Remember college, that magical place where you went to raging parties, pulled countless all-nighters, and met your college sweetheart, who is still the love of your life? Whether these memories of college are fresh in your mind or are more than a few years old, your college campus is a fantastic place to pop the question.

Here are a few ideas for proposing on your college campus:

The Place Where You Met

Is there really any place that means as much to you as a couple than the place you met? Write a note and tell your partner to meet you “where it all began.” Decorate the area with candles and flowers, and when your partner arrives, drop to one knee and present your sweetheart with a diamond cluster ring.

A Meaningful, or Beautiful, Spot on Campus

Many college campuses have places that are special to the college for a variety of reasons. At the University of Kansas, for example, undergraduates do not walk underneath the Campanile tower until graduation day. This superstition and the beauty of Campanile Hill make it a popular proposal spot for former students. Some other examples are the Shakespeare Garden at Northwestern University, or the Grotto of Our Lady Lourdes at Notre Dame. Use that unique and meaningful spot on your campus as the backdrop for your proposal.

Student Union or Dining Hall

Take your sweetheart to the place where you shared a countless number of meals. You could even arrange for the kitchen to make her favorite meal and serve it on a tray with the diamond cluster ring. Arrange for your college friends to show up after you propose and join you for dessert.  

Sporting Event

If you and your sweetheart share a love of sports, why not propose to your partner at a home game for the team that you spent at least four years pulling for? You could even display your proposal message on the scoreboard!

Keeping or changing your name after you get married is a personal decision. Some women choose to take their husband’s name or hyphenate with their maiden name, some couples choose to keep their current names or some couples choose to create a new name by hyphenating or combining both last names into one.

Figuring out how to change your name after marriage can be a headache, so take an organized, systematic approach to make sure you get all the right paperwork completed. This process may vary from place to place, so search for the requirements in your city and state, but these steps should point you in the right direction. 

1. Change your name on your Social Security card.

This step should precede all others, so get it out of the way first. Download and complete an application from the Social Security Administration website, then gather the documents you need to prove your legal name change (marriage document), your identity (such as a state driver’s license) and your U.S. citizenship (such as a U.S. birth certificate). All documents must be originals or certified copies. Take or mail the documents, along with your application, to your local Social Security office. Some offices will take appointments in advance to save you time in the waiting room.   

2. Get a new driver’s license.

After changing your name on your Social Security card, you can go to your local DMV and request a new driver’s license (some states will also accept a marriage certificate, but you should check requirements for your state). 

3. Notify the HR department.

Talk to the human resources department at your office about updating your paperwork to reflect your new name. You will want to make sure your paycheck, Social Security contributions, retirement payments and other transactions are in your new name. 

4. Track down other loose ends.

Make a list of the other accounts and documents where you will need to change your name. For example: 

• Insurance policies 
• Passport 
• Credit cards
• Bank accounts 
• Membership organizations 
• Voter registration 
• Utilities 
• Medical records 
• Will 
• Mortgages, loans or leases 
• Social media accounts 

Do you have any good tips on how to change your name after marriage? Share them in the comments!

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This year for Mother’s Day, buy your wife a meaningful gift she will love. (Don’t worry; Mother’s Day isn’t until May 12, but to save yourself any last-minute panicking, why not plan in advance?)

A bridal ring set, featuring a complementary engagement ring and wedding band, is a wonderful way to celebrate an important milestone or simply give her a symbol of your love that she can wear year-round. 

5 Reasons to Buy a Special Mother’s Day Gift This Year

1. She rarely treats herself. 

When was the last time your wife indulged in the luxuries that make her happy -- new books, jewelry, a good bottle of wine, a trip to the spa? Is she too busy with other commitments -- work, family, volunteering -- to make time for herself? A thoughtful Mother’s Day gift shows her that you want to treat her to some pampering.

2. You’re celebrating a major milestone this year. 

A beautiful bridal ring set is a perfect gift to commemorate a special occasion, such as a wedding anniversary or the birth of a child. Find a pair of rings that match her personal style, or ask her to pick out her favorite.  

3. You’ve been wanting to upgrade.  

You may have been on a tight budget when you and your bride got married, but now that you are more established, you want to replace her engagement ring and wedding ring with a new bridal set. Take this opportunity to buy a Mother’s Day gift she won’t forget. 

4. The kids want to help.

No doubt Mom will love the homemade presents your kids put together for Mother’s Day, but she would also be enamoured with jewelry that the whole family picked out. Enlist assistance from your little ones to select the right bridal set for Mom. 

5. Just because.

You appreciate everything she does for your family every day, and you want to buy her a special Mother’s Day gift this year... just because. Pair it with a heartfelt card, breakfast in bed or an afternoon to do whatever she wants, and it’s sure to be a success. 

Happy Mother’s Day! 

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I feel that I should warn you that this isn’t the most romantic topic when it comes to wedding planning. When you’re looking for matching wedding rings and shopping for the perfect place to get married with your future spouse, you don’t want to think about the possibility that you might cancel or postpone your wedding, but the fact is that 250,000 weddings a year do get called off. 

There are many reasons for canceling a wedding -- a family crisis, illness, military deployment, scheduling conflict or change of heart, to name a few -- and it is never a fun or easy decision to make. Keeping this information in mind could save you or someone you love a little bit of heartache in the future. 

Tips for Canceling a Wedding

1. Friends and Family

If you have decided to cancel your wedding, you should inform all of your guests as soon as possible. Tell your close friends and family members in person or over the phone first so they don’t hear it through the grapevine, then go through the rest of the list. If you don’t feel up to this task all on your own, ask for help from your sister, your father, your best friend. People will want to help. If you have enough time, send a simple printed card that tells guests the wedding is no longer happening. You do not have to explain your reasons for cancellation. 

2. Vendors

Contact each of your vendors individually to cancel the arrangements you made. You will probably lose your deposit, but depending on how far in advance it is before the wedding date, you may be able to avoid paying the whole balance. If you have wedding insurance, call the company and see what your coverage will pay for your particular circumstances. If you are stuck with a list of nonrefundable arrangements, you can also try to sell them to other couples on the website BridalBrokerage.com and recover a large percentage of your costs.  

3. The Gifts

Cancel any wedding registries you have created, and take an inventory of the shower or wedding gifts you have already received. Return each gift with a personal thank you note. 

4. The Ring

Decide what to do with the engagement ring. If it is a family heirloom, you should return it regardless of whose idea it was to cancel the wedding. Technically, if the receiver of the ring called off the wedding, she should return it, and if the giver called it off, the receiver can decide whether to keep it or sell it. However, you should decide what is right for your situation and will cause the least pain for all people involved. Many companies like ours offer free returns within 30 days which can come in use in such a scenario.

5. The Wedding Party

Talk to the people in your wedding party. If your bridesmaids and groomsmen have already bought their clothes for the wedding, bought airline tickets or booked nonrefundable hotel rooms, you should reimburse them for their expenses.

Do you have any advice for how to cancel a wedding? Share them in the comments!

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Uh-oh. You woke up this morning with the nagging suspicion that you were forgetting something but couldn’t quite place it. Then you glanced at the date and realized this Thursday is Valentine’s Day. And you haven’t planned anything for your girlfriend, fiancee or wife.  

Don’t panic. This holiday doesn’t have to be about lavish gifts or Michelin-starred restaurants; it is simply a chance for you to spend some quality time with your sweetheart. With a little bit of creativity and hustle, you can still put together a heartfelt and romantic last-minute Valentine’s Day celebration.

3 Sweet & Simple Valentine’s Day Date Ideas

1. Candlelit Dinner 

Even if you aren’t an accomplished cook, it is easy to prepare an elegant, delicious and impressive meal. Browse cookbooks or food blogs to find simple recipes that only use a few high-quality ingredients, such as grilled salmon, mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables, or pan-seared steak and Caesar salad. On your way home from work on Valentine's Day, pick up cooking ingredients, a nice bottle of wine, candles for the table and a dessert from your favorite bakery. When your Valentine arrives for dinner, pour her a glass of wine and don’t let her lift a finger to help. Enjoy your intimate dinner for two, then do all the dishes and clean-up yourself. 

2. Play Time 

Why should a Valentine’s Day date be serious and stuffy? Let your hair down, have some fun and plan a playful date out on the town. Go ice skating and hold hands while you gracefully glide around the rink (or cling to each other to avoid falling - fun either way!). Play a round of miniature golf to get in touch with your inner kid... then go out for drinks at a hip wine bar for your grown-up side. Get a little culture: look up local museums, art galleries and theaters to see if there are any special events or exhibits going on that night.

3. Back to the Future

Check OpenTable for your city to find a restaurant you’ve been meaning to try with reservations still open for Valentine's Day. If you are flexible on time, you can often find an early or late slot available. Indulge in dinner and dessert, then head back home for a post-dinner drink. When you open a bottle of wine or prosecco, take out a few sheets of blank white paper and two pens. Write letters to each other (no peeking!) that you will open a few years in the future on a milestone - for example, Valentine’s Day five years from now or your 10th wedding anniversary. Seal your letters in envelopes, and place them in a box with a bottle of wine that will be good to drink on your specified date. Tape up the box, label it with the opening date and try to fight back your impatience! 

What are your last-minute Valentine’s Day date ideas? Share in the comments. 

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