What could be better than to celebrate your engagement and the holidays at the same time? These two parties struck the perfect balance between incorporating Christmas themes and reflecting the couples' personalities. 

Theme: Tacky Christmas Party

Lauren and Drew first met at a Tacky Christmas Party, so when the couple got engaged four years later, the bride-to-be's best friend, event planner Katie from Kate & Company, knew it'd be the perfect theme for the couple's engagement party — made even more amusing because the party took place in July! Katie incorporated some of the couples' family holiday traditions — like a "find the pickle" game and Grandma's famous potato salad — as well as favorite quotes from Christmas movies, a beer can Christmas tree, milk and cookies for Santa, a Charlie Brown Christmas tree centerpiece, and so much more.

Chocolate has long played an important role in wedding traditions. The Mayans and Aztecs drank a cocoa concoction at their wedding ceremonies, flavored with chilies, vanilla beans, and cornmeal (yum?). In Europe, chocolate is said to have first appeared during the 1615 marriage of Anne of Austria and King Louis XIII of France, when Anne gave her royal hubby chocolate as a wedding present. So, to follow in the footsteps of the chocoholics of old, here are our favorite ways to include this treat in your big day.

Chocolate Mini Cakes

Gone are the days of the traditional (and often untouched) white buttercream-frosted wedding cake. More and more, we see brides opting for unique flavors, shapes, and sizes when it comes to cakes. Instead of one large wedding cake, why not surprise each guest table with a miniature cake of their own? They'll revel in the novelty, and it will also encourage guests to get up and mingle with other tables.

Photo Credit: Ananda Shorey of Bliss Fotography / Cake by The Whole Cake

Another fun idea: Use chocolate chocolate cake pops as escort cards!

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Strapless gowns are essentially a bridal fashion staple — they typically dominate bridal fashion runways and wedding day aisles alike. However, each new season brings with it the possibility of a new popular style. This season, it’s gowns with straps. Before you jump to a strapless conclusion, just think of the possibilities: cap sleeves, long lace sleeves, spaghetti straps, halters — the list literally goes on. We say it’s time to pop the bubbly, because straps mean you can dance the night away with your sweetheart without ever having the make a dress adjustment. Vintage, destination, glam, and rustic, here are 10 of our favorite strapped dresses perfect for your wedding’s style.

1. You can never go wrong with a classic — hello, spaghetti straps!