Wedding dress? Check. Elegant updo? Tested and approved. Makeup? Your mood board says it all. But what about your nails? Although your wedding day manicure will likely take a backseat when deciding your beauty looks, it’s definitely one that should not be overlooked. Think about all of the things that you’ll be doing with your fingers on your wedding day — throwing your bouquet, holding your partner’s hands, wearing your new wedding band — the list goes on. Your nails need to look as good as ever, but don’t sweat it if you haven’t given your polish too much thought yet. BRIDES spoke with Essie celebrity nail artist, Michelle Saunders, to find out what you should consider when deciding on a wedding nail look. Here’s what she had to say.

1. Always Get A Trial Run
Just like you would for your makeup and hair, you should definitely consider a trial run for your nail look. This will give you the opportunity to test out different colors, lengths, and shapes. Saunders suggests scheduling your first trial appointment at least two months before the big day.

2. Take Inspiration From The Season
You don’t have to match your floral theme or paint your nails mauve for fall, but the time of year and the flowers that are in season could help you find inspiration when it comes to choosing a color. “Depending on the season or color scheme, a bride could either keep it classic with a neutral and sheer or go all out with a deep crimson or opaque greige,” says Saunders. If you’re undecided, go with a tried and true shade. “It’s always safe to go with a semi-sheer pink like Essie’s ‘Ballet Slippers’ or slight-opaque creme.”

3. Consider Gel Over Regular Nail Polish
The last thing you want to do the day before your wedding is worry about ruining your manicure. If you’re up for it, consider a gel to prevent any smudges or chips from happening. What’s more, it’ll last you at least two weeks after your wedding day. “Gel is a good option especially if there is an extended honeymoon after the wedding,” says Saunders.

4. Keep It Simple With The Nail Art
Nail art is all the rage right now, but it doesn’t always translate into a timeless wedding day look. That doesn’t mean you should skip it if you’re into fun designs and a little sparkle, however. “If you are a nail art fan, keep it simple on your wedding day by using a gold or silver metallic (to mimic jewelry) as an accent. I recommend using Essie’s ‘Good as Gold’ or ‘No Place Like Chrome.’“

See More: 5 Nail Polish and Bridesmaid Dress Color Combos You (and Your Girls!) Will Love

5. Don’t Forget Your Toes
Depending on your shoes or dress length, your toes might not even make an appearance on your wedding day. You should still definitely get them painted though. As for color? Saunders believes pedicures are the best place to wear your something blue.

6. Keep An Emergency Kit With You
Should anything disastrous happen to your manicure on the day of your wedding, it would be wise to arm yourself with a handy emergency kit. In it, keep a nail file, a cuticle clipper, hand cream, and of course, the nail polish of your wedding manicure. Essie’s new Gel Couture line is a great option for brides because you can reapply the polish without having to use a UV lamp in the event you have a mani emergency.

There’s officially a new Mrs. on The Hills block! Audrina Patridge has married her sweetheart Corey Bohan in an intimate destination wedding in Hawaii this weekend. And no, homeboy did not wear combat boots to the beach…

Since saying goodbye to her on-screen boyfriend Justin Bobby all those years ago, Patridge has indeed upgraded from her combat boot -wearing beau. Bohan, a professional BMX athlete, proposed to Patridge a year ago over an ultra-romantic dinner. “When dessert time came he ordered cheesecake and the waiter brought it out on a platter with a beautiful silver cover,” the former reality star later shared with People. “I noticed all the waitresses gathering with phones and thought, ‘What is going on?!’ Then, all of a sudden, the waiter lifted the silver cover and I saw the ring in a box with white rose petals on the plate.” Much better than a slice of cake, no?

And the happy surprises kept coming for Patridge, when she announced that she was pregnant just a month later. This summer, Patridge and Bohan welcomed their little girl, Kirra Max Bohan, into the world. Think she played the part of an itsy bitsy flower girl at her parents’ nupitals? Looks like we’ll soon find out!

Patridge and Bohan tied the knot on Saturday, November 5, according to E! News. The couple said their “I dos” in front of an estimated 100 wedding guests and the Hawaiian sunshine in an outdoor ceremony, but let’s get to that wedding dress shall we? On the big day, Patridge wore a form-fitting bridal gown that hugged her slim figure. But the simple silhouette was made all the more elaborate with its intricate embroidery — so stunning! The former MTV star also wore her long brown locks down for the occasion, making the overall look all the more soft and romantic.

A photo posted by typritty's blog (@typrittyblog) on Nov 6, 2016 at 12:50pm PST

See More: Lauren Conrad Shares Never-Before-Seen Wedding Photo to Celebrate Anniversary

No word yet on guest list specifics, but we already know of a few lovely ladies who didn’t manage to score an invite… “No one from The Hills made the cut,” Patridge previously revealed. “If we were doing a really big wedding, I’d invite them, but we’re keeping it intimate.”

After the party is the after party, whether it’s a dance party at your favorite club or a few reserved tables at the local bar. If you’re planning to keep your wedding festivities going all night, some more celebratory drinks will be in order. Do the hosts have to pay for them, or can you ask guests to pay for their late-night drinks themselves? Here’s what our experts have to say.

Just as with your wedding reception, there’s no hard-and-fast rule requiring that you pay for everyone’s drinks through the after party. If you are inviting your guests to an official continuation of your wedding reception, here are a few different ways to address the drinks situation:

If you want to offer a partial open bar, you could choose a few options (say, your favorite beer and your favorite mixed drink), then let guests know that anything other than those beverages won’t be covered. So if they’re craving a gin and tonic instead of your signature Moscow Mule, they’re on their own.

You could also set a cash limit on your tab, covering all of guests drinks up to a certain dollar amount, then switching over to a cash bar. This might only be enough to cover the first round, but after an evening of hosting, no one will blame you!

Don’t want to spring for booze? If you’re also going to serve late-night snacks at your after party, you could offer hosted food (and maybe add on non-alcoholic drinks like soda) and have all alcohol be served at a cash bar.

And of course, it could just be a trip to the bar in your wedding finery, with nothing paid for by the two of you except your own drinks — if anyone will let you buy yourself a glass of wine while you’re wearing a wedding dress, that is!

See more: Do We Have to Go to Our Own After-Party?

Your guests will think they’ve stepped into a winter wedding wonderland (say that three times fast) with this Aspen-inspired wedding color palette. Create a cozy chalet-esque ambiance by layering knits and sheepskins in shades of cream around lounge areas during your cocktail hour and reception, draping them over chair-backs and couch arms. Picking a venue that has a ski-lodge vibe is also key, so look for one with lots of light-colored wood and maybe even a stone fireplace or two (especially if it’s actually wintertime!).

Make sure you keep your palette ultra-monochrome (think cool grays, whites, creams, tans) to keep true to that wintery feeling, and to help add interest mix in subtle patterns and pops of copper. Choose a wedding dress full of subtle and textural details, perhaps 3D flowers layered with a delicate lace in the coldest shade of white, and throw on a super thin metallic belt to round out your look. Get fun with your accessories and have your ‘maids wear heels with a touch of fur like this Aquazzura pair, or try a hat in a sophisticated neutral like this one from Eugenia Kim.

Instead of the expected lush white centerpieces of a winter wedding, add to the modern vibe with tall arrangements of blossoming branches, like dogwood or cherry blossoms (hint: ask your florist or event planner if they can rent any faux-branches if these are out of season, there are tons of good-looking fakes out there!). In lieu of a traditional bouquet, buy a bundle of these magnificent 3D printed flowers in all white (we think the poppies are perfect, but the Etsy vendor has lots of options!), and you’ll have a beautiful and unique reminder of your wedding forever!

See More: 26 Whimsical Winter Wedding Details

Forget classic white, this marbled cake with copper edges will fit perfectly in your wedding color palette, and same goes for this gorgeous invite from Bliss and Bone — modern and refined — perfect for your Aspen-inspired soiree. At the reception, mix in lots of tapered gray and white candles in varying heights and shades with your branchy arrangements, and have your place cards propped on hexagonal matte holders that fit in perfectly to your monochrome tablescape. Try a signature cocktail of white hot chocolate and peppermint liquor in calligraphed mugs — the mugs will double as favors and your guests will love a cocktail that keeps them warm!

1. Hat, $440, Eugenia Kim; 2. Bracelet, $300, Eddie Borgo; 3. “Montague” invitation, $2,350 for 100 suites, Bliss & Bone 4. Wedding dress, Marchesa; 5. Icelandic poppy 3D-printed flower, $125 for five, Collected Edition; 6. “Pinch” candleholders, $15 each, CB2; 7. Wedding cake, $7 per slice, LoveBirds Sweets; 8. Place-card holders, $24 for six, Esselle available at Food52; Calligraphy, price upon request, Everbe; 9. Shoes, $895, Aquazzura

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

American Idol who? This just might be the coolest hosting gig of Ryan Seacrest’s career! Seacrest’s sister, Meredith, just said “I do” this weekend in a destination wedding in Mexico and bucked tradition by having her bro serve as “man of honor” on her big day. Seriously, these photos are just too darn cute!

Seacrest’s man of honor journey started just like any gal’s MOH job. Meredith popped the question to her brother a year ago with a framed poem. “I’m on my way to say ‘I do’ and wanted to talk about me and you,” it read. You’ve been by my side all of my life, and I wouldn’t want you anywhere else when I become a wife… So basically what I’m trying to say, will you be my Man of Honor on my special day?” See? Didn’t we warn you? Too darn cute!

Since getting his role, Seacrest has been taking his man of honor tasks super seriously, from ensuring that his sister’s bachelorette weekend went off without a hitch to keeping the all-important wedding dress safe for the big day. “Man of honor duty #1,” Seacrest captioned a recent Instagram pic. “Make sure she’s got the dress. Check!” You got this, Ryan!

When the big day finally rolled around this weekend, the wedding party headed to Mexico for the destination “I dos,” according to People, where the bride donned her strapless Vera Wang gown and her man of honor wore a bright blue suit for the occasion.

See More: A Kilt at a Mexican Destination Wedding? See How This Couple Pulled it Off

Countless brides opt to have their MOHs stand out in a sea of bridesmaids with the addition of extra bling or unique accessories. No need for any of that here! Seacrest definitely had no trouble standing out among this bridal party!

I have a role in my sisters wedding….just shed tear. Love u mere

A photo posted by Ryan Seacrest (@ryanseacrest) on Oct 8, 2015 at 7:50pm PDT

paella lunch for sister's bachelorette weekend

A photo posted by Ryan Seacrest (@ryanseacrest) on Sep 16, 2016 at 3:46pm PDT

man of honor duties for sister Meredith's wedding. Tonight is the handpicked dinner. Love u kid

A photo posted by Ryan Seacrest (@ryanseacrest) on Sep 17, 2016 at 9:51pm PDT

man of honor duty #1 – make sure she’s got the dress. check!

A photo posted by Ryan Seacrest (@ryanseacrest) on Nov 3, 2016 at 7:30pm PDT

Congrats to Meredith on your amazing day and welcome to the family Jimmy! (Photo by @loveandwolvesco.)

A photo posted by Ryan Seacrest (@ryanseacrest) on Nov 5, 2016 at 10:23pm PDT

trying to fit in… final countdown!

A photo posted by Ryan Seacrest (@ryanseacrest) on Nov 5, 2016 at 5:30pm PDT

Once you’ve found the wedding dress of your dreams and spent quality time in it on your wedding day, you may end up boxing it up and never putting it on again. But if you love your dress so much, and you’ve spent a pretty penny on it, there are indeed ways you can wear it again, without looking like the bride in the room. Here are four stories from real brides who shared where they ended up re-wearing their wedding dresses.

1. Halloween
“I had my wedding dress hanging in the back of my closet for 3-years after my wedding. I didn’t know what to do with it and I figured I would probably never wear it again. One year for Halloween, when I was trying to decide what I should be, I put the dress on just for fun and then realized I was going to be a zombie bride. All I had to do was buy face paint. Was it an ideal way to re-wear the dress? No. But if It was a great way of saving money on a Halloween costume.” — Larissa D., 35

See More: Beyoncé Proves (AGAIN!) That You Can Totally Wear a Wedding Dress When It’s Not Your Wedding

2. To a White Wedding
“Oddly enough, a friend of mine had an all-white wedding, which meant all guests had to wear white. For my wedding, the dress I wore was sleek and simple. I took it out of the garment bag and re-wore it to her wedding. I think out of the 50 women there, at least four others did the exact same thing.” — Paula D., 30

3. On My Anniversary
“On my 10th wedding anniversary, I took my wedding dress out of the box it was in and put it on. It hardly zipped in the back but it was such a cool feeling wearing it again. I loved my dress and must have spent a couple of thousand dollars on it. I had the idea that it would be fun to re-take wedding photos in our clothes from the wedding. So my husband put on his tux, we hired a photographer, and we took new wedding photos in our old outfits. It was a lot of fun.” — Heather R., 38

4. To a Party
“I got my wedding dress shortened so that It was above my ankle. I had a simple dress to begin with but the dress did have a train. I cut that all off and it looked like an elegant white dress. I wore it to a summer garden party and nobody noticed it was my wedding dress. When I told people, they didn’t believe me until I pulled up a photo from my wedding and showed them.” — Claire S., 29

Jen Glantz is a “Professional Bridesmaid” and the founder of Bridesmaid for Hire. She’s the author of All My Friends Are Engaged and frequently wears old bridesmaid dresses to the grocery store and on first dates.

Brides in D.C. looking to have a wedding ceremony that no other bride in the country can have? You may want to consider marrying on the National Mall at one the iconic monuments. There’s just something truly magical about marrying the love of your life with the looming shadow of one of our founding fathers in the background. Not to mention — guests who are history buffs will love such an original, historical wedding venue. Brides who want to experience this special affair can find out how in the step-by-step process below.

Know Where and When You Can Hold Your Ceremony
When we say ceremony — that’s the only thing we mean (no receptions allowed). Couples can only marry in three specific places on the National Mall: the west lawn of the majestic Thomas Jefferson Memorial, the stately D.C. War Memorial and the serene George Mason Memorial. There are time limits for each except the D.C. War Memorial. The Jefferson Memorial is also specific to the west lawn only. Read real brides’ reviews here!

Know What Paperwork You’ll Need
Weddings are considered Type 1 Special Use permits on the National Mall. The link to the special use permit application is available here. The doc is 3 pages, and can be easily filled out — just keep in mind there’s a non-refundable fee of $50 that goes along with it.

Guidelines
Brides can use this handy guide to help them figure out details for their National Mall wedding. Additionally, couples will need to meet with a National Park Service Representative to schedule an appointment to discuss set-up as well as schedule an inspection of the site after the ceremony. Specific items like staking for tents can’t be driven more than 18 inches into the ground and no glass containers are permitted, so make sure that you read their rules very carefully.

See More: Not Cherry Blossom Season? Reach Out to These Local Florists for Some Beautiful Big Day Blooms

Study the Calendar
Washington, D.C. can be a busy city. Brides must make sure to plan the wedding around concerts, holidays, and yearly demonstrations so as not to conflict with any major events. Another must-know tip: The National Mall has had areas of construction going on for years, so it’s important to know your specific location’s situation so that you don’t have any construction-filled backdrops in the photos.

Think About Transportation
Parking can be tricky around the National Mall, and riding the Metro in a wedding gown is not ideal, so reserving alternate transportation is necessary. Brides who wish to marry at one of the three permitted monuments should consider transportation like Uber or Lyft, or perhaps local D.C. transport services like Reston Limousine or Chariots for Hire. That way the couple of honor and guests will all be stress-free on the big day.

For more places to say “I do” throughout D.C., be sure to browse our Local Venues page!

There’s officially another Mrs. in the Duggar family! We speculated earlier that today might just be the day that Jinger Duggar marries her fiancé Jeremy Vuolo — and we were right! The 19 Kids and Counting alum just tied the knot with her sweetheart on Saturday, November 5 via an ultra-romantic ceremony in their home state of Arkansas. Four marriages down, 15 to go!

“We are so excited for Jinger and Jeremy,” family patriarch Jim Bob said in a video recently posted to the family’s website, announcing the news of the nupitals. “They just got married and they are such a sweet couple. Jinger is one of the most dynamic, beautiful, Godly girls that I know, and Jeremy is such a passionate, loving, kind spiritual leader. They’re a dynamic duo… A match made in heaven.” We’ll say!

According to People magazine, Duggar and Vuolo said their “I dos” at the Cathedral of the Ozarks at John Brown University, where the bride walked down the aisle in a classically beautiful wedding dress featuring three-quarter length lace sleeves and carried a lush bouquet full of white blooms and trailing greenery.

So with eight sisters, who was the one to stand by Jinger’s side as maid of honor? Jessa Duggar Seewald was the Duggar sis to score the privilege. Meanwhile, Vuolo’s brother Charles was named best man, while the groom’s father officiated the ceremony himself.

“This was one of the most touching parts of the wedding is for Jeremy’s father to be able to officiate our wedding, standing with us and praying for us on this special day,” noted the bride, who is looking forward to her upcoming honeymoon with her groom — and full-frontal hugs, and kissing, and… other stuff (we assume.)

See More: Why the Duggar Family Won’t Be Accepting That Wedding Invitation You Sent Them

“We plan to get away for a couple of days alone together and then will be leaving the country for an amazing trip to New Zealand and Australia,” said the newlyweds. “We are so excited and so thankful for this amazing trip to start our marriage together. Most of all, we are just excited that we will be together… married!”

A photo posted by People Magazine (@people) on Nov 5, 2016 at 2:52pm PDT

With late nights, early mornings, and hectic schedules — meeting your pre-wedding nutrition goals is not an easy task. Who has time to cook fresh and healthy meals every single day? Nobody. It’s time to think smarter, not harder brides-to-be! We rounded up four of our favorite tips to help with meal prep while wedding planning.

Get in a Routine
During a time that seems hectic and crazy, it’s important to get your healthy eating to be as routine as possible. To begin, set aside a day of the week where you have the most free-time (we love meal prepping on Sundays!) and devote a period of time to shopping for and preparing your meals and snacks for the week. By having designated meal prep time, you’ll be certain to feel less stressed and rushed and will feel accomplished and ready to tackle the week.

Plan Ahead
You’re already planning a wedding — what’s one more thing to plan? By planning ahead — we recommend outlining meals one week at a time — you’ll be planning to succeed, instead of failing to plan. Now that you have a designated day, create a written or digital “week at a glance” where your recipes, needed ingredients, and nutritional information is balanced and clear. Be sure to keep in mind any late nights, appointments, work events, etc. that may interfere with your typical daily routine. Set your week, and then hit the kitchen!

See More: 6 Foods That Will Help You De-Stress While Wedding Planning

Simplify the Process
As your wedding is fast approaching, time is more valuable than ever. Thankfully, we live in a world of online ordering, subscription services, and next day deliveries! With grocery delivery services including Fresh Direct, ShopRite at Home, Peapod by Stop and Shop, Amazon Fresh, and more you can save yourself a time-consuming trip to the grocery store by ordering online. Doing so will save you time, help you stick to your grocery budget, provide and at-a-glance shopping cart to ensure you don’t miss out on any crucial ingredients, AND help you keep impulse junk food grabs at bay. For even more convenience, explore services including Blue Apron and Hello Fresh which provide all the ingredients for specifically planned healthy meals.

Use the Right Tools
Having the right meal prep tools and storage containers is key for seamless cooking, storing and of course — eating! Microwavable, dishwasher safe and BPA free are all key words that are important to look out for when selecting which products to buy for food storage. The easier they are to heat and clean, the better. Many meal-prepping mavens prefer bento style lunch boxes with lids, with separate compartments to store veggies, lean proteins, and starches. They also help keep portions in check. The right (fashionable yet practical, of course) lunch tote, insulated thermoses, reusable cooling packs and water bottles are essential, too.

It’s hard to resist the temptation to take pictures at your friend’s wedding. She’s going to look stunning, the décor will be on point, and everyone will be smiling and having a blast. You’ll want to capture those moments! But there’s nothing worse than a beautiful shot of the bride and groom’s first kiss, with a friend or family member leaning out into the aisle with their phone to get a picture of their own. So should you put your camera away when it’s time for your friend to walk down the aisle? Our experts weigh in.

Before you take out your camera, figure out if your friend would be okay with you snapping a few shots. Was there a note on her website specifying that the ceremony will be unplugged? Did you pass a sign on your way to your seat, or see a disclaimer at the top of the ceremony program? Did the officiant make an announcement about putting your phone away before the processional started? If you were asked to keep your phone and camera in your purse during the ceremony, listen! You’ll be helping make sure your friend has the ceremony she wants, as well as get the pictures she’s hoping for. There’s an added bonus: Keeping your phone in your pocket means you’ll be 100% present as the ceremony proceeds, won’t miss a single detail of the sweet vows, and will be able to truly share in their joy.

If you weren’t told not to take pictures, consider doing so anyway. Sure, you won’t be able to Instagram that moment your friend comes down the aisle, but you’ll be able to see it instead of watching through a screen. And with all the money your friends spent on their photographer, they’ll appreciate that you did your part to make sure their pictures look as great as possible. So maybe encourage the guest seated next to you to do the same!

See More: Should You Take Family Photos Before the Wedding Ceremony?