While getting engaged and planning a wedding can be the most exciting time in your life, it can almost be the most stressful. And when couples don’t agree on one (or many!) topics surrounding wedding planning, it can be quite an intense time during the engagement period. The good news, however, is if you can get through this, you’ll get through anything. Here, six couples share their most common wedding fights — and how they solved them amicably.

1. Different Dreams for the Wedding Celebration
“He wanted to elope and I wanted a big party. So we compromised. We got married while in Hawaii on vacation, then a few months later had a huge blow-out for 100 people in a local restaurant.” —Peggy

2. Not Caring Enough About the Wedding
“For months and months I railed at him because he didn’t seem to care about any details of the wedding — how many people we had, who the photographer would be, what kind of flowers we had… I was infuriated. Finally his mother took me aside and said, ‘He feels the wedding is your day so he wants to defer.’ I went to him and said, ‘What I want is for you to have what you want as well. Is there anything you have a preference for, sweetheart?’ It turned out the one thing he really cared about was having his dog present at the ceremony. I said, ‘Sure’, and went back to planning every other detail.” —Kimmy

3. The Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties
“My issue was that Andy wanted a blowout bachelor party. I felt at 32 and 33 respectively we weren’t kids and there was no need for him to act like a college freshman at a frat party. But it was something he really wanted and it wasn’t fair of me to put the kibosh on his dream. So we compromised — he did the party 10 days before the wedding so he and his groomsmen could fully recover. He also texted me throughout the evening so that I wouldn’t worry. Even when he’s a little drunk, my guy is considerate.” —Tina

4. Budget
“I argued over not wanting to spend a huge amount (since he was paying for it all) and being truly content with settling on a backyard wedding. That felt appropriate since I am his second wife (his first passed away), even though I just got married this year at age 46 for the first time. He argued adamantly because he wanted me to have my dream wedding, insisting that I absolutely need and should have what I want. Who argues like that? I wanted what was best for him and he wanted me to have the same. We duked it out. He won. And he won my heart ten thousand times over. So the wedding became an exercise in letting myself be loved. The best gift a husband could ever give.” —Elizabeth

5. Religious versus Non-Religious Ceremony
“I wanted a civil service and he wanted a religious ceremony. This led into serious discussions that it was really important for us to have about what religion meant to each of us. I gave into the religious ceremony since he wanted it so much and he gave in on other matters that were more important to me. Our pre-marital argument was an invaluable primer in how to communicate.” —Sheila

6. The In-Laws
“His mother was a nightmare, threatening to take over everything. I held my tongue for months and acted out toward him passive aggressively. He finally said, ‘Hon, what is really going on? A ‘zilla has replaced my sweet Nancy.’ I admitted to him that his mom was driving me crazy but I didn’t feel it was my place to confront her. He did the deed, his mom quieted down, and I walked down the aisle more sure than ever that I had made the right choice in a life partner.” —Amy

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

See More: Fighting Over Wedding Plans? Here’s How to Deal

When it comes to food (and let’s be real, dessert) at weddings, we take things VERY seriously. Take, for example, our wedding food bar ideas that make for a gorgeously delicious reception. Or maybe even our non-traditional takes on a wedding cake. Whatever wets your whistle, we think everyone can all agree on one thing: food is a majorly important part of the guest experience on your big day. Now, YOU may not have a ton of time to savor every bite as you rush around greeting your guests during the reception, but if you want your family and friends to have an exceptional time, we recommend serving some exceptional eats.

But what makes certain meals so “exceptional,” you may ask? Well, we wondered the same thing since wedding food tends to get a bad rap. So we reached out to our Instagram followers and asked one simple question: “What’s the BEST thing you ever ate at a wedding?” Answers ranged from savory to sweet, and some were more predictable than others (we’re looking at you wedding cake lovers!). Read on to find out what foods our readers will never forget.

THE SAVORY

1. Shark Fin Soup in Chinatown, San Francisco.

2. Late-night hot dogs from a hot dog truck.

3. Sliders with poutine.

4. Mashed potato bar.

5. Breakfast for dinner.

THE SWEET

1. Wedding tarts.

2. Mango cheesecake.

3. Doughnuts.

4. Wedding cake.

5. Fried oreos.

See More: 24 Creative Wedding Dessert Bar Ideas

Hungry yet? We definitely are!

Ryan Reynolds may have just gotten into some seriously hot water with his wife Blake Lively — but oddly enough, we couldn’t be happier about it! (Sorry, Ryan!) The Deadpool actor might have just accidentally revealed the sex of their newborn despite how tightlipped he and his sweetheart are when it comes to their little ones. Can we officially call this “pulling an Ashton Kutcher”?

Earlier this month, Kutcher let the sex of his unborn baby slip during a talkshow appearance, where he commented “She points to Mila and she’s like, ‘baby brother’ when she points to the belly,” referring to his two-year-old daughter Wyatt — and his soon-to-arrive little one. Yep, baby brother! And now it looks like Reynolds just suffered from the same slip of the tongue — or in this case, slip of the keyboard.

We’ve been waiting, wishing, and hoping for any news on the newest addition to the Reynolds/Lively family after The Shallows actress gave birth to their second child in late September. But the private parents have left us high and dry — until now that is! The always hilarious Reynolds took to Twitter to make us snicker with an amusing anecdote of their post-baby life. “The mobile above my daughter’s crib is just a whole bunch of NuvaRings,” he wrote. “So she remembers how lucky she is.” Ummm, excuse us?! DAUGHTER?!

See More: Ryan Reynolds’ Top 3 Sexiest Dad Moments

Did Reynolds just let it slip that he and Lively have a new baby girl? The pair are already the proud parents to daughter James, but since her second birthday is coming up in December, it’s likely not her crib referenced in Reynolds’ tweet that sent fans into a total frenzy — us included!

So was this just Reynold’s oh-so-causal way of revealing the gender of his little one? Or was this a true accident (but of the happiest kind)? Or is Reynolds just trying to throw us all off? He couldn’t be that mean… Could he?

The mobile above my daughter's crib is just a whole bunch of NuvaRings. So she remembers how lucky she is.

— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) October 20, 2016

@VancityReynolds So…it's a girl!!! ????

— IVELISSE??? (@iverodoyola) October 20, 2016

@VancityReynolds so you have two girls ?

— oph??lie (@SparkleLively) October 20, 2016

@VancityReynolds so you guys had another girl??? ????????

— Kayla England (@kaylajengland) October 20, 2016

It’s long been contended that age and love have a lot in common. And it turns out, yes, they actually do.

Everyone knows the stereotypes well. If a much older man marries or dates a much younger woman, then he’s a cradle-robber, and she, a trophy wife. Conversely, if a much older woman dates a much younger man, then she’s a cougar (possibly also a cradle-robber), and he’s a cougar hunter.

In these situations, both sides face the negative onslaught of opinion around them from people who believe the relationship doesn’t add up because of age. They always believe there’s another reason (usually gold-digging) that these people wind up together.

Whatever the argument for the couples having met, and regardless if they stay together or not, according to science, their relationship really does have more of a limited expectancy because of a giant gap in their ages.

Though there are some people who would argue that age is “just a number,” there is actually a specific age difference that will help you spell out “true love” with your significant other.

In a study recently published by Emory University in Atlanta, researchers discovered that increasing the age between partners actually increases your chances of splitting — in one case by over thirty times the odds of an equal-age couple.

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

The study consisted of 3,000 people and researchers determined that the wider the difference in age, the greater the chance of them facing Splitsville.

So what’s the prognosis? Well, if you and your beau are about five years apart in age, you face an 18 percent higher chance of breaking up, whereas if you two share an age gap of about 10 years apart, that number increases quite a bit — all the way to 39 percent! Wow.

We’ve also got bad news for people with at least 20 years’ difference between them: your chances of separating rise to a staggering 95 percent over people with an equal-age gap.

See More: 10 Famously GORGEOUS Love Poems For Your Soul Mate

And the sweet spot for a perfectly-aged pairing? It turns out that finding someone close in age to you is where it’s at. Marrying someone only 1 year older or younger than you decreases your chances of splitting to 3 percent.

While everyone is different, and people thrive in all sorts of relationships, researchers were certainly able to find a pattern. Other factors — children, lifestyle, and behavior — were taken into consideration, of course. So, in the end, age is only one factor of many, even if it’s quite telling.

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

This article originally appeared on YourTango.

If you’re a vino-loving bride, what better way to express your fondness for the good stuff than hosting your wedding at a winery or vineyard? Rows of vines can serve as a backdrop for your first look and your guests can tote home some local bubbly as a favor, all while you mark the occasion at a locale steeped in history. If you’re on the hunt for a New Jersey venue where you can uncork some good times, then take a cue from Plautus, who said it best: “Let us celebrate the occasion with wine and sweet words.”

Tomasello Winery (Above)

If you want to get hitched at a winery but don’t want to abandon your dreams of having a true ballroom reception, no need to fret. Tomasello checks both of those boxes. Couples can exchange vows outdoors under a flower-covered archway with rows of vines in the background and then roam the grounds where topiaries and well-maintained greenery can serve as a setting for bridal party photos. Later, head indoors for a reception in an opulent hall with luxurious drapery and over-the-top chandeliers where a caring and detailed staff will wait on you hand and foot. Read real brides’ reviews here!

Renault Winery Resort and Golf

One of the oldest operating wineries in the U.S., Renault has helped to earn Egg Harbor the nickname “Wine City.” The venue has a number of outdoor ceremony options for brides searching for a classic winery feel. Its expansive property is dotted with barrels and Mediterranean touches like vines, grapes and corks serve as décor at Renault’s restaurants and four private party locations. Looking to give your guests something to do at the venue in between your ceremony and reception? Invite them to tour Renault’s priceless wine glass collection—some of the vessels date back to the 1200s! Read real brides’ reviews here!

See More: Still looking for dresses for your bridal party? Browse local bridal boutiques for your bridesmaids’ and mom’s gowns in New Jersey!

Laurita Winery

Laurita is known for its picturesque premises, and even a quick visit will clue guests in to why. The grounds are immaculately maintained and provide breathtaking views, especially for summer and fall weddings. Rustic touches like wooden posts, fences and barrels give a farmland vibe to photos and excellent catering staff make sure that guests leave happy and well-fed. You’ll definitely have a fully stocked bar at Laurita—the venue will work with you to provide the best wines available that time of year and directly connect you with a vendor that can provide other liquor and spirits at your fete. Read real brides’ reviews here!

Unionville Vineyards

For couples searching for an intimate setting with a bit of a country vibe, Unionville is the perfect pick. The venue’s tasting room or winery building are a gorgeous setting for smaller affairs—100 guests or less—and its string lights and farm equipment lend a bucolic flair to the place. No need to worry if you’re looking for a bigger bash—Unionville does after all have a nearly 90-acre farm, with plenty of space for a tented reception right after a ceremony behind the property’s mansion. (Yes, mansion!) Read real brides’ reviews here!

Valenzano Family Winery

The award-winning winery boasts a laid back and friendly approach to learning about wine that extends to its way of handling weddings. The welcoming feel of the Napa Valley inspired locale strikes the delicate balance of being relaxed enough to make guests feel comfortable, but special enough to host a monumental occasion like your wedding. Couples who get married at Valenzano work with one of a half-dozen approved caterers for a menu that fits your budget and taste. Brides will have a hard time deciding between the venue’s tasting room where wine racks line the walls and the on site converted farmhouse with exposed brick and a fireplace that creates a charming and intimate space for smaller parties. Read real brides’ reviews here!

Can’t decide between red or white for your wedding? Read up on how to pick the perfect wine for your big day!

Looking for a different type of venue? Check out other NJ locales and find your perfect fit on our New Jersey Venues page!

Looking for ways to include your dog in your wedding ceremony? Whether you and your fiancé share a pet or you can’t even dream of getting married in front of all your friends and family without your trusted childhood pet by your side, there are plenty of ways to include your pet in wedding. Just check out the sweet and creative ways these couples incorporated their dogs into their own big days.

With the Flower Girls (above): The couple’s florist designed a double garland to decorate the dog’s leash so that both flower girls could help walk the pup down the aisle.

With the Ring Bearers: If your pups are on the smaller side, recruit your ring bearers to carry them down the ceremony aisle.

Sign Bearer: Before you make your grand entrance, have your pooch walk down the aisle wearing a sign announcing your arrival.

Dog of Honor: This crafty bride painted and sewed this burlap “Dog of Honor” bandana for their pup to wear during the ceremony.

Ceremony Processional: Instead of walking in separately, why not enter the ceremony arm-in-arm with your groom and your pets, together as a family?

With the Wedding Party: If your dog is up for it, have your pooch sit or stand up with the bridesmaids or groomsmen during the ceremony — that way, your guests will get a good look at your sweet pet.

Shopping for the perfect wedding venue for your ceremony and reception is an exhausting endeavor that may leave you clutching your wallet tightly — your venue can account for up to half of your total wedding budget. If you find yourself wary at the thought of throwing that much cash down for a place to park your wedding crew for a day, consider these typically affordable wedding venue options, which are just as beautiful as they are reasonably priced.

A National Park
While private parks and gardens can sometimes have years-long wait lists and prices that’ll make your eyes grow wide, national parks allow you to secure special use permits (SUP) for a tiny fraction of the cost. For example, this couple got married at Glacier National Park and paid $100 for a four-hour permit that allowed them to hold their ceremony in one of the amphitheaters. Yellowstone National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, and Smoky Mountain National Park are just a few examples of national parks that provide SUPs for weddings. Talk about jaw dropping ceremony backdrops.

Someone’s Back Yard
If you have an inviting house with a gorgeous backyard — or know a friend, family member or acquaintance who does — channel your inner Gatsby and throw a bash at home. You’ll have a comfortable space to prepare and save tons of money in the process. With all that extra cash you can enlist the expertise of an event designer to transform your space with beautiful lights and decor, as well as hire a kick-ass caterer and bartender.

See More: 10 Airbnb Wedding Venues You’ll Want to Get Married at ASAP

City Hall
Though city hall weddings tend to have a reputation for serving those looking for a quickie elopement, that’s certainly not always the case. Though they do work best for intimate gatherings, city hall weddings can also provide beautiful scenery as you tie the knot with your closest friends and family. In addition to being basically free, many city halls are located in historic buildings with beautiful architecture in the heart of cities, allowing you to get some gorgeous, cityscape wedding photographs.

A Bed & Breakfast
Both AirBnB and privately owned B&Bs can provide stunning, affordable venues for your wedding ceremony and reception. The bonus, of course, is that you and your closest guests will have a space to sleep that evening, so the party can really go on all night. You also won’t likely have to deal with catering restrictions as you do with many venues, which can also help reduce the overall cost. Prices vary, but expect to pay between $500 and $3000 for large spaces. For example, you can rent out this 8000-square foot Hollywood, Florida mansion, or this lavish, ocean view home in California, both for under $1500 a night.

You love your engagement ring almost as much as you adore your partner. So it goes without saying you’d never want anything to happen to it. But your honeymoon — in addition to being the best vacation ever — could be just the place for something bad to happen to your engagement ring or even your wedding band.

Why? If you’re taking a tropical vacation, you could dull the shine of your sparkling diamond with sunscreen — or, much worse, your slightly-loose diamond could get swept away while you’re swimming in the ocean. Let’s say you’re traveling from city to city, and hotel to hotel, on an epic adventure across Europe: You could leave your ring behind on a bathroom counter, never to be found again. And if you’re traveling to a high-risk area, your engagement ring could simply get stolen.

But you can’t spend your honeymoon worrying about your ring. And luckily, it’s actually quite easy to keep your ring safe while you travel with these tips from James Allen and Michele Sigler, the happily married cofounders of James Allen.

See More: 5 Things to Know When Choosing the Perfect Engagement Ring

1. Inspect and insure your ring.
Before you board a plane, take your engagement ring to be serviced and inspected. Bring it back to the jeweler where your ring was purchased, and they’ll check for any defects, such as a loose stone or an ill-fitting band. As Sigler points out, “it’s better to catch a loose stone before you go than lose it during a trip.” If you don’t already have your ring insured, now’s the time to do it, too. While you don’t want to have to replace your ring, you’ll be glad you can in case it gets lost, Sigler says.

2. Take it off.
Yes, you want to wear your ring. But, “When you’re at the beach or on an excursion such as hiking or snorkeling, you can accidentally damage the setting,” Allen says. And you definitely don’t want that. “We also suggest removing your ring while you’re getting ready, because sunscreen and perfume can cause grime to build up and reduce the sheen of your diamond or gemstone,” adds Allen.

3. Lock it up.
When you remove your ring, don’t just set it anywhere. Sigler and Allen advise that you take advantage of your hotel room’s safe whenever you’re not wearing your rings. Alternatively, if you’re not comfortable wearing your engagement ring at all on your honeymoon, it’s best to leave it at home — also locked in a safe place — and wear only your wedding band on your trip. “It still says, ‘I’m married,’ without risking the much more expensive engagement ring,” says Sigler.

You could search for hours and hours on Pinterest for unique wedding photo ideas, but these “I do” pics are not just a Pinterest goal — they’re something out of a bonafide fantasy. If you and your hubby-to-be are already taking the plunge, why not do so literally? That’s what these brides and grooms did in these totally jaw-dropping underwater wedding photos. Taken by photographer Adam Opris, they’ll blow your list of must-have wedding pics out of the water — again, literally…

While you were searching for a gorgeous gazebo or stunning skyline to take your day-of portraits, these brides and grooms scouted their photo locale under-the-sea and in the pool. How’s that for an out-of-the-box and off-of-land location? (Your mermaid-loving childhood-self is screaming right now…) Armed with a waterproof camera, the Florida-based Opris captures brides and grooms floating in an underwater wonderland after saying their “I dos” for some seriously magical mementos, a project that got started over two years ago when Opris began shooting his nieces in their swimming pool, according to The Huffington Post.

Nowadays, this photographer has couples clamoring for his unbelievable underwater shots and it’s not hard to see why. From the ethereally floating fabric of the wedding dresses, to the brides’ flowing hair, to those fairytale-level romantic underwater smooches, have you ever seen anything cooler? “I love seeing how the different dynamics come out underwater, when people try and help each other float or mess with each other’s hair,” the photographer recently explained to Inside Edition.

See More: 22 Beautiful Military Wedding Photos

So what’s keeping you from diving into a pool post-wedding to capture a few especially splashy nuptial pics? After all, you don’t have to head to a tropical reef or be a certified SCUBA diver to take a dip in a pool after tying the knot. And If you’re cringing at the thought of your dream (and expensive…) wedding dress being submerged, you were really ever going to wear that thing again?

Krystal Tate knew of Kevin Hulten before they started dating, but she was better acquainted with his brother, Kyle, who she knew from work. “I remember seeing Kevin’s Facebook profile on Kyle’s computer once, and being completely taken with his looks,” Krystal admits, and she was delighted when Kevin popped by an office party and the pair finally met in person. Her opening line? “I suavely said, ‘I know who you are — I’ve seen your Facebook!’ Fortunately he didn’t automatically assume I was a stalker.” They became friends on Facebook, she says, and the rest was history.

After Kevin popped the question on a trip to Lake Tahoe, the pair began to plan an epic but intimate September 16, 2015, affair in Paris. The couple has an affinity for the City of Lights and the movie Midnight in Paris, so they dreamed up a wedding that would take their 20 guests back to the roaring ’20s. “Paris is the perfect city for such time travel — it wears every era so flawlessly,” the bride says. The ceremony was held at 6 Mandel, the same boutique hotel where Christian Dior once lived. Later, guests had a chance to enjoy the city by yacht during the couple’s dinner cruise reception. “There were quite a few people in our group who had never been to Paris before,” says Krystal, “and the Seine is truly the heart of the city since many of the landmarks are right off its banks.”

With these flawless images from Dan Petrovice, you’ll feel like you visited Paris with this happy couple, too. Just read on.

Krystal chose a fit-and-flare lace wedding dress by Eve of Milady, complete with a sheer bodice. “I must have tried on 75 dresses,” the bride says of finding the one. “I knew exactly what I wanted, but I couldn’t find a single dress that incorporated all those ideas and was still in my budget.”

With that stunning gown, the bride wore crystal-embellished Badgley Mischka pumps, chandelier earrings, and an Art Deco-inspired hair pin, and carried a bouquet of pink and cream blooms created by the mother of the groom.

Of her dress shopping experience, Krystal has this advice for soon-to-be brides: “Don’t be afraid to tell your seamstress what you need to make your dress fit perfectly,” she says, admitting she wishes she had asked for a tighter-fitting alteration. “When I needed to use the bathroom, it was so easy to just hike it up over my hips to go. That might sound like a good thing, but I wanted a ton of va-va-voom in the shape, and I think I gave up some of that by listening to the seamstress instead of my instincts.”

Kevin looked dapper in a classic black-and-white tuxedo and bow tie. But instead of a traditional boutonniere, Kevin and his two groomsmen wore vintage French lapel pins. “Kevin’s was sort of spear-shaped, so it was barely allowed back on the plane because it did look somewhat dangerous,” Krystal says, “but we managed to talk our way into getting it home.”

Krystal’s sister and sister-in-law served as her bridesmaids. “I wanted both of them to feel fabulous and to choose something sequined and metallic that they loved,” says Krystal, so the women ended up in mismatched rose gold gowns with sequins. “They were different enough to show their personalities and similar enough that they totally complemented the overall scheme,” says the bride. The couple’s flower girl also wore a rose-gold dress, and carried the rings down the aisle.

Krystal and Kevin were supposed to tie the knot outside, but rain derailed their plans. “This turned out to be for the best because we were having all sorts of problems trying to figure out how to decorate the garden, how to make all the chairs fit, and how to get my fluffy dress through the shrubbery,” the bride says. “The rain made it simple, and we got to stand in front of a giant fireplace, which was amazing for me because I’m always chilly.” After the couple exchanged vows they wrote themselves, they recessed to John Legend‘s “All of Me.”

Before guests boarded the yacht, the couple whisked them off on buses (where they could drink champagne) and took them to see the Eiffel Tower and the Thinker at the Rodin Museum. On the yacht, guests were asked to sit at a single oval table, “so that everyone could sit together and be one family,” explains Krystal. That table was decorated with floral arrangements the bride and groom made themselves the day before, and topped with a sequin champagne made by the mother of the groom.

“Even though I’m an attorney now, my true passion is for poetry,” says Krystal, “so for each guest, I found the perfect love poem to place inside a tiny vintage frame with their name and the date of our wedding.” The bride chose poems by Rumi, e.e. cummings, Neruda, Walt Whitman, and more. “I think it worked out beautifully and was meaningful to the guests,” she says.

The couple skipped a traditional cake and opted for a French croquembouche as a sweet treat, after a dinner that included other French specialties, such as foie gras and beef confit.

Following the wedding, the newlyweds enjoyed a honeymoon in Italy, Greece, Czechoslovakia, and the United Kingdom.

Ceremony Venue: 6 Mandel || Reception Venue: Yachts de Paris || Bride’s Wedding Dress: Eve of Milady || Shoes: Badgley Mischka || Hair & Makeup: Allison Depriestre || Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alice and Olivia; Badgley Mischka || Groom’s & Groomsmen’s Attire: The Black Tux || Wedding Bands: T. Anthony Jewelers || Invitations: Minted || Music: Tess and Alex || Catering & Cake: Lenotre || Transportation: Rent a Bus France || Photographer: Dan Petrovice

Can’t get enough of this beautiful wedding? Then check out another couple’s Parisian wedding in the video below.