Whether you handpicked your wedding date or went with whatever was available at your venue of choice, the time of year you host your nuptials can play a role in some key decisions. But the month you get married shouldn’t fully dictate the look and feel of your big day. We asked some pros for their advice on how to keep your wedding seasonal without going overboard.

Don’t Over Do It
The trick is to use seasonal décor sparingly, says Audrey Isaac of 100 Candles. “The goal should be to give a nod to the season without it completely overshadowing your theme,” she adds. So you can skip the decorated fir trees and wreaths around the holidays. Simply pair lanterns and LED lights with a few pinecones and touches of evergreen. And get creative with glass vessels. You can fill them with seasonal fruits like cranberries floating in water.

Think Beyond the Obvious
For September through November, resist the urge to scatter leaves, pumpkins and scarecrows everywhere. “You will quickly go from ‘fall’ to ‘craft fair,'” says Kim Sayatovic of Belladeux Events. If you’re getting married in the spring some simple, fresh flowers is enough to give a seasonal feel. And in the summer, cool colors and sheer fabrics can make you feel like you’re in the French Rivera, Sayatovic says. The same goes for weddings around other holidays, like Valentine’s Day. Bag the hearts and go old-school romance instead. Use famous love quotes for table assignments or as handheld banners at your photo station, says Paula Ramirez of the Historic Mankin Mansion.

Go Subtle on Color
As far as color, instead of literally decking the halls in red and green at Christmastime, Isaac says to opt for rich metallic tones such as gold and copper. Avoiding the highly obvious choices will help you steer clear of making your wedding look more like Santa’s workshop. Similarly, autumn weddings can rely on some gorgeous colors like reds, oranges and yellows, but hold back from using them too generously.

See More: 42 Fall-Inspired Wedding Cakes

Pick Just One Element to Highlight
Visual subtlety is definitely the way to go, according to Jamie Chang of Passport to Joy, who says picking just one element — for example, the color orange or twinkling lights — for incorporating the season without overdoing it. That said, she recommends thinking of the experience itself in addition to the aesthetics. “Focus on the bringing in the mood of the season and the feeling. That could be in the food or the drinks or the program or the favor or how guests are greeted.” A cozy and warm squash soup for fall or a fun wine slushie drink for summer are always a hit with guests. A dessert table packed with traditional holiday treats made by relatives is also a great idea, adds Amy Kolodziej of Sunshower Photography. You can also allude to the season through wedding favors to enjoy at the party or take home. Chang suggests small potted flowers or seeds for spring or greeting guests with something that will make them more comfortable, like hand warmers in winter.

Keep Personal Style At the Forefront
Just remember, don’t get carried away. Your best bet is choosing delicate seasonal undertones while using your own personal style to solidify the aesthetics, Ramirez says. So try not to obsess over every single detail being “on season.” Being selective about where you choose to highlight fall, winter, spring or summer touches will give it a more natural effect and reduce overall stress. “Don’t let it be the focus or take away from what is special about the day — the ceremony and being with the people that are close to you to celebrate,” says Emily Sullivan of Get Polished Events.

They say practice makes perfect, and the same goes for your wedding ceremony. While you may have watched a few (and even stood up as a bridesmaid!), if you’ve never stood up at the altar before, it will still feel pretty new. And even if your wedding party is full of seasoned pros, a wedding or three a year does not an expert make. That’s where the rehearsal comes in! Rehearsing for your ceremony serves a few major purposes, from familiarizing everyone with the order they’ll process in and where they’ll stand to when readings and vows will take place. To really make the most of this important pre-wedding detail, we’ve turned to the experts at Kelly Karli Weddings & Events for five tips that will ensure your ceremony rehearsal is a smashing success.

Communicate With Your Officiant
“It’s always a good idea to review your ceremony with your officiant before the rehearsal begins,” says Taylor Walkowicz, creative director and lead planner. “Make sure he or she is comfortable with the order of things, review last-minute changes, and take a moment to cover any questions that might come up.” She recommends confirming who will be providing the copies of readings, who will have your vows, and who will be providing the necessary items for any rituals or unity ceremonies (as well as where they’ll go during the ceremony). “This can relieve a lot of last-minute panic on your wedding day!” Walkowicz explains.

Practice in Place
For maximum success, rehearse at the actual venue where you’ll be holding the ceremony so everyone gets comfortable in the space and can figure out exactly where they’ll need to go the next day. Not possible? “Bring a photo of the ceremony site with you so your bridal party can visualize where they’ll be on your wedding day,” says associate planner Lindsey Will. “It might seem like a no-brainer to you (since you’ve been in your ceremony space a few times before), but being able to see what the space looks like will really help those who haven’t seen the ceremony site before.”

Print Copies
Instead of just telling people where to go and when they’ll need to move or speak, print out copies of the processional order, a diagram of the standing order, an overview of the order of the ceremony, and seating placement for your family and friends. Says Walkowicz, “Share these with the ushers, too! If you have specific seats reserved for family or friends, this will let them know where to escort people the next day.” Your wedding party will also be able to review their place and get a better sense of what happens when, even if the rehearsal itself goes by in a blur.

See more: Who Needs to Be at the Ceremony Rehearsal?

Bring Your Wedding Party Timeline
Your rehearsal is about more than just practicing your ceremony: It’s a great chance to get everyone ready for how things will go throughout the day. “Creating a timeline for your wedding party, family, and friends is a great way to ensure they’re all on the same page,” explains Will. Include your hair and makeup schedule, a meeting time and place for the groomsmen, exactly when your wedding party will need to depart for (and arrive at!) the ceremony site, specifics about transportation, and a general timeline of when you’ll be taking photos. “Distribute the timeline at the rehearsal and set aside a few minutes to review it and answer any questions your family and wedding party might have, so you can relax the next day,” Will says.

Take Your Time!
While you may want to rush through the rehearsal to get to the rehearsal dinner, spend a little extra time communicating with every single person who is participating in the ceremony to make sure they’re comfortable with the schedule of events. “Your wedding party, ushers, readers, flower girls, ring bearers, and family will all have different and unique questions about their responsibilities, so give yourself plenty of time to speak with each of them and address any concerns,” says Walkowicz. “Schedule at least an hour for the rehearsal. The actual processional, ceremony order, and recessional might only take 20 or 30 minutes, but leave extra time for questions and to iron out any details that made more sense on paper than they do when you’re actually practicing.”

Who says your honeymoon needs to be all pool lounging and fruity cocktails? More and more newlyweds are opting to take a different approach when it comes to their honeymoon destinations — and we’ve got the real stories to prove it. From a week at baseball fantasy camp, to spending a year in the Peace Corps, and even a stint at a haunted hotel, these real couples’ wild honeymoon stories will inspire you to think outside the box when planning your post-wedding trip.

“We spent my honeymoon camping throughout New Zealand for 21 days and it was wild and crazy and wonderful all at the same time. Not many wives would choose to camp for their honeymoon — and far fewer would choose to camp in a camper van for the entirety of the honeymoon. But that’s what I did and I have no regrets. It was the best way to see the country and meet the locals and submerge ourselves in the Kiwi culture. We spent our days driving primarily, but when we’d arrive at each destination an adventure waited. One day we bungee jumped off of the oldest bridge, another day we rode at top speeds through river canyons in a jet boat, once we kayaked through fjords that were straight out of a movie, and yet another day we ended up walking/hiking nearly 20 miles! There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t wish I was still on my wild and crazy honeymoon, exploring the vast New Zealand landscapes with my husband.” —Erica

“Bill and I met while doing volunteer work after Hurricane Katrina. When we decided to marry, we also made the decision as a honeymoon gift to ourselves to do something that was a childhood dream for both of us. After the ceremony we spent a weekend at a lush hotel, then packed up and joined the Peace Corps to spend a year working in a rural village of Ghana. Conditions were primitive but it was an amazing way to start our lives together. The memories of this special adventure bonded us forever.” —Amy

“My honey and I wanted something that taxed us mentally, physically and spiritually. So after we said ‘I do,’ we took off to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. It was arduous to get to the top, of course, but the views were the most breathtaking we will ever see!” —Tasha

“Phil and I met in law school and married spontaneously while in Vegas for a romantic weekend. Our timing sucked as we were both taking our boards the following week. So that was our honeymoon — cramming.” —Ruth

See More: 20 Honeymoon Destinations for Adventurous Couples

“Since we are both into ghosts it seemed appropriate to honeymoon at the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego. The place is haunted by a woman who arrived in 1892, never checked out, and is reputed to ‘haunt’ lovebirds. I did get a glimpse of a gorgeous young, mournful woman in the bathroom mirror — which was a total thrill.” —Cynthia

“Okay, we’re both Mickey Mouse geeks so we went to Disney World. It was Mark’s 30th time at the amusement park and my 18th! It never gets old: We recently spent our 5th anniversary back at Disney.” —Pam

“We were so drained from 18 months of wedding planning that our decision was to go nowhere and relax in our brand new home. It was even better because everyone thought we were off somewhere exotic so Dan and I spend 100% quality time together.” —Sue

“Since the two of us both love baseball, our honeymoon was at a week-long Mets Fantasy Camp where we could meet and be coached by former pros like Mookie Wilson. It was surreal and totally fulfilled our expectations. Play ball!” —Laura

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

What’s better than a mid-week lunch break with a friend? How about one that goes from lunch to an afternoon at a luxe New York City spa? The day before Halloween in 2013, Erica Kulka’s coworker talked her into stopping by Columbus Circle where she claimed she needed to pick up a document from her husband. “We were passing the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, and decided to head up to the lobby to check out the view of Central Park,” says Erica. She spotted her boyfriend, Peter Salanki, sitting on a couch and, in her confusion, barely noticed when her coworker disappeared. “Peter and I headed up to the 35th floor, and he lead me toward the spa. I protested about having to head back to work, but he’d already cleared my afternoon with my boss,” Erica says. They spent the afternoon indulging in a luxurious bath, a couple’s body scrub, and a massage. Then, as they sat down for lunch, Peter opened his eyeglass case — and out came an engagement ring.

The couple took their time planning their wedding, choosing Casa Ybel Resort on Florida’s Sanibel Island for their April 16, 2016, wedding. “Peter’s best man’s family owns a house in Sanibel, and we’ve always loved visiting there. We fell in love with the white sand beaches and the tranquility!” says Erica. While planning from afar was a challenge, a fabulous team of vendors helped the couple create a colorful seascape, full of sea fans, driftwood, coral, and air plants. “We don’t love an over-abundance of flowers, so instead we focused on natural elements.” The result was perfect for the pair’s beachfront setting, and will have you wishing you were on a Florida beach! Take a peek at all the gorgeous details, captured by Anastasiia Photography.

When Erica and her mom stopped by the Elizabeth Fillmore trunk show at Gabriella New York, she was so excited to see that the designer herself was there. The silk crepe and lace long-sleeved wedding dress Erica chose was the first one she tried on. “I was the first bride the designer had seen in the dress,” says the bride. “My mom also got the first wedding gown she tried on, so I knew I’d found it!” We love how the design combines sheer French lace with architectural details — breezy enough for the beach, but covered enough for an early spring wedding.

Erica’s organic orange and pink bouquet was comprised of garden roses, ranunculus, king protea, and air plants.

Peter stood out in a custom blue tuxedo with a black lapels and a black bow tie. Erica paired her look with a soft updo and her mother’s pearl earrings. “My mother always said she’d wear them when her daughter got married. Turns out I wore them instead!”

Orange is the bride’s favorite color, and it fit beautifully into the couple’s wedding color scheme, including the bridesmaids’ dresses! They wore strapless dresses by Alfred Sung, and carried air plants instead of traditional bouquets.

As guests arrived at the ceremony, a basket of parasols was on-hand to shade them from the Florida sun. Along the aisle, glass bottles were filled with beach grass and surrounded with sea fans, coral, and air plants.

The arch, made of manzanita branches, was flanked with flowing grass and offered guests an incredible view of the ocean beyond. “When we were planning our ceremony, Peter told me he didn’t want to write personal vows, so we’d planned to only exchange the traditional ones,” says Erica. “But when we were at the altar, Peter started sharing his personal vows with me! I was in shock and started crying — and had to come up with my own vows on the spot!”

On the resort’s lawn, a mix of round and long tables were set beneath a tent draped in white fabric. Lucite chairs added an additional airy feel to the outdoor reception, with soft blue-gray napkins harkening back to the color of the sea.

Instead of lush blooms, the centerpieces combined small orange and peach arrangements with collections of coral and driftwood. An orange sea fan was placed at each guest’s seat. Air plants and sprinklings of sea glass gave a soft feel to the bare wood tables, while round tables were draped with white sequin linens for a hint of sparkle.

In keeping with their beachy theme, the couple skipped traditional place cards in favor of of something a little more whimsical but still entirely elegant. Each guest’s name was written in copper ink inside a mussel shell.

Other copper accents, like modern square vases and votive holders and calligraphy-style table numbers, added a touch of modern glam to the organic tablescapes.

Peter and Erica’s three-tiered wedding cake, decorated with rose gold chocolate sea shells and starfish, had layers of raspberry cake with chocolate filling and chocolate cake with mocha filling. Yum!

“We had so much fun taking lessons for our first dance to Frank Sinatra’s ‘Fly Me to the Moon,'” says Erica. “I’d recommend it for all engaged couples!” She also recommends trying not to stress in the days leading up to the wedding. “Everything has a way of coming together, even if it’s the night before!”

Venue & Catering: Casa Ybel Resort || Wedding Planner: Rosemarie Peluso || Bride’s Wedding Dress: Elizabeth Fillmore Bridal || Shoes: Nina Shoes || Hair & Makeup: Makeup by Michelle Regis || Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Alfred Sung || Groom’s Attire: Buy4Less Tuxedo || Officiant: Beautiful Florida Weddings || Florist: Isn’t She Lovely Florals || Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas || Paper Goods: Zazzle; Cultural Intrigue || Music: Vanderbilt Strings; DJ Jason & Associates || Cake: LadyCakes Bakery || Rentals: Niche Event Rentals || Photographer: Anastasiia Photography

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

Creating your wedding guest list is tough enough, and that’s before you add office politics to the mix! If you’ve decided that your work bestie is definitely getting invited to your wedding, the next question to ask is: Do you also have to invite your boss? Amber Harrison, Wedding Paper Divas’ Style and Etiquette Expert and host of Small Talk, Big Day, has a few tips for navigating these uncharted waters with ease.

Beware: Extending wedding invitations in the workplace can be a slippery slope! “As a general rule, you should only invite those colleagues that you spend time with outside of the office or feel especially close to,” says Harrison. Inviting coworkers out of obligation runs the risk of creating resentment toward people whose spot you wish you’d given to a friend or family member — especially in the event of a workplace disagreement down the road. Adds Harrison, “Sometimes an all or nothing approach can make things easier [i.e. inviting all of your coworkers or none of them], but that isn’t always the right solution.” While Harrison says that your boss isn’t an obvious addition to your guest list, even if you are inviting other coworkers, she has a few things to consider when deciding whether it’s the right choice for you.

Your Relationship
“Do you work closely with your boss, and do you feel comfortable with each other? Do you frequently talk about things unrelated to work? Have you discussed your wedding at length? If the answer is yes to any (or all) of these questions, you should definitely invite them,” says Harrison.

Office Politics
Think about how other coworkers have handled this in the past. “Will your boss feel slighted if he or she does not receive an invitation? Is an invitation to your wedding a gesture they would appreciate, or might even expect? Consider which decision would most encourage smooth sailing at work,” Harrison explains.

See more: 5 Things to Keep in Mind When Planning an Office Bridal Shower

Your Comfort
Of course, it comes down to whether or not you’ll be comfortable on your wedding day. “Will you feel comfortable and be able to relax and have fun on your wedding day with your boss in attendance? Do you think your boss would feel comfortable and enjoy the celebration? If you are concerned that your invitation is being extended — and would be accepted — out of obligation only, proceed with caution,” Harrison advises.

And of course, regardless of who you add to the guest list, try to keep wedding-related conversation in the workplace to a minimum. “Use discretion when extending invitations. Always mail them to a home address, never to the office or distributed by hand at work,” says Harrison. “And keep any talk of plans discreet and private, so other officemates don’t feel as though they’ve been snubbed.”

Let’s face it — marriage ain’t easy. It’s a 24/7, lifelong commitment that isn’t always a walk in the park and definitely requires work. But when you really think about it, it’s also one of the greatest things that can happen to two people. And just because we love marriage that much, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite reasons why marriage is basically the best thing ever for your enjoyment (as told in dog gifs, obviously).

1. You get to kiss — a lot.

2. You’re guaranteed at least one gift on your birthday.

3. There’s always someone to celebrate holidays with — and help you deal with your parents.

4. Couples’ costumes are a cinch.

5. You finally have someone you can communicate with without even talking.

6. You can always count on someone to pick up something you need at the store.

Tampons, a bottle of wine, chocolate, tweezers — all fair game.

7. You *ALWAYS* have a guaranteed plus-one at weddings.

Even if they’re not a great dancer, entertainment is guaranteed.

8. Your dog/cat isn’t your only cuddle buddy anymore.

9. You have a perma-roommate.

Hopefully you won’t fight over the remote too much.

10. You’re guaranteed to get laid at least once a week (more if you’re lucky/not tired/too stressed).

Snuggling optional.

11. You automatically get a new family.

The good, the bad, the ugly — and the adorable.

12. You get an exercise buddy 4LIFE.

13. Going through hard times isn’t as bad because you always have a shoulder to lean on.

Courtesy of Giphy