Think beyond drinks and snacks — your guests will have a blast getting to know each other doing these cool activities.

Instead of asking yourselves how to keep the kids occupied during the cocktail hour or reception, think about your entire guest list. Adding a few games or ice-breakers is the best way to get people mixing and mingling before they sit down to dinner. Creative ideas below!

Croquet on the Lawn

A Giant Jenga Set 

Cocktail Table Tic-Tac-Toe

Customized Cornhole

A Mini Petting Zoo

A Game of I-Spy

Roasting Marshmallows

A Caricature Artist

A Game of Checkers

A Custom Piñata

We all know that the more often we do something, the better we get. But when it comes to planning a wedding, you only get one shot to get it right. A wedding is a once in a lifetime event, afterall! After the dust has settled from the big day, we want every bride to walk away saying “that was everything I dreamed of” and have no regrets. Here are 8 things we think every bride should know.

1. Who does what?

Your fiancé might not be as involved as you would like him to be. BUT, that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t care as much about the wedding or that he isn’t as excited as you are to be married. It just means that floral choices and backdrops are not his top priority. The important thing is not to stress about it. Find out which parts of the wedding are most important to him. Chances are that if he is a foodie or loves music, he will show much more interest in planning the dinner or creating the perfect wedding playlist. Don’t be afraid to ask him what he is looking forward to the most. His answer might just surprise you!

From: life&stylemag

2. Recruit a coordinator

Even if you DIY your entire wedding up to the day, having a day-of coordinator might be worth it. Having someone to handle the running around and setting up for you is much less stressful. It still allows you to coordinate every detail while being able to enjoy all your hard work on the day of. It is also less costly than hiring a wedding planner!

3. Schedule some alone time

Remember to set some time aside. Even if it is just a few minutes to be alone with your sweetie on your wedding day. The day will come and go by so fast. It is important to cherish a moment (or two) with each other and remember why this is all happening in the first place. Some good times to do this are often between photos and cocktails, or after the speeches are over.

4. Have a plan B.

This one might be a given, but it is often overlooked. We often dream of our wedding day being sunny and beautiful. But we all know that Mother Nature isn’t always kind. If you are planning to have your ceremony outside and there is a torrential downpour, a backup plan will prevent stress, worry and chaos. Make sure that your parents, wedding planner/coordinator and bridal party are all aware of the plan if the weather turns. Also, remember to pick a few indoor photo shoot locations.

5. Acquire proper permits

If you are planning to have alcohol at your wedding, it is important to educate yourself on rules and permits. Often different venues will have their own set of rules in regards to alcohol. Make sure you speak with your venue and are clear on what their guidelines are. Is the bar included in your venue rental? Does this include a bartender? Is the permit a part of the package? When are we required to stop serving drinks? Are we able to purchase and serve our own wine or do we need to use your bottle service? These are all very important questions to ask when booking your venue.

From: the knot

6. Make your guest list first

Picking a venue is one of the very first things you will do when planning your wedding. BUT, there is one more very important step you need to take before signing that contract. Make a rough guest list. This in no way needs to be finalized, but it is so important to have a rough idea of numbers before you book. The last thing you want is to book a venue that only holds 100 and find out that your guest list is actually 150.

7. Consider extra costs beyond the dress

Remember to budget for alterations when picking your wedding dress. Lace applique, beading and other details can often be costly to alter. Before saying “yes” to the dress, talk to your bridal consultant about an alteration estimate.

8. Maximize your photographer’s time (and your budget!)

Photographers and videographers are so important to a wedding, but they can also be very hard on your wedding budget. If your budget does not allow for a full day wedding package, there is still a way to capture all the important moments. Don’t be afraid to play with the traditional reception program. Who said that the bouquet toss and cake cutting have to be at the end of the night? Kick off your reception with the first dance, cut the cake after dinner, and then toss the bouquet. This will allow you to shave a few hours from your photography package while still capturing all those big moments.

Courtesy of: The Wedding Star – Morgan Emmess | Cover Photo From: Wedding Star

In celebration of the “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” hitting theaters, below are 18 awesome wedding ideas for “Star Wars” super fans!

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Photos courtesy of: HuffPost Weddings & Bridal Guide.

It took you a lifetime, but you finally found the perfect man, now to take care of your bling he gave you. It’s so shiny, so sparkly, so brilliant — the last thing you’d ever want to do is nick it, chip it, gunk it up or knock it loose from its setting. You would never dream of letting your beloved ring meet with such fate. So, how do you care for such a precious symbol of your love? Read on.

Take It Off.

Believe it or not, caring for your ring occasionally means taking it off, such as during the following activities:

• Playing sports. Holding a tennis racket tightly is particularly not good for a wedding band which has stones going all the way around — especially if you’re left-handed. As for taking your ring to the gym, lifting weights with it on can also be hazardous. You wouldn’t want a 25-pound dumbbell making contact with your stone.
• Gardening. It is possible to chip your diamond or knock the setting loose while doing heavy yard work.
• Cleaning house. Harsh chemical soaps or cleansers can soil the ring. It’s also a good idea not to wear your ring while doing the dishes.

Safekeeping.

If you’ll be taking your ring off to do the activities above, make sure you have a safe — and memorable — place to put it. Diamonds should be stored in their own separate box, pouch or jewelry compartment because they can scratch other pieces of jewelry.

Keep It Free From Lotion, Sunscreen And Perfume.

These products can gunk up your diamond, and even etch colored gemstones. It’s a good idea to take your ring off before you put these things on.

Have Your Setting Checked Regularly.

Most jewelers recommend you have your setting checked every six months to make sure the stone hasn’t been knocked loose, especially if it is particularly large.

Don’t Swim In The Ocean.

Cold water may shrink your fingers just enough to loosen the ring from your finger, and if you lose it in the deep blue sea, you won’t be seeing it again. If you must, you may swim in a swimming pool with your ring — at least the pool can be drained if it slips off your finger. Note, however, that while platinum can withstand virtually any chemical, experts advise not to expose gold or silver rings to the harsh chemicals found in swimming pools and spas — the bands can become severely discolored over time.

Be Careful In The Kitchen.

Cookie dough, turkey loaf, a pie crust… it’s great to mix with your fingers. But these foods can leave a film on your ring and really affect its luster.

Keep It Clean.

Cleaning your gems with random cleaners at home is something we do not recommend. Elizabeth Taylor would clean her 33.19 carat Krupp diamond ring with hot water, a toothbrush, and gin; however, most jewelers will clean your ring free of charge, so take advantage of this courtesy.

There are a few ways to clean your ring at home. We suggest using a gentle dish detergent to clean lotion buildup from the bottom of the mounting. Simply scrub the top and bottom with a soft toothbrush and rinse several times in hot water.

Insure Your Ring.

Insurance is necessary to protect your financial investment in the event that something gets lost, stolen or damaged. It is also important to have your jewelry appraised every five years as the cost of diamonds and precious metals go up. If you were to lose something which was appraised 10 years ago, the insured value would be far less than the actual replacement cost.

Take care of your ring, and it will always be as dazzling as it was on your wedding day.