Veronica Mars Star Kyle Gallner's Winter Wedding Photos Are Giving Us All the Christmas Feels

While Kyle Gallner‘s role on the TV show Outsiders is all about drama and power struggles, his relationship with Tara Ferguson is pure love story. “We met at a karaoke bar in Burbank, California, in August of 2011. It was very romantic, I assure you!” says Tara. With two young boys, Oliver and Leo, the couple skipped a formal engagement and instead decided it was time. “We always knew we would get married,” Tara explains. “We designed my ring together and picked out my wedding band.” And that was it! The pair sought out a property where they could have a simple, rustic celebration that honored the Christmas season, and found the Graf Barn in Oxnard, California. The barn and surrounding property, filled to the brim with one-of-a-kind antiques, is just an hour outside of Los Angeles. “The experience was so laid-back,” says Tara. “The owner, Laina, does almost everything herself. She’s a one stop shop, it’s incredible!”

For their December 12, 2015, wedding, Tara and Kyle — who played Beaver in the hit TV show Veronica Mars — opted for dark red, green, and blue hues, accented with silver, gold, and twinkling lights. “We both love Christmas, and wanted everything to be simple and cozy. It felt like being in a cabin, so I think we achieved what we were after!” says the bride. With 100 guests (and their boys!) in tow, they had just about the most wintery wedding you could expect to find in California. The sweet, personal celebration was photographed by Brett & Tori Photographers — take a peek, below!

Tara’s Rosa Clara wedding dress featured a high neck and delicately striped ottoman fabric. She paired her seasonal ensemble with a dark red lip and a soft chignon. “We were on location while Kyle was shooting Outsiders, so I went dress shopping in Pittsburgh with my sister. I had no idea how long it would take to order a dress and have all the fittings!” says the bride. She borrowed a ring from her mother-in-law that every woman in the Gallner family has worn at her wedding.

The ceremony took place beneath the property’s oak trees, with wooden folding chairs draped in soft branches.

Kyle wore a dark blue Ted Baker suit, while his groomsmen wore varying shades of gray. The flower girls rode down the aisle in a Radio Flyer wagon, while the couple’s sons came down the aisle with the bride’s nephew, William. “Oliver had a sign that said ‘Daddy Here Comes Mommy,'” Tara says.

The bride walked down the aisle with her father, who wore his Marine dress blues, as musicians played an instrumental version of “Your Song” by Elton John.

A braid of cream yarn was used for the handfasting ceremony. “For every vow, my maid of honor wrapped the yarn around our hands, and with the last vow she tied the strands together,” the bride says of the meaningful tradition. “This is where the term ‘tying the knot’ comes from.”

Instead of choosing a single dress, Tara asked her bridesmaids to wear any floor-length gray dress they loved. She carried a bouquet of dark red peonies and light pink roses, while her ‘maids carried a mix of white and red roses. The groomsmen’s boutonnieres combined red blooms with greenery and seasonal berries.

A fur wrap was the perfect way to fight off the December chill — as was a little fun with sons Oliver and Leo!

Guests sipped cranberry and vodka cocktails while lounging on the venue’s collection of antique furniture, then headed into the barn for dinner.

A combination of reclaimed tables, chandeliers, and yards and yards of twinkle lights created a warm and cozy atmosphere inside the barn. Each table featured mismatched china, gold chargers, and centerpieces that combined pine branches, pomegranates, and gold-painted pinecones. At the sweetheart table, Tara and Kyle sat in chairs covered with sheepskin and sipped out of gold crystal goblets.

Instead of traditional table numbers, wooden Christmas trees were topped with stars that were each painted with a different number.

Kyle and Tara made their grand entrance through two white sheer curtains, then headed to the dance floor for their first dance.

When Kyle and his mom took to the floor for their mother-son dance, his mom had Leo strapped to her in a baby carrier. “It was the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen!” says Tara. “Oliver and I joined in for the end of the dance.”

The two-tiered wedding cake, with layers of zucchini cake and cream cheese frosting, was topped with two shimmering deer, sliced almonds, roses, and gilded pinecones. “It was so delicious!” Tara remembers.

At the end of the night, guests headed out to get ready for the sparkler exit while Tara and Kyle shared one last dance alone to “Amazed” by Lonestar. “Our moms were peeking through a hole in the barn doors!” she says.

Needless to say, the relaxed and welcoming celebration was a smashing success. “Remember, not everything needs to be perfect,” says Tara. “It’s the little imperfections that make your day special!”

Venue, Flowers & Catering: The Graf Barn || Bride’s Wedding Dress: Rosa Clara || Shoes: Saint Laurent Paris || Hair & Makeup: Camilla Orosco || Groom’s Attire: Ted Baker London || Engagement Ring & Wedding Bands: Platt Boutique Jewelry || Music: DJ Steve Stock || Videographer: Light Up Video || Photographer: Brett & Tori Photographers

Find Local Vendors Wedding Wire

Did you love this wintry celebration? Then check out another couple’s Christmas-inspired wedding in the video below.

The Marriage Didn't Last a Year — Should The Couple Return Their Wedding Gifts?

wedding gifts

Photo: Getty Images

It’s always sad when a relationship comes to an end, especially when the couple made plans to spend their lives together. While a wedding called off before the big day means the couple should return the gifts they’ve received, what happens if they make it down the aisle, but not much further? Here’s what our experts recommend couples do in regards to the etiquette of returning wedding gifts if the marriage fails.

According to the queen of etiquette, Emily Post, keeping wedding gifts is not dependent on the success of the marriage. So whether it’s a week, a few months, or almost a year of marriage before the couple calls it quits, guests should not expect to get their gifts back.

The biggest thing to remember is that these gifts have probably already been used. Even if you’re superstitious and don’t believe a wedding gift should be used before the Big Day, that isn’t a hard and fast rule. Many couples immediately put new dishes straight into the dishwasher or bust out that blender for a batch of margaritas on their next day off — after all, they probably don’t have space to store an entire second kitchen worth of gear in the packaging while they wait to say “I do!” If the gift has been opened and used, it’s unreasonable to expect that they’ll send your gift back to you — and no way you’ll get your money back!

And of course, remember that there’s much more to the situation than simply whether the couple needs to send back their wedding gifts. They have lives to rebuild and a divorce to navigate, so don’t add any more pressure with the expectation that they now need to sift through their belongings not only to figure out who gets what, but to figure out what gets sent back to their friends and family members. Asking for your gift back will put you high on the list of people they resent, when what they really need is love and support.

See more: Real Divorced Women Reveal What Could Have Made Their Marriages Work

5 Ways to Beat Honeymoon Jet Lag

jet lagged woman

Photo: Getty Images

It’s hard to believe that jet-setting to different countries can have a downside — but it does. Jet lag (also called desynchronosis) is an actual temporary medical condition related to a sleep disorder induced by rapidly traveling through time zones. Honeymooners crossing one or two time zones — fear not — you’ll be fine. But for those travelers heading to an Italian escape, African Safari, Bali beaches and more — check out our tips for beating bridal jet lag to make the most of every moment.

Stay Hydrated

It’s no secret how important it is to stay hydrated while traveling. The circulated air and high altitude can do a number on your skin, and energy levels before you even factor in jet lag. As a general rule of thumb, try to drink about 8oz of water at least every 90 minutes while in air. Enough to keep you going — but to limit the amount of annoying in-flight bathroom breaks!

Avoid Alcohol and Caffeine
While it may be tempting to drink until you’re ready to sleep, or sip coffee to fight back against the snooze struggles, your efforts run the risk of backfiring. Overconsumption of both alcohol and caffeine can result in dehydration, headaches, upset stomach, fatigue — the list goes on. Some say jet lag can feel like a hangover — imagine jet lag PLUS a hangover? No thanks.

Move
A general rule of thumb is that movement makes things better. Improve circulation and alertness with stretches and short walks when you can. Even shifting your seated position can help make you more comfortable. When you’re feeling really sleepy at inappropriately timed hours — try a brisk walk to get your heart rate going and get a natural jolt of energy to help adapt.

Ease in to It
For seasoned travelers, many opt to ease in to the time changes a few days prior to their departure. By waking an hour earlier or heading to bed an hour later each day for a few days, you can begin a slower transition. Also, many opt for flights that will arrive in the early evening, leaving enough time for dinner and decompression — but not much else — resulting in a hopefully “normal” bed time for new arrivals.

Adapt Quickly

Changing your watch and phone times to that of your destination as soon as you take off can help you become acclimated mid-air, versus feeling jarred by the shifts upon landing. The earlier you are on destination time, the better. It’s not uncommon to take a red-eye, arrive at 7AM and crave dinner food — but opt for traditional breakfast items for breakfast, lunch for lunch, and — you guessed it — dinner for dinner. The sooner you become acclimated, the less of an effect jet lag will have on your trip.

See More: 6 Pre-Wedding Beauty Supplements to Try

Michael Phelps' Heartfelt Message to Fiancé Nicole Johnson is Total #HusbandGoals

michael phelps nicole johnson

Photo: Michael Phelps via Instagram

Could they get any cuter? Just days after winning a handful of gold medals at the 2016 summer Olympic games in Rio, swimmer Michael Phelps shared a sweet tribute to his fiancée Nicole Johnson on Instagram yesterday. In it, he wrote some very heartfelt sentiments to his wife-to-be, sure to make any significant other swoon.

Michael Phelps posted a photo of himself and his fiancée Nicole Johnson, captioning it, “I love spending time together with you!! Thank you for everything!! Can’t wait for the next chapter of our life to begin!! Love you!! #rio2016 #omega” — now that is a lot of exclamation points, and with good reason. The 31-year-old Olympian just won his final round of gold medals at the 2016 Olympic Games (he now has 28 in total, according to The Daily Mail), has a beautiful fiancée, and a little cherub of a son named Boomer. Life is pretty good right now, that’s for sure.

And the next chapter in their lives is sure to be a good one as well. With a wedding happening at the end of the year and Phelps retiring from his swimming days (with a net-worth of about $55 million according to CNBC), life is pretty sweet. He announced on Monday that he’s leaving his post as Olympic champion to focus on “building a family” with his 31-year-old fiancée and three-month-old Boomer. After 28 medals and zillions of laps, you deserve a break!

His wife-to-be has shared an equal amount of heartwarming photos on her Instagram while she supported her man in his quest to defend his gold medal titles. In the latest snap, she posted a pic of her and her hubs-to-be overlooking Copacabana in Brazil (complete with boomer in a bjorn on her chest!), saying, “My happy lil family @m_phelps00 #proudfiancé #family #bestfriend” complete with heart eyes emojis.

The duo shared that they’re tying the knot at the end of this year in an intimate ceremony — followed by a big party. “It’ll be small and intimate for the wedding, then we’re throwing a massive bash for everyone in the States,” the former beauty queen shared with Access Hollywood while in Rio.

The ex-Miss California and champion swimmer have had quite the on-again, off-again relationship, but it definitely seems like they are in it for the long haul. “I’m pretty sure we both shared stuff with our parents and were like, ‘Oh, this is it, there’s no way we are getting back together,'” Johnson recalled. Phelps’ mom, Debbie Phelps weighed in, sharing that she always felt that Johnson was “The One.” In fact, when they got back together and the swimmer told his mom that he was back with his leading lady, his mom was thrilled. “That’s where he should be,” she said.

See More: 7 Women Share How They Knew He Was the One

The future Mrs. Phelps had similar feelings about it, noting that she and her groom picked up right where they left off. “It was still a little rocky and figuring things out, figuring each other out because it had been some time. But we didn’t miss a beat.”

The one question we have for the retired athlete and his wife-to-be, however, is — are his 12,000 calories-per-day diets still going to be on the menu in this new chapter? Now THAT’s a lot of cooking for a bride-to-be while she’s planning her big day!

My happy lil family ** @m_phelps00 #proudfianc* #family #bestfriend

A photo posted by Nicole Michele Johnson (@nicole.m.johnson) on Aug 16, 2016 at 3:26pm PDT

How to Easily Avoid These 5 Common Wedding Day Disasters

upset bride

Photo: Getty Images

While your wedding day will easily be one of the best days of your life, it’s also a day that potentially anything could go wrong. No matter how many times you cross things off your to-do list, triple confirm with your vendors, and do a no-rain dance, you never know the crazy situations that may knock on your door during one of the most precious and important days of your life. So if you’re looking to take a proactive approach to fighting off stressful situations on your wedding day, here are five wedding day disasters that you can easily avoid (with careful planning).


1. Vendors Who are a No-Show

There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to planning a wedding and often those moving parts involve your wedding vendors. Even if you’ve been chatting with them for months, have one member of your bridal party call them at 9am on your wedding day to confirm their arrival. Ask them to show up 30-45 minutes before the time you truly need them there. That buffer period will allow for traffic and any other hiccups.

2. You Run Out of Food
You don’t want to have to face a couple hundred hungry guests when you run out of food at your buffet or even during cocktail hour. Always order a little more food than you need or add on a late night snack bar.

3. The Dress of Your Dreams is a Nightmare to Wear

If you’re having trouble fitting into your wedding dress, whether it’s too big or too small, make sure you bring some fashion emergency items with you, including a mini-sewing kit, double-sided tape, and safety pins. The bigger tip here, however, is make sure to get a dress that you feel comfortable and beautiful in from the start (and not after you will yourself to lose 15 pounds!).

4. Your Flowers Make You Sneeze
If you suddenly realize that you’re allergic to the flowers you picked, try to avoid holding your bouquet until it’s time to walk down the aisle. Keep it at a bit of a distance from your chest and face and hand it over to your maid-of-honor before it’s time to kiss the groom.

5. The Power Goes Out

If the power goes out and the venue doesn’t have a backup generator, the only thing you can do is make the best of the situation. The best thing you can do is double check with your venue beforehand to make sure that this won’t ever be an issue. Send someone to the nearest convenience store to pick up candles and move the party outdoors.

See More: Real Brides Dish on Their Funniest Wedding Disasters

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.

Wife Posts Heartbreaking Ad Selling Her Wedding Dress After She Finds Husband Cheating

Normally after a wedding, your white gown is something that commemorates the special day you and your husband shared together. It brings back memories of your first kiss, first dance and first piece of cake together as a married couple. But for one disgruntled wife, it only brings sorrow. Can you blame her?!

Samantha, a 28-year-old blogger from the United Kingdom, recently found out her husband was having an affair AND living with the woman he was cheating on her with (talk about a double-whammy…). And because filing for divorce isn’t exactly a cheap matter, Samantha decided to sell the one logical thing she could — her wedding dress.

wedding dress ad on ebay

Photo: Courtesy eBay

Reeling from the emotional devastation that going through a divorce creates, this wife took to eBay to auction off her strapless lace wedding gown that she described as, “Used: Great condition but needs dry cleaning before wearing to get rid of the stench of betrayal.” Ouch. She started the bidding at 500 pounds, and added a lengthy description of not only the gown, but her “scumbag of a husband” as well. It reads:

“I’m selling this designer Art Deco wedding dress in ivory. Mainly selling as I need to pay for my divorce which my ex-husband has left me to foot the bill for! It’s strapless, with a long lace train which can be hooked up for the evening do…As it reaches the floor, it is a little dirty around this area and so will need a dry clean before it’s worn for your special day. I didn’t have time to get it dry-cleaned myself before my cheating scumbag of a husband decided to call an end to our marriage. It cost my poor parents around 2,000 pounds brand new in 2014.”

“Sorry there are only two pictures, but when I found out my husband was living with another woman, I pretty much burned/permanently deleted everything with his disgusting face on it! If you want a dress that is full of bad memories and shattered hopes and dreams then this is the one for you! Hope this dress brings you a lot more happiness than it brought me in the end and if not…well you can always sell it on here!”

See More: Does Flirting Equal Infidelity?

She ended the (understandably) bitter rant with, “If you’ve got any questions — either about the dress or the skank that my husband ran off with — then please feel free to contact me!”

Since posting the ad on August 11th, the bid has gone up to a whopping 29,600 pounds. See the whole ad here.

Jesse Metcalfe is Engaged!

Jesse Metcalfe is Engaged

Photo: Getty Images

After playing a slew of characters who were perpetually unlucky in love (Remember when he dove into Gabrielle’s hedges when her husband came home on Desperate Housewives? Or when four spurned high school girls united to ruin his life in John Tucker Must Die? Yikes…), Jesse Metcalfe has officially found the love of his life — and proposed to her! Yes, Metcalfe is engaged after popping the question to his longtime sweetheart, Cara Santana. And John Tucker made us want to die when we got a look at the engagement ring he picked out for his soon-to-be bride. Seriously, it’s that pretty!

So just who is this Cara Santana? If you can only recall Metcalfe canoodling on-screen with Eva Longoria, you’re not alone. Metcalfe and Santana — who earns a living as a trendy fashion blogger — have managed to keep their love pretty much out of the spotlight, but they’ve actually been in a relationship for over a decade. “I wouldn’t say it was love at first sight,” the actor shared with YourTango back in 2013. “It was more of a slow burn, which I think is a better start for a relationship. I think if it comes on fast and furious, it generally fizzles out just as fast. We were slow and steady.” We’d say! “We took the time to get to know each other,” added the bride-to-be. “We’ve known each other for, like, 10 years.” It may have taken a decade, but these two are finally heading down the aisle — and that ring was definitely worth the wait!

According to Us Weekly, Metcalfe did the deed aboard a 50-foot sailboat as they floated along the Hudson River in New York City. Cue the sunset and Eric Clapton’s “Pretty Girl” playing in the background. (Yes, really!) Oh, and a five and half carat diamond engagement ring, of course! This sparkler is a serious stunner. In a post-proposal pic of Metcalfe and Santana, it can be seen glittering on the blogger bride’s hand and features an emerald-cut center stone. Kudos to Metcalfe on his taste in jewelry. We’re obsessed!

“It’s been a long time coming, but we couldn’t be happier,” the actor shared. But their the engagement wasn’t this couple’s only reason to celebrate. The to-be-wedded pair were also living it up for the bride’s 31st birthday. So many reasons to smile!

What a weekend! Meant to get this up yesterday, but was too busy celebrating. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my baby!!!??????????????

A photo posted by Jesse Metcalfe (@realjessemetcalfe) on Aug 16, 2016 at 1:47pm PDT

See More: Our Favorite Celebrity Engagement Rings

These 7 Small Things Can Have a Big Impact on Your Relationship

When it comes to relationships, we often focus on the big things: Money, kids, religion. But, “it’s the small things that end up making or breaking a relationship,” says psychotherapist and relationship coach Toni Coleman. Here, our experts say, are seven small things that can make a big (and often bad) difference to your twosome.

1. Your partner is a rabid sports fan (and you’re not).
It may not seem tough to cheer on your partner’s team, but, “having to build your life around every game can be really trying,” points out Lesli Doares, marriage coach and author of Blueprint For A Lasting Marriage. Sure, you can appreciate the finer points of a well-executed sack — but you can’t appreciate it seems more important to your sports-loving partner than you do. Over time, this can cause tension, Doares warns.

2. Your partner isn’t a great listener.
When you were first dating, you thought your partner was just excited when he or she couldn’t wait until you’d finished your sentence to interject his or her opinion. Now, his or her habit of interrupting hurts. “Frequently interrupting or letting their attention be diverted elsewhere sends a clear message that what your partner feels or needs to express is just not important to you,” explains Coleman. On the flip side, “deep listening does just the opposite.”

3. Your partner spends a lot of time on the phone.
If you’re a Chatty Cathy, beware: “It’s great that you have great relationships with other people, but not so great if you are spending time with them instead of your partner,” says Doares. “It also can be problematic if you are sharing things about your relationship or what your partner is doing that they don’t know is being shared. This is also true if you spend a lot of time on social media with what for your partner may be complete strangers.”

4. Your partner uses the phrase, “yes, but …”
According to Coleman, “When a partner is being vulnerable and asking their partner to own up to something they have done that was wrong or hurtful, and their partner says, ‘yes, but,’ they are acknowledging what is being expressed, but then dismissing it as incorrect and refusing to take any responsibility.” Two small words with a really big impact. “Being able to apologize and accept responsibility for one’s behavior and its impact on your partner says I love you like nothing else,” she says.

See More: Happy Marriage Habits to Start Before You Tie the Knot

5. Your partner has bad table manners.
When it comes to table manners, “not waiting for you before they start eating or leaving you at the table when they’re done is disrespectful,” says Doares. And, if you feel disrespected, resentment can build up, meal by meal. “Same goes with taking the last of the food without finding out if you want more, talking with their mouth full, or reading at the table,” Doares adds.

6. Your partner doesn’t pitch in when you’re pooped.
You can handle almost anything — almost all the time. But when you’re stressed, tired, or overworked, you could use a helping hand. “Ignoring the distress of one’s partner communicates a lack of caring,” says Coleman. “It says, ‘it’s your responsibility — deal with it and don’t expect me to put myself out to help you.’ But jumping in to help and saying, ‘take it easy, I’ve got this,’ is a love language that everyone speaks.”

7. Your partner doesn’t think of you.
You may not mind the first time your partner gets up for a snack and doesn’t ask if you’d like anything from the kitchen. But by the tenth time, you may get a little testy. “Checking in with you about whether you want something to eat too, need a glass of water when they head to the kitchen, getting a plate down for you, whatever it may be, is a sign of awareness and generosity,” says Doares. “Only thinking about themselves in these circumstances is self-centered and does not bode well for the long-term health of your relationship.”

BRIDES New Jersey: How to Keep Your Out-of-Town Guests Entertained Before Your Wedding

carlos bakery

Photo: Courtesy of Jenni Ward on Instagram

Fortunately, all your fave people have decided to travel in for your wedding — that deserves a major ‘YAY’! But yikes, how are you going to keep everyone occupied in the days leading up to your wedding? Have no fear, we have the comprehensive guide for keeping your friends and fam busy while you put the finishing touches on those pending last-minute details. (Ahem, we know you have 150 favors to put ribbons on over the next 48 hours.)

Visit Buddy Valastro’s bakery
Send guests to Carlo’s Bakery, seen on the show “Cake Boss,” for some rainbow cookies, cannolis, and cupcakes. Visitors can take photos in front of the television-featured bakery and get their sugar fill all while potentially spotting some cake-world celebs. The line is often long, so make sure to tell your guests to wear comfy shoes!

Take a stroll along the Hoboken waterfront
The view of the Manhattan skyline is world famous for a reason. If the weather is cooperating, encourage your friends and family to take a walk along Frank Sinatra Drive where they can take gorgeous photos with the Freedom Tower in the background and marvel at one of the most iconic views in the world.

See More: Finalize All of Your Last Minute Wedding Details With Our Favorite Local Vendors

Explore some family history
Have guests that are interested in learning more about their family background? Give them information for ferries to Ellis Island, where not only can they see the Statue of Liberty, but they may be able to find the original passenger records for family members of theirs that entered the U.S. through the famed port.

Embrace the fear

New Jersey is well known for its many spooky sites, and if your nearest and dearest like to be freaked out, you may want to give them directions to the Devil’s Tree in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Legend has it that the tree is cursed, with numerous creepy things happening nearby — even in the coldest winter, snow doesn’t fall around it! Make sure your guests have a strong tolerance for weirdness and tell them to keep someone updated of their whereabouts if they do decide to go!

Give your regards to Broadway
If your friends and family have never been to a Broadway musical or play in New York City, hook them up with some tickets to one of your favorites. The Lion King and Aladdin are family friendly, while The Book of Mormon will have adults with a raunchier sense of humor laughing for days to come. (Hit up TKTS ticket booths for discount seats to your fave shows!)

Still not quite sure how to entertain your guests? Check out more of our favorite Local Vendors here!

UPDATED Find Local Vendors Button

BRIDES' 30 Day Wedding Shape-Up Challenge: Day 17, Recheck Your Caloric Needs

Wedding Workout Plan Calorie Needs

Photo: Getty Images

This is it… The final countdown to your big day. And along with settling those last few details — figuring out where to seat your eccentric Uncle Carl, firming up the flowers — you’re likely also making one last push to make sure the body that will be wearing that gorgeous white gown looks as good as it possibly can. You and nearly every other woman with an engagement ring on her finger. In fact, research shows that an overwhelming 91 percent of brides-to-be are anxious about their weight. But from here on out, you won’t have to be!

Whether you want to drop those last few pounds or look more toned — or both — we’ve got a month’s worth of daily tips (none of which require starving yourself or working out nonstop!) that will help you feel stunning and confident when you walk down that aisle. You know where to send the thank-you card. Let’s get started!

Day 17: Recheck Your Caloric Needs

If you’ve lost a bunch of weight since you started your Wedding Shape-Up Challenge, it’s worth going back to whatever handy dandy online calculator you used, plugging in your current weight and re-running the numbers. (Be sure to pick one that takes activity level and age into account.)

That’s because as you get smaller, so do your caloric requirements. Thinner bodies require less energy. So if you’re still eating like a 150-pound person at your current 140, you might see your weight loss stall — or even begin creeping in the other direction, notes Rachel Beller, R.D., of Beller Nutritional Institute in Beverly Hills and author of Power Souping.

See More: How to Work Out Even When You’re Busy As Hell

Once you have your new daily caloric requirements, you can start shaving off here and there to keep losing weight — if that’s your plan. Rather than making it all about eating less (you’ll be hungry!) or exercise (you’ll be exhausted!) it’s best to marry the two and do a little of each.

Shave 250 calories from your diet each day and burn off 250 calories through exercise and you’ll lose a pound a week. And remember: Being generally more active counts! Even if it’s not a workout day, you can easily burn those 250 calories just by walking here and there — it all adds up.

Just getting started on our 30 Day Wedding Shape-Up? Kick off your journey from Day One, here.