Their Proposal Video Went Viral — But Have You Seen Their Wedding Video?

By now we’re all used to seeing epic and crazy proposal videos in our Facebook and Twitter feeds, like this guy who staged an action film scene to propose or this guy who spent four years and 100,000 miles to make his proposal video. But, when you strip away the foreign locations and special effects, what we all really love about these films are that the guys and gals took special care and planning to execute a romantic surprise for their fiance-to-be.

So on the day, Sam and Jess acted as talent in the music video which culminated in a date scene at a restaurant owned by a family friend. So naturally, many of their other family and friends were going to be “extras” in this scene. Now, watch what happens:

This amazing proposal video went totally viral, with 15 million views on YouTube! Their story was picked up by local and international news outlets who couldn’t get enough of the adorable couple and their proposal story.

Jump forward to March 2016: Sam and Jess’s wedding ceremony was held in the church where Jess’s grandparents were married over 50 years ago, and they celebrated with family and friends at the Wanamaker building in Center City Philadelphia, which is home to the Crystal Tea Room. The 1920s grand ballroom is the epitome of elegance and glamour, and it was the perfect spot for this wonderful, beautiful couple to celebrate their wedding. Watch their wedding video below and get ready to take note, ’cause this is full of some serious #bigdaygoals.

Love wedding videos? Watch hours of wedding films from all over the world on LoveStoriesTV.com. And, if you have a wedding video of your own, email videos@lovestoriestv.com to be featured!

Planning a wedding is an unforgettable experience and can lay the foundation to one of the most exciting milestones of a couple’s journey together in life, if not *the* milestone.

Between the surge of endorphins of a proposal that sweeps you both into an unreal level of romance to the non-stop swarm of loving messages from family and friends, the timespan from proposal to wedding day can truly feel like a fairytale. My favorite part? The giddy “OMG”s shrieked each time you look down or pass a mirror and catch a glimpse of your hand with its shiny new companion. A bit less magical than rocking your dreamy new ring, however, is taking on the ever-daunting task of bringing every detail of your dream wedding to life.

For years, whether it’s on Pinterest, Instagram, or scribbled in a weathered journal you kept from younger years, most romantics like myself have kept a tally of what their wedding would one day look like. And before you know it, it’s time to shift from casually pinning and saving ideas to hitting the ground running IRL. From narrowing down the perfect location and tablescapes to finding the ultimate dress (or two!), curating the moving parts to your wedding is a process you’ll want every bit of advice and wisdom that you can get your (newly shimmery) hands on.

Should you decide to take the exciting leap of celebrating your wedding abroad, the online search for diving into everything from venue options, foreign cultural traditions, language barriers, and more can feel endless. At times, there may even be a lack of information (or translated equivalents) that will leave you scouring message boards or other online forums for other couples who have been in your shoes. But fret not — there are plenty of brides who have perfected their big day in beautiful, exotic locations across the globe. Whether it’s a gorgeous Mediterranean gathering, an island-inspired bohemian escape, or any dreamy vision in between, I’m here to tell you that with the right tips at hand, you can make your wedding abroad come to life — without blowing your budget— embellished with equal parts adventure and unforgettable bliss.

How To Plan A Destination Wedding In 2023

Image via @niceofwedding

For our wedding day — or rather, week of celebrations — we selected Bodrum, Turkey as our destination. With family members traveling from the US, Europe, and the Middle East, this beautiful coastal town on the Turkish riviera made for the perfect backdrop to our international guest list. Think royal blue Aegean waters, picturesque Mediterranean islands, and white sailboats floating in the distance. Not to mention, we loved the excuse to provide (and strongly advocate for) an unforgettable vacation for everyone we love in a gorgeous, exotic destination. Here are ten things I learned from planning my wedding abroad!

1. Your Fantasy Location Might Not Be Your Final Choice

Image via @niceofwedding

While gathering initial inspiration for your wedding abroad, you may be dead-set on a popular location that you’ve spent years gushing over photos of online. However, many top destinations are now pricier or have limited in availability due to high exposure online and increased demand from new international appeal. In addition to reaching out to those top favorites on your venue wishlist, I recommend taking a look at lesser known destinations in the same country or region you’re interested in. By doing research beyond viral locations, you can find amazing hidden gems that feature the same landscape or cultural elements, but at a more affordable price. Plus, you provide a more custom experience than some of the “cookie-cutter” types of plans that are routinely repeated for weddings at larger venues in high demand.

When selecting Turkey as the destination for our wedding abroad, we initially thought Istanbul was the obvious choice for a venue. However, once taking a closer look at other lesser known, gorgeous locations along the Turkish coast, we discovered that basing our wedding in the luxurious beach town of Bodrum would mean less hustle and bustle of the capital city and a more peaceful, laid back experience. Our wedding planner, who was based locally in Bodrum, could easily coordinate everything needed for our special day in town. By bypassing excessively popular venue options in Istanbul and opting for a more “hidden gem” feel in Bodrum, our wedding party was able to all stay within walking distance (or a short cab ride away!) to everywhere we included in our lineup of events, eliminating the stress of getting in and out of a larger city. During the entirety of our stay in Bodrum, we experienced five star service and treatment from everyone from hotel concierge to taxi drivers to the owner of the restaurant where we hosted our Rehearsal Dinner. The small town feel made it feel like we, as Bride and Groom, were the talk of the town, with everyone itching to show us just how amazing local hospitality could be – and boy did they succeed!

Pro tip: Reach out to friends, family or your extended network for those who've traveled in/around the country you have in mind for your wedding. They might have a personal take on a stunning location to keep in mind that’s lesser known to tourists.

2. Choose A Home Base For Your Crew & Festivities

Image via @niceofwedding

The best way to offer a seamless experience at your wedding destination is to have a hotel and/or resort as the “home base” for your friends and family to all enjoy each other's company in one place. By selecting a clean, comfortable, and quality uniform accommodations for everyone in your party, you can simplify the process of coordinating plans to see one another, address incoming questions about events and in general keep things much smoother having everyone at the same place. Plus, it allows your guests to get cozy and socialize with one another while you’re on bride and groom duty.

In having the majority of our guests stay at the same resort (including us!), we were able to see everyone conveniently, get quality time by the pool or the beach, as well as refer everyone to the same on-site eateries for meals, drinks, and more. Our absolute favorite part of our wedding experience abroad was being able to essentially “live” with our loved ones gathered all in one place for almost a week, enjoying daily Turkish breakfasts along seaside views and seeing our guests leisurely enjoy the amenities of the resort, without the stress, confusion or separation of everyone at different hotels.

The concierge at the hotel is also highly aware of — and often prioritizes — larger bookings and parties, so they're equipped and ready with information to guide your guests on local tips, recommendations and information for getting around town. And of course, a financial perk is that with a large group accommodation, you should be able to negotiate a great discount on standard rates for rooms, suites and villas. Trust me – as bride and groom, you’ve earned the villa!

Pro tip: Design and send over a stylish itinerary for the hotel staff to print + place inside each of your guests’ rooms along with an optional souvenir to serve as a warm welcome for your family and friends. They can refer to the itinerary for all event information from date, time, location, and dress code for all of your wedding events.

3. A Wedding Planner (+ Odd Planning Hours) Are Non-Negotiable

Image via @niceofwedding

Even the most buttoned up brides will need the assistance of a wedding planner for their international nuptials. Between possible language barriers, cultural customs, and a close-knit local network of vendors that are much less visible to the social media eye, having a wedding planner based in your destination who's familiar with the local community is truly non-negotiable if you’re based in the States. While some couples might start their wedding planning journey by seeking a wedding planner first, followed by landing ceremony and reception venue(s), we started our wedding planning by securing our dream venue and resort (same place!) first and foremost. After that, we got wedding planner recommendations from the venue manager — this way, the venue team had a set recommendation for a wedding planner who had worked on their property before and was familiar with the in’s and out’s of what would work best on-site according to our ceremony and reception visions. We worked with the amazing Eda Kanitürk of @edavecicekleri to bring our dream wedding vision to life. Once your wedding planner and venue are locked in, it truly opens up the rest of the process in such a fun way, with your planner at your (virtual) side to guide you through the rest of details, choices, and approvals.

Keep in mind that with English as their second, third, or even fourth language, there will likely be a need to over communicate and clarify exactly what you’re looking for. Visuals, mood boards, and video examples are key in communicating your vision and helping your planner understand your style and taste fully, beyond any language and cultural differences. From tablescapes and floral arrangements to music and unique decor, it's absolutely crucial as a bride to share as much inspiration as possible with your planner so that you can feel confident knowing that when you wake up and walk down the aisle on your big day, that any misunderstandings will be minimized thanks to a thorough planning process.

In respect to the expected time zone differences between you and your wedding planner, expect early mornings, late nights, and weekends as opportune moments to schedule calls and check-ins. Frequent weekly check-ins with your planner in the beginning of the process are imperative to lay out the foundation of your wedding, share all of the inspiration, and get key vendors locked in and approved. In the few weeks leading up to the wedding, cue up any last check-ins about once a week to seal all of the final details and plan for in-person meetings preceding the wedding, once you are planning to finally land in your destination abroad. After months of planning, it was such an exciting moment to meet our planner in person in Turkey and have her assist on site throughout all of our celebrations, leaving us stress free and in pure wedding bliss.

Pro tip: Communicating via WhatsApp was an extremely useful tool for us, as we were able to text over questions as they were top of mind to us and have our planner address them via text or on our many thorough calls. We were able to share much of our visual inspiration by sending photos this way as well!

4. Vendor Choices Will Be More Limited (But That Might Be a Good Thing!)

Image via @niceofwedding

In executing the vision for your perfect wedding, choosing your vendors is such a critical piece of the puzzle. From the wedding cake to the DJ to hair and makeup, it can be overwhelming to narrow down a competitive market and compare quotes, offerings and style differences between them all. However, one ironic perk of planning a wedding abroad is actually having fewer choices at your fingertips for vendors. While it seems counterintuitive, the classic saying “less is more” comes to mind. In my experience, it was surprisingly refreshing to have our wedding planner only present 2-3 options for key vendors for floral, cake, hair, makeup, and DJ options.

As someone who absolutely loves the challenge of scouring online profiles and reviews of local vendors, it was far less stressful to have the options narrowed down for me right off the bat, due to a naturally smaller pool of wedding industry services in Turkey. By only having a few options to choose from, it allowed me to focus on the ones at hand and truthfully let go of the micro-managing I tend to feel Stateside. With a language barrier between myself and most of the vendors, I leaned heavily on my visual examples to speak for themselves, and it worked!

The most interesting part of the puzzle? Choosing our reception menu without being able to have a tasting on-site in Turkey. As a giant foodie, this was laughably the biggest surprise to myself and my then-fiance, who could see that I was enjoying the process of letting go and trusting that everything would be perfect, despite such little differences in planning abroad. In the end, the food was to die for and everyone in our party raved about it!

A stark reality of planning a wedding abroad is realizing how over-the-top the industry can be in the United States, with so many overpriced options and fluff around certain services. Choosing from only 2-3 makeup artists, hair stylists, cake options, DJs, etc, quickened the process and allowed me to freely focus on the big picture of how our wedding day was going to *feel* for everyone there. It taught me the art of letting go and trusting the process, which I (and the rest of any type-A brides out there!) will be forever grateful for.

5. Your Guest Count Will Likely Be Lower (In A Beautiful And Intimate Way)

Image via @niceofwedding

Much like expectations for your vendor pool, your expectations regarding the guest list and overall turnout will realistically be much lower for a wedding abroad. Even with the closest of friends and family members, it's great etiquette to keep in mind that there will be likely less of those invited who are able to make the lengthy trip, depending on the location, logistics, time off, personal, and work projects, etc. While it was naturally ideal for us to hope that every single person invited would tag along and take part of our big day, we were very understanding with all of our guests who had valid reasons as to why they couldn’t travel to across the globe, despite their loving wishes and happy blessings. Our wedding party happily turned out to be a close-knit family affair, with over 80 guests and relatives attending – many of whom we hadn’t seen in over twenty years. For this reason, the tighter and more intimate setting and guest count allowed us to truly connect with our loved ones in a way we’ll never forget. And for those friends who did make the journey to celebrate us, it created a new level of gratitude.

Pro tip: Since those family and friends who can’t attend your wedding abroad are still eager to celebrate you as Bride and Groom, seize the opportunity and host an amazing pre- or post- party celebrating your nuptials in an easier-to-access location where people can easily gather and you can enjoy a mini wedding with your Stateside crew! With my family based in Miami, we invited our closest friends for a beautiful pre-wedding dinner party under the stars, followed by a mini Bachelorette weekend to kill two birds with one stone! This weekend getaway was a fantastic way to make the most of everyone’s time who had traveled to be in Miami, knowing they wouldn’t be able to make it to Turkey. It was a hit and one of the most memorable moments of our pre-marriage season!

6. Embrace Local Cultural Traditions + Educate Your Planner On Your Own

Image via @niceofwedding

Just as food, fashion, language, and landscapes vary from place to place, wedding culture and customs in each country are heavily influenced by years of tradition and spiritual practice worldwide. While there’s every wedding style under the sun in the States, you may encounter or more streamlined or one-way tradition when conducting weddings abroad. First and foremost, it’s an important distinction to consider your wedding abroad to be a symbolic — meaning it's non-legally binding in that country. That way, a lot of the paperwork is avoided in the destination of your choice and you can focus on keeping the ceremony and reception purely as a celebratory event. That being said, in order to make your marriage legal back in the States, you'll have to take the steps and carry out a legal ceremony either before or after your wedding abroad.

When it comes to popular Stateside wedding practices, you might have to map out, educate, and provide your planner with visual examples of certain customs that are second nature to American wedding planners. Elements like a bouquet toss, cake cutting, first dances, and parent dances aren’t things you can assume your wedding planner will include, so make sure to clearly outline which American wedding traditions (or others!) you’ll want to highlight on your special day.

In planning our wedding in Turkey, we had to take a few key details into our own hands like asking our some of our favorite family members to serve as the officiant during our ceremony and the emcee/announcer during our reception, as officiants aren't a traditional part of weddings in Turkey and our DJ — like many vendors — wasn't comfortable speaking English. These quirks made us great problem solvers and allowed us to get our family and friends involved with heartfelt favors that made our vision come to life on an even more personal level.

Additionally, we wanted to complement our reception set up with a traditional Sofreh Aghd, a Persian wedding table bedazzled with items meant to bless the bride and groom on their union, including sweets, candles, fresh flowers, mirrors, and more. It was important for me to walk through each step in curating the Sofreh Aghd with our wedding planner and send her the exact inspiration and details to work off of in gathering the items locally. Thanks to our endless chats, her resourcefulness in Turkey and her general amazing taste, the Sofreh turned out even more beautifully than I ever imagined.

​7. Your Money Will Go Much Further

Image via @niceofwedding

A popular reason many couples dip their toes into planning their wedding abroad is not only the allure of an exotic backdrop, but the fantastic perk of knowing that your dollar will often stretch much further in other countries when it comes to paying for a wedding. Where the industry in America is inflated beyond belief, the market abroad can be very humble with offering truly luxurious locations, services, and planning at a much lower price.

To clarify, the picture-perfect wedding of your dreams will likely still cost you a pretty penny abroad, but the amount will likely be significantly lower overall in comparison to mimicking the same setup you have in mind in the States. This financial benefit can influence everything from getting a five star hotel or resort experience at half the price that you’d pay in the US, to the ability to deck out your venue with a deluxe variety of floral arrangements at a much lower price point. With a bit more wiggle room in your budget, you may have the option of adding unique little touches to your event that make your guests feel truly special such as a small gift, covered meals, or other little mementos that show how much you appreciate them making the journey to celebrate you.

For us, having our wedding in Turkey allowed us to give our entire party a five star experience at a seaside resort with daily complimentary breakfast — and I’m not talking about a sad muffin and orange juice, because it was a full on over-the-top traditional Turkish breakfast served daily! And if you're a numbers person, I have the receipts to prove my destination wedding was a huge savings!

  • $6,000 included ALL wedding planning services from our planner and all florals, decor, and tablescape items for the wedding ceremony and reception. In my local area, wedding planner services are at ~$5-10K alone, and florals at $2-5K. I feel like this is really where we got the biggest bang for our buck and got the look and services we wanted for half the price!
  • $20,000 for combined resort and venue cost covering 3 locations on the property for 3 separate events, also including all appetizers, dinner, cake + unlimited alcohol/open bar at our wedding. In my research, a similarly plated multi-course dinner alone would be ~$15-30K, and coastal/waterfront venue rental for something similar to ours would be $10K+
  • $500 for bridal hair and makeup, which would usually go for $1-2k.
Those three factors add up to a savings of $36.5k — and that was just a handful of areas we were able to save! Imagine the possibilities!

Pro tip: Consider your now-expanded budget an opportunity to host 1-2 additional events or gatherings beyond the wedding day to make your guests who have traveled feel truly special. We hosted a Welcome Party complete with a fully catered traditional Turkish feast and a cultural ceremony the day after our wedding that highlighted dance, music and you guessed it – another delicious feast for everyone to remember forever. Hosting three back-to-back gatherings was something we never would have been able to afford in the US, so it was our pleasure to spend a bit of our carved out funds on our guests who traveled far and wide to be with us. Plus, who doesn’t love multiple bridal looks to shop for! 😉

8. Your Honeymoon Just Got Cheaper

Just like most couples who find the thrill in traveling and exploring new territory together, planning our honeymoon was the most exciting pay-off of the wedding planning process. Knowing we’d be able to keep the party going and experience our first week together as husband and wife on our honeymoon was thrilling. While many modern couples are deciding to push their honeymoon out to cater to work schedules, or just to get a breather after bringing your monumental moment to life, we decided to keep it old school and dive right into ours!

By basing your wedding abroad, you'll be in a much better position to purchase affordable plane tickets and hop right over to your honeymoon destination if it’s in reasonable proximity to your wedding destination. From Turkey, we were easily able to hop on our plane to Spain and Italy, where we sipped, ate and vacationed our way in newlywed bliss. Not only did our entire spend on plane tickets for our entire trip pre and post wedding add up to much less than starting off Stateside, but we also enjoyed the nice perk of having already adjusted to the European time zones so we could be active without worrying about the jet lag crash!

Some couples might opt for staying put at their wedding destination abroad for their honeymoon, as they bid adieu to beloved wedding guests and enjoy some romantic R&R without the buzz of friends and family around. If you’re already in love with the resort or hotel you’ve made yourself home at for the wedding, why not just extend your stay and get a super relaxing honeymoon without the hustle and bustle of any further travel?

Pro tip: Book your travels on a mult-city plan from the airline you fly the majority of your trips with. You’ll not only save money by letting their algorithms place together all the legs of your trip in one fell swoop, but also lots of time in honeymoon planning, which post-wedding organizing, is the best gift of all. We used Turkish Airlines for our combined travel to and from Turkey, Spain, Italy and the US.

9. Post-Wedding Logistics Are Important

Image via @niceofwedding

Perhaps the most important and overlooked element of all is what happens AFTER your wedding. While a Stateside wedding might mean being closer to home or able to cater to the logistics of where decor, gifts, wardrobe, and other details will be kept once the party’s over, it’s a much more crucial process to plan this portion of your wedding out if taking place abroad.

Everything from your formal dress(es), tuxedos, and suits to thoughtful gifts, jewelry, or new funds from loving family and friends must be safely transported back to the US. Without a car or an option to leave and pick up anything at a later time, it was a very key part of the process for us to research dollar limit amounts and pre-plan packing logistics for how to get these important items back home. Not to mention, we had a whole honeymoon’s worth of travel ahead of us, and we didn't want the pressure of holding on to these irreplaceable items!

Your family is the most trustworthy, and if you’ve got a close relative who lives nearby back home, it’s best to give them an important heads up and ask if they're willing to help by transporting items back home with them until you make it back yourself. For us, we planned ahead and brought one extra compact carry on each, where we’d plan to place my wedding dress (gently rolled up!), my husband’s tuxedo (again, rolled up in a designated suit carrier), as well as any physical gifts we received and could safely pack alongside. Two of our relatives who live close by to us in California were happy to assist as they were traveling directly back home after the wedding in Turkey and upon arrival from our honeymoon, we were able to retrieve our items. It was a foolproof system, but only because we planned ahead and reached out for assistance ahead of time so they knew what the plan was.

As far as any financial gifts, we wanted to avoid having any physical forms of money gifted to us at the wedding so we didn't have to carry it or deposit it into our accounts while abroad, so we offered our guests the convenient option of donating to our Honeymoon Fund on our wedding website. This was definitely the easiest way to go, and highly recommended for anyone else planning their big day to not only use this digital feature, but also take advantage of creating a free wedding website to fill your invited loved ones with all of the exciting details!

10. The Best Part: It Will Feel Like A Vacation!

Image via @niceofwedding

Of course, *the* key element that drives the dream of hosting a wedding abroad in a gorgeous setting is providing yourselves and your favorite people with a trip of a lifetime. For those with families spread out across the globe (or the US!), inviting beloved family and friends to celebrate this exciting milestone all together in one exotic place is an irresistible opportunity to reunite and enjoy a vacation as one big, amazing group. For those with to-be-spouses with the majority of family in faraway places, it also is a heartfelt way of making it easier for his/her family members to attend without worrying about the extensive costs of a ticket to the US.

By choosing Turkey, we were able to embrace all of our family members from the US, Europe, and the Middle East in a central location and spark a reason to drop their daily routine and meet for a momentous occasion, all while enjoying a vacation of a lifetime by the sparkling Aegean Sea. Witnessing the looks of relaxation, happiness and joy on everyone’s faces amidst beach-side breakfasts, festive outbursts of dance and song and zen-laced moments on strolls around town were the greatest gift of all. Knowing that a wedding abroad was not only centered on our union as one, but our family’s ability to reunite made us like all of the extensive planning was worth every last drop.

Pro tip: Given the climate of each location will vary, keep a close eye on the typical seasonal weather around the time of year you’re aiming for your wedding to take place and consider that the temperature and daily forecasts will have a large impact on the comfort of you and your party upon visiting. From wind to rain to above or below average temperatures, it’s wise to ask your planner first thing in the process to advise the optimal times of year to host your wedding and avoid any unfriendly weather conditions as best as possible.

Image via @niceofwedding

If you’re thinking of planning your wedding and the idea of doing it abroad is intriguing to you and your future spouse, take this as your sign to go for it and don’t look back! It’s a bold decision to depart from the norm and think outside of the box. You might be met with resistance from your families, but I promise you that if you follow your heart, everyone will be absolutely amazed once it all unfolds on that special day. Whether it’s 10,000 or 10 miles away, there’s a magical place that has your name (+ future new last name!) written all over it. Happy planning, bride!

Looking for more wedding planning inspo? We've got you covered at Brit+Co!

Photography courtesy of @niceofwedding.

Let's be honest...I'll watch just about anything Reese Witherspoon or Will Ferrell are in, but I'm especially ready for You're Cordially Invited! While I was already hooked on this dynamic duo just based on the two of them alone, the trailer just dropped — and it did NOT disappoint. From wrestling alligators to wearing big, fuzzy zebra costumes, there's a lot of really funny stuff to unpack with this upcoming movie. Let's get into it!

Check out the You're Cordially Invited trailer here!

www.youtube.com

- YouTube

Okay, let's address the elephant — or two-time Superbowl-winning quarter back — in the room first. Hello, Peyton Manning! I swear, this man is everywhere right now, and I'm so here for it! I'd be lying if I said I didn't laugh at his "Paintin' Manning" commercials lately.

Anyway, back to the plot at-hand! When Reese Witherspoon's sister and Will Ferrell's daughter get engaged, the both manage to book the weddings for the same day (June 1)...and at the same venue! Classic conundrum! Instead of rescheduling, the two groups are forced to work it out between the two of them, and things get a little hairy.

Throughout the hilarity — and chaos — that ensues, we see a lot of good stuff. This includes (but is not limited to):

  • Will Ferrell doing his daughter's hair in giant rollers
  • The two wedding parties battling over the sunset ceremony
  • A giant, fluffy zebra knocking a cake over during a conga line
  • Male strippers that are totally giving Magic Mike vibes
  • Will Ferrell wrestling an alligator?!

Needless to say, there's a LOT going on in this movie. If I'm already laughing that much at the trailer, I just know this is gonna good!

Catch You're Cordially Invited on Amazon Prime on January 30, 2025!

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Making decisions feels like a full time job when you’re in the thick of wedding planning. Every day, ten new questions pop up and another list emerges. And then on top of everything, there IS a budget to keep in mind! It's so difficult to decide where to make cuts on the big day, but we’re luckily here to help guide you through it all. Should you splurge on it, figure out how to save on it, or skip it entirely? Let’s take a look!

Photography — Splurge

Image via Hannah Morgan


Number one is a no-brainer. You want to prioritize photography in the top tier of your budget. Get to know your photographer before you sign any contracts and make sure that you feel confident they match the style that you’re looking for. You’ll look back on these photos for the rest of your life and they should be as close to perfect as possible!

Photography — Splurge

Image via Jim Trice Photography


Photography — Splurge

Image via Khaki Bedford Photography


Photography — Splurge

Image via Jensen Bradley Photography


Photography — Splurge

Image via Hannah Morgan


Photography — Splurge

Image via Khaki Bedford Photography


Photography — Splurge

Image via Jim Trice Photography


Invitations — Save

Image via Hannah Morgan


Wedding invitations are so exciting to design and prepare, but they can be wildly expensive depending on what you’re looking for. If you’re worried about invitations taking up a large chunk of budget, you have options. Instead of bulk ordering the most extravagant invitation suites, order a handful to use in day-of detail photos and for your closest family and friends, and then order some slightly less detailed for the rest of your guests.

Invitations — Save

Image via Jim Trice Photography


Invitations — Save

Image via Jensen Bradley Photography


Invitations — Save

Image via Jensen Bradley Photography


Complex Cocktails — Skip

Image via Hannah Morgan


We all LOVE a good complex cocktail, but on a night that your bartenders will inevitably be slammed, avoid over-complicating any signature drinks with too many involved ingredients. This will hold up the line, and your guests will spend more time waiting for drinks than celebrating!

Complex Cocktails — Skip

Image via Hannah Morgan


Complex Cocktails — Skip

Image via Khaki Bedford Photography


Now when it comes to an open bar…we say splurge! Just look how happy they are!

Getting Ready Morning Of — Splurge

Image via Hannah Morgan


This often gets forgotten until the last minute, but you and your bridal team will spend a full day in this space. You want it to be as comfortable and stress-free as possible. Consider ordering catering to span over breakfast and lunch so you can keep everyone from getting antsy or hungry. A mimosa or spritz bar is another great touch to add to the bridal suite, but be sure you and your party don’t drink too much before your trip down the aisle so you don’t actually trip…down the aisle.

Getting Ready Morning Of — Splurge

Image via Khaki Bedford Photography


Getting Ready Morning Of — Splurge

Image via Khaki Bedford Photography


Getting Ready Morning Of — Splurge

Image via Hannah Morgan


Music — Save

Image via Khaki Bedford Photography

If you’re looking for an area to save in your budget, go with a DJ versus a full band! DJs are incredible with the crowd, and they work hard to get to know your music style and the way you want your party to feel. This expands your musical potential, too, so you don’t have to worry about a band’s genre limitations.

Programs — Skip

Image via Khaki Bedford Photography


Programs are incredibly cute, but most people won’t pay much attention to them. And let’s be real…they get thrown away so quickly. Take what you would spend on programs and reallocate that into your signage budget to commission custom calligraphy pieces.

Programs — Skip


Programs — Skip

Image via Jensen Bradley Photography


Programs — Skip


Florals — Splurge

Image via Khaki Bedford Photography


While many may say you should save on wedding florals, arrangements really will change the look of your event drastically. Your photos will burst with color and texture, and a statement piece in the reception space will wow your attendees, leaving them talking about it all night.

Florals — Splurge

Image via Jim Trice Photography


Florals — Splurge

Image via Hannah Morgan


Florals — Splurge

Image via Khaki Bedford Photography


Florals — Splurge

Image via Jim Trice Photography


Florals — Splurge

Image via Khaki Bedford Photography


Florals — Splurge

Image via Jensen Bradley Photography


Catering — Save

Image via Hannah Morgan


Whether you’re a foodie or not, no matter how much work you put into crafting your menu, an abundance of things can go wrong with your catering. While you should definitely have what you want, don’t put it at the top of your list of things to stress about being the most extravagant meal your guests have ever had. Just pick what's good and go with it! A pizza bar, taco trucks, and breakfast buffets will all leave your guests excited and satisfied.

Catering — Save

Image via Khaki Bedford Photography


Catering — Save

Image via Khaki Bedford Photography


Champagne Toast — Save

Image via Hannah Morgan


No need to skip a toast in general, but you can do it with whatever your guests are already drinking. Take the champagne budget and add it to the rest of the bar.

Champagne Toast — Save

Image via Alison Ives


​You can even swap it for the champagne of beer, Miller High Life. 😉

Photo Op + Lounge — Splurge

Image via Hannah Morgan


It may seem like an extra expense, but a photo space or lounge will give your guests something to do while you’re taking photos or a break from the dance floor. Not only that, but you’ll get so many fun photos from your friends to scroll through and see what they were up to throughout the night!

Photo Op + Lounge — Splurge

Image via Khaki Bedford Photography


Photo Op + Lounge — Splurge

Image via Hannah Morgan


Photo Op + Lounge — Splurge

Image via Khaki Bedford Photography


Photo Op + Lounge — Splurge

Image via Hannah Morgan


Reception Centerpieces — Save

Image via Jim Trice Photography


There’s a vast array of options when it comes to centerpieces, so you’re not required to splurge here. You can even mix and match centerpieces around your reception space with some that are more complex than others. And even better? You can reuse your bridal bouquets for the reception tables.

Reception Centerpieces — Save

Image via Hannah Morgan


Reception Centerpieces — Save

Image via Jim Trice Photography


Favors — Skip

Image via Khaki Bedford Photography

Unless your heart is set on having favors at the wedding, skip them entirely! You can make much better use of your cash in other departments that day. And if you are gonna give out favors, make it something small and actually usable. Content Editor Haley Sprankle gave out little bags of candy — simple, sweet, and to the point!

Planning — Splurge

Image via Hannah Morgan

You might initially think you can plan the big day by yourself, but it’s shocking how many things come into play from beginning to end! It will definitely relieve you of an enormous amount of stress to have a wedding planner and their team taking care of all the little details before, or at least you and your loved ones on the day of. This luckily leaves you with one job: get married!

Costly Transportation — Save

Image via Hannah Morgan

One last save to finish us off: transportation! Transportation can add up REALLY quickly, but there are some super fun ways to move your guests around. For those of you with high guest counts, renting a school bus is a unique option to move more people with less vehicles and less trips! Your family and friends will love flashing back to their school days and choosing seat partners. Otherwise, people can easily call an Uber!

And as for yourself? Feel free to invest a little more in your getaway car. 😘

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Header image via Hannah Morgan

There’s no denying that Anthropologie is full of stylish finds. This especially reigns true around the holiday season – from leather picks to sequined shirts to velvet dresses, they’ve absolutely got some chic options for all the festivities. I scrolled through 368 of their new arrivals and found the 17 cutest items worthy of your winter wardrobe.

Scroll on for the best Anthropologie new arrivals for winter 2024!

Anthropologie

Pilcro Boxy Tee & Ribbed Sweater Vest Twofer

This sweater vest + shirt combo makes formulating winter outfits so easy. The knit looks and feels ultra-cozy!

Anthropologie

Good American Good Ease Relaxed Sparkle Jeans

I normally tend to avoid white jeans, but this pair has me thinking different. They're covered in tiny silver stripes that make me want to shout "it's party time!" for New Year's.

Anthropologie

ASTR The Label Jada Long-Sleeve Off-The-Shoulder Slim Midi Dress

Chocolate brown is that girl (Pantone's color of the year, Mocha Mousse, proves it), so I can't help but be in love with this midi dress. The off-the-shoulder design is equal parts sexy and snug.

Anthropologie

Maeve Faux-Leather Button-Front Belted Mini Skirt

This mini means business. Pair it with a simple red turtleneck for the coolest Christmas outfit there ever was!

Anthropologie

Maeve Scalloped Turtleneck Sweater Tank Top

This color combo is everything to me – the playful pink scalloped edge on this sweater tank will absolutely earn you major compliments among the family.

Anthropologie

Maeve Short-Sleeve Scoop-Neck Lace-Trim Blouse

This cotton top is sooo classy and timeless. The light blue with white accents is def winter-approved. Plus, it's part of an adorable matching set, if that's your thing! Personally I'd pair it with some wide-leg jeans to make it a bit more casual for my holiday schedule.

Anthropologie

Maeve Cotton Boxy Oversized V-Neck Sweater

From WFH days to cozy coffee runs with the hometown besties, this striped sweater lays on the body perfectly, with comfy, wide sleeves to match.

Anthropologie

Reformation Cary High-Rise Slouchy Wide-Leg Jeans

I am a wide-leg jeans lover through and through. They're just so comfortable! This pair in particular is singlehandedly convincing me that the stud trend is back in full force, and I need them now.

Anthropologie

The Katey Mock-Neck Bell-Sleeve Sweater by Maeve

You gotta have a classic sweater to keep you warm this winter. This one has some cute bell sleeves that sets it apart from your traditional cut! I'd snag it in the white color so I can easily pair it with everything from skirts to jeans this season.

Anthropologie

Baum und Pferdgarten Nuvin Metallic Faux-Leather Pants

Now these are some statement-making pants. The reddish wash feels like the perfect fit for Christmastime, but you should absolutely bust these out for a foxy New Year's outfit, too. Fun pants + fun blouse + boots, and you're good to go!

Anthropologie

Sam Edelman Darya Pleated Sweater Midi Dress

Sweater dresses will never let you down. I think the square neckline on this one is super flattering and just the right amount of revealing, though the rest of the garment gives you some great coverage, especially in the wintry cold weather.

Anthropologie

Maeve Cashmere Ruffle-Sleeve Mock-Neck Sweater

Everyone at Christmas dinner will be raving about this unique sweater. The bold stripes will make for some ahh-mazing Instagram pics, too!

Anthropologie

The Tilda Maxi Slip Skirt: Sequin Edition

Give me sequin everything, please. They're perfect for the most festive time of the year! This midi skirt is also part of a matching set (including the Maeve Sequin Tee) that you can rock together or separately throughout the season.

Anthropologie

Avec Les Filles Hourglass Blazer

If you're headed out on the town around the holidays, you'e gonna need something to bundle up in. This sophisticated blazer is made from wool, which can never let you down in the warmth department. The silhouette is slightly fitted, too, so you won't feel absolutely swarmed in it.

Anthropologie

Hope for Flowers by Tracy Reese Bow Buttondown Blouse

I truthfully have not given up on the bow trend just yet. This adorable button-down blouse is covered in 'em, so don't cover it up!

Anthropologie

Sam Edelman Lyric Back-Tie Sweater

This next bow-filled find is business in the front, party in the back. Pair it with a black mini skirt and some tights, then you've got a killer Christmas 'fit on your hands.

Anthropologie

Liv Foster Stretch Velvet Cutout Maxi Dress

This dress would be perfect for more formal holiday occasions. The strapless look will always be classy, plus you can always cover up with a red or green sweater if it's chilly AF out.

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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

Latte makeup's twin sister, espresso makeup, has been gaining popularity ever since Danielle Marcan's viral TikTok video on how to do the look. So, what is espresso makeup? Much like what it sounds, it blends shades of brown and black to create a delicious look that looks and feels like a strong, invigorating shot of coffee. They say caffeine has dopamine-releasing properties; we can't vouch for that, but the Espresso makeup look is sure to give you all the good feels. Double-shot, please.

Thanks for reading about our favorite finds from across the internet! FYI: We participate in affiliate programs and may get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

A Power Primer That Grips the MakeUp

Amazon

Any makeup look should start with the skin and with hydrating it well. This is especially true in winter when just a morning moisturizer is not enough to give the skin all the nourishment it needs. This Elf power grip primer hydrates, smooths, and grips the makeup. It has a translucent finish and is non-comedogenic, so there is no acne or clogged pores.

See it on Amazon

A Skin Tint for a Sheer and Matte Finish

Amazon

Another option is to use a skin tint—a primer—with a bit of color, as Danielle does in the video. The goal is for the skin to look matte and sheer. Enriched with squalane, vitamin E, safflower, and avocado oils, which lock in hydration, this moisturizer offers sheer to light coverage with golden, neutral undertones - exactly the ones we're after. Put this on generously, knowing that it's good for you.

See it on Amazon

The Foundation for More Medium Coverage

Amazon

If you want better coverage, the Maybelline oil-free foundation still offers that natural matte look while allowing more build-up. Its oil-free formula makes it great for oily or acne-prone skin. It's available in 40 shades, so you're sure to find the tone to best suit your skin.

See it on Amazon

Thank Me Later Eye Primer to Make the Eyeshadow and Pencil Stick

Amazon

An eyeshadow primer will help your eyeshadow and pencil stick for longer and prevent creasing. Simply apply a pea-sized amount with your ring finger to your eyelid and wait for a couple of seconds for it to dry before proceeding with the rest of the eye makeup.

See it on Amazon

Estee Lauder's Double Wear Foundation for, Well, a Double Wear

Amazon

Another really good foundation is the Estee Lauder double wear one. It has a matte finish and is famous for its long wear. Controls oil while also being oil-free.

See it on Amazon

A Set of Sponges in Different Shapes and Sizes to Help You Blend Like a Pro

Amazon

For the perfect espresso look, the skin needs to be even. This is best achieved with a sponge to help blend the concealer in all the right places, like under the eyes and around the T-zone. If you don't own one, this seven-piece set of pink sponges in a variety of shapes and sizes will help you blend like a makeup pro.

See it on Amazon

A Concealer to Brighten the Skin Under the Eyes

Amazon

Concealer seems to make the most difference when it comes to makeup—and yes, even with this espresso look. The bright, even skin tone under the eyes helps to give the brown eyeshadow even more of a powerful and dramatic effect. This Maybelline concealer erases the look of dark circles, blemishes, and redness and gives a fresh, youthful look.

See it on Amazon

Too Faced's Born This Way Concealer

Amazon

This Too Faced Born This Way natural-looking concealer is multi-use, so you can apply it on the entire face instead of using a foundation. It could also be used for contouring; see below for more on that.

See it on Amazon

Contouring is Easy With This Contour Stick

Amazon

Contouring and bronzing are very important for the espresso look. This Sheglam contour stick makes contouring easy, even if you've never watched a tutorial on it. Simply apply vertical stripes under the hollows of your cheekbones, on the sides of your nose, and on the sides of your forehead and jawline. Blend in with a sponge or the contour applicator. Available in many shades.

See it on Amazon

A Contouring Kit for Darker Skin

Amazon

This creamy contouring kit will help you do it all—contour, sculpt, and illuminate—all from a single palette. It is suitable for darker skin and has a creamy formula that won't dry you out.

See it on Amazon

A Contour 'Wonder Stick' With a Highlighter

Amazon

This is a contour 'wonder stick' with a highlighter on one side as well. After you've applied the contour, apply the highlighter to the highest points of the face. It's super creamy and blendable.

See it on Amazon

If You Prefer a Bronzer, Go With This TikTok-Viral One

Amazon

If you prefer a bronzer over a contouring stick, you can go with this TikTok viral long-wear bronzer by L'Oreal. It is lightweight and buildable with a matte finish. It promises a weightless feel for up to 24 hours. Apply to cheekbones, brow bones, bridge of the nose, and chin.

See it on Amazon

A Bronzer to Add a Hint of Cocoa to Your Espresso (Look)

Amazon

Another bronzer that will add a note of cocoa to your espresso (look) is this Too Faced chocolate one. It's long-lasting, cruelty-free, and smells like chocolate!

See it on Amazon

A Creamy Blush for Some Natural Radiance

Amazon

If the skin lacks natural radiance (it can often look quite pale at this time of year), use this blush to give a touch of color to the cheeks. Its creamy formula makes it even more blendable and natural-looking.

See it on Amazon

A Powder Blush to Still Get Subtle Winter-Kissed Color

Amazon

If you'd rather use a powder blush than a stick, this shade in' Candy Clouds' will still give your cheeks a subtle, winter-kissed color while allowing for more buildup control.

See it on Amazon

A Highlight Wand for Dewy Skin

Amazon

Danielle Marcan doesn't use a highlighter, but for all the highlighter fans who want that luminous and dewy skin glow, the espresso look can absolutely work with it, too. That's especially true with this highlight wand in champagne, which is buildable and blendable and allows you to add just a touch.

See it on Amazon

This Highlighting Palette Is So Vibrant

Amazon

If you'd rather apply it with a brush, this highlighter palette is Amazon's choice and is available in five different shades. Choose "Sun Glow" if you'd like to stick to the darker tones or pearl if you want an icy winter spin on the look.

See it on Amazon

A Setting Powder To Finish Off Your Look

Amazon

To complete the matte finish, dust some setting powder over the face. This Amazon choice by Covergirl is a good option. It's lightweight and with 100% natural-origin pigments. It also includes a soft, vegan applicator. Danielle Marcan advises not to apply too much powder so you can still see the natural radiance of the face.

See it on Amazon

Say Bye Bye to Pores With This Setting Powder by It Cosmetics

Amazon

Another good setting powder is this Bye Bye Pores one by It Cosmetics. With hydrolyzed collagen that supports elasticity, antioxidants to defend against radical damage, and silk that smooths and softens the skin.

See it on Amazon

This Brown Pencil Glides Right On

Amazon

Now we turn on the coffee machine and let it warm. We take the brown pencil. This one by Urban Decay glides on easily and is smudge-proof, transfer-proof, and waterproof. We apply it to half of the lid and then blend it on the rest of the lid with a brush. It should be applied to the lower lid as well.

See it on Amazon

An Eyeshadow Brush to Blend With

Amazon

If you don't have a suitable eyeshadow brush to blend with, this set of brushes will ensure you have all the ones you could ever need for the most sophisticated eye makeup. It includes an eyeshadow brush, eyeliner, eye pencil, and blending brush.

See it on Amazon

A Cocoa Eyeshadow Stick for Chocolate Notes

Amazon

A cocoa shade eyeshadow to apply on the rest of your upper eyelid. This waterproof eyeshadow stick with cocoa shimmer will give this espresso look just the right notes of chocolate (and some sprinkles on top). You can go as bold or understated as you like.

See it on Amazon

A Brown Pencil in a Different Shade

Amazon

Since the brown pencil is one of the most important parts of this look, here's another one that offers a slightly different brown shade. It boasts a rich, hyper-pigmented color. It's Amazon's choice for a reason.

See it on Amazon

An Eyeshadow Palette to Make Your Espresso (Look) as Strong as You Like

Amazon

This eyeshadow palette offers all the different shades of brown, so you can make your espresso (look) as strong as you like. They are creamy, rich, and blendable. Just the way you like your coffee.

See it on Amazon

A Black Pencil to Contour the Eye

Amazon

The next step is to contour the eye with a black pencil. Apply over the lid and flick it slightly and in your waterline, too. This retractable liner looks super soft and easy to use. It boasts a super long wear.

See it on Amazon

Or Do Things Your Way With an Ink Liner

Amazon

Alternatively, you can use a black ink liner for the upper lid. This one is waterproof and has a matte black finish, giving it a more feline look.

See it on Amazon

A 2-in-1 Gel Eyeliner Set in Black and Brown

Amazon

If you'd rather use a gel eyeliner, this 2-in-1 set offers one in black and brown so you can choose how dark to go. It also includes two makeup brushes. Some find applying eyeliner with a brush slightly easier, especially the less dexterous among us.

See it on Amazon

A Bold Mascara in a Chocolate Color

Amazon

The espresso look is best achieved with a bold mascara. This Too Faced mascara offers volume and length. It's available in a chocolate shade if you want to stay even more true to the espresso colors.

See it on Amazon

Get Doll-Like Lashes With This Lengthening Mascara

Amazon

Another mascara that gives the eyes the doll-like look is this Cabaret lash-lengthening one. It allows you to easily build up for as dramatic a look as you want.

See it on Amazon

Fake Eyelashes for Extra Glam

Amazon

If you are more of a fake eyelash fan or just want all the extra glam, you can still recreate the espresso look with some fake ones. These ones by KISS give amazing volume and length and, featuring the latest tapered end technology, look quite natural. They are easy to apply and contact lens-friendly. They are reusable up to ten times.

See it on Amazon

A Lip Pencil in the 'Espresso' Shade

Amazon

Now, for the lips. Danielle uses a brown lip pencil. This one by Nyx in color, 'espresso,' seems to hit just the right shade (and name). It glides easily and resists bleeding.

See it on Amazon

Go More Dark Pink With This Lip Crayon

Amazon

Or if you want a bit more color on the lips, you can also go slightly more pink with a dark pink lip crayon. This one has a long-lasting twelve-hour wear, is waterproof, and doesn't budge.

See it on Amazon

A Lip Pencil in Nude Also Works

Amazon

A nude lip pencil combined with lip gloss gives the ultimate pout. Charlotte Tilbury's Pillow Talk is one of the most sought-after shades for a reason. This pencil is travel size, so it is perfect to take with you and reapply as needed.

See it on Amazon

Or Use a Brown Brow Pencil for the Lips

Amazon

In her TikTok video, Danielle actually uses her brow pencil for the lips. If you want to copy the trick, this one is a pale brown shade and a good go. You can also use it for the brows (obviously).

See it on Amazon

This Brow Glue Gel to Help Them Stay in Place

Amazon

While on the topic of brows, this brow glue gel will help unruly brows stay in place, which tend to be all brows in winter (thanks, hats, and hoodies).

See it on Amazon

Or This Wow Brow Gel That Also Gives Volume

Amazon

This wow brow gel will lock them in place while also giving extra volume. You can apply straight on the brow or go with a brow pencil to add color first.

See it on Amazon

A Fairest Nude Color LipStick

Amazon

As for the lipstick, if you want to stay true to the espresso look to the very final step, go with a nude color like this fair nude one by L'Oreal Paris. It gives a creamy finish and hydrates the lips.

See it on Amazon

The Lipstick With a Matte Finish

Amazon

If you would rather go with more matte lips but still hit the right tones, then this lipstick in natural color is the one for you. It will also help to accentuate the eyes.

See it on Amazon

Still Nude but With a Lip Gloss

Amazon

Lip gloss is also an option, and you can still go nude with this butter gloss in the shade 'Madeleine.' Buttery, soft, and smooth, this gloss is non-sticky and delivers sheer to medium coverage.

See it on Amazon

A Setting Spray to Make Your Look Last

Amazon

Once you've nailed the espresso look, finish off with a setting spray to make sure it stays in place to collect all the compliments. The spray is lightweight, extends makeup for up to 16 hours, and controls shine.

See it on Amazon