if you’re someone who hasn’t kept a secret pinterest board of wedding inspo—and hey, no shame either way—it can be tempting to open up the app, see what’s trending, and let that guide your initial choices. “where you shop, what you like to do, and what you participate in are all great jumping-off points.”  take inventory of your closet—do you wear a lot of florals, stripes, or bright hues? that can be both a good and a bad thing.

planning a wedding is so overwhelming. while you can always hire a professional to plan your wedding for you, it isn’t an option when you’re planning a wedding for under 4k. i could probably talk all day about what i want for my wedding, but the truth is, if i don’t write it down somewhere it isn’t going to happen. organization is the key to not only keeping everything on track, but the key to eliminating wedding planning stress. notion is an all-in-one workspace where you can write, plan, collaborate and get organized – it allows you to take notes, add tasks, manage projects & more.

a micro wedding is the perfect way to have your dream wedding in an intimate, memorable, and budget friendly way. a micro wedding is an ideal cross between an elopement and a big traditional wedding – it might just be the answer you were looking for to best suit your style! it creates all the glamour and impact of a big wedding, gives you room for less stress and more joy. it is our honor to create unforgettable wedding celebrations. and it is a joy to work with couples on their special day and exceed their expectations. and every couple can find a micro wedding package that best fits their style and their budget. choosing a micro wedding is not compromising but making an investment in your future with a foundation of love. and our platinum wedding package perfectly shows that. book your platinum micro wedding package today to get the date you want and start living your best married life! it was delightful having ray alonzo as our officiant for our wedding ceremony.

depending on where you’re holding the wedding and what you and your partner want for the big day, many of the following items are optional. as you can imagine, the cost of engagement and wedding rings varies greatly, so it’s important to have an open discussion with your partner about how much you both want to spend on these lifelong accessories. anything out-of-season may unnecessarily spike your food costs.” you can also save on wedding cake by asking your venue to include dessert in the contract. “this is best used in a venue where you have everything in one place, and transportation to and from another site would be difficult.” for decor, she recommends asking your venue about what it already has on hand and the cost to rent. in addition to the cost of living, doing business, expensive photography gear, and education, she says a big part of the quote is reserving time.

if you would like to improve your connection, choose one or two of the activities and exercises described below to practice with your partner. if you’re stumped on what activity might be best for you and your partner, the following exercises may be a good place to start. share these songs with your partner, along with an explanation of how the song relates to you and why you chose it to share with him or her. if the silence is uncomfortable, choose a song that is pleasant to both of you or meaningful in terms of your relationship and hold eye contact until the song ends (gray, 2014). if you and your partner are enjoying the exercise, feel free to prolong it – take 20 breaths together, or 30, or simply breathe together for a set amount of time. this exercise is a great way for couples to explore the type of future they would like to build, individually and as a couple. the answers to these questions should lead you and your partner in a healthy and productive discussion about your selves and your relationship.

i’ve been a couples therapist in california for more than two decades, and in that time i’ve noticed how different couples approach therapy. two are more widely understood: one or both has no interest in therapy; or one or both has interests outside the relationship. if her spouse is not invested in doing the work, he may show up to appointments and talk a good talk, but make no changes at home. the third scenario is one that often happens outside of people’s awareness.

however, sometimes couples (either with the help of a professional or on their own) can repair the relationship and develop an even stronger, healthier bond. i am a strong advocate for social justice and reform and naturally drawn to representing the needs of all immigrant and minority groups. i consider myself to be a strong champion, advocate, and healing force in the lives of the collective lgbtq+ community.

to help you make it to the ceremony on time, we’ve put together a getting-ready guide and sample timeline for you to follow along with tips from hair and makeup pros that might even have you ahead of schedule. “i try not to think in terms of ‘appointments,’ but having a schedule and an order for the morning of your wedding will help keep you and your wedding party on track and make sure you’re finished on time,” says beke beau, a philadelphia-based makeup artist. instead, remind everyone that the timing is fluid, and ask them to be available in a particular order without a strict time attached.” then she’ll need her hair and makeup done earlier in the day,” explains ogden.

this is a hefty list, but there are tips here and there on how to cut some of those hidden wedding costs down! depending on the style you choose, alterations can add a few hundred dollars on average. in the state of minnesota, a marriage license is $40 with 12 hours of premarital education and $115 without. for a fraction of your budget, you could save quite a few tears if the worst happens. have a conversation with your florist about the flowers you want vs. the buds that are in season before you design your bouquets. you can wake up, have a cup of coffee, and enjoy getting ready in your own room. it may be something you want to think about, even when deciding on a venue in the first place.

add the prospect of dating to the equation, and you’ve got quite a challenge. “if you are single, you can date.” of course, the reality of how and when to start ducking out depends on the circumstance and your readiness. rule #2: talk to your kids about itwhen you think you are ready to date, tell your children, fisher suggests. rule #3: find the right galthe woman you’re looking for should understand that your kids are your priority, says armin brott, a columnist for ask mr.dad. don’t disregard a woman who has never been a mother—she may be wonderful with your kids because there is no one competing for her attention. however, be sure to add that at some point in the future if you should ever meet someone you want to date exclusively, you will want them to meet her.