Out of all of the pre-wedding festivities, the bachelorette party might be the most fun. When was the last time you had a chance to get your closest friends together for a night or weekend of adventures? (Whether they’re rated PG or R is up to you!) And while the bride is usually not so involved in planning the bachelorette party, the one thing she does have a say on is the guest list. So who gets an invite, and who doesn’t? We’ll break it down for you, with a little help from Amber Harrison, Wedding Paper Divas’ Style and Etiquette Expert and host of Small Talk, Big Day.

“Typically, the bachelorette party is reserved for your bridesmaids and maybe a few of your closest friends and female family members,” says Harrison. “This can change depending on the type of celebration you want and the activities you end up choosing.”

Start with a conversation with whoever will be planning and hosting the event. Advises Harrison, “Think about what kind of party you want, and discuss it with your bridesmaids so they are clear about what (and who!) you are comfortable with. Ultimately, the guest list is up to you!” The type of event you’re comfortable with will also have a big impact on who you decide to invite.

“If you have a great relationship with your mom, aunt, or other family member, go ahead and include them. Just remember to make sure everyone on the guest list would be comfortable participating or observing — including you!” Harrison says. An afternoon at your favorite winery or a day at the spa? Invite Mom and your aunt to come along. A weekend in Vegas? You may want to leave those family members at home.

There’s only one real guest list no-no to avoid. “Don’t invite anyone who has not received an invitation to your wedding,” Harrison emphasizes. “That goes for your shower, too!”

See more: The 4 Hottest Bachelorette Party Destinations for 2017

Well, it seems that there’s no denying that Khloe Kardashian’s new bling is from her NBA star sweetheart, Tristan Thompson! We first became suspicious that the youngest Kardashian sister is planning to tie the knot with Thompson when she first stepped out with a glittering diamond ring on that oh-so-special finger. Cue our excited screams about another over-the-top televised wedding spectacular! (Oh please, don’t act like you’re above it…) And today, the reality star offered up an up-close and personal look at her blinged-out left hand — and it’s obvious that the latest addition to her collection of ice is courtesy of Thompson!

In case you haven’t been Keeping Up with the Kardashians lately, “Khloe and Tristan have been seeing each other for a little bit,” a source previously shared with People. “He’s a really nice, good guy and she seems very happy with him.” Between Snapchat smooches and PDA around Tinsel Town, the two have been showing off their love and we’ve been loving every second of it. But now, Kardashian is showing off something else that’s got us talking…

Is this the engagement ring — or rings — selfie that we’ve been waiting for? (Really, you didn’t expect a Kardashian to only have — gasp! — one engagement ring, did you?!) The KUWTK star was first spotted with a suspicious stack of diamond eternity bands on her left ring finger late last month. But now she’s added another piece of bling to the mix that says her heart definitely belongs to Thompson. In a recent social media snapshot Kardashian shared, that trio of dazzling diamond rings are seen shining bright — but with a Cleveland Cavaliers band right alongside ’em. That’s right, Kardashian is wearing a ring that shows support for her beau’s NBA team in her latest Instagram share. And even better? She’s resting her hand atop of Thompson’s, who is also sporting matching Cavaliers bling.

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A photo posted by Khlo?? (@khloekardashian) on Oct 25, 2016 at 8:54pm PDT

See More: Why Kylie Jenner and Tyga Won’t Be Getting Kim Kardashian’s Blessing If They Get Engaged

Before we get too excited, a source shared with E! News that Thompson has yet to pop the question, so sadly, it seems that those glittering diamonds are not of the “I do” kind… But we have a feeling that Kardashian’s Cavaliers ring won’t be the only bling she’ll be receiving from the basketball pro! “There is a lot of chemistry between the two of them and they are happy together,” another insider shared with the gossip site. “She’s even gotten close with a few of his friends and they all hang out sometimes. Khloe hasn’t had this much fun with someone in a while.”

That certainly sounds promising, no? Consider us still on engagement ring lookout…

A photo posted by Davina Diaries (@thedavinadiaries) on Oct 26, 2016 at 10:30am PDT

Guilty of dreaming of your fairytale wedding since you were a little girl? You were probably watching your favorite princess in a Disney movie the first time you imagined your big day, are we right? And that dream? It’s not too far from reality. Whether you imagined yourself as bold Jasmine or bookish Belle, you too can look and feel like a princess on your wedding day — no fairy godmother necessary! Just like you, each Disney princess has a style that is all her. Just find your favorite for your wedding day style inspiration.

Belle
An off-white or ivory ballgown with gold detail is a subtle nod to the sunny ballgown Belle dazzled in. Look for a skirt with layers to copy her gown’s full shape. A fitted bodice and asymmetrical tiered skirt and chapel train made of organza in this Tara Keely number mimic the silhouette of Belle’s dress.

Sleeping Beauty
Today’s blush colored dresses allow you to easily mirror Aurora’s pretty in pink vibes. With a cascading hemline and floral neckline, this Marchesa fit and flare is all ruffles. Just make sure you get your beauty sleep the night before to complete the look!

Elsa
What better way to look like Elsa than to don the Elsa-inspired wedding dress straight from Alfred Angelo’s Disney Fairy Tale Bridal collection? Made of satin and tulle, this ethereal gown is jeweled with crystal and metallic beading, rhinestones, and sequins — you’ll be sparkling like ice in no time.

Jasmine
Feisty Jasmine knew how to rock a two piece, and luckily, this belly baring look is on trend right now. Lakum’s elegant silk georgette “Alessandra” top of sequin rosettes and appliqued stones pairs tastefully with a simple but stunning “Elizabeth” skirt for a princess Jasmine effect.

Tiana
Princess Tiana’s mint green gown was full of garden whimsy, much like this ethereal Jenny Packham gown. Floral appliques and delicate beading are reminiscent of the flowery feel of Tiana’s Mother Nature infused dress.

See More: Subtle Ways to Embrace Your Inner Cinderella Bride

Cinderella
Long sleeves and a stunning ballgown and train will have you feeling like Disney’s ultimate princess, Cinderella. The lace bodice and full tulle skirt in Rosa Clara’s “Niher” gown are full princess.

Snow White
Capped sleeves and a fitted bodice pay perfect tribute to Snow White’s more laid back look, seen in the lace details and v-neckline in BHLDN’s silk tulle “Fantasia” gown.

Ariel
Of course, embodying the best of Ariel’s style involves rocking a mermaid style dress. Illusion lace and a nude underlay create a netting look that nods to the sea and contrasts with sheer skirt that flares out in a naturally tail-like fashion. Ariel would certainly approve.

Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively recently returned to a very special place in their relationship — the spot where they first fell in love. This time, it was for another very momentous occasion: To celebrate the actor’s 40th birthday with friends.

The couple marked the actor’s milestone birthday at New York City’s high-end Japanese eatery O Ya, which was also the spot that they reportedly “fell in love” in Boston. During the birthday party, Lively, 29, posted the most adorable photo looking at each other while holding a framed couple photo at the Boston location of the restaurant from when they first fell in love. “@_o_ya_…We fell in love at your restaurant in Boston. We stay in love at your restaurant in NY. Thank you for the BEST food and memories! You are our FAVORITE!! Another happy birthday with @vancityreynolds. Hey, Reynolds, I like you a whole lot. Just sayin’,” the Gossip Girl star wrote under the Instagram photo. And just to make sure we weren’t the only ones sobbing tears of joy over serious #couplegoals with these two, Karlie Kloss and Taylor Swift both commented on the photo, People reports, with Tay Tay commenting “Thanks guys now I’m drowning in tears of joy” with crying and champagne emojis galore and the supermodel writing “everything goals.” Yup, it wasn’t just us.

The mama of two adorned the space with gold streamers and ribbons and balloons for the actor’s birthday which spelled out her hubby’s age. The room was also decorated with photos from throughout their relationship because Lively is basically the cutest.

Reynolds wasn’t shy on social media about his appreciation for his wife in planning the event. “Best. Birthday. Everrrrr. Courtesy of my wife, buddy, and international spy, @blakelively. With huge thanks to my favorite restaurant in NYC, @_o_ya_ — and a special shout out to our children for not ruining everything like they planned,” he captioned a photo of the two wearing two (mouse?) masks and smiling. All. The. Feels.

See More: Blake Lively Clearly Stuns In a Wedding Dress

“I knew he would always be my best friend for my whole life,” the actress explained to Marie Claire last July. “That was the biggest thing to me. I’d never known anything like the friendship that I had with him. I could like him as much as I loved him.” Could you guys be ANY cuter?

@_o_ya_ We fell in love at your restaurant in Boston. We stay in love at your restaurant in NY. Thank you for the BEST food and memories! You are our FAVORITE!! Another happy birthday with @vancityreynolds . Hey, Reynolds, I like you a wh**le lot. Just sayin'…**

A photo posted by Blake Lively (@blakelively) on Oct 25, 2016 at 3:05pm PDT

Best. Birthday. Everrrrr. Courtesy of my wife, buddy, and international spy, @blakelively. With huge thanks to my favorite restaurant in NYC, @_o_ya_ — and a special shout out to our children for not ruining everything like they planned.

A photo posted by Ryan Reynolds (@vancityreynolds) on Oct 25, 2016 at 7:51pm PDT

Your wedding day is over, you’re back from your honeymoon and you are looking around for signs of your wedding to help you relive the best day of your lives. For couples who are sentimental, there are several things that you may want to save from your wedding, either for your own personal enjoyment or to pass these heirlooms and artificats on through your family generations. Creating a wedding keepsake box post-wedding can help you to create new traditions in your family. In order to do this, it’s important to plan ahead to save your wedding day heirlooms. Here is a list of wedding heirlooms to consider preserving — and a few unexpected things that you may not have thought about adding to your “items to save” list.

Bouquet
Preserving your bridal bouquet after your wedding is a beautiful way to commemorate the aesthetic of your wedding. If your florist knows that you want to save it, they can help you make sure that happens after your big day is over. If you are going to do the bouquet toss at your reception, you can also have your florist make you a tossing bouquet so that you don’t have to throw your beautiful bridal bouquet and crush the flowers.

Cake and Topper
It can be tough to save the top tier of your wedding cake for a whole year, but it is possible if your cake designer and your caterer know about it in advance. It isn’t uncommon for caterers to throw out the extra cake at the end of the night, if they aren’t given specific instructions. In addition to the cake, be sure to make plans to save that cute, perhaps personalized, wedding cake topper that you worked so hard to find.

Paper Goods and Signs
Be sure to send yourself a wedding invitation so that you can save it for after the wedding. Otherwise, you’ll send all of the invites out and never get one for yourself! Many of the day-of-the-wedding paper goods and signs get tossed by the planner or event coordinator in the haste of staying on your wedding day’s timeline. If there are signs and paper goods such as the ceremony programs or menus that you know you want to save, either set aside a copy in advance or designate a bridesmaid to be in charge of making sure those paper goods and signs are not thrown out.

See More: Wedding Keepsake Ideas to Always Remind You of Your Big Day

Garter
For brides who opt for this age-old tradition, your wedding garter is the perfect heirloom to save after your wedding. Start a new family tradition by passing it on through the generations as the “something borrowed” or “something old” among the brides in your family. If you are going to do the wedding garter toss at the reception, consider getting a small tossing garter so that you can keep the original.

Wedding Dress
Wedding dresses are the most common artifacts brides save after the wedding. If you aren’t going to pass on the entire dress to future generations, perhaps use the material for something else — like a garter for a close relative, an ornate throw pillow, or a veil. If you are planning on saving your wedding dress, be sure to get it professionally cleaned before storing it away. Materials that aren’t cleaned age faster and don’t hold up well over time.

Julianne Smith is The Garter Girl, a stylish wedding garter company hand making modern heirlooms for today’s brides. She is on a mission to modernize the oldest wedding tradition and provide women something sophisticated to wear on their big day. She is a reformed political junkie with a love of tradition, an eye for style, and a passion for beautiful things. You can find more at www.thegartergirl.com, on social @gartergirl, or at the park in our nation’s capital with her three little kids.

Whether you’re sticking to a tried-and-true routine or ready to try something new on your wedding night, there are just certain sex moves you should make to ensure the best sex possible, our experts say.

1. Cut yourself off.
Not from sex — from alcohol. “It’s really easy to have a glass of champagne or six during the course of a six-hour wedding,” commiserates relationship expert April Masini. But too much alcohol will do more than give you a buzz. It could be a buzz kill to your big night. “At worst, one or both of you will have quickly fallen asleep because of the fatigue induced by drinking too much,” Masini warns. “If you make a game plan to limit your alcohol intake, you’ll have a better chance of having sex.”

2. Do a little strip tease.
As certified sex therapist Holly Richmond, Ph.D., points out, “you only have this one wedding night and only have one chance to take off your beautiful wedding dress, so make it memorable.” You might decide to choreograph a strip tease, she suggests, using your garter. Or perhaps you create a fantasy scenario for you and your spouse around undressing. “You could even take things a step further and use a ribbon from your bouquet to bind your hands or feet,” she says.

3. Get it on when the sun comes out.
If you’re too pooped to really party on your wedding night (and a lot of couples are), considering saving sex for the morning after the wedding. “Exhaustion is part of every wedding night,” says Masini. “The planning was epic and the wedding was long and wonderful, but you’re not machines. You’re human. And you’re tired. Go to sleep married, wake up and have morning sex to celebrate the union. Being creative with traditions will serve you well over the course of your marriage.”

See More: The Best Sex Advice For Newlywed Couples

4. Go a step farther.
Richmond suggests using your wedding night to do the things you already love, but even better. For example, she says, let’s say your new wife likes to be on top. “Spend time admiring her face, her body, and tell her how beautiful and sexy she looks, and how lucky you are to have her as your spouse,” says Richmond. “Move at the pace she likes, and truly let her take control.”

5. Take advantage of your surroundings.
Says Richmond, “The wedding night is a great opportunity to do something you’ve never done before.” One way to add to your sexual repertoire — without doing anything too crazy — is to scan your wedding-night space for inspiration. “Does it have a claw-foot tub, an enormous glass shower, or a balcony with a little privacy?” she asks. Those might make for a new and exciting space for some sexy fun.

6. Start your honeymoon off with a bang — excuse the pun.
Masini suggests taking a night flight directly from your wedding to your honeymoon destination. “If you go from the wedding to the airport, and take a night flight, you’ll be guaranteed a break from the stress of the wedding,” she points out, “and you’ll sleep on the plane, especially if it’s a long flight. Wake up, go to your hotel, and commence wedding sex after airplane sleep.”

Best year ever, much? In July, Ciara married her sweetheart, NFL star Russell Wilson, in a super stunning wedding weekend in England that we’re still not over! (Remember her custom Roberto Cavalli lace wedding dress?!). And just yesterday, the sultry singer celebrated her 31st birthday in the most exciting of ways. Ciara and her hubby marked the occasion with the reveal that they’re pregnant! Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are expecting their first child together, less than four months after tying the knot. Like we said, best year ever!

Congrats once again to these newlyweds! Yesterday, Ciara confirmed her baby-on-the-way news with a super cute Instagram post. Cuddled up to Wilson with her hubby’s hands resting on her stomach, Ciara is blissfully smiling in the social media snapshot. “On this special Birthday I received an abundance of love from friends and family,” she captioned the lovey-dovey pic. “And I’m excited to Finally share one of the Greatest Gifts of All that God could give,” the singer wrote, cradling her barely there baby bump (with her sparkly bridal bling in full view, we might add!). And in case anyone still wasn’t sure what that aforementioned super special birthday present is, Ciara added the bottle and baby emojis for good measure. Cue our IRL heart eyes emoji!

Wilson also posted the same photo on his own Instagram account — because news this good needs to be shared, right?! “The Greatest Blessing of All. Forever Grateful. #BabyWilsonOnTheWay,” Wilson captioned the snapshot. Baby Wilson, we can’t wait to meet you!

See More: Ciara and Russell Wilson Just Got Real About Finally Having Sex

“I want to have a bunch of kids — me and Ci do,” Wilson previously shared with People magazine. “I think that ever since the first day I ever met Ciara and Little Man, too, it’s been really cool and really special,” he said, referencing Ciara’s first child, two-year-old Future Zahir whom she shares with her ex-fiancé, Future. Looks like their wish came true!

On this special Birthday I received an abundance of love from friends and family.. and I'm excited to Finally share one of the Greatest Gifts of All that God could give… ????????????????????????????????

A photo posted by Ciara (@ciara) on Oct 25, 2016 at 8:50pm PDT

The Greatest Blessing of All. Forever Grateful. #BabyWilsonOnTheWay

A photo posted by Russell Wilson (@dangerusswilson) on Oct 25, 2016 at 8:50pm PDT

When you’re planning the details of your wedding, there’s a nearly endless list of ideas, options, and things to consider. Some decisions are easy, others are tough, and the reasoning usually falls into one of two categories: “Do we love this idea?” and “Will our guests like it?”. These are great mindsets to have as your wedding day is coming together, but you’d be surprised how many of the things you’re adding to your to-do list (and your budget!) for the sake of your guests aren’t necessary or wouldn’t be missed. We asked some of our favorite wedding planners to share the things your wedding guests really don’t care about — as well as the alternatives that they’ll really love.

His and Hers Specialty Drinks
“Our couples are often stumped when trying to come up with ‘His’ and ‘Hers’ drinks for the bar,” says Emily Butler, the D.C.-based half of the planning duo behind Karson Butler Events. “They’re cute and catchy, but guests are much more focused on the actual drink than whether you have two and what they’re called. Instead, pick one cool cocktail you love and focus on that.” She loves when her clients opt for a Moscow Mule bar (copper mugs included!) or a specialty scotch or bourbon bar.

Lawn Games
Sure, it looks cute on Pinterest, but “[U]nless you and your friends spend a lot of time playing croquet or bocce, just don’t do it,” says Wendy Kay, owner and creative director of Birds of a Feather. “That money is better spent on additional appetizers, as your guests would much rather be eating and sipping cocktails than playing horseshoes with your grandpa while wearing a suit!”

The Guest Book
Don’t do away with it altogether, but find an alternative that’s a little more fun. “Instead of a traditional guest book, capture your guests with a photo booth and tuck duplicates of the photos into an album so you can relive the antics,” says Amber Karson, who heads up Karson Butler Events’ California office. “You could also add an hour to your photography coverage and request that your photographer capture more candid pictures of your guests as they celebrate with you.”

Your China Pattern
While there are plenty of great arguments for setting up a thorough wedding registry, Karson advises considering alternative options, too. “Ask your guests to help support your favorite causes by creating a charitable registry,” she says. “We love The Good Beginning and Heartful.ly.”

Mad Libs and Quizzes
“They sound fun, but guests rarely fill out mad lib cards or games designed to see how well they know the couple,” Kay says. “They tend to feel like a school assignment, when your guests came to have fun with you, eat, and drink. If you really want a personal message from your guests, set up a video booth where they can wish you well, or ask your videographer to get guests on camera to share the love.”

Wedding Party Introductions
“Skip the long line of introductions for every member of your wedding party,” says Karson. “Get the dinner party started instead! Guests will be sitting through multiple formalities, like toasts and the first dance, so skipping the introductions allows you to move things along and spend more time on the dance floor!”

See More: This Farm Wedding in Pennsylvania Was Full of Pinterest-Worthy Details

Your End Time
“We find that clients fret over the end time too much. Your guests won’t care if your party ends at 11:00 p.m. or midnight — especially if there’s an after party planned!” says Butler. “On the flip side, be mindful of the start time if your wedding ceremony is early in the day. Too long of a break between the ceremony and reception may annoy guests.” In that instance, consider starting the reception a little earlier, then plan an after party for those guests who aren’t quite ready to go home.

Favors
You’ve heard it before, and Kay, Butler, and Karson all agree on this one: Guests don’t care about wedding favors. “Skip anything with your name and the wedding date on it,” says Butler. “You’ll just end up with a lot of leftover monogrammed shot glasses!” Instead, she and Karson suggest using the funds for something your guests will love, like a food truck or late night snacks passed on the dance floor. Adds Kay, “There are more creative ways to spend your money that will really entertain your guests than miniature potted succulents, jars of jam, or anything with your names on it. Book a photo booth, hire swing dancers to perform during dinner, or secure a typewriter poet to quip cute poems about the guests — it’s entertainment and a favor all in one!”

Steer away from the typical Las Vegas bachelorette party, and instead whisk your BFFs away to Northern California for an unforgettable glamping experience. Here, five reasons you and your girls will love spending time in the stunning wilderness.

1. You’ll disconnect from the world and spend quality time together.
A few days in the wild without Wi-Fi will really allow you and your girlfriends to do some serious bonding reminiscent of the awesome sleepovers you had when you were growing up. Only this time, you can stay up all night and talk about life while sipping a glass (or three!) of wine. And all those killer selfies you take during the trip? You can Instagram them when you get home.

2. It’s much more luxurious than regular camping.
This isn’t your typical roughing it in the woods, sleeping in a sleeping bag type of camping trip. Glamping is much more than that. It’s living inside luxurious canvas tents and enjoying cushy amenities worthy of a five-star resort — all while soaking in the splendor of the great outdoors. For your bachelorette bash, you can’t go wrong with a luxury tent from San Francisco-based camping service Shelter Co., which come fully equipped with comfy full-size beds topped with Egyptian cotton sheets, plush seating, rugs, and lanterns.

3. You’ll be fully immersed in nature.
If you’re mind has been racing with all the wedding planning stress, a bachelorette glamping getaway in nature will make you feel completely at ease. When lush greenery, scenic views, and your best girlfriends surrounded you, it’s difficult to feel stressed. Take the opportunity to slow down, take deep breaths, be in the moment, and bask in the beauty of nature.

See More: Need Favors for Your Gal Pals? Check Our These Local Favor Vendors

4. There’s a ton of fun activities you can partake in.
Whether you’re an adventure-seeking bride-to-be who loves going hiking and mountain biking or you’re a laid-back type of gal who just wants to hang out with her girls and go wine tasting, you’ll never run out of things to do. Whatever activities you enjoy during the daytime, once nighttime rolls around huddling around a fire to make s’mores and swap stories under the stars is a glamping must.

5. Northern California boasts beautiful glamping campsites.
Just a short one-hour drive from San Francisco, you’ll find the stunning Costanoa Lodge overlooking the Pacific Ocean where you and your BFFs can live in decked out cabins replete with kitchenettes and showers, stay in a tented bungalow, or pitch your own glamorous tent. Days here can be spent going horseback riding, taking kayak tours, doing yoga, getting pampered with deep tissue massages, or just exploring the breathtaking ocean bluffs, private beaches, and acres of splendid wilderness. For a glamping getaway that feels worlds-away, head to Safari West in California wine country for an African wildlife safari adventure. Spend your time here marveling over the hundreds of exotic animals including flamingos, cheetahs, giraffes, and zebras in their natural habitats. Then, retreat to luxury safari tents — imported from Africa, no less — complete with hardwood floors, plush beds, and private bathrooms with hot showers. Whatever Northern Cali campsite you choose for your bachelorette bash, it’ll no doubt be a trip of a lifetime you and your girls will always treasure. Read real brides’ reviews here!

Want a more traditional locale for your bachelorette bash? Browse local venues here!

The art of being mindful has become a big topic of discussion lately, but what, exactly, is it?

At its core, being mindful simply means being present in the moment and focusing on all of the sensory details of your environment, how you’re feeling, and what people around you are saying to you.

Considering we all seem to be glued to our screens — even when we’re out with friends we haven’t seen in ages — practicing mindfulness is certainly something we can all benefit from. It’s been linked to such mental health benefits as lowering anxiety, depression and stress and improving your mood. Mindfulness has even been shown to help reduce the number of disputes that couples get into, making for a happier, healthier relationship.

Ready to get in on all the benefits mindfulness has for your relationship? Here’s what experts have to say on the things that mindful couples do differently.

Mindful couples nip arguments in the bud
We’ve all been there. Something that your S.O. does regularly is getting to you. Maybe it’s leaving the dishes in the sink again, or something more serious, like texts from the girl at his office that you’ve been meaning to bring up but haven’t. If you were being mindful about how each of these situations was impacting your mood, therapist Evie Shafner says you’d be able to address it with your partner without the conversation exploding into a big fight once you finally feel like you can’t keep your mouth shut any longer.

“The practice of mindfulness, paying attention in the present, on purpose, in a non-judgmental and compassionate way, gives us the ability to catch those stressful feelings bubbling up before we act on them,” she explains. “The willingness for each partner to practice this very learnable skill is what can really enhance a relationship. Each partner has to learn to spot these negative feelings before they become reactive, to stop before we harm. Mindfulness is a skill we can truly integrate into our lives so that it becomes natural. Once it becomes natural, then it’s always there for us. We then become our own self-soother, and we can automatically give ourselves the time to choose how we want to act in a moment of stress with our partner — hopefully, with safety and kindness!”

Mindful couples are in tune with each other
Not only are mindful couples hyperaware of how a given situation with their partner makes them feel, but they’re so in tune with their significant other that they’re able to anticipate their actions and spot when something might be off. “Being connected to a person means you’re just that — connected,” explains relationship expert Alexis Nicole White. “You can read their body language, their minds and predict their behaviors. When you’re in tune with a person, you are being mindful of who they are, what their needs and wants are, and what their expectations are. Allow them to take the priority in your life, demonstrating to them that they are equally as important as your career, children, and even personal values are. Be as in-tune with them as if this were in the beginning stages of the relationship and not years down the line.”

See More: Wedding Planning Stress: Why It’s Okay to Not Be Okay

They admit when they’re wrong
Not only do mindful couples admit when they’re wrong, but they approach each situation with the belief that the fact that they could be wrong is very much a possibility that’s on the table. “Approaching every difference with the mindset of ‘I may be wrong’ allows couples to put aside their own feelings, beliefs, fears and worries, and focus on what their partner is saying,” author Phillip Petree explains. “This is an extremely difficult position to take and requires focus and mindfulness.”

They communicate effectively
When you’re not present in a disagreement you’re having with your partner, it’s very common to feel like you’re not being understood, and vice versa. Therapist Carl Grody says that this is a common problem among couples having difficulties, and an area where mindfulness can be especially helpful for solving issues. “Each couple that I work with is unique, but there are similarities in the way that their patterns of communication break down,” he explains. “They’ve developed a pattern that is more concerned with keeping the peace than in resolving issues. These arguments often end with one person or the other feeling so anxious and upset that they shut down the conversation before it can be resolved.This is where a bit of mindfulness helps.

“The phrase ‘mindfulness, sounds complex,” he continues, “but it really just means finding a way to stay in the moment. By simply learning to recognize the pattern of shutting down, and then reducing anxiety’s impact in the discussion, couples feel safer trying to resolve their disagreement.”

This post was originally published on ClassPass’s blog, The Warm Up by Danielle Page. ClassPass is a monthly membership that connects you to more than 8,500 of the best fitness studios worldwide. Learn more here.