During the ceremony we exchanged vamala, traditional Indian floral garlands, and as we exited, our loved ones grabbed smoke cannons,” Sarah says. “We were excited to get the party started. Our wedding was a colorful, happy hybrid of our backgrounds,

Texas Marriage License Requirements GUIDELINES FOR OBTAINING A MARRIAGE LICENSE In Texas, the legal age for marriage is 16. Couples ages 16.–17 must have parental consent; 15 and under must obtain a court order. Blood tests and residency are not requ

SEPTEMBER 17 | NEWYORK + ATLANTA “By the time marriage equality passed, we were already well into our wedding planning,” John says. “We deliberately chose to get married in New York City—not only because we both love it, but also because gay marriage

FASHION STYLING Shelley Brown HAIR Yoichi Tomizawa using Bumble and bumble at Art Department MAKEUP Hector Simancas using Elizabeth Arden at Art Department PROP STYLING Kayleigh Snowden ■

Veils are an easy way to express yourself. But with so many options to choose from, how do you know which one’s right for you? We broke down all the different styles, including the latest trends, with tips on how to wear them so you can uncover (sorr

For their Hill Country wedding, Brittany Clayton-Smith (33 and works in nursing) and Carla Ruiz-Ney (33 and works in finance) kept things personal. They put a boozy spin on the unity ceremony, each taking a shot and pouring a bottle of Maker’s Mark i

Kelsey Ross (29 and a landscape designer) and Matthew Bostwick (32 and a product developer) couldn’t exactly bring the desert to their hometown of Austin, so they headed to Marfa for their wedding. “Matthew and I have been going to Marfa for years, a

Jessica Haralson (32 and a teacher) and Timothy Boots (38 and a retired member of the US Army) share a love of professional wrestling and wanted their wedding to pay tribute to the sport—without being too immature. “It had to be a big, glamorous wedd

Alexandra (Alex) Cabrera (26 and a landman) and Ross Taylor (29 and a radiology resident) relied heavily on all things green for their wedding décor. “Our color palette was timeless, neutral and earthy,” Alex says. Exhibit A: the pair’s stationery. “

If you’ve been dreaming of a courthouse ceremony, backyard celebration or even an intimate dinner party, this is the dress code for you. While casual dress usually means anything goes, you’ll want to look put together in your photos. To pull this off

AS A BEAUTY EDITOR AT THE KNOT, I'll try anything once. Sometimes this is a super perk (hello, fancy facials). Sometimes it’s risky, like the time I went in for trendy highlights and came out a peroxide blonde. For better or for worse, I’ve tested (a

FEATHERS, EGGSHELLS: JOHNNY MILLER; STYLING: SARAH SMART; HEADSHOT: JESSICA KANE; RINGS COURTESY OF VENDORS ■

You don’t need a giant rock to make a statement. While an engagement ring is an undoubtedly special piece of jewelry, a wedding band is equally meaningful to add into the mix or wear alone. The best part? The bands of the moment are all about letting

Looking for bling with extra-special meaning? Give a nod to your past, present and future with a three-stone sparkler. Engagement ring, price upon request, DeBeers.com A canary diamond is an alternative choice but still gives off megawatt shine. Enga

Authenticity is key for Lauren Ferrante (30 and a coffee shop owner and investor relations manager) and Will Van Horn (31 and a musician), and the pair planned their wedding with that in mind. “I just wanted things to feel meaningful,” Lauren says. “

Rhuju Vasavada (30 and an attorney) and Vijay Kalvakuntla (31 and works in strategy for a tech company) both have Indian roots, but their similarities end there. “Our families are from two different parts of India—Gujarat and Telangana—with different

Though Jessica Langenberg (30 and a creative director) and Cole Lester (30 and a trader) tied the knot in their hometown of Houston, the pair designed their day to transport guests to a place beyond the Lone Star State—Tuscany, to be exact. “The venu

Jasmine White (24 and the owner of a juice bar) and Jacob Parker (26 and a field engineer) lived miles apart for the three years before their wedding, while she earned her master’s degree and he played basketball overseas. “We love to be surrounded b

Truth time: Venue lighting is one of the most important—but often overlooked—aspects of your wedding day vision. Something that may feel so straight-forward (um, you just turn the venue’s overhead lights on, right?) can actually be upgraded to take y

At one wedding I attended, the couple created a mini booklet to put in our welcome baskets that included info on every guest in attendance. It had pictures of each person or couple, a bio about them, details on their relationship with the couple and

You’ve probably budgeted for a photographer, but if you’re not also setting aside funds for a videographer, you could be doing yourself a disservice. The chance to look back on a professional video of your day and easily recall the emotion in your pa

Being the focus of attention doesn’t always come naturally to everyone. If the thought of a few hundred of your closest friends and family watching and celebrating you fills you with the bad kind of butterflies, you’re not alone. Instead of letting s

It’s no secret that wedding food can sometimes feel a little one-note. But if the two of you are big foodies and looking to create a memorable meal for yourselves and your guests, “good enough” just isn’t going to cut it. While any meal cooked up by

For an undone bunch made for a winding vineyard, ask your florist to focus on a loose shape and soft, pastel colors. Here, fluttery pink lisianthus and light purple clematis are paired with roses, white campanulas and sprigs of wispy greenery and vin

Chiropractors Victoria Phillips (27) and Alejandro Castañeda (26) may have met in Dallas, but the pair’s roots are in California and Guatemala, respectively. After a Pacific Beach engagement, they chose Dallas for their vows and let the décor transpo

After eight years together, Alicia Robbins (29 and a consultant manager) and Daniel Drouillard (28 and a pilot) wanted their wedding to be a simple celebration of their love. “We skipped the traditional ‘to-do’ items and stuck to the important things