4 Important Muslim Wedding Ceremony Rituals and Traditions, Explained

One of the best parts of getting invited to a wedding is seeing the different ways that each couple celebrates their love. Religion can often play a big role in how the celebrations unfold, and a Muslim wedding is no exception. Muslim wedding rituals vary depending on the couple’s cultural background (such as Arabic or Indian), but a majority of the main components remain the same. Here are the most important aspects of a Muslim wedding ceremony.

Mehndi
Also known as henna, mehndi is a skin decoration that is applied to the bride’s hands and feet, as well as to those of other women in the bride and groom’s family. This festive, colorful celebration includes lots of music and women in traditional lenghas.

Barat
The Barat is the groom’s arrival at the bride’s home. You may see a groom riding in on a decorated white horse, surrounded by revelers. With lots of music and dancing, the bride’s family welcomes the groom with a floral garland and sweets.

See more: 11 Traditional Wedding Vows to Steal from Religious Ceremonies

Nikah
This is the ceremony in which the marriage license is signed. The nikah ceremony is essentially the groom’s formal proposal (with at least two witnesses in attendance), as well as the couple’s acceptance of the marriage contract. In a more traditional marriage ceremony, the bride’s father or another representative will agree to the marriage contract on her behalf. The nikah is more of a legal agreement than a religious ceremony, so this is often followed by a sermon, which may include readings from the Quran. Muslim wedding ceremonies do not always include vows — agreement to the marriage contract during the nikah suffices as agreement by the bride and groom to enter into marriage.

Valima
The valima is the reception, usually hosted by the groom’s parents. Traditionally, the valima takes place the night after the wedding, though it can also immediately follow the Nikah.

These Not-Yet-Engaged Daughters Just Took Wedding Photos with Their Dad Who Has Alzheimer's

Ready to start off your Labor Day weekend with a few tears? (Hey, crying is cathartic, okay!) Well, read on because this sweet story is pretty much guaranteed to have you bawling. If you’re a bride who’s close to her pops, you probably couldn’t imagine not having your father be there for the big day. The walk down the aisle, the father-daughter dance… These monumental milestones are often times our favorite wedding day moments. What daddy’s little girl wouldn’t want to experience these sweet nuptial traditions? But when two sisters discovered that they might never get the chance to, they took matters into their own hands, staging a beautiful bridal photo shoot with their Alzheimer’s-afflected father — and with no groom in sight.

Alzheimers Wedding Photo Shoot

Photo: Lindsey Rabon Photography

A few years ago, Sarah and Becca Duncan received the devastating diagnosis that their father, Scott, had developed Alzheimer’s. Now 80-years-old and feeling the affects of the heartbreaking disease, Scott may not be able to stand at his daughters’ sides when they eventually walk down the aisle — and that’s a reality his daughters have decided to lovingly prepare for. “We knew our father may not be alive for our future wedding, so we decided to capture the poignant moment before it was lost forever,” Becca told the Star-Telegram. And that’s why the two sisters decided to take their wedding portraits now — with no upcoming wedding in sight — as to include their dear old dad in the photographs.

Lindsey Rabon Photography

Photo: Lindsey Rabon Photography

The sisters recruited a family friend, photographer Lindsey Rabon, to capture the too-sweet snapshots, donning donated wedding dresses for the occasion. Then the not-yet brides-to-be set out with their pops to take their tearjerking bridal portraits. “It was very emotional, especially after we put on our dresses,” Sarah remembers. Ugh, where’s that Kleenex?!

“I knew it would be something they could have at their wedding to show that he’s with them, even if he’s not there,” explained the photographer. SERIOUSLY, where at those tissues?!!

Sarah Becca and Scott Duncan

Photo: Lindsey Rabon Photography

See More: The 7 Types of Fathers of the Bride (and How to Handle Them)

Alicia Vikander, Emma Stone, and Beyonc?? All Channeled Serious Bridal Fashion Vibes This Week

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Photo: Getty Images

Alicia Vikander went high-fashion in florals and embellishment, Emma Stone shimmered and sparkled in silver, and Beyoncé was a vision in white. Here, the red carpet bridal looks we couldn’t get enough of this week.

Alicia Vikander at the The Light Between Oceans Venice Film Festival Premiere: International film festivals have become the most glamorous moments of the year, brimming with high-fashion. Leave it to Alicia Vikander to go for something completely unexpected from one of her favorite brands—Louis Vuitton. We love the idea of combining a classic floral print with even more classic embellishment for your engagement party: start your wedding journey in style and singularity. And her sleek chignon was elegant, yet simple enough to DIY.

See More: Elle’s Edit: 13 Wedding Dresses for the ‘Cool’ Bride

Emma Stone at the La La Land Venice Film Festival Premiere: Let’s be honest: a woman can never go wrong in Versace. Case in point—Emma Stone in a silver confection from the iconic Italian fashion house. She shimmered and sparkled in a fringe-accented gown that could work as a wedding gown for fashion-forward and non-traditional brides, or a regal design to slip into for the rehearsal dinner. An elegant updo and barely-there makeup were the perfect complements to let the showstopping number play centerstage.

Beyoncé at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards: After racking up several awards and shutting down the stage, Beyoncé then proceeded to own the evening in the fashion department. Her white Yolan Cris gown oozed romance: the consummate gown for an outdoor ceremony. The sartorially savvy bride-to-be will also fall deep in love with this look. Her braid-accented hair continued the amorous and charming vibe of the ensemble and will look as amazing in your pictures of the day as Mrs. Knowles Carter did for the occasion.

This Guy Pulled Off the Ultimate Friends-Themed Proposal

friends proposal

Photo: Comedy Central UK via Twitter

It was a proposal that would definitely rival Monica and Chandler’s — and of course make Rachel jealous. London resident Kunal Desai proposed to his girlfriend, Radha Patel, on the set of Comedy Central’s FriendsFest in the UK and Friends fans everywhere were excited and jealous all at the same time.

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Courtesy of Giphy

The British couple had been dating for 11 years when the groom-to-be found out that the set of the TV show was returning to London via FriendsFest. He knew he had to ask his girlfriend to marry him during their visit to the iconic set. “When I saw FriendsFest was returning, I knew this would be the perfect setting to ask her to marry me,” he shared with Hello. “We both absolutely love Friends, and Radha can’t go to sleep without watching the show.” That makes three of us…

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Courtesy of Giphy

So which set did he pick as the location to ask his ‘Lobster’ to spend the rest of her life with him? While the options were seemingly endless (Central Perk, the Vegas Chapel of Love, Chandler and Joey’s apartment, and of course Monica [and Rachel/Chandler]’s iconic pad), he chose the couch where the crew usually hangs out (conveniently close to where Monica and Chandler popped the question to each other). Luckily Richard wasn’t there to cause any mayhem and spoil the surprise!

The soon-to-be husband and wife are huge fans of the show, but also relate to the characters on a deeper level. “We even had a short break in our relationship, leading people to call us the real life Ross and Rachel.” Let’s just hope when they got back together that no lewd face-drawings while intoxicated or accidental Vegas chapel wedding snafus that went down (Jennifer Aniston, we’re looking at you).

Like some brides hip to their fiancé-to-be’s proposal game, it seems like Patel already had an inkling of what was about to go down. “When I first saw the apartment I actually thought that this would be the perfect place to be proposed to,” she said. “Nothing could top this proposal, it was awesome. As Phoebe would say, he’s my lobster!”

See More: The Best Wedding Moments of All-Time from Friends

If we’re really reaching here, the only thing to top this would have been if the groom was able to round up a few of the cast members to surprise his new fiancée — now that would have been a sight to see. Who knows, maybe they’ll show up for the big day.

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Courtesy of Giphy

See below for a peek at the adorable proposal going down — and for a behind-the-scenes look at the set.

#friendsfest #illbethereforyou @lunacinema xx

A photo posted by Kyra White (@kyra_balanceme) on Sep 2, 2016 at 2:04am PDT

I was in Monica's apartment less than 24 hours ago ** #FriendsFest #London

A photo posted by Pallavi S (@pallavisangtani) on Sep 1, 2016 at 11:01pm PDT

"I dooooooooo…" #friendsfest

A photo posted by Hello. (@hayleylouiseg) on Sep 1, 2016 at 4:05pm PDT

Monica & Rachel's Apartment @ #FriendsFest

A photo posted by May (@babymay83) on Sep 1, 2016 at 3:12pm PDT

******

A photo posted by @friends_fest on Sep 13, 2015 at 12:56pm PDT

"I Never Thought I'd Get Married Until…"

Brides Who Changed Their Minds About Marriage

Photo: Getty Images

Marriage is a beautiful thing — but to some, it can also be a bit nerve-wracking and scary. Committing your lives to each other in front of your closest family and friends can be a lot for some to handle, and some even swear it off for good — or so they think. But then suddenly, like a bolt of lightning, something changes. Here, we share five stories of marriage-resistant women — and what changed their minds.

“When I was growing up, getting married and having a beautiful wedding were definitely not part of my fantasies. Later, even in serious relationships, the thought of marriage would seriously freak me out. Even up until a year ago, when my boyfriend (who I’d been with for three years at the time) suggested we consider marriage, I begged him sincerely to never propose because I was positively against wedding and marriage. My biggest qualm was spending so much money and experiencing so much stress for essentially one big party and some pieces of paper. Then, all of a sudden I felt desperate to have a baby, and the urge for the gown, bridesmaids, videographers experience kicked in!” —Pamela

“Love was always a goal, but not marriage. After a few years with my soul mate, we moved in together and I would have been content to leave it that way for ever and ever. But getting married meant the world to him. I suggested eloping but he wanted the world to witness our love so that’s what we did. And I wound up absolutely loving the party. So never say never!” —Cindy

“For years, I had absolutely no interest in finding love, and thought I would never get married. I wasn’t interested in ‘wasting my time’ with dating, when developing my professional life seemed so much more fulfilling. Then I attended a friend’s birthday party in New York City, and was casually introduced to a man. As soon as this man delivered his first few sentences, I felt like someone had slapped me in the face. He fully embodied my idea of a ‘perfect catch.’ I thought: ‘Wow! This guy’s girlfriend must be AMAZING.’ He didn’t have a girlfriend, and a few days later I received an online message from him (he had found me on the Internet through our mutual friends), asking if I’d like to meet again for a date. We met on a gorgeous afternoon and spent the next ten hours together wandering around. It felt as if we’d known each other forever. A year and a half later, we became engaged. The entire process made me rethink a previous belief that I thought was set in stone, that ‘there’s no such thing as love at first sight!'” —Ashley

“I didn’t have the greatest view of marriage. My mom was married and divorced twice, my grandpap has been married three times (widowed once, divorced once), my other grandparents had a terrible marriage due to my grandpa being an alcoholic… My favorite marriage-related phrase was, ‘Marriage is just a relationship you have to pay to get out of.’ And then of course he came along. We’d been together less than a year when I realized I wanted to marry the hell out of this man. My mom even mentioned the other day that she couldn’t believe there was a man out there who managed to change my mind!” —Sara

“I never wanted to get married because my independence was so important to me. Then I met Bill and fell in love, and we just had so much fun together — and I cared as much about his success and welfare as I did my own. Getting married seemed the best way to make sure we keep company for the rest of our lives.” —Ruth

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

See More: Real Brides Share the Crazy Stories of How They Remarried Their Exes

The 5 Stupidest Mistakes I Made During My First Year of Marriage

couple kissing under confetti

Photo: Getty Images

I have been married for almost 17 years, which surprises me. Not because I didn’t think our relationship would survive, but mostly because, in our first year of wedded bliss, I did some really, really stupid things.

Honestly, I can’t even think about some of them without cringing.

Now they might not sound too horrific to other people — there was no cheating, stealing, or bare-knuckle boxing — but they are the sort of thing that will make any other married couple shake their heads in disbelief and mutter “Rookie mistake” under their breaths.

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And I don’t blame them. Learning how to make a marriage work is hard. You can’t really prepare for it (living together first helps), so it’s a lot of on-the-job training.

Emotionally, the stakes could not be higher, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that, during your first year of marriage, you will find yourself fighting over some of the dumbest things possible.

Things like cleaning the bathroom or the logistics of Taco Tuesday suddenly take on ridiculous, life-or-death meanings, and you and your partner have to figure out how to reconcile all of those messy emotions with the day-to-day necessities of trying to live together without killing each other.

It wasn’t easy, but my wife and I found a way through it all and came out the other side. But that doesn’t mean that I’m not still 100% embarrassed about what a marriage noob I was back in the day.

So you can all learn from my early ineptitude, here are five of the hands-down dumbest things I did during our first year of marriage. (Do your best to avoid these bonehead moves.)

1. I Only Did MY Laundry

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My wife and I didn’t live together before we got married. (Not for any puritanical reasons, we were both just finishing up internships and college before we tied the knot.) So, a lot of our first-year growing pains had to do with some pretty basic co-habitation issues. Case in point — the way I did laundry.

I’d always enjoyed doing my own laundry, but I found doing someone else’s laundry, specifically, a WOMAN’s laundry, to be unreasonably intimidating. Everything I owned was cotton, so I could just throw everything into cold and be done with it. But my wife had delicates. And bras. And things that required “pre-soak”… whatever that is. And I didn’t want to ruin anything, so I just DIDN’T wash any of her clothes. I figured, “It’s better this way. She doesn’t want me ruining her stuff.”

Turns out she was just getting angrier and angrier that I was completely ignoring her laundry. I thought I was doing her a favor by opting out, but that was dumb. So, after we had it out one dark laundry day, I manned up, started reading labels, and learned to deal with the occasional “dry flat” or “dry clean only” item.

2. I Tried to WIN Fights

argument

Such a rookie mistake. Because here’s the thing — in marriage, no one EVER wins a fight.

It doesn’t happen, because, even if you “win” (i.e. your point is proven to be true and their point is proven to be false), no one is happy. Your victory is meaningless. All it means is that your partner is going to resent the hell out of you for possibly weeks at a time. And it’s simply not worth it. No victory is worth that much simmering, seething discomfort.

When you’ve been married for more than a year, you realize that you don’t want to win a fight. You just want fights to END. You will learn that working together to mutually walk away from a fight is so much better than any “I told you so” you could ever imagine.

3. I Never Went Out

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This is a hard one — realizing that, for your own sanity, you and your spouse NEED to spend time apart. But I was just so enamored with being married. It was all so new and exciting, so I consistently turned down every invitation from my friends to go out or spend a night apart from my wife.

Cut to one year later and my wife and I both come to the realization that we don’t really have any friends anymore. I mean, the friends still existed, but we’d dropped completely off their radars. They NEVER thought to include us socially anymore, and it was all OUR fault.

Once we realized that, we started the long, hard work of being social again. We were finally confident enough in our marriage bond to spend some nights apart and it ultimately made us a lot happier.

See More: 50 Love Quotes That Express Exactly What ‘I Love You’ Really Means

4. I Didn’t Think a Joint Bank Account Was a Big Deal

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Dumb, dumb, dumb. This was another co-habitation growing pain, but it was a bad one.

Emotionally sharing your life with one person can be difficult, but it’s not that hard (if you find the right person). But, even if you find the right person, trying to get used to one shared bank account is a total bitch.

We both had our own systems, we both had VERY different priorities about savings and checking, and we both were working at very different jobs, earning very different amounts, so we were constantly getting into “who’s contributing enough” fights. It was the single worst part of our first year of marriage.

But, eventually, we had to figure it out. We sat down and wrote out a budget — we didn’t actually FOLLOW it, but it was good to come clean and make sure that we both knew what all the bills were each month. We had to start thinking as a partnership and regarding our monthly earnings as “our” money, not “mine and hers.” It’s not easy, but it can be done.

See More: I Refuse to Let My Wife’s Depression Ruin My Marriage

5. I Thought It Would Magically Transform My Life

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Don’t get me wrong — getting married changes your life, but way too many people (myself included) have completely unreasonable expectations about what that transformation really will be.

When you’re young, you see getting married as this huge step towards “getting your shit together.” It’s supposed to be symbolic of being serious and settling down, maybe it’s the first step in becoming more like your parents.

In reality, getting married is different for everyone. It can be hard, easy, messy, passive. But it does not change who you are overnight. It’s a process, an effort, a journey. It takes work. It doesn’t transform you, but it does set you on a path that allows you and your partner to change together over time (hopefully, for the better).

At the very least, it taught me how to balance a checkbook and wash a blouse, so there’s that.

See More: I Love My Daughter More Than My Husband — And He Knows It

This article originally appeared on YourTango.

Victoria Beckham Details the Moment She Fell for Husband David Beckham

Victoria and David Beckham Love at First Sight

Photo: Getty Images

Love at first sight may sound like the stuff of fairytales — unless you fell for your fiancé the moment you laid eyes on him or her, of course! — but it proved to be reality for Victoria Beckham, who knew she was head over heels for her future hubby David Beckham as soon as she met him. As if you weren’t obsessed with these two enough as it is…

The beautiful Beckhams have been going strong for over 17 years now, having tied the knot in July of 1999 with the poshest wedding of the ’90s. (Pun intended!) Since then, they’ve dominated the tabloids (and our hearts!) with their super stylish family and long lasting love. But before they said their “I do’s,” they of course had to say hello! (Duh.) And it was in that very moment that the Spice Girl knew she was in love with the up-and-coming soccer superstar.

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In the October issue of Vogue UK, Beckham penned a letter to her younger self, titled “What I Wish I’d Known.”

“Yes, love at first sight does exist,” the fashion designer began. “It will happen to you in the Manchester United players’ lounge — although you will get a little drunk, so exact details are hazy.” Ehh, happens to the best of us, Beckham!

“While the other football players stand at the bar drinking with their mates, you will see David standing aside with his family,” continued Beckham. “And he has such a cute smile.You, too, are close to your family, and you will think how similar he feels to you.”

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And then just when we thought this story couldn’t get any sweeter, Beckham revealed that her now-hubby still has a memento from that fateful day. “He’s going to ask for your number. (He still has the London-to-Manchester plane ticket on which you wrote it,)” she shared.

Cue our can’t-be-contained squeals over this nearly perfect meet-cute.

See More: 5 Ways to Tell He’s “The One” on the First Date

How to Have a Wedding With Absolutely Zero Regrets

The last thing you want to do is look back on your wedding day and wish you’d done this or that differently, right? So take it from these wedding planning pros (who’ve literally worked with thousands of brides over the years combined BTW) and follow their advice on how to have a wedding with zero regrets, which is the ultimate dream, of course.

1. Set your priorities from the start and stick to them.
For example, if a killer dance band is your number one priority find other areas to cut in your budget, such as from your menu or d&#233cor, to make it happen, suggests wedding planner Tracie Domino, founder of Tracie Domino Events. Otherwise, if you commit to too many things before deciding what’s most important, you’re bound to run into major budget problems.

2. Don’t compare your wedding to others.
Whether it’s your friend, cousin or a celebrity, planner Francesca DiSalvo-Follmer of Pure Luxe Bride strongly advises against making comparisons. “Their weddings were special because they did things that were unique to them. Remember: it’s not a competition.”

3. Hire an experienced wedding planner.
Seriously, they are worth their weight in gold! A wedding planner who knows what they’re doing can tell you exactly where to begin and save you valuable time and money, notes Jessica Upton, owner of Uptown Events and Travel. “For instance, an experienced wedding planner can have a conversation with you about the style of venue you’re looking for and can quickly recommend ones you should look at that fit within your budget. No need to spend weeks researching.” Amen!

4. Don’t plan with other people’s expectations in mind.
Instead, make decisions based on your priorities and goals to create the dream wedding you envision, recommends wedding & special events coordinator at Vision Entertainment Group LLC, Daniela Grafman. “Traditions and rituals are just a guideline, and they don’t have to be enforced. So if you don’t want to introduce your wedding party (or do a bouquet toss), that’s ok, don’t let someone else convince you it must be done.”

5. Be present the day of.
One thing wedding planner Lauren Chitwood of Lauren Chitwood Events tells all her brides on the big day is to let go of the details. “Turn off your phone, and truly live in the present moment. It’s not every day that the whole world comes together just for you, so savor this time and feel all of the emotions that come with it.”

See More: The 50 Mistakes Brides Always Make

6. Mix and mingle with everyone.
Be sure to say hello to every single guest (and hang out for a sec), or you’ll wake up the next day guilt ridden for not doing so, warns Dezhda “Dee” Gaubert, owner of No Worries Event Planning. And trust us, you can never, ever get those precious memories back!

7. Think outside the Pinterest box.
Pinterest is one of the most helpful tools Florida-based wedding planner Aviva Samuels of Kiss The Planner has ever experienced, but there’s a good chance that by the time your wedding photos get processed, your decor ideas will be old news, she says. “You may regret not taking the time to think outside the proverbial Pinterest box. Instead of taking what you see and duplicating it exactly, use it as a source of inspiration to put a new spin on an old idea and incorporate your personalities to make it your own.”

8. Don’t let family drama bring you down.
While it’s great to take your family’s feelings into account when planning your wedding, the most important thing to remember is that the day is really just about you and your fiancé exchanging vows, points out seasoned planner Sandy Malone, owner of Weddings in Vieques. “Don’t let other extraneous noise bother you. Ignore the rest of the world’s drama, and don’t let anybody take away from the special day meant to celebrate you and your new spouse.”

9. Really think hard about hiring a videographer.
Laura Irizarry-Garcia, owner of LIG Events, always ends up booking videographers last minute for brides who think they don’t want one and as they get closer to the wedding decide they do. “You don’t get to repeat your big day, and it’s wonderful to have those memories captured on video.” In fact, not having a videographer is a top regret we hear from brides all the time.

10. Ask for things in writing.
This ensures you’re protected in the event that someone doesn’t deliver what has been agreed upon, explains certified green event designer Veronica Cole. “Be very wary of any wedding professional who doesn’t want to provide you with a contract or email to support what they have promised.” And remember to always read your paperwork thoroughly, she advises. “Yes, it may be boring in comparison to shopping, but it is every bit as crucial. Don’t be tempted to sign on the dotted line without understanding what you’re committing to. No matter how friendly the sales manager!”

BRIDES Chicago: 5 Unique Gifts for Your Groom

bride kissing groom cheek

Photo: Gary Ashley of The Wedding Artists Collective

Despite all of the planning and revelry surrounding your wedding, it’s really about two people beginning their life together. Show your groom you can’t wait to begin that journey with a thoughtful, romantic gift just from you to him. Below are some unique ideas for finding that extra special gift for your husband-to-be.

New Threads
If your groom is into dressing his best, he’ll definitely appreciate a sartorially-inspired gift. Opt for a personal styling appointment from Trunk Club at their swanky Chicago headquarters, where the company’s in-house stylists will outfit your man in head-to-toe amazing looks. You can also check out the Rag & Bone men’s store that recently opened in River North. The brand offers cool-guy threads as well as perfectly distressed shoes, bags, and other leather goods.

Spa Day
Who says spas are for ladies only? Treat your guy to a day of (manly) pampering with services Cowshed Spa located inside the posh Soho House Chicago. Choose a la carte services or give your guy a full-on luxury grooming treatment with the spa’s signature products. You can also find amazing man-pampering products at The Art of Shaving in the Shops at North Bridge.

See More: Pick Out The Perfect Wedding Favors On Our Local Vendors Page

Thoughtful Gadgets
Find the perfect tech toy for your gadget-loving groom over at brand new, multi-story Verizon mega store on Michigan Avenue. Find him that amazing pair of headphones, sleek portable speaker, or even a brand new smartphone. If he prefers gadgets that are a bit less tech-driven, pick him up a coveted Shinola watch or custom bicycle at the Detroit brand’s store in Wicker Park.

Outdoorsy Adventures
For the guy who loves a good adventure, opt for a gift membership to Brooklyn Boulders. The two of you can scale the indoor climbing wall together, or watch him take a class while you hang at their Beta café and workspace.

Brewery-Focused Gifts
Chicago is known for its beer scene, so get your brew-loving betrothed in on the action with home brewing classes at Brew Camp in Lincoln Square. The small homebrew shop also throws private parties if you want to treat your groom to a one-of-a-kind experience he can share with his friends.

Find gifts for all your special wedding VIPs on our Local Vendors page!

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Stella Maxwell, Jennifer Lopez, and Zoe Saldana Show Us How to Do Bold Bridal Beauty

Stella Maxwell Jennifer Lopez and Zoe Saldana

Photo: Getty Images

Stella Maxwell at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards: If you want to really stand out from the bridal crowd with a bold look, model Stella Maxwell’s show-stopping pink eye shadow is a must-see. To start, buff a full coverage foundation into your skin, and then use a matte bronzer and some coral blush to contour and warm up your complexion. Highlight down the middle of your face and under your brows. For the brows themselves, brush the hair up and out to maximize them and fill in any sparse areas. Tightline the eyes with a very thin line, and then create a classic smokey eye, but trade those browns and grays for reds and pinks. And remember if a shade doesn’t apply as dark as you’d hoped, first wet the brush, to get a more pigmented look. To complete the eyes, apply a half strip of faux lashes from the middle to the outer corner of the eyes. Line the lips with a light pink liner and then color them in with a pearly matching hue, and you’re done.

Jennifer Lopez at the Epic Summer event: You know what never goes out of style? A golden bronze look à la Jennifer Lopez! To make this look your own, even out your skintone and then start contouring. Use a matte bronzer and make sure you accent inside the hollow of the cheek and the top of the cheek bone. Use a kohl black liner and line the upper and lower lids making a slight wing. Coat the lashes with mascara and apply a strip of faux lashes to the top. To keep the look from going over-the-top, chose a set of lashes that aren’t overly long or thick. Swipe a copper-colored eyeshadow from lashline to brow bone and define and shape your brows. Line and color your lips with a light brown/nude shade and then use a clear gloss over the top.

Zoe Saldana at the Star Trek Beyond Mexico premiere: You know what never disappoints? A bright berry lip. Make Zoe Saldana’s red carpet look your bridal inspiration. First, apply a light coverage foundation or BB Cream, and warm up the cheeks by adding a coral-colored cream blush along your cheekbones. Use liquid liner to line the upper lashline and create a classic cat eye shape, but then extend the line out even farther than usual for some added graphic interest. Apply several coats of mascara and make sure to fill in your brows. Then, apply a dark raspberry lip stain and assure your groom that it won’t kiss off!

See More: 50 Pre-Wedding Skincare Products for Every Complexion Type