• Growing up in Portland, Oregon, was magical, but I hated my hometown the way angsty teens often do.
• To my surprise, I moved back to my hometown in my 30s and realized it's the perfect city for me.
• I love Portland's quirks, strong sense of community, natural beauty, food, and LGBTQ+ nightlife.

Portland, Oregon, isn't perfect.

It's not particularly diverse, and most restaurants close way too early for anyone under the age of 60. The "Pacific Northwest freeze" is a real thing: People here can be simultaneously too nice and impossible to befriend.

When I left Portland in my early 20s to travel the world for almost a decade, I didn't think I'd ever move back. Growing up there was pretty magical, but I hated the city in the way most angsty teens hate their hometown.

Then, amid the coronavirus pandemic, I booked a flight back to Portland to be near family. Five years later, I'm still here — and I can't see myself living anywhere else. Here's why.

The access to nature is unbeatable

Portland is surrounded by natural beauty.

Locals love to brag that you can be in the mountains or on the coast within an hour and a half — a luxury few cities can claim.

Believe it or not, you can even be in the rainforest in half an hour, surrounded by ferns and fluorescent-green moss.

I regularly make the scenic drive to the Columbia River Gorge, a historic stretch dotted with tunnels and waterfalls, when I need to clear my mind. Stopping to stand at the base of a 620-foot waterfall and get misted in the face never fails to do the trick.

The natural beauty really is everywhere. On a casual walk around my neighborhood, I've found everything from fresh blackberries and wild bunnies to roaming chickens and secret gardens filled with dahlias and roses.

Our local food scene is on par with major metropolises

I'm convinced Portland has more outstanding restaurants per capita than any other city.

Though the city is predominantly white, my taste buds have been thrilled in recent years to see diversity reflected in Portland's rise to foodie fame.

The star of the show is Kann, a James Beard Award-winning restaurant by Gregory Gourdet, where "Haitian cuisine meets Pacific Northwest bounty," and an absolutely mind-blowing plantain brioche meets my mouth.

Then there's Jinju Patisserie, named the country's most outstanding bakery at the James Beard Awards earlier this year. There, two Korean-born pastry chefs whip up croissants that rival any I've had in Paris.

But award winners barely scratch the surface. My personal list of outstanding local Thai restaurants is longer than my Trader Joe's receipts.

Plus, Portland is especially known for its food trucks, which is how I first tried Guyanese food (at Bake on the Run), snow-cheese Korean fried chicken (at Frybaby), and Puerto Rican-Philly fusion dishes (at Papi Sal's).

The LGBTQ+ nightlife feels truly queer

I came out after leaving Oregon, and before moving back, I'd only lived in areas where the LGBTQ+ community was either small or centered on gay men.

Portland is the first time I've felt included, and the queer community here is at the heart of why I chose to stay. This city's LGBTQ+ community feels refreshingly queer.

My friends and I joke that most bars in Portland are gay bars just because the local population has so many queer folks. Many popular nightlife spots regularly host LGBTQ+ events, even if they aren't specifically "gay bars."

On any given weekend, I might have to choose between a "Twilight"-themed drag show, an LGBTQ+ storytelling event, a queer pie-eating contest, a lesbian dance party, or a trans wrestling match.

Because it rarely takes me longer than 15 minutes to get anywhere around the city, I can try to squeeze all the events in.

And when I wake up exhausted and hungry on Sunday morning, I can join my fellow Portland gays doing what we love most — waiting in inordinately long brunch lines.

Portland has a community for even the quirkiest hobbies

If you've got a special interest, you're bound to find a group of people here who are loudly and proudly into the same thing, no matter how niche or offbeat.

Can you guess where I've made the most friends in Portland? If you said, "a weekly '80s-themed mall walk in the city's half-abandoned Lloyd Center mall," you'd be right.

When I picked up rollerskating during the pandemic, I was thrilled to learn that the city runs a "secret roller disco" every week in undisclosed pop-up locations like warehouse parking lots (and the same half-abandoned mall).

Over the summer, I participated in a watermelon-wrestling fundraiser. In the fall, I got to take an entire four-week class about 1970s cult horror in the back room of Movie Madness, one of the country's only remaining video-rental stores.

All in all, I've fallen for the city

The older I get, the more I appreciate that Portland doesn't feel like a city, but rather it's a bunch of neighborhoods quilted together.

It's easy to feel welcome here when there are free tiny libraries and flyers for different clubs and events around every corner.

Everything I love about Portland, from the hiking trails to my favorite Thai soup spot (shoutout to Khao Moo Dang) to the drag scene, comes down to one thing: community.

It's an elusive concept I spent most of my 20s searching for in far-off places. In an ironic twist of fate that really pleases my mother, I ended up finding it in my hometown.

• Korean Air is the latest airline to sign up for Elon Musk's Starlink WiFi.
• 22 other carriers have also announced deals for the ultra-high-speed internet.
• It's already available on some airlines — here's the full list.

Elon Musk's Starlink has gained yet another airline customer as the ultra-high-speed WiFi service continues to gain popularity.

Korean Air announced in early December that it's installing Starlink and expects it to enter service between July and September next year, becoming the 23rd airline in total to do so.

Business Insider previously tested Starlink on Qatar Airways' first flight with it last October. The connection speed peaked at 215 megabits per second, more than enough for a lag-free video call, and faster than many cable-based internet services.

Starlink functions thanks to a constellation of over 7,000 satellites, which allows internet connections in remote locations, such as flying over an ocean. The satellites are in low-earth orbit, which means faster internet speeds — but also disrupts astronomers.

Starlink isn't the only game in town, however.

JetBlue has signed up for Amazon Leo, which functions similarly, but has only launched 150 satellites so far.

Another in-flight WiFi rival is Viasat, which is used by Delta Air Lines and American Airlines. It only has a handful of satellites in a geostationary orbit, which have a longer time delay.

While it has rivals, Starlink wants to cement its dominance. As Starlink grows in popularity, it could be that more carriers sign up to Starlink to keep up with competitors. All airlines with Starlink offer it free of charge, although some require passengers to sign up for their loyalty programs.

As of the Korean announcement, here are all the airlines that have publicly announced plans to launch Starlink:

Aer Lingus

The Irish flag carrier is part of International Airlines Group, which announced its Starlink deal in early November. It's set to roll out Starlink from early 2026, but plans are still being finalized across the conglomerate.

Air Baltic

Latvia's airBaltic flies around Europe and the Middle East only using Airbus A220 jets. It was the first European airline to adopt Starlink, and hopes to complete installation on all its planes by the end of the year.

Air Busan

Air Busan is a budget carrier and a subsidiary of Korean Air, which announced in December that it's adding Starlink.

While the legacy carrier has clearer plans for its wide-body jets, Korean said Air Busan will review which planes to prioritize.

"Rollout schedules will vary by carrier, with the earliest service introduction expected as early as the third quarter of 2026," it added.

Air France

The French flag carrier announced its Starlink deal last September, available to Flying Blue loyalty members. Installation began across its fleet, including regional planes, this summer.

Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand first said it was working with Starlink two years ago. It then rolled it out on two domestic aircraft in June, saying that it was "currently in the test phase."

Air Seoul

Air Seoul is a budget carrier and another subsidiary of Korean Air. Like with Air Busan, it is not yet clear which jets will get Starlink.

Alaska Airlines

After merging with Hawaiian Airlines — the first major carrier to offer Starlink — Alaska Airlines announced its deal in August. It says it will first be available next year and will be rolled out across the fleet by 2027.

Asiana Airlines

Asiana Airlines is another subsidiary of Korean Air.

The two airlines merged in 2024, while the Asiana brand is set to be phased out by the end of next year.

"Following the integration with Asiana Airlines, the airline plans to complete fleetwide installation by the end of 2027," Korean said in its Starlink announcement.

It also said it will prioritize installation on its Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 jets.

British Airways

The UK flag carrier is also part of IAG. BA said it would start rolling out Starlink next year and that it would be available free of charge to all its passengers.

Emirates

Dubai's airline is starting to roll out Starlink this month and plans to add it to all 232 in-service aircraft by mid-2027. It's also set to operate the first double-decker Airbus A380 with the service.

FlyDubai

The Emirati budget airline also announced its Starlink deal during this month's Dubai Airshow. It only operates Boeing 737s and plans to install Starlink on 100 of them from next year.

Iberia

The Spanish flag carrier is also part of IAG. The conglomerate said it would roll out Starlink across its fleets from 2026.

Jin Air

Budget airline Jin Air, another subsidiary of Korean Air, will also get Starlink on its planes.

It will first install the high-speed WiFi on its Boeing 737-8 jets, the announcement said.

JSX

JSX is a charter air carrier and was the first carrier to equip Starlink back in 2023. Its fleet is mostly made up of regional Embraer jets.

Korean Air

Korean Air announced in December that it's adding Starlink, with service starting as early as the third quarter of 2026.

It said it will prioritize installation on its Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 jets, aiming for Starlink to be across the fleet by the end of 2027.

Level

Level is a budget airline based in Barcelona and is part of IAG. The airline's parent company said it would roll out Starlink from 2026.

Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways outpaced its regional rival, Emirates, by announcing Starlink back in May 2024. As of November, it operates the most wide-body aircraft with the service, numbering over 100. Starlink is installed on all Qatar's Boeing 777s and is being rolled out to its Airbus A350s.

SAS

Scandinavian Airlines, or SAS, is the flag carrier for Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. It announced Starlink in January and said the rollout would begin at the end of the year. Passengers would need to sign up for its EuroBonus loyalty program for free access.

United Airlines

United Airlines was the second US airline to announce a Starlink deal, but the first of the Big Three. It has installed the service on over half of its regional planes, and is continuing to roll it out across its whole fleet. The airline says customers will get a notification before their flight if it is equipped with Starlink. Passengers need to sign up for its MileagePlus loyalty program for free access.

Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic was the first UK airline to announce its deal with Starlink, which it did in July. Installation is planned to start in the second half of next year. Passengers will need to sign up for the airline's Flying Club loyalty program to use it.

Vueling

Another IAG subsidiary, Vueling is a Spanish budget airline. Its parent company said it would roll out Starlink from 2026.

WestJet

Canada's WestJet started installing Starlink in February, and it's now equipped on over 100 of its Boeing 737 jets. It plans for all its 737-800 and 737 Max 8s to have Starlink by the end of the year. Free access requires signing up for its loyalty program.

Zipair

Zipair is a Japanese budget airline and a subsidiary of Japan Airlines. It was an early adopter of Starlink, announcing its deal in early 2023, but doesn't appear to have yet launched the service.

• From Christmas markets to light displays, small towns across the US get into the holiday spirit.
• Helen, Georgia, is a recreation of a Bavarian alpine village that goes all-out for Christmas.
• Santa Claus arrives by boat during Nantucket, Massachusetts' annual Christmas Stroll.

From dazzling festivals of light to towering Christmas trees, there are plenty of ways for small towns across the US to celebrate the holidays.

Whether you're celebrating the season in a quaint New England town or hitting the slopes in Jackson Hole, there's no wrong way to get in the holiday spirit.

For local small businesses, hotels, and restaurants, the holiday season offers more than just festive cheer — it's also an opportunity to generate income from tourism. Day-trippers and overnight tourists boost local economies while enjoying festive holiday markets, local restaurants, quaint and cozy inns, and more.

Keep reading to discover the best Christmas towns in the US, from Alaska to North Carolina.

North Pole, Alaska

North Pole, Alaska, is decked out in Christmas decorations year-round, although it's an especially festive place to be during the holiday season.

It's only fitting that there's a town called North Pole in Alaska. The small town, which has a population of just 2,285 people, keeps the holiday spirit alive all year long. However, the North Pole is especially festive around the holidays.

Its Santa Claus House sells gifts, toys, decor, and holiday treats, and offers photo opportunities with St. Nick himself, while the town's post office is a famous local attraction that receives over 400,000 letters addressed to Santa Claus every year, Travel Alaska reported.

Solvang, California

Solvang, California, is an adorable Danish-inspired village located in the Santa Ynez Valley, up the coast from Santa Barbara.

The town feels festive all year round, although Solvang stands out during the holiday season. Every year, the European-inspired town hosts Julefest, a holiday celebration complete with Christmas tree lighting, plenty of holiday shopping, and Danish treats.

Mystic, Connecticut

Visitors to Mystic, Connecticut, can stroll around the town's harbor to admire the elaborately decorated boats, watch Santa Claus arrive by tugboat, or grab a slice at the town's most famous restaurant, Mystic Pizza.

Helen, Georgia

The downtown of Helen, Georgia, is a recreation of a Bavarian alpine village that only gets more adorable once it's decorated for the holidays.

While the town is famous for its Oktoberfest celebration, Helen also comes alive around the holidays.

The town has a Christmas market and parade featuring costumed characters, floats, and Santa Claus himself. There are also festive lights, a breakfast with Santa, and the opportunity to buy your gifts at Helen's own Christmas Shoppe.

Frankenmuth, Michigan

Frankenmuth, also known as Michigan's Little Bavaria, is one of the coziest places to spend the holidays. The town's architecture will make you feel as if you've been transported to Europe, and it's even better when it's covered in snow.

The town is also home to Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, which, at 320,000 square feet, calls itself the world's largest Christmas store.

Silverton, Oregon

Silverton is a tiny town in Oregon, although it's arguably the most festive place in the state during the holiday season.

The Silverton Christmas Market at the Oregon Garden Resort is a popular holiday event in Silverton. During this event, the gardens are lit up with festive light displays, snowless tubing, a Biergarten, and a vendor market.

Nantucket, Massachusetts

Many people only associate the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts, with summer vacations, although the town is filled with holiday charm in the offseason.

You may not want to swim in the frigid Atlantic Ocean, but the beach is just as charming in the winter thanks to its beautifully decorated lighthouses.

Nantucket also holds an annual Christmas Stroll festival, during which visitors can shop at discounted prices at many of the island's shops and watch Santa arrive by boat into Nantucket Harbor.

Sun Valley, Idaho

It's nearly impossible to avoid holiday cheer in Sun Valley, Idaho.

The charming ski town goes all out — its celebrations include Christmas light displays, tree lightings, and visits from Santa Claus.

Santa Claus, Indiana

What better place to spend the holidays than a town called Santa Claus?

The Indiana town is well-known for its post office, appropriately located on Kringle Place, where thousands of children mail their letters to Santa every year.

There's also a large Santa statue that stands outside the post office year-round, serving up a dose of Christmas cheer even in the summer.

Branson, Missouri

Branson is a go-to spot for Missourians looking to get into the holiday spirit.

From live shows to holiday lights and shopping, Branson has everything you could ask for in a festive night out. It also offers natural beauty, such as snowy vistas at Table Rock Lake.

McAdenville, North Carolina

Located outside Charlotte, McAdenville is also known as "Christmas Town, USA" during the holiday season.

The name is fitting since it's one of the best places to view holiday lights and decorations in the country. Beginning December 1 — and sometimes, even earlier — homes and buildings all over town are aglow in lights and decorations until the day after Christmas.

Woodstock, Vermont

Woodstock, Vermont, is widely regarded as one of the most quintessentially New England towns in the country. Gorgeous in both the fall and the dead of winter, Woodstock has a number of festive attractions and activities.

If you're planning to stay in town over the holidays or the winter season, try to book a room at the cozy and festive Woodstock Inn. Each guest suite has its own fireplace, perfect for cuddling up next to with a cup of hot cocoa and a copy of "'Twas The Night Before Christmas."

Stowe, Vermont

People love to visit Stowe, Vermont, in the wintertime for skiing and other outdoor activities, but the town especially comes alive during the holiday season.

Stowe offers a beautiful winter landscape and hosts an annual tree-lighting ceremony, a holiday bazaar, and an ice skating rink.

Leavenworth, Washington

Leavenworth, Washington, is a small Bavarian-inspired town with an impressive display of Christmas lights.

Every year, Leavenworth's downtown is decorated in lights, and the town's annual Christmas market keeps the holiday festivities going all season long.

Jackson, Wyoming

The ski town is famous for its arches made of elk antlers, which are adorned with Christmas lights during the holiday season, providing the perfect opportunity for family photo ops.

Outdoor enthusiasts can also hit the slopes at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort or enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the multiple surrounding national parks.

• I started vaping in college, right as it was becoming trendy, even though I never smoked cigarettes.
• It became a significant problem — both for my health and my finances.
• After almost 8 years, quitting has saved my lungs and my wallet.

I was at my senior year homecoming dance when I learned what a vape was for the first time.

It was 2017, and I saw a group of my classmates huddled in a corner, passing around what looked like a USB drive.

Out of curiosity, I asked what it was, and one said, "What, you've never heard of a Juul before?" I hadn't, but a quick Google search taught me it was meant to be a replacement for cigarettes.

I eventually joined the growing trend, which left me feeling awful for years — before I could muster the willpower to quit vaping. Thankfully, quitting has helped me save money and feel healthier.

It started with good intentions

A friend of mine had started smoking right before we left for college. After many years of health classes and TV commercials warning of the dangers of cigarettes, I knew this wasn't a habit I should sit back and let my friend form. I went out and bought a vape for them — since getting them to stop altogether seemed like a tall order.

It seemed innocent enough because there was no actual tobacco involved, so I gave it a go myself. I immediately understood why they had become so popular. They tasted great and were fun to use, so without even considering the addictive qualities of nicotine, I bought my own.

Pod-based vapes were all the rage on my college campus. They were easy to pass around with friends, and every gas station for miles sold refills. They were also discreet and easy to use, so many students, including myself, carried them everywhere. It was common to run into classmates taking a "bathroom break," when in reality we were all just vaping in the stalls.

Being that it was so easy to get away with, it didn't occur to me that I was wiring my brain to become dependent on this little stick of nicotine in my pocket.

The cost hit both my wallet and my health

It was a regular errand of mine to go to the gas station after class. Running about $25 for a pack of four vape pods, it didn't seem like a huge expense as a college dorm resident with few bills to pay.

Over time, the pods began to fall out of fashion and were replaced with disposable vapes. They weren't much more expensive — at about $30 each.

But the frequency at which I made these purchases affected not only my wallet but also my health.

The habit continued for years. It became obvious to me that the idea of vapes being "better for you" simply because they lacked tobacco wasn't true. I tried to quit several times, rarely making it longer than a few days or maybe even a week due to the withdrawals.

Factoring their costs into my budget felt like a cold sore that wouldn't go away, knowing it was unnecessary, but the struggle to stop remained. But once I found myself so sick from it that I could barely take a deep breath, I buckled down and told myself the time had come.

In May, I threw away what would be my last vape and have not purchased one since.

Kicking the habit brought a breath of fresh air

The physical relief from quitting came slowly, but the financial part was almost immediate. Since the day I quit six months ago, I have saved over $900.

My resting heart rate has improved significantly, energy levels are up, and I don't wake up each morning reaching for a vape before my eyes are even open.

I had looked up every technique I could possibly try to make the withdrawals easier, but it came down to the sheer willpower to lock myself in my apartment until the worst of the cravings stopped.

I can't say they don't still arise when I find myself particularly anxious (or just bored), but a life free from nicotine is one both my body and wallet are happy to have back.

• Citadel, Millennium, Point72, and more all made money in November.
• Big-name funds battled a choppy equities market, though stocks bounced in the second half of the month.
• Many hedge funds outperformed the modest 0.1% gain in November by the S&P 500 index.

Hedge funds' biggest names had a solid November despite an early-month sell-off of hot tech stocks.

Citadel, Balyasny, and Point72 made money in the month, people close to the managers told Business Insider.

Miami-based Citadel, run by billionaire Ken Griffin, was up 1.4% in its flagship Wellington fund. The fund has made 8.3% for the year. The manager's Tactical Trading fund, which combines the firm's quant and flesh-and-blood stockpickers, is up 16.3% in 2025 after 2.6% gain last month.

The $30 billion Balyasny continued its strong year with a 2.5% gain in November. The manager is now up 15.3% in 2025. ExodusPoint pushed its year-to-date returns to 15.6% with a 1.2% bump in November. Billionaire Steve Cohen's Point72 is up 15% in 2025, following a 1.4% gain last month.

Millennium eked out gains of 0.5% over the month, bringing its year-to-date returns to 8.3%. The $81 billion manager was dragged down by significant losses from its index rebalance teams, Business Insider reported.

These firms and many other multistrategy managers outperformed the S&P 500 last month; the index gained just 0.1% thanks to an early-month sell-off of tech stocks that was partially reversed by strong earnings from chipmaker Nvidia and solid iPhone sales by Apple.

The index for the year has still made more than 16% in 2025, which is greater than many funds' year-to-date gains.

The firms below declined to comment. More performance figures will be added to the table and the article as they are learned.

(Editor's note: This story was originally published on December 1 at 2.32 pm. New figures have been added to the table below as they have been learned.)

Inside Business stories reveal the inner workings of companies from Silicon Valley to Wall Street that are shaping our world today.

• Netflix defended its acquisition of Warner Bros. as a strategic and informed move.
• Co-CEO Greg Peters says past media mega-mergers failed due to a lack of industry expertise.
• Netflix emphasized its healthy business and confidence in understanding the entertainment industry.

Netflix defended its announced acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery's studio and streaming business, saying it wouldn't be a failure like other media mega-mergers that have come before it.

"It's true. Historically, many of these mergers haven't worked. A lot of these failures were because the companies doing the a didn't understand the entertainment industry," Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters said, speaking during a call Friday with investors to discuss the deal. "These are key businesses we understand."

Another point he made was that while other M&A deals were about companies looking for a lifeline, Netflix isn't doing the deal to save its business.

"We have a healthy business," Peters said.

He didn't specify any past mergers, but notable tie-ups that have widely been considered failures were AT&T buying Time Warner in 2018 and the AOL-Time Warner combo in 2000.

The streaming giant is making the biggest acquisition in its history — and one of the largest ever in entertainment — announcing Friday that it had struck a deal to acquire Warner Bros. from WBD for an equity value of $72 billion.

• The International Wedding Photographer of the Year awards announced the winners of its 2025 contest.
• The winning photos featured poignant moments, stunning landscapes, and lively wedding celebrations.
• The overall winning photo showed a young boy gazing through a window at a wedding cake.

After the vows are exchanged and the dance floor clears, wedding photos help preserve the memories for years to come.

The annual International Wedding Photographer of the Year awards celebrate the best in wedding photography, honoring photographers who excelled at capturing poignant moments, stunning landscapes, and lively celebrations in 2025.

The IWPOTY judges evaluated 2,500 submissions from 568 photographers in 61 countries, naming winners in categories including Black and White, Dance Floor, Epic Location, and I Do Crew.

Take a look at the best wedding photos of the year.

Armen Hambardzumian won the Black and White category with a poignant photo of a bride's grandfather after the wedding ceremony.

"For me, wedding photography is about documenting the connections between generations — the emotions and memories that live on through time," Hambardzumian wrote.

The winning photo in the Break the Rules category was taken by Traci Edwards in the North Cascades.

"To me, this image is about Tammy and Eric being engulfed in the incredible mountain peaks of the North Cascades in the morning sunlight romantically in their own bubble of bliss, sharing their day together," Edwards wrote.

Oli Prince took the top prize in the Couple Portrait and Emerging Artist categories with a photo highlighting a bride and groom on a stormy mountainside.

"Under dark storm clouds in the Cuillin Mountains, Scotland, the couple held each other as the wind tore through the valley," Prince wrote. "Her veil was ripped into the air, twisting above them like part of the storm itself."

In the Dance Floor category, Jeff Tisman won with a creative angle.

"The dance floor was rocking at this point," Tisman wrote. "I lay the camera down low and captured the moves through the legs of another dancer."

Alessandro Biggi took the winning photo in the Epic Location category at San Pietro Church in Porto Venere, Italy.

"On a summer day, right after the intense passage of a storm, the sky opened to reveal a sublime, almost ethereal light that enveloped the scene in an atmosphere suspended between dream and reality," Biggi wrote. "The bride, wrapped in her elegant grace, stands silently before the infinite, seemingly captured by the poetry of the sea as it opens through the ancient columns — witnesses to countless stories, loves, and legends."

Tony Iskra's photo of an intimate Iceland elopement earned first place in the From Above category.

"Iceland's raw wilderness, black sand beaches, cliffs, waterfalls, and that quiet sense of awe were exactly how they envisioned their special day," Iskra wrote.

The winning photo in the I Do Crew category, taken by Moment Picture, showed a bride and her parents sharing a tender moment.

"Just before the ceremony, her parents asked for a quiet moment — a final act of love," a representative for Moment Picture wrote. "With trembling hands and full hearts, they placed the veil over their daughter, not just as a tradition, but as a sacred blessing. This veil, woven with grace and care, became a symbol of everything they wished for her: love, strength, protection, and peace."

Sammie and Micah Chaffin used vintage lanterns to create this cinematic shot of a bride and groom, winning first place in the Lit! category.

"During blue hour, the orange lantern light perfectly complemented the deep blues in the sky and ocean, as well as mirroring the orange in the last traces of the sunset," the Chaffins wrote.

Katy Homan took the winning photo in the Solo Portrait category of a bride leaping into the air.

"We want to capture not just what the day looked like, but what it felt like, too," Homan wrote.

The Engagement/Non-Wedding category winner, and the contest's overall Runner-Up, was taken by Maddie Mae during a Utah engagement shoot.

"To create this image, we woke long before sunrise and drove a serious 4×4 road in complete darkness with an experienced guide," Mae wrote. "From there, we hiked by headlamp to reach this massive sand dune in a cave before anyone else arrived. I knew the perfect light hits the back wall only at sunrise, so the timing was critical, and it was more than worth the effort."

David Scholes was named Grand Winner of the contest with a whimsical photo of a young wedding guest admiring the towering cake.

As the boy ran back and forth outside the reception hall, Scholes caught the split second when he paused to look at the cake.

"I don't stop working at weddings, and even when there doesn't seem to be much happening, I will still look for something interesting that can be part of the story," Scholes wrote.

• Netflix agreed to purchase Warner Bros. in a $72 billion deal.
• Netflix will buy HBO Max and the Warner Bros. studio, but not WBD's TV networks like CNN and TNT.
• Here is the memo Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav sent to employees.

Netflix is buying Warner Bros. Discovery's studio and streaming businesses in a seismic $72 billion deal that promises to shake up Hollywood.

The Netflix-WBD tie-up, which the companies announced on Friday morning, would be the industry's largest since Disney bought 21st Century Fox for $71 billion in 2019. Netflix is planning to buy HBO Max and the top-performing Warner Bros. studio, but not WBD's TV networks like CNN, TNT, and TBS.

Netflix must first secure regulatory approval from the US and foreign governments, which some media analysts say could be a challenge. If all goes as planned, the deal is set to close in 12 to 18 months, the companies said.

Netflix beat out Paramount Skydance and Comcast in a bidding war.

Since Netflix is only buying the Warner Bros. studio and HBO Max, the remaining TV assets that are seen as less valuable will be spun out, as WBD originally planned. WBD was formed in April 2022 after a merger between AT&T's WarnerMedia and Discovery.

"In the coming days, we will establish an Integration Office, which will coordinate all planning with Netflix, consistent with regulatory requirements," WBD CEO David Zaslav wrote in a note to employees on Friday. "Until the transaction closes, WBD and Netflix remain separate companies. It may be tempting to reach out directly to counterparts or former colleagues at Netflix, but it is essential that all interactions are managed through this office to ensure we meet every legal and regulatory obligation."

Here's the full memo that Zaslav sent employees on Friday morning:

This communication has been sent to everyone at WBD.

Team,

The Board of Directors of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) approved a transaction under which Warner Bros. will be acquired by Netflix, subject to regulatory approvals and closing conditions, including the completion of the separation of Discovery Global from WBD.

As part of the structure, the Global Networks business will form a new standalone company, Discovery Global, with Gunnar Wiedenfels to serve as CEO once the new company separates from WBD, now expected to be completed in Q3 2026.

This decision reflects the realities of an industry undergoing generational change – in how stories are financed, produced, distributed, and discovered – and recognizes the strong, transformed company we are today, the significant value we have created, and the resilience and attractiveness that now position us in a rapidly evolving marketplace. Over the past several months, the Board evaluated a full set of strategic paths. Their conclusion is that this structure – Warner Bros. joining Netflix, and Discovery Global becoming a focused standalone company – provides the strongest long-term foundation for both sets of businesses.

As outlined in the announcement, the proposed combination of Warner Bros. and Netflix reflects complementary strengths, more choice and value for consumers, a stronger entertainment industry, increased opportunity for creative talent, and long-term value creation for shareholders.

I know this announcement creates many questions about what's next. For some, it brings clarity about direction. For others, it raises questions about what this means for their teams and their work. All of those reactions are understandable. A transaction of this nature naturally creates uncertainty, and not all answers will be available immediately. Some will be clarified in the coming days and weeks; others depend on regulatory processes and on work that cannot begin until separation or closing.

People across WBD have navigated extraordinary change over the last three years, while building a company with real creative, journalistic, and commercial strength. That deserves to be acknowledged plainly.

What we can say now, based on the direction set out today, is that this structure provides a clearer path forward for Warner Bros. within Netflix, and for Discovery Global as a standalone company. For both, the goal is to position their creative work, talent, and brands to navigate a market that is constantly evolving and increasingly global.

What happens now

Later today, we will hold a Global Town Hall to walk through what we know and what is still to be determined. Calendar invites will follow shortly after this email.

Business Unit leaders will hold discussions specific to their areas in the coming days, so you can hear directly from your leader.

Managers will also come together early next week so they have the context and support they need to guide their teams through the early stages of this transition.

What happens next

The path toward a separation of WBD into Warner Bros. and Discovery Global will shift. We will redirect work tied to the earlier, planned two-company operating model and focus instead on the steps required to enable this transaction.

In the coming days, we will establish an Integration Office, which will coordinate all planning with Netflix, consistent with regulatory requirements. Until the transaction closes, WBD and Netflix remain separate companies. It may be tempting to reach out directly to counterparts or former colleagues at Netflix, but it is essential that all interactions are managed through this office to ensure we meet every legal and regulatory obligation.

What this means for you

We also recognize that many people are looking for more clarity about what to focus on, how to prioritize work, and what this means for their teams. Those details will become clearer over the next several weeks, as we move toward our 2026 goal-setting and operating plan alignment processes.

As part of that, you will hear guidance from your Business Unit and functional leaders early in the new year, with expectations and priorities anchored to what we know at that point in the regulatory process.

In the meantime, please continue to focus on the work needed to wrap up 2025, support year-end deliverables, and take the opportunity to rest and recharge over the holidays.

We will continue to communicate regularly, and new information will be shared in One Insider and on the One website. And we will see you later today at the Global Town Hall.

As we move through this next chapter, our aim is simple: handle decisions with care, communicate clearly about what we know, and make sure people have the information and support they need at each step.

I know moments like this carry weight. And they can also mark the beginning of new possibilities. The work you bring to this company – and the way you have shown up for one another – has built something that others clearly see value in. That matters. And while I cannot predict every step ahead, I am confident in the strength of our brands, in the talent of our teams, and in the stories, journalism, and experiences we will continue to bring to audiences around the world.

David