktails and music for your friends to celebrate your upcoming wedding.

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

There’s no denying we love seriously pretty wedding décor, but beyond the gorgeous flowers and unique table settings, we know the ceremony is really the heart of the wedding. So when we find a couple that has exchanged really moving vows, we’re entirely smitten. While every bride and groom on our real weddings video channel tied the knot in a ceremony that was both moving and personal, we knew we found something really special in Lauren and Jon’s emotional Texas celebration.

Luckily for us, Brad & Monica Wedding Films joined this happy bride and groom for their big day, capturing every sentimental moment from their personalized vows. So what made their wedding exchange so special? For starters, their officiant totally knocked it out of the park, deftly guiding these emotional moments with humor and wit. Both even more important than her lead was the Lauren and Jon’s touching exchanges, which were packed with heartfelt promises and hopes for a bright future together.

See More: The Top 23 Wedding Trends for Summer 2016

Some favorite lines included mutual proclamations that each “eagerly anticipated getting to know who the other will become, and falling in love a little more every day.” Not reaching for the tissues yet? Just wait! The couple’s family members offered some of the sweetest reception toasts.

But this wedding wasn’t just about happy tears; it was also about having a whole lot of fun! Lauren and Jon’s tented dance floor was packed with guests young and old all throughout the night. And when the party finally shut down, we’re sure everyone was still feeling the love.

We may have been preparing our senses for the sure-to-be lavish nuptials between Blac Chyna and Rob Kardashian, but there might be another Kardashian wedding in the works, as well! Two rounds of “I do’s” amongst the Kardashian clan? Do you think you can even handle all this extravagance?! So which member of the famous family might be tying the knot? The youngest of the clan, Kylie Jenner, who, after a reunion with her longtime love Tyga, was recently spotted with mysterious diamond ring on her finger. But if that wasn’t enough to get the engagement rumors swirling, the reality star has also been posting some cute couple photos on social media, complete with captions that are rather… suspicious.

Um, Kylie, what is that you’ve got there on finger? Because if you ask us, that definitely looks like a to-be-wedded sparkler to us! (We are the engagement rings experts, after all…) In a photo Jenner posted to her Instagram page on Friday (see below), the makeup mogul can be seen leaning into a car window — with a big fat sparkler taking up residence on her left ring finger. Yup, that finger…

If you’re still not convinced that the 18-year-old is hearing wedding bells, just take a look at the caption Jenner wrote on one of her recent social media photos of her and her boyfriend, Tyga. In the pic, Jenner is cuddled up with her sweetheart at an L.A. party on Thursday. “Mr & Mrs,” Jenner captioned the sweet snapshot. Um, what?! This also isn’t the first time Jenner referred to Tyga as her hubby. On her Snapchat last month, she actually called the rapper her “husband.” Yup…

So is the on-again-off-again couple heading down the aisle? It’s hard to tell, as this isn’t the first time Jenner has teased us with a supersized sparkler. Last year, she flaunted another huge diamond ring that Tyga gifted her that caught our attention. But it turns out that the impressive piece of jewelry was simply a Christmas gift. A very, very nice Christmas gift…

But our fingers are certainly crossed that this particular sparkler is in fact an engagement ring. We’re assuming that Tyga and Blac Chyna’s tiny tot has already snagged the ring bearer role at the latter’s wedding. Maybe he’ll be pulling double duty at daddy’s?

A photo posted by King Kylie (@kyliejenner) on Jul 8, 2016 at 4:56pm PDT

See More: Memorable Vows from the Best TV and Movie Weddings