She has a lot of favorite things — but is marriage one of them? Rumors were flying this weekend that Oprah Winfrey and longtime partner Stedman Graham got married this weekend. But when you get married to someone, it’s a big deal; usually, you remember what went down — and according to the billionaire, she wasn’t there for it.

Apparently, these wedding rumors graced the cover of STAR magazine, according to Today, which included a guest list and other details of the rumored nuptials. The 62-year-old media mogul put the buzz to rest pretty quickly with her tweets. “6 people who know me well have called today congratulating me or surprised they weren’t invited to my wedding,” she tweeted. “IT’s NOT TRUE!!” A newlywed — let alone newly-engaged bride — would be a little more excited to be congratulated about tying the knot, so we’re assuming that her tweet is her bond.

On the subject of marriage, however, the Weight Watchers spokeswoman stands strong on not wanting to get married. In 2015, The Huffington Post reported that while there was a time she “wanted Stedman to marry me,” she is totally fine going on as partners rather than husband and wife.

See More: 9 Surprising Celebrity Marriage Secrets

Stedman, 65, who is an author and businessman, actually *did* propose 20 years ago, but Winfrey explained that she said yes — but a book deal caused them to put it on hold. “We have never discussed it again,” she said. And she seems true to her words, as her career comes first in her eyes.

“What I realized is, I don’t want to be married,” Winfrey said. “Because I could not have the life that I created for myself — I knew that I couldn’t do it.”‘ And since the wedding appears to not have gone down — and will not be happening any time soon — it’s safe to say that after 30 years in their relationship, the status quo seems to be working quite well for the couple.

@Oprah it was in star magazine!!!!! ???? pic.twitter.com/EC6J3CMVP4

— Malika Garrett (@MalikaGhosh) September 5, 2016

Stepping out with my Valentine of almost 30 yrs! #iovinewedding

A photo posted by Oprah (@oprah) on Feb 14, 2016 at 5:37pm PST

I've seen every Muhammed Ali fight multiple times. Stedman has played the tapes in a loop over and over for years. Ali! Ali! .. a true Hero , Legend, Champion.#ripmuhammadali

A photo posted by Oprah (@oprah) on Jun 4, 2016 at 7:33am PDT

One of the most exciting wedding tasks you’ll be eager to do is ask the true members of your “squad” if they are willing to temporarily upgrade their BFF status to bridesmaid status. It can be the role of a lifetime for your nearest and dearest friends especially if you are prepared with the right kind of details to hand over to them after they say yes. So before you go picking and choosing who you want your bridesmaids to be, here are 5 things you should have ready.

1. Buy a ‘Welcome to the Bridal Party’ gift.
Prepare a packaged gift to send out to your bridesmaids popping the official question and getting them excited and prepared for what’s to come. You can make these gifts personalized and different for each bridesmaid and include a hand-written note with each gift.

2. Create a pre-wedding timeline.
One of the definite questions your bridesmaids will ask you are the requirements and dates of all of your pre-wedding and wedding festivities. They will want to know when your bachelorette party, bridal shower, and any other major pre-wedding events are so that they can prepare to take off work and book travel plans.

3. Know the approximate cost of the dresses and wedding details.
Most likely your gal pals will ask the inevitable question: ‘How much will this cost me?’ Even if you’re not sure, give them a range that you promise it won’t exceed.

4. Have an answer for the friends that didn’t make the cut.
Since you can’t have every close friend be a bridesmaid, you’ll want to have an answer and small explanation for those who didn’t make the cut. Contacting them either once you’ve made your decision — or shortly after you pop the question to your ‘maids — to explain is ideal. That way, there won’t be any confusion or angst about who didn’t make the cut.

5. Know the date and location of your big day.
Before you pick your bridesmaids, be sure to know a general timeline of your wedding date and, if possible, location. This will help your bridesmaids be prepared for potential traveling and have a good grasp on the details of your big day.

See More: 5 Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing Your Bridesmaids

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.

What tops the list of a bride’s worst wedding nightmares? Too much tequila (or the now-way-too-intoxicated guest/bridesmaid/groom’s drink of the choice) and wedding photos you’d rather not have framed on the mantle. Combine those two together and you’ve got a big day disaster horrific enough to make a bride scream… or sue. A San Francisco newlywed is legit suing her wedding videographer for capturing the most humiliating moment of her big day — and then uploading the offending clip to YouTube. That’s enough to get a girl sweating in her gorgeous gown…

The bride, who is choosing to go by the moniker Jane Doe (you know it’s really bad when you don’t even want to use your real name…), is bringing her wedding videographer to court after the footage of her very out-of-order groom ended up on Youtube. The clip features a big day disaster for the books — the groom sloppily trying to remove his bride’s garter while heavily intoxicated and continuously falling on his new wife. Oops…

The moment left Jane Doe in tears, but her and her hubby quickly moved past it, according to NBC. “My husband joked that we’d renew our vows in a couple years and he’d make it up to me,” she said. But when the sad scene — clips of which are featured in the news story below — resurfaced on the Internet last summer, the bride was humiliated all over again. “Within a few days it was up to like two million views,” remembers Jane Doe.

And thus, this bride is hiking up her wedding dress and heading to federal court, suing the videography company for “intentional infliction of emotional distress.” But she might have an uphill battle ahead of her due to a copyright technicality not many brides realize exist.

“Any photograph by any photographer is considered a creative work that belongs to the author — the photographer — and they have full rights,” University of San Francisco law professor Robert Talbot explained to NBC. That means that even though you paid your wedding photographer and videographer to capture all those big day moments, they’re the ones who actually own those images.

So what’s a bride to do in order to not have an embarrassing nuptial slip-up go viral? First of all, read the fine print of all your vendor contracts. “You can negotiate,” says Talbot. “And you can try to get the release of the copyright to you. That way, you would be the owner of the copyright.”

Or you know, cut your groom off after his first few pre-ceremony shots…

See More: How to Not Get (Too) Drunk at Your Wedding Reception

Bloating is uncomfortable. It’s also complicated, because there’s no one thing that causes it. You could be bloated for a number of reasons. Maybe it’s because you’re lactose intolerant and ate a dairy product, or because you spent the last four hours chewing gum and accidentally swallowed too much air, or even because you went a little too hard on some salty food — seriously, this list goes on for a while.

“Bloating has become a bit of a slang word,” Lisa Ganjhu, D.O., gastroenterologist and clinical associate professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, tells SELF. She explains that “in the gastrointestinal world, bloating is just a lot of trapped gas in your stomach, small bowel, or colon.” What we commonly know as bloating may also be your body retaining water, which David Greenwald, M.D., director of clinical gastroenterology and endoscopy at Mount Sinai Hospital, says can often be a side effect of a high-sodium diet.

Before you look for a cure to your bloat, Greenwald says it’s important to understand what’s causing it. This will enable you to choose the right solution and alleviate that unwanted swell as quickly as possible. Generally, when you’re bloated, you’ll want to stay away from foods that are difficult to digest, like cruciferous or brassica vegetables (AKA broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage), as those are loaded with indigestible sugars. You’ll also want to avoid eating too much fiber, which can itself produce more gas and bloating, and if you’re lactose-intolerant, it’s best to ditch that dairy entirely. Instead, opt for one of these three different types of foods that will sate your hunger and help release the pressure.

If you’re retaining water, seek out foods with lots of potassium.
Potassium is an electrolyte that keeps fluid levels in the body regular. The nutrient is an essential part of a well-rounded diet, and overall you should be trying to get a certain amount of potassium every day — the recommend daily intake (RDI) is 4,700 mg. If you’re experiencing bloat from fluid retention — which may be caused by a high-sodium diet — Greenwald says that upping your potassium intake will help decrease that swollen feeling. These 10 foods are packed with that debloating agent:

Swiss chard
Bananas
Baked potatoes
Sweet potatoes
Acorn squash
Spinach
Salmon
Edamame
Halibut
Coconut water

See More: 8 Sneaky Ways To Debloat In Just One Day

If you’re fighting gas, try these foods that will relax your gastrointestinal tract.
If you think your bloat may be caused by trapped gas, Ganjhu says you’ll want to relax your gastrointestinal (GI) tract with one of these six foods. Papaya is full of an enzyme called papain, which is known to aid digestion. Mint, licorice, fennel, caraway, and ginger all have antispasmodic properties and oils which can help soothe your GI tract and push digestion along.

Papaya
Mint
Licorice
Fennel seeds
Caraway seeds
Ginger

See More: These 9 Foods Are Packed With A Secret Bloat-Busting Nutrient

And if you really need to eat even though you’re feeling all puffed up, opt for fruits and vegetables that are easy to digest and full of water.
The thing with bloating, Greenwald explains, is that it will resolve itself over a period of time. Of course, during this time, you can’t avoid eating because you’re feeling uncomfortable — that bloat could last all day long! Instead, he says to opt for fruits and vegetables that are easy to digest and won’t cause any additional bloating. These five foods fit into the easy to digest category, and they’re also full of fluids. Flooding your body with fluids will help your body release any of those fluids it may be holding onto, which can be a great solution if you feel your bloat is caused by fluid retention.

Cantaloupe
Cucumbers
Celery
Pineapple
Grapes

See More: 6 Reasons You Magically Gained Weight Overnight

This article originally appeared on SELF.

If you just got engaged, you’re going to want to share the love with all your nearest and dearest. That means planning an amazing engagement party to celebrate — and luckily L.A. has a slew of restaurants for any and all party types and sizes. Whether it’s a private fine dining experience with stunning views, an intimate chef-cooked meal with a few friends, a brunch party, or casual celebration with friends, these are the best places to start celebrating the two of you with those who love you most.

Rose Café (Above)
If you’re looking for a restaurant that’s vibe is as hip as the food is good, then look no further than one of Venice’s hottest tickets: Rose Café by chef Jason Neroni. Specializing in Italian leaning dishes ranging from handmade pastas to wood oven pizzas and hearth roasted meats (not to mention an amazing artisanal cocktail program), the sprawling space offers an array of options for private buy-outs ranging from 15 people to 250 depending on the room you choose. They’re also willing to work with you to create your own special menu — a huge plus.

WP24
Housed on the 24th floor of the luxurious Ritz Carlton hotel in downtown Los Angeles, WP24 offers an elevated take on traditional Chinese cuisine by famed chef Wolfgang Puck. Expect beautifully modern renditions of roasted Peking duck, delicate dumplings, handmade noodles, and an array of eastern inspired cocktails. Whether in the main room or in your own private dining room, the upscale, modern digs with floor-to-ceiling windows give diners a panoramic view of the city skyscape — an eye-catching backdrop to celebrate the beginning of your lives together.

Redbird
If you want to keep your celebration intimate but food focused, the nest at Redbird is just the spot. A small, private open kitchen complete with food by revered chef Neal Fraser and its own patio balcony is essential for smaller parties. Guests can feast on Fraser’s inventive dishes of chicken potpie, grilled lamb belly, and cavatelli pasta with rabbit sausage after watching them being prepared. Needless to say, an engagement party at Redbird will be a foodie celebration that’s guaranteed to be as tasty as it is memorable.

See More: Start Thinking About Beautiful California Venues On Our Local Vendors Page
Vivianne
This retro spot housed in the Beverly Hills Avalon hotel is great for an intimate engagement party brunch. Enjoy old-school cocktails turned artisanal twist, such as the Cosmopolitan or green chili Bloody Mary — while dining poolside on pork belly and poached eggs or lemon ricotta pancakes. Sounds like the best Sunday-engagement-party-funday ever.

B.S. Taqueria
When it comes to celebrating with friends, tacos and tequila are always a good call — especially when the tacos are created by Chef Ray Garcia. Garcia’s modern Mexican take on tacos, delicious cocktails, and the fun, vibrant space makes it one of the best trendy-casual spots to celebrate your upcoming nuptials. For larger parties, the semi-private room is ideal to have your own space without being isolated from the restaurant’s buzzing ambiance.

Hanjip
Serving elevated Korean BBQ by celebrity Chef Chris Oh, Hanjip boasts everything from watermelon soju punch bowls to brown butter kimchi fried rice to a foie gras-marinated tomahawk steak for a truly unique KBBQ experience. Assemble your family and friends and grill top-quality meats and fish on your own gold plated grill for the perfect interactive engagement dinner.

The Boiling Crab
This casual crawfish boil is definitely an L.A. staple and for good reason. Diners can buy succulent crawfish, crab, oysters, lobster and crab legs by the pound then eat crawfish boil-style on paper covered tables, bib-clad, with your hands. Just the thing for couples who just want to celebrate low-key while keeping it fun and delicious.

Still not sold on an engagement party venue? We have more to choose from on our Local Vendors page!

Have you peeped the cover of our October/November 2016 issue yet? This month’s issue of BRIDES is all about updating classics, and our cover shoot screams rustic Americana.

Planning a countryside wedding with wild west influences? Look no further than this expansive and gorgeous Colorado setting. (Styling by Eleanor Strauss. Hair by Eric Gabriel using Oribe/the Wall Group. Makeup by Valery Gherman using Rouge Dior/the Wall Group. Production by Picture Farm. Bouquet by New Leaf Designs. Mikado gown, $1,869, <a href="http://www.ellisbridals
.co.uk”>Ellis Bridals. Jacket, L.L. Bean; llbean.com. Earrings, David Yurman. Ring, Cartier.)

And who better to model nouveau rustic styles than Victoria’s Secret model, and newlywed, Bridget Malcolm. The Australian stunner said “I do” to rocker husband Nathaniel Hoho (who fronts the indie rock band Walking Shapes), in July in rural Pennsylvania, where loved ones gathered on the groom’s mother’s property. “It was a true country wedding,” says Bridget, the face of brands like Polo Ralph Lauren and Lilly Pulitzer, who walked the aisle in a body-hugging lace gown from Australian label Lover. “We kept it rustic and light, mostly outdoors, surrounded by trees and under café lights. We wanted to see the sunset and fireflies.”

The couple will say celebrate again near Perth this December — which happens to be summer in Australia. “We thought it would be nice to celebrate in each town we grew up in,” says the bride. “Not to mention, two parties! Always a good thing.” Given her own wedding style, the model looked right at home in exquisite Guipure lace, silk-organza, and cozy wool blankets. (Silk-organza and reembroidered-lace gown, $9,020, Rivini by Rita Vinieris. Earrings, David Yurman. Ring, Danhov. Blanket, Woolrich.)

Of course this is the wild west, so there’s also room for a saloon-inspired sophisticated take on off-the-shoulder with exaggerated bow accents, courtesy of Sachin & Babi, long-sleeved crochet styles topped with shearling, high-neck Victorian styles, and even a little bandana neck wrap for a stylish cowgirl vibe. (Italian-stretch-jacquard dress, $2,695, Sachin & Babi Noir Bridal. Guipure dress with flower appliqués, price upon request, Mira Zwillinger. Poncho, Dsquared2 . Ring, In Love by Brides; walmart.com.)

(Crochet and embroidered-horsehair dress, $5,545, Yolan Cris. Jacket, Carven; 646-684-4368. Faille de soie dress with sheer silk-organza bodice with French-lace hand appliqu??s, $4,620, Amsale. Blanket, Woolrich.)

Even more epic than the straight-from-the-runway dresses, the amazing backdrop — ideal for a destination wedding! The Dunton Hot Springs, a 19th-century mining town turned western-chic resort an hour from Telluride in the Colorado Rockies, served as the perfect rustic background to show off classic wedding dress styles. Expect authentic log-cabin rooms, a saloon for dining, and a separate eight-tent glamping retreat, the River Camp, which is your Ralph Lauren fantasy come true, with draped canvas walls, cowhide rugs, gas stoves, and oversize soaking tubs. Brides can buy the whole resort out for up to 60 guests and exchange vows under a rustic wooden pergola surrounded by grassy hills (or snow, if you’re brave). The 1,600 acres of preserved wilderness are prime for guided hikes, rock climbing, mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing, and many a dip in the resort’s five namesake springs—one in the spa and others right outside the guest rooms, like nature’s hot tubs. (Three-quarter-sleeved button-down pleated cotton dress, $4,490, Carolina Herrera; 212-249-6552. Earrings, David Yurman. Ring, Bulgari. Bandanna, stylist’s own.)

Subscribe to BRIDES now for the best wedding dresses, advice, and big-day inspiration.

It’s a party being thrown for you, where you receive gifts you’ve already picked out, and it officially kicks off your wedding season — what’s there to be stressed about when it comes to your bridal shower? For some brides — nothing. For other brides, quite a bit. But if you’re on the nervous side — relax — we’ve got you covered with these four things that may stress you out before your bridal shower, but shouldn’t.

The Element of Surprise
Traditionally bridal showers are a complete surprise for the bride-to-be, yet in modern times they can be anything but. It’s really up to the bride to communicate her preferred method of shower planning. While some may be totally shocked, other brides may want to know the date only, and others are fully involved in planning right down to the last detail. No matter which way you decide, if you select an element of surprise — keep it at just that. There are very few surprises in life, so if you opt to have a surprise bridal shower, do your best to relinquish control and anxiety about the details. Just know, and celebrate the fact that your bridal party, family, and friends will do their best to throw you a beautiful shower — and that should be enough.

The Guest List
Brides-to-be know that planning and deciding upon a guest list for their wedding day can be a huge headache. Determining who you’d like to celebrate your bridal shower day with can be equally overwhelming, but once you decide upon a guest-list, your work is done. Be certain your guest list is comprehensive, including full names and up-to date addresses. It also helps to put a side note of your relationship with the guest, so that your shower planners have a better, personalized idea of who will be invited and attending. Once your guests are invited — you can’t stress their RSVP. Rest assured that all whom are able to, will be there to celebrate your special day.

See More: Chill Out Your Wedding Stress with These 5 Non-Traditional Ways to Relax

Your Ensemble
Whether you’re being surprised by your shower or not, what you wear to your bridal shower often is the second most important outfit (next to your wedding dress of course.) The best plan to avoid outfit stress is to select your garments and accessories with plenty of time to spare. If your shower is a true surprise, hand off the outfit and all accessories you may need (yes, even undergarments!) to your bridesmaid, maid of honor, or mom for safekeeping. They can bring this outfit to the venue for you to change into after the big surprise. If not, it’s still best to shop early so that you’re prepared and relaxed going into party day.

Drama
As with any big event or soiree’ that combines large groups of friends and family, there may be a bit of drama that pops up along the way — no matter how big or small. Hopefully, your bridesmaids and family will do their best to keep any and all issues low-key and undercover so that it doesn’t impact you, or even enter your headspace as you’re in the throes of wedding planning. Should you find out about anything that may not thrill you, try to remember that these things happen, and often it’s totally out of your control. Trust that whomever is in charge of your celebration will handle it appropriately, and don’t let it bring down your excitement and happiness.

When Queen Victoria tied the knot with Prince Albert in 1840, little did she know that the white lace and silk satin dress she wore (an unusual choice at the time) would set fashion precedence for brides for centuries to come. Quickly adapted by the elite of the Victorian era, the white floor-length wedding dress became a status symbol synonymous with expensiveness and exclusivity. Over the years, the white gown has become mainstream, a tradition that brides naturally picture most when dreaming about their big day.

But does that still ring true today? While the white wedding dress remains the number one go-to, alternative styles are on the rise. Carolina Herrera and Lakum showed off chic pantsuits on the runways, BHLDN and Free People feature gorgeous styles of boho wedding dress separates in their latest collections, and colors and florals are making an appearance among many designers, from Heidi Elnora to Ines Di Santo.

These untraditional looks are coming at a time when brides want to personalize everything about their wedding, from their reception space down to the very gown they wear, in order to celebrate their individuality. And designers are certainly recognizing this fact. Here are some of our favorite alternative bridal trends. Which one suits you?

Florals
Scoot over, plain Jane — florals make a bold, feminine, and flirty statement on any wedding gown. From dreamy watercolor petals to vivacious blooms, flowers have been appearing in all shapes and forms on wedding dresses over the past few years. It’s a whole new spin on the princess look.

Colors
Whether it’s a Cinderella blue, blush pink, or bold red, a colored wedding dress speaks to a bride’s unique personality. The best part about this trend is that it’s available in a variety of styles, from soft pastels and bright hues to an ombré effect and colored embroidery on an otherwise white dress — so you can choose just how daring you want to be.

Pantsuit
This menswear-inspired trend walked more than one catwalk in recent bridal shows. Often seen as a powersuit, a crisp pair of trousers lends an air of confidence to any bride who steps in them. Typically paired with a chic blazer, collared button-down, or trim vest, this contemporary look speaks to trendsetters.

Jumpsuit
The cousin of the pantsuit, the jumpsuit follows the trend of pants but in one piece instead of two. Often a bit more airy and delicate, bridal jumpsuits come in a range of designs and creative silhouettes to fit your personal style — the options are surprisingly plentiful.

Cropped Separates
The trendy boho look that went mainstream has trickled down to the bridal industry in the way of two-piece separates that typically highlight a strip of abs. Perfect for the laid back bride, this style can be equal parts chic, edgy, glamorous, or romantic.

Waterfall Hemline
Can’t decide between a short dress and a long dress? No problem. Whitney Port really set off the craze for the high-low hemline when she sported the look herself at her 2015 nuptials. If you have legs for miles, this is one way to strut your stuff!

See More: The Top 16 Wedding Dresses from Bridal Fashion Week

“We were young enough to not take life too seriously,” says Loring of first meeting Austin as interns in Dallas in 2010. “We lived every moment of that summer to the fullest, and found something special and unique in one another.” The pair dated long-distance while they finished up school, racked up speeding tickets driving back and forth across Texas, and finally made it official when Austin moved to Dallas to join Loring. Almost four years later, she planned a Valentine’s Day trip to Los Cabos with a group of friends — but Austin had something else up his sleeve. “He’d asked my family for my hand over Christmas, then found a beautiful cove on the beach in Mexico and asked me to spend my life with him,” says the bride.

The couple knew they wanted an intimate, homey feel for their wedding, and achieved that cozy feeling (even with 240 guests!) by hosting their wedding at the bride’s family’s home on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. “The property has been a farm since the 1600s, but ours was the first wedding to be held there, which made it feel like the day was ours and ours alone,” says Loring. They hired Pineapple Productions to help them create an Old World-vibe with the graceful simplicity of home. The week of their wedding, the duo found themselves bracing for incoming Hurricane Joaquin but with a little extra planning (and the expertise of their planners!), this bride and groom hosted a fabulous party on October 10, 2015. We dare you not to fall in love with this simple, stunning celebration, photographed by Patricia Lyons!

There’s nothing quite as gorgeous as classic coastal home (with some serious history!) to serve as a backdrop for a fall wedding.

Guests were invited to the wedding with a white and gray suite, finished with flowing calligraphy and soft gray ribbon. Upon arrival, they were greeted with welcome bags containing some of the bride and groom’s favorite things from their Texas, Delaware, and Maryland roots: Shiner Bock beer, Texas Longhorns chocolate, Stubb’s BBQ rub, and Old Bay seasoning &mdahs; plus a mini bottle of wine!

Though Loring fell for the very first dress she tried on, a silk shantung A-line with a beaded bodice by Ines Di Santo, she tried on almost 40 more. “None felt as right as that first one, so we went back and it was perfect,” she says. She made the shopping trip a family affair, bringing along her mom and grandmother, as well as Austin’s mom and his two grandmothers.

The bride’s soft bouquet combined garden roses, white veronica, begonias, ranunculus, euphorbia, dusty miller, and white passion flower vine, along with scented geranium, lemon verbena, and basil.

A shimmering pair of Jimmy Choo peep-toes were the perfect shoes to get Loring down the aisle in style.

We’re totally swooning over the bride’s asscher-cut engagement ring, tucked into a velvet Mrs. Box.

Loring knew she wanted her bridesmaids in a creamy neutral hue, and finally found the perfect option: French vanilla chiffon dresses by Watters. Her maid of honor finished the gown with a sparkling belt that matched the beading on the bride’s gown.

Austin wore a custom suit by Suit Supply, with burgundy suede under the lapels and a burgundy silk lining. His groomsmen wore black suits from Jos. A Banks, and all finished their looks with gray silk ties. Their boutonnieres combined rosebuds, begonia, and olive leaves.

With a gorgeous waterfront location, the ceremony didn’t need much dressing up. Austin and Loring exchanged vows beneath an arch of fruiting olive, hydrangeas, and green privet. “All of our family had a role. Our cousins were ushers, our grandparents did the Blessing of the Hands, and my bridesmaid sang ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow,'” says the bride.

The spot where the arch was placed was extra special: Loring’s mom had buried a bottle of bourbon there a month before the wedding for good luck (and to fend off the rain!), then Austin and his groomsmen dug it up and toasted the weather gods, who kept Hurricane Joaquin at bay and graced the couple with spectacular fall weather!

The reception took place in a sailcloth tent on the lawn, with linen curtains draping the entryway. Guests’ escort cards were displayed on tables just inside the door, with garlands and floral chandeliers draped from the ceiling in the background.

Centerpieces combined garden roses, dahlias, persimmons, viburnum, and flowing greenery in French iron urns, terra cotta, and hand-blown glass containers.

“We used a variety of china patterns, including Italian ceramic Venetian lace china and French ceramic with scrollwork finishes,” says Loring. The mixed china and pewter flatware created a soft, homespun vibe. At the head table, linen napkins were embroidered with the couple’s new monogram. “The napkins were a lovely keepsake, and we use them every time we entertain at home!”

A mix of long, square, and round tables were draped with open-weave linens and set with cross-back and upholstered chairs.

The menu consisted of dishes that showed off the couple’s roots in Delaware, Texas, and Maryland. “We served Delaware wild mushroom bisque, a fall vegetable medley, jumbo lump Maryland crab cakes, Texas braised short rib, and a Bananas Foster bar — my family’s favorite!” Loring says. Guests sipped margaritas made using the brides’ father’s secret recipe, Moscow mules, and wines from a vineyard serendipitously named Loring Wine Company.

The five-tiered cake, decorated with soft pink garden roses, contained layers of lemon genoise cake with lemon filling and fresh raspberries.

After an amazing performance by Rhythm Collective, the couple made their exit through an archway of sparklers.

Loring’s advice is to get to know your vendors. “We spent 18 months with them as they worked to execute the most memorable day of our lives, and we felt a special connection with each and every one of them. The greatest testimony of the impact this relationship can have is that our friends have asked for their contact information, and my mom is relieved that she already has a wedding planner and vendors lined up for when my sister gets married one day!”

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Private Residence || Wedding Planner: Pineapple Productions || Bride’s Wedding Dress: Ines Di Santo, purchased at Stanley Korshak || Shoes: Jimmy Choo || Jewelry: Stuart Kingston || Hair: Teresa Alfieri of Shift || Makeup: Tonia Marisa Patterson of Ooh La La! The Makeup Studio || Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Watters || Groom’s Attire: Suit Supply || Groomsmen’s Attire: Jos. A. Bank || Wedding Bands: Stuart Kingston || Floral Design & Décor: Beehive Events || Invitations & Paper Goods: Simple Song Design || Calligraphy: Tara Jones || Music: Elan Artists || Catering & Cake: Design Cuisine || Rentals: Skyline Tent Company || Videographer: Toy Box Productions || Photographer: Patricia Lyons Photography

Looking for more weddings just like this? Then check out another couple’s Maryland wedding in the video below.