Jeffrey Schneider gave Allison Hertzberg a proposal she’d never forget: A flash mob that danced to an original song he wrote at the bar where they first met. And, as if that wasn’t good enough, the guy caught the whole thing on camera.

The couple’s Brooklyn wedding at Liberty Warehouse was equally epic. Not only did they create a bold big day — a vibrant color palette of fuchsia, navy, and mustard yellow set to the background of an industrial space — but Allison was able to pay back Jeff’s big engagement surprise. “I took that same song, rewrote the lyrics, and had our family join in on a flash mob after Jeff and I thanked parents and guests,” the bride says.

But the surprises didn’t stop there: From a choreographed first dance to a photo booth filled with homemade props and fortune teller escort cards, Allison and Jeff’s wedding was nothing if not unique, and we’re glad Michael Falco of Christian Oth Studio was there to capture it for all to enjoy.

The couple’s invitation suite featured iconic New York City symbols, giving the couple’s 175 guests an idea of what would come. Though the couple lives in Brooklyn’s Cobble Hill neighborhood, they chose nearby Red Hook as the home base for their big day events, with an outdoor ceremony space that offered a view of the city’s skyline.

Playing off of their color palette, Allison wore fuchsia pumps beneath her high-low Angel Sanchez wedding dress. “I wanted my shoes to really pop,” the bride says. Her trendy bridal attire stood out, too. Layers of lace and tulle displayed flowerette, sequin, and pearl details. Jeff donned a navy-blue suit that was finished with a fuchsia flower on his lapel. The rest of the groomsmen wore yellow ranunculus boutonnieres.

Allison asked her bridesmaids to rent their dresses in a variety of styles but in the same blue hue. “I know how hard it is to be a bridesmaid and have to be told what to wear and spend a lot of money on a dress you’ll probably never wear again,” the bride says. “So I tried to make it as painless as possible.” Allison also gifted each ‘maid with a brass cuff bracelet with Lucite details, which she made herself, and asked each to carry a bouquet of roses, peonies, ranunculus, and ferns.

While the guys kept things cool in traditional gray suits, they wore blue and yellow ties — plus blue and yellow polka dot socks — for a fun pop of color. “The blue and yellow in the accessories matched Jeff’s attire and our wedding color scheme,” Allison says, “while the gray provided a neutral backdrop for the groom to shine.”

Liberty Warehouse‘s waterside patio was the setting for the couple’s ceremony. At the edge, with views of the Statue of Liberty just beyond, the couple placed a geometric chuppah with an asymmetrical garland of greens and bright blooms.

Allison and Jeff celebrated their Jewish heritage in their programs by displaying their Hebrew names.

After Jeff walked both his parents down the aisle, Allison made an entrance with her mother and father. Another adorable detail? The couple handed out fuchsia yamakas to their guests.

The couple wrote their own vows for the ceremony. “We joked prior to the wedding about whose would be better, funnier, make more people cry, etc.,” says Jeff. “I think Allison won.”

Fortune tellers with guests names’ on the outside and key wedding details on the inside — like their table numbers, the couple’s hashtag, and instructions to save room for dessert and to dance the night away — served as escort cards. Guests found their seats in the warehouse space, which was chosen because it could be a blank but industrial canvas for the couple’s bright decor.

On round and rectangular tables covered in mustard-colored linens, the newlywed placed a mix of brightly colored geometric sculptures accented with flowers and greens. Their cake was a one layer confection, but their real dessert, they say, was a display of doughnuts.

“We extended our love of surprises by taking the traditional first dance to the next level,” Allison says. “We entered the reception after a quick dress change — me into a plunging white jumpsuit, Jeff into a Dirty Dancing-inspired black ensemble — and danced to a mix of our favorite songs. It was fully choreographed, featuring some hip hop, ’80s pop, and good ol’ country.”

Allison and Jeff curated the props for their photo booth, only choosing those that had to do with Brooklyn or New York. “We also printed our faces out really big and put them on sticks for people to use as props,” says Allison.

It should come as no surprise that Allison’s advice for future brides is to follow your heart. But beyond being true to yourselves, she offers this nugget of wisdom: “Make sure to take a step back and really take in everything from the big day. It’s so easy to get lost in all the people and the hubbub. So take time to stare at your new spouse and realize what a big event is taking place. It’s about the couple, not the party.”

Venue: Liberty Warehouse || Bride’s Wedding Dress: Angel Sanchez || Veil: Sew Elegant || Jewelry: Cat Bird; Charm and Chain || Shoes: Barney’s || Hair: Styles on B || Bridesmaids Dresses: Union Station || Groom’s Attire: Paul Smith || Groomsmen Attire: J. Crew || Florist: Michelle Bablo || Invitations: Bella Figura || Music: The Eturnity Band || Videographer: Kiss the Bride Films || Photographer: Christian Oth Studio

Can’t get enough of this couple’s gorgeous venue? Then check out another wedding at Liberty Warehouse in the video below!

Weddings are a celebration of love and commitment, and can also be a celebration of the couple’s religion and culture. One such ceremony that you might not be so familiar with? A Hindu wedding. Whether you’re invited as a guest, attending as a member of the wedding party, or are simply curious, there are a few key components you’ll see time and again. Here, our experts break down a Hindu wedding ceremony for you.

Traditional Hindu weddings fall, generally, along two lines: North Indian Hindu weddings and South Indian Hindu weddings. While both ceremonies are incredibly colorful — and might require taking a few days off of work to attend the full range of festivities — the rituals themselves vary. Here are a few rituals you may see if you’re celebrating a Hindu union.

The Wedding Mandap
The wedding mandap is a temporary structure constructed for the purpose of the marriage ceremony. It may appear on an elevated platform, and is decorated with anything from flowers and greenery to fabric and crystals.

Mehndi
During the mehndi ceremony, henna is used to apply intricate designs to the bride’s hands and feet. The mehndi ceremony usually takes place one day before the marriage will be held, as the application can take hours!

Jai Mala
This is the part of the ceremony during which the bride and groom exchange floral garlands. The exchange of floral garlands is particularly important in South Indian Hindu weddings.

See more: A Vibrant Indian Wedding Outside of Detroit

Kanyadaan
Otherwise known as the moment when the bride’s father gives her away, the father of the bride symbolically places his daughter’s hand into the hand of her fiancé. He may also pour water into the bride’s hand, which will flow through her fingers and into the hand of her groom.

Saptapadi
An important ritual in North Indian Hindu weddings, at this point in the ceremony, the bride and groom have their garments tied together, then take seven steps together (or make seven circles around a ceremonial fire) as they make vows to one another regarding the happiness and success of their marriage.

Sindoor
This is the red-orange powder applied to the part of a woman’s hair, symbolizing that she is married. It is applied to her part for the first time during the marriage ceremony.

Forget the off-the-shoulder neckline — things are about to get seriously asymmetrical. The big silhouette making its way for the coming year is the return of the one-shoulder wedding dress. Equal parts Grecian goddess, and Studio 54 siren, this look can accommodate brides of every style — from bohemian to modern, rustic, and even traditional. Looking to show off those shoulders you sculpted while you were #SweatingfortheWedding? These 7 dresses will have you showing off your deep fashion know how and looking like a goddess all at once.

Target
You buy EVERYTHING else at Target, so why not your wedding dress? This gorgeous chiffon one-shoulder column dress gives us major Greek goddess vibes. It’s simple and classic style makes it ideal for a budget-conscious bride who would never compromise on style — that’s all of us right? (Chiffon one shoulder maxi dress, $79.99, Target)

ASOS
This sleek midi dress screams sophisticated after party, or modern courthouse ceremony followed by a cocktail party. (Stylestalker one shoulder midi dress, $194, Asos)

David’s Bridal
Want to rock the trend but afraid it will mess with your traditional bridal style? This dress keeps things classic with an a-line silhouette and just a hint of lace on the bodice. (One shoulder tulle a-line dress with lace, $599.99, David’s Bridal)

Cushnie et Ochs
We go crazy over Cushnie et Ochs and its super modern designs — especially designer Michelle Ochs’s own gorgeous lace wedding dress. This one-sleeved look is perfect for a city rehearsal dinner, or ideal for the modern bride who wants to show off her It girl status at the reception or after party. Either way it’s perfect! (“Cady” one shoulder stretch dress, $1,650, Cushnie et Ochs available at Net-a-porter)

Elizabeth and James
Minimal, sleek and perfectly a prospos for a beach wedding, modern wedding, or romantic bohemian wedding, this Elizabeth and James gown makes a column style ultra feminine. Just pair with statement earrings and you’re good to go. (“Ellie” one shoulder draped dress, $525, Elizabeth and James available at Shopbop)

Jovani
A structured scuba fabric gown can hold you in in all the right places. The mermaid silhouette and ruffled accent make this otherwise modern gown very romantic.
(One-shoulder ruffled gown, $595, Jovani available at Neiman Marcus)

See more: All the Wedding Dress Trends from the Runway

White by Vera Wang
We can’t decide what we love more about this dress, the delicate lace, the sexy back cutout, or the 3D organza flowers decorate the one shoulder, not to mention that ethereal chapel train. Proof that sexy, romantic, and classic can exist in the same wedding dress (One shoulder lace wedding dress, $859.99, White by Vera Wang available at David’s Bridal)

Is the youngest Kardashian sister engaged again? The diamond ring on Khloe Kardashian’s finger certainly says so. Even though she only started unofficially dating NBA star Tristan Thompson recently, the Keeping Up With the Kardashians star has been spotted flaunting a gigantic diamond ring on her ring finger — yes, that finger.

Kardashian, 32, and her rumored 25-year-old beau were in Miami over the weekend when she was spotted wearing a sparkler on her left hand, according to Hollywood Life. From the looks of it, the ring appears to be a series of diamond eternity bands stacked on top of each other, making for a very bling-ed out left hand.

So, is she married or engaged? The jury is still out, but it does seem like the basketball player and reality queen are hot and heavy for each other at the present time.

A ball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Thomson hails from Canada — and he was partly responsibly for helping the Cavs win their first NBA Championship in 52 years. Since initially getting together a few months ago, they’ve been enjoy each other’s company. “Khloe and Tristan have been seeing each other for a little bit,” a source shared with People. “He’s a really nice, good guy and she seems very happy with him.” A few of the Tristan-Koko spottings to date: a makeout sesh at a Drake concert at the Staples Center in L.A., a comedy show at No Name club a night out at BootSy Bellows nightclub in Beverly Hills, and some kissing that went down on Snapchat. They also took a fun little LDW getaway to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. And the clincher? Momager Kris Jenner gave her seal of approval of Thompson, according to the mag.

So it’s totally possible that it could be something more than boyfriend and girlfriend, but considering that the reality star is still legally married to Lamar Odom (although she filed for divorce in May), she seems like she’s ready for a new commitment — and hunky baller Thompson may be just the ticket. “It’s unclear for now if it’s going to turn [into] anything super serious, but for now they’re having a good time together,” the source said. For now, we’ll have to wait and see what happens — but we can only imagine how her future sister-in-law Blac Chyna will feel about another potential Kardashian wedding on the horizon. It won’t be pretty, just sayin’.

See More: All The Kardashian Weddings in Chronological Order

Khloe Kardashian Flaunts Huge Diamond Ring — Already Engaged To Tristan Thompson? https://t.co/9zlHG4NwSz pic.twitter.com/mvEQxCfEZ0

— Fan Portal (@ThePortalFans) September 21, 2016

A video posted by Qu????n Khl???????? (@khloekstan) on Sep 10, 2016 at 7:52am PDT

@khloekardashian today in New York???? #Khloekstan #kuwtk #kardashians #kimkardashian #kourtneykardashian #khloekardashian #Slay

A photo posted by Qu????n Khl???????? (@khloekstan) on Sep 20, 2016 at 11:07am PDT

Cuties #AboutLastNight???????? #khloekardashian #kourtneykardashian #kimkardashian #miami #Goals

A photo posted by Qu????n Khl???????? (@khloekstan) on Sep 19, 2016 at 11:03am PDT

#KhloStan out & about today in Miami,Florida #khloekardashian #khloekstan #kuwtk #kardashians #kimkardashian #kourtneykardashian #goals????

A photo posted by Qu????n Khl???????? (@khloekstan) on Sep 18, 2016 at 5:30pm PDT

I just wanna be as happy as @krisjenner is in this pic ???????? {???? Khloekardashian} #AboutLastNight #Khloekstan #kiwtk #kardashians #kimkardashian #Kourtneykardashian #Khloekardashian

A photo posted by Qu????n Khl???????? (@khloekstan) on Sep 11, 2016 at 10:51am PDT

No matter how many hours you spend running through your wedding timeline or making sure every detail is perfectly planned and ready to go, there are always things that can go wrong. But you’re not alone in these mishaps — they could happen to anyone. Here are six real brides who decided to share a wedding day disaster they never ever could have planned for.

1. The groom went MIA.
“An hour before the wedding, I checked my phone and saw a text from my brother that said nobody could find the groom. All the guys were getting ready in the same hotel room suite and I guess they just couldn’t find him anywhere. A few guys checked downstairs and my brother called him about six times. I started to panic because I thought that he just decided to leave me at the altar. I was crying so much that all my make-up came off and my face was puffy. Turns out, I learned about 10 minutes before I was supposed to walk down the aisle, he went out for a walk to relax and just didn’t take his phone. We ended up starting the wedding an hour late because I had to put myself back together and calm down.” — Michelle G., 28

2. A close family member wore white.
“I knew that one of my family members would do something to ruin the day for me. My family and the groom’s family just never got along. At all the wedding events we had, there was always some kind of argument or people just not wanting to talk to each other. The wedding morning was going well and I thought for a second that maybe the day would be fine and our families would behave. I was wrong. His sister showed up in a long white dress. It was her way of saying that she didn’t approve our marriage or care about my wedding day or me. I was really upset but decided to ignore her the whole night and not have her in any photos.” — Lacey M., 34

3. The photographer canceled last minute.
“I never thought this could happen, but at 8am the morning of my wedding, my photographer told me he wasn’t coming because he had the flu. I figured he’d have a back-up person he could send but he didn’t. I was hysterical because how could I have a wedding with no one to capture all the amazing moments? Plus, where could I find another photographer on the same day? A good friend of mine asked a photographer buddy of hers to come to the wedding as her last-minute date. He took all our photos and they turned out nice. We got a full refund from the photographer, but it was still upsetting and stressful.” — Claire D., 31

4. The bride’s hair turned green.
“I had this stupid idea to go swimming in the hotel pool the night before the wedding. I just had my hair colored blonde the same day and ended up going under water. I was drunk and just didn’t realize what would or could happen. The next morning, when I showered, I saw my hair was green. Like really, really green. I almost passed out. I ran back to my salon and had my hairstylist fix it while I sat there in tears. The whole thing took so long that my wedding had to start later than we planned.” — Denise P., 27

5. The fire alarm went off.
“This was totally not our fault but somehow the fire alarm went off in the middle of our party. We didn’t do anything to cause this and the venue felt so bad they gave us back $500. All the guests had to stand outside for 30 minutes so the venue could figure out what was going wrong. It was such an interruption but I think it just made for a good story once the wedding was over.” — Hallie J., 29

6. The wedding rings disappeared.
“Note to future brides: never give your wedding bands to a small child with no adult supervision. Our wedding planner gave the rings to our ring bearer, who was only 4. She put them in his hands and then right before the ceremony, when I went to give him a hug, I noticed he had lost them. We spent a good 25 minutes crawling on the floor until we finally found them underneath a chair.” — Becca D., 25

See More: Real Brides Share: My Worst Wedding-Day Freak Out

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.

Destination weddings definitely don’t come cheap. So when you have the opportunity to save, we say take advantage, brides! From reception food and liquor to those wedding favors, here are five things destination wedding planners warn brides not to waste their money on.

1. Unnecessary shipping costs
In some cases you have to bring stuff with you or have them shipped, but the less you can the better, says Ashley Smith, a San Francisco based destination wedding planner and founder of BuzzWorthy Events. “For example, it may be difficult to source things on site, like a nice linen.” She does, however, recommend trying to source a local person to make them for you if you can’t find what you want. The hassle of dealing with customs and shipping fees can cost you thousands. Smith has even had people ship items only for them to get held up in customs and arrive the day after the wedding. Yikes! “Be smart about packing and again only bring items you really need at the wedding.”

2. Oversized favors or welcome bag items
Whatever you do, don’t stuff your guests’ welcome bags with big things they’ll have to accommodate in their luggage on their return trip, warns wedding planner Sandy Malone, owner of Weddings in Vieques. “With luggage fees rising, many will try to get it all into their carry on. That means they can’t even transport liquids like local honey, hot sauce, etc. Give wedding guests consumable gifts (cookies, bug repellant, sunscreen, etc.) that they’ll actually use while they’re at your wedding destination and nothing will go to waste.”

3. Expensive shoes
If your wedding is on the beach or in a grassy area, don’t invest in expensive shoes, advises destination wedding planner Michelle Fage of Paradise Planning. “So many times I’ve had clients with gorgeous shoes that look great in photos but they’re not safe to walk the aisle in,” she notes. So keep your comfort and safety in mind when deciding on your wedding shoes.

See More: 9 Destination Wedding Planning Tips You Haven’t Heard Before

4. Importing food and liquor
Oftentimes, it’s a disaster just waiting to happen. Bottles of expensive liquor have been broken in transit, and food can perish, points out Smith. Rely on what is there, even if your location is not up to your standards, she suggests. “It’s part of the vibe and it will be okay!” Malone totally agrees. “If you’re getting married in Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands, for example, serve Caribbean lobster, not something imported from Maine. Not only are locally sourced proteins and vegetables friendlier to your budget, they’ll taste fresher than something that’s taken two or three planes to get to your destination.” Truth!

5. Cutesy extras
Be flexible, smart and forego some of those “cute” d&#233cor items and unnecessary extras. Make sure everything at the wedding has a purpose or will be useful at the event, instructs Smith. “For instance, having a million favors (or ones guests will probably toss anyway) might not be the smartest move. Instead prep a useful welcome bag with local items for your guests on arrival.” And remember: anything you ship, bring or buy should add something to the big day. If it doesn’t? It’s not worth the cost, both money and time.

L’amore was definitely in the air this past weekend when the first same-sex civil union took place in the city of Rome. Francisco Raffaele Villarusso and Luca de Sario tied the knot in a historic wedding (talk about added pre-nuptial pressure!), officiated by the Mayor of Rome, herself.

Dressed in dapper purple top hats and matching ruffled cumberbunds, there was no taking your eyes off of Villarusso and de Sario, who were declared husband and husband by the newly-elected Mayor Virginia Raggi. And their “I do’s” were certainly a longtime coming for this darling duo. (Same-sex civil unions were finally legalized in Rome just three months ago, after all!) With their love not recognized at home, the couple originally packed up and moved to Spain, with the intention of tying the knot there. But with the recent passage of the Civil Union bill, they ditched the destination wedding for an at-home ceremony. “We had already decided do it and we moved abroad, but when the bill was approved we packed up all our things and came back to Italy,” Villarusso explained to EuroNews.

With this summer’s legalization of same-sex unions, Italy became the last country of the European Union to legally recognize LGBT relationships — but life is still not all sunshine and rainbows (or rainbow flags for that matter) for couples like Villarusso and de Sario. The bill’s controversial clause to ease the process of adoption for LGBT couples ended up being dropped after it faced fierce opposition from the Catholic church and protests across the region. And name changes, tax, and identity problems still exist for same-sex couples who call the city of the Roman Catholic church home.

See More: How to Find the Perfect First Dance Song for a Same-Sex Wedding

Still, Villarusso and de Sario’s “I do’s” (seen in the video below) are reason to celebrate! With their long-awaitted first wedded kiss, the couple welcomed a new strive for equality in Rome — and that couldn’t be more bellissimo!

Over the years, it’s become far more common for couples to live together before getting married. A Census Bureau report from last year found that between 1967 and 2014, the share of Americans over 18 living with an unmarried partner went from virtually zero to nearly one tenth, while the proportion of those living with a spouse declined from around 70 to 50 percent. But according to a new study in Demography, living together is less likely to lead to marriage than it used to be.

The researchers analyzed National Study of Family Growth data from 1995 and 2006-10 to illuminate how exactly couples’ living patterns and relationships have changed throughout the years. They found that couples who live together are more likely to break up and less likely to walk down the aisle now than they were in the 1990s.

The reason why becomes clearer when the data is broken down by population. The trend, it turns out, only applies to those without a college education. And that’s not because those with lower education levels don’t want to get hitched. They actually hope to get married just as much as anyone else. Rather, couples may be breaking up and refraining from marriage due to financial obstacles, Kelly Raley, a University of Texas sociology professor who coauthored the study, told us.

“One likely set of issues is low wages and unstable employment, more common for people without a college degree,” she said. While some policymakers want to increase marriage rates by encouraging people to get married, she explained, that probably won’t work if couples can’t even afford it.
This also may explain why fewer millennials are getting married overall. In a Pew Research survey, 27 percent of millennials said they hadn’t gotten married yet because they weren’t financially stable enough. So the decrease in the marriage rate may have less to do with commitment-phobia than stereotype might have it — and more to do with the fact that millennials are making less money than any other generation.

See More:
More Young Adults Are Living With Their Parents Than Significant Others
How Do You Know When You Are Ready to Get Married? This Couple Created a Test to Find Out
Experts Explain Why a Big Age Gap Can Become a Deal-Breaker
Can Everyone Please Stop Freaking Out That My Husband and I Don’t Live Together?

This article originally appeared on Glamour.

Let us take a moment to grieve: Ryan Gosling is a single man no more. The beautiful man married his equally beautiful counterpart and mother of his children, Eva Mendes, earlier this year, having kept it a secret for quite some time.

The not-even-ever-engaged couple, who welcomed their second child together in May, reportedly married in a private wedding ceremony in front of a small group of family and friends, Us Weekly reports.

“Eva and Ryan have always felt like a married couple,” a source close to Mendes told Us Weekly. “They are infatuated with each other.”

The actors started dating in 2011 while filming the 2012 drama, The Place Beyond the Pines. The duo welcomed their first daughter, Esmeralda Amada Gosling, in September 2014 after keeping Mendes’ pregnancy a secret for 7-months. Mendes’ second pregnancy was kept just as secretive as her first, with news of the pregnancy breaking just a month before Mendes gave birth to their second daughter, Amada Lee Gosling.

Yes, the first name of Baby No.2 shares the same moniker as the middle name of Baby No.1. But Mendes and Gosling have a good reason for the recycled moniker. “Amada was my grandmother’s name,” the actress explained back in 2014. “It means ‘beloved’ in Spanish.”

“I’m a lucky man,” Gosling, 35, gushed to Us Weekly of Mendes, 42, and their daughters, Esmeralda, 2, and Amada, 4 months, at the Toronto International Film Festival last week. “We couldn’t be happier. They are so sweet.”

“They’ve settled so well into their new family of three,” an insider told E! News shortly after Amada Lee’s birth. “Ryan is very hands on and has been taking the baby after the early morning feed so Eva can sleep in a bit. He sings the baby songs — they are both madly in love with this child.”

See more: The 23 Most Shocking Secret Celebrity Weddings

Engagement rumors have been swirling around this stunning duo for quite some time. Mendes really took us for a loop when she was spotted sporting a gorg emerald and gold ring, leading us to speculate that her main man may have popped the question. But, alas, she was wearing it on the wrong hand.

Now that we’re trolling her Instagram looking for evidence of their secret marriage, we spy something pretty telling… The actress posted an Instagram five weeks ago featuring her clothing line for New York & Company; in the photo Mendes is posing against a wall in a navy green trench coat and white ensemble beneath. On her left hand we spy with our little eyes a bit of a sparkle on her ring finger. Possibly her wedding ring? These two are so sneaky!

Not sure what the side eye is all about. But I'm sure about our August collection being the best so far. Out now. Hope you vibe it as much as I do. ?????? @nyandcompany #evamendesnyc

A photo posted by Eva Mendes (@evamendes) on Aug 10, 2016 at 11:32am PDT