When Naya Rivera secretly wed actor Ryan Dorsey back in 2014, we were totally gleeful (Get it?) about the former Glee star tying the knot. But just hours after the happy news broke, the media started questioning the newlyweds about their possibly recycled big day. You see, Rivera called off her previous engagement to Big Sean just three months before making it official with Dorsey. And what’s even more strange, is that the two tied the knot on the same day that Rivera initially chose for her wedding to the rapper. Reportedly, the actress selected the date and the Cabo San Lucas wedding locale back when she was still engaged to Big Sean. Juicy, right? Well, Rivera is finally setting the record straight on that secret (and scandalous!) wedding.

“The media eschewed it into this whole thing,” Rivera told People magazine, referring to the groom switch-a-roo rumors. In fact, she continued, most people still don’t know that her and her hubby shared a romantic relationship before their short engagement.

The real story? According to People, Rivera and her now-husband dated for a bit in 2010. A few weeks after Rivera broke up with Dorsey to focus on her career, she discovered she was pregnant and ultimately decided to terminate the pregnancy. A few years later, Rivera was planning her wedding to another man. But when that engagement was called off, Dorsey re-entered the actress’ life when he contacted her — for the first time in years — with condolences about her recent breakup.

And you know how the rest of this story goes: Sparks flew, the two fell back in love, and Rivera jumped right back into wedding planning, but with an entirely different groom.

“It was good to tell our story and put the truth out there,” said Rivera. “We’ve been married now two years and have a gorgeous son, and it feels good to let everyone know what really happened.”

And there you have it! But no matter how they got to the altar, we’re just happy these two managed to get their well-deserved happily-ever-after.

See More: The 23 Most Shocking Secret Celebrity Weddings

There are a lot of things that can give your wedding guests the “wow” factor when it comes to wedding planning, and wedding venues are no exception. These brides had incredible imaginations and adventurous spirits when wedding planning. The result: A riveting wedding story to tell for the rest of their lives. Here, real brides share the crazy places they decided to tie the knot.

“My father is a chaplain. I wanted an unusual wedding and our town’s July 4th festivities provided the perfect backdrop. The staging area in the hot Texas afternoon where the fireworks were going to be held was full of fire engines, ambulances and cop cars – lots of noise. I had my dad marry my fiancé and me amid the ‘excitement.'” — Beth

“We exchanged vows on a glacier! Our wedding party arrived in Juneau on a cruise ship, where we boarded a helicopter for a flight to the top of the glacier. Its cold up there so we wore long, flowing capes and white fur jackets. Of course one can’t walk on a glacier like you do on terra firma. So, to keep from slipping everyone had on big, clunky boots with spikes on the bottom called crampons. To top things off that night we saw the Northern Lights streak across the sky.” — Ann

“This will really wound weird but here goes. I really, really liked the stain glass windows of an asylum chapel so chose that as the venue for the ceremony. We were assured during the rehearsal that the doors leading to the wards would be locked to prevent patients from wandering in without warning. Yikes! Luckily the vows took place interruption-free, but I was later informed that a few people on my husband’s side were uncomfortable with the locale as it brought back sad memories. It seems an elderly relative had been admitted there near the end of his life.” — Ellen

“I met my husband Rolf doing theater at the Burbank Little Theater. Our lives were so wrapped up in theater we wound up marrying on-stage at the Golden Playhouse. That was 43 happy years ago!” — Patrika

“As a wedding planner I had put together dozens of other people’s nuptials, and wanted to do something truly unique when it came to my own. So my groom and I rented water powered jet backs to fly to our beach-side wedding.” — Amanda

“People usually think I’m fooling when I tell them my husband and I got married in a tree house, but that’s the truth. Actually it was a cottage on stilts in the middle of the forest. The view was stunning. Yes, we climbed down for the reception!” — Lee

“My husband and I are certified scuba divers so it seemed appropriate to get married during Shark Week on a chartered boat in the Bahamas. Our ceremony took place underwater!” — Lisa

“I like gourmet food as much as anyone, but Tom and I met at Denny’s in Las Vegas and that’s where we got married. Being Vegas, the Denny’s had its own wedding chapel. After we tied the knot we had our own special booth where we dined on wedding cake pops and toasted one another with ice cream sodas.” — Ruth

See More: Real Brides Share Their Biggest Wedding Compromises

The secret to marriage is anyone’s guess.

With each passing 21st century hour, every married couple is standing on thin-ass ice. People claim to have it together, but I’m jaded, I’m skeptical. Marriage, by its own morphing definition, doesn’t mean forever anymore. No one is saying this out loud, but I will.

Marriage these days means seven to eight years of trying. And then like two to four of suffering in medium-grade dark silence before the divorce comes down. I’m sorry, dreamers, but there you go.

Chances are: your marriage is sh*tting the bed (or separate beds!) as we speak. But why? Have people changed all that much since say, I don’t know, the 1950s? Back when human beings were still marrying each other and sticking to it until they died?

It seems hard to believe that we could have either evolved or devolved so much (depending on your own slant) over such a short period of time. We’re rarely that onto our own laid-out path. Yet here we are. Being single, remaining unmarried — that used to get you cross-eyed looks from your mom and your aunts. Now it’s a sign that you’re a free-spirited child of true liberation. And that you’re brave. And that you won’t be tied down by anyone.

Look, if you do get married these days, you’re still toasted and gifted and wished well, but c’mon. On the way home from the reception there’s a million private conversations going on between your friends and relatives. They talk. They sigh. They know where you two are headed.

It’s just a matter of freakin’ time.

Then again, love is love, and marriage lives.

People get swept up in the initial phase and feelings of enchantment, attraction, magnetic smiles and brains, and what’s wrong with that? Nothing at all, that’s what. The idea behind marriage is still as strong and true as ever before. It’s the wearing down that has gotten harder. It’s the giving up that has taken us out.

Now, for me to sit here at the bar in my summer kitchen, tapping away at my laptop, a couple extra tabs opened up at that top and pretend that I’m somehow someone who you should listen to when I talk about love, that’s laughable and I need you to know that. I’ve got nothing, man.

I’m divorced, a father of three little ones, rollin’ solo through my days. My heart is so banged up that I have to lie to it to wake it up in the morning. I’ve been hurt in my time. And I have stung with the sting of a trillion Satans.

I’m no expert on love. I hold no degrees. I hold no hands. I am — and I own it — a failure at this juncture.

But the funny thing is: falling on your face makes you start looking where you’re going. So is it with me and love. I’ve learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t. And one thing I believe now is that wives (and girlfriends) don’t tell you the thing that they really want.

Women are insanely insane at times and men are often so wildly blind to the cause of that. But I may be onto at least a partial reason why that is.

See, your wife wants you to put her first. How is that so hard to see? I don’t know. But I’m pretty sure I never knew that when I was in a relationship. I thought, “Hey, we’re equals, so I’ll just treat her like my equal and that’s a solid tip of my hat to our magnificent equality.”

But I suspect that might’ve been wrong. Women don’t NEED us to baby them or fawn all over them or tamper with their self-madeness. But deep down I’m thinking they WANT us to bang up against that stuff anyway. To show them we not only acknowledge them as “equals,” but also to show them that we are madly in love with them and that we would gladly take a bullet in the unibrow right this second for them if it came down to Superhero sh*t.

When was the last time that was your regular pattern of treating your lady? When was it the last time it was mine? I’m ashamed to answer that.

See More: I Refuse To Let My Wife’s Depression Ruin My Marriage

Guess what? I have a 7-year-old daughter now. Violet. She’s my world. And whenever I think about whoever it is she’s going fall in love with in this world at some point, these are the things I end up pondering.

I want her to end up with someone who adores her and who never stops proving that in all the little ways. Then they would last, I figure. Or at least have a better shot at lasting. Then they could both know True Love in this Kingdom of Divorce.

I never hope that whatever guy or girl she ends up with is rich or well-educated; I think about how he’ll treat my baby girl. That’s it. That’s how I came up with my whole scheme here.

It ain’t rocket science. We’re mostly losing at love. I’d give anything for Violet to not lose at love.

It seems so easy to hear this stuff I’m saying, to nod in agreement. Lots of men everywhere will look you straight in the Charles Bronson eyeball and tell you, “Yup. That’s true. You wanna be a good man, a good husband, you gotta put the little lady first.” It sounds so f*cking sexist in a way, but I can’t truly buy that complaint either. I’m a smart idiot.

Marriage isn’t a thing about who works for a living or who cooks dinner or watches the kids or whatever antiquated bird sh*t you want smear all over every modern marriage collapse that happens.

Marriage is about sacrifice and mercy. And it’s almost too difficult to wrap our heads around.

Women, wives, girlfriends — they want a thing so badly but they have no idea what it is. So it ultimately causes trouble, gets misperceived as restlessness or discontent within a relationship. And then it gets grossly mishandled.

See More: Who You Have The BEST Sex With, According To Your Zodiac Sign

Men, especially men who have yet to marry, listen the f*ck to me close:

The woman you love, or will someday love, wants you to be everything. She wants you to be a man. She wants you to work hard. She wants you to provide as much as you can no matter what your role in the household might be. She wants you to watch your skeevy roaming eyeball, but she wants you to remain sexual and sexy, so you’d better not get all stale by not looking around you.

A woman wants her man to be brave, too, and not be a damn p*ssy so much. It’s OK to cry, it’s OK to feel and to be sensitive and to hurt for the poor seals getting clubbed to death, or for the starving people or the downtrodden masses, but enough is enough after a while.

You also need to be kind of a dick sometimes, too, don’t you think? If a mechanic is ripping you off or some dad is yelling at your kid on the playground someday, you think your wife is seriously wanting you to just walk away and cower without speaking your mind? I doubt that very much. I just do.

Mostly, though, I think about Violet, my daughter, and the person who might love her someday, and I think that what she’ll really want the most from him/her, without even knowing it probably, will be that beautiful, steady feeling that comes with being treated like you’re loved.

Little things, really. Car doors open for her, maybe not every single time, but enough. Store doors opened for her. “Can I get you a glass of wine?” in the evening, coming from the kitchen. Making sure she’s not too sad. Making sure she’s smiling at least once a day. Or dying trying. That’s the person I dream of for her. For my daughter.

Oh god, I could die so peacefully then. I really could, I know I could. I know I’m right here. I mean, I hope I’m right. It’s been so unclear up ’til now.

See More: 50 Love Quotes That Express Exactly What ‘I Love You’ Really Means

This article originally appeared on YourTango.

No need for a rendition of Adele’s “Send My Love” because the superstar songstress will be there to deliver it — and a wedding gift! — herself. Adele just checked ‘yes!’ on the RSVP card of some incredibly lucky fans and we couldn’t be more jealous of this to-be-wedded couple! After spotting the pair slaying the dance floor at one of her recent concerts, the singer was so impressed with the dynamic duo, she’s actually going to their wedding. Who knew that killer dance moves could earn you a famous face on your wedding guest list?

On the Los Angeles leg of her Live 2016 tour, Adele couldn’t help but notice two concert-goers dancing the night way, obviously having the time of their lives. Of course the singer had to meet these enthusiastic fans, so she pulled the pair onstage in the middle of the show. The over-joyed couple, Vince and Ryan, immediately climbed up alongside the “Hello” singer to say, well, hello. Oh, and invite her to their upcoming wedding, NBD…

While onstage, Vince and Ryan mentioned that they were getting married in Montana in September before inviting Adele to come to the nuptials. We’re pretty sure we would’ve been in too much shock while face-to-face with Adele to even remember where the wedding was, but the Grammy winner accepted the invitation right then and there! Of course, a moment before she asked the couple where Montana was, but we’re sure she could buy a map before the big day, right?

“I would love to come!” said Adele. “My tour should be over by then, so I’ll come.” And then Ryan asked what everyone was probably silently wondering: “What’s your rate?” But Adele promised to cut the couple quite the deal. “Don’t worry, I’ll do it for free,” she said. “I’ll do it for you for free.” So let’s just reflect on this for a moment… This couple just scored Adele as a wedding guest, her impressive pipes for their first dance, and free reception entertainment. Wanna trade lives, you guys?

In a video Ryan and Vince later posted to Youtube of the epic moment, they thanked the singer, writing at the end of the video “Thank you, Adele. We will forever cherish this memory. Hope you can make it to the wedding.”

Want to send us an invite, too?

See More: Adele or Bridesmaid? This Maid of Honor’s Wedding Speech Parody of ‘Hello’ is Hysterical

Jessica Alba really knows how to glow, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is #glamourgoals and Lily James makes her look seem effortless.

Jessica Alba at the premiere of Mechanic: Resurrection: Any bride would love to have skin as radiant as Jessica Alba’s, but even if you don’t have it naturally, here’s how you can fake it with your makeup. First, prep the skin with a radiant finish primer, before buffing a full coverage foundation into place. Give your cheeks a flush with a rosy cream blush and use plenty of highlighter in that ‘c’ shape around your eyes. Brush your brows up and out to give them a full, natural look before filling in any sparse places and locking them into place with a wax. Add some depth to the look with a deep purple eyeshadow and amp up the glam with faux lashes. A glossy burgundy lip is the perfect finish.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley at the premiere of Mechanic: Resurrection: If you’re looking for classic glamour, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley always serves up perfect inspiration. To recreate her look, use a full coverage foundation and any concealer you need to make sure your complexion looks flawless. Use some classic contouring to warm up the face, and bring out that gorgeous glow. Use a rose gold colored eyeshadow on the upper lids and under the lower lashes and apply a strip of faux lashes. Shape and define your brows, and then complete the look with an attention-grabbing bright pink lip. And by using a gloss, you can still get that bright pop of color on your lip without looking too fussy.

Lily James at the “My Burberry Black” launch event: If you want effortless beauty, Lily James is your girl. To channel her look, think shades of nude and brown. Start with a matte-finish foundation and accentuate your cheekbones with a matte-finish bronzer. Create a low-key smoky eye by blending shades of brown around the eyes, and make sure you use the darkest shade underneath the lower lashes at the outer corner and out into a slight cateye shape on the top. Layer on several coats of mascara. To create natural-looking thickness to your brows (unless yours are already as full as Lily’s!), create hair-like strokes with a brow pencil. Pop on a nude lipstick and add a bit of radiance back into the complexion with a powder highlighter down the center of the face, and you’re ready for your close-up.

See More: 50 Pre-Wedding Skincare Products For Every Complexion Type

Whether it’s a night out before your bachelorette with the squad or a laid-back morning with mom before the bridal shower, these D.C. area businesses will leave brides “blown” away with their impeccable service (pun intended). For brides who prefer romantic comedies on in the background or bright fuchsia everywhere, these blow dry bars in the nation’s capital are the perfect pick.

Drybar
The Drybar is taking the D.C. area by storm. The business with the popular “no cuts, no color, just blowouts” slogan that has influenced the blowout business world is the ideal place to bring a crew of bridesmaids pre-bachelorette party. Think bright sunny yellow everywhere, romantic comedies playing, and bubbly for all. Drybar offers a few distinct styles on their menu, including their classic straight up, loose curls Cosmo, big haired Southern Comfort, beachy Mai Tai, and straight and sleek Manhattan. With locations in Bethesda, Georgetown, Dupont Circle, Penn Quarter and Tyson’s Corner, VA, there is a Drybar in all corners of D.C. Read real brides’ reviews here!

Blowout Bar
Get an ultimate blowout at this West End salon — which includes a shampoo, scalp massage, and style. Brides can choose from any of the bar’s five blowout looks, whose namesakes are easy-to-remember girls’ names. Blowout Bar is painted in lavender — making for relaxed, anxiety-free time for over-scheduled brides. For bridal parties who want at-home services so they can look their very best for a night on the town, bridal shower, or the wedding itself, a house call blowout costs $75 and updos are $140.

Blo
Dupont Circle’s Blo has an international following, with locations across the U.S. and the Philippines. Unapologetically girly, Blo is decorated in its signature bright fuchsia. Its variety of blowdry styles will suit any bride, from Bohemian fishtail braids to red carpet ready tresses. Blo’s signature blowout is $40 so brides are ready for everything from their showers to their bachelorette. Blo has an extensive “Blo Bridal” offer, with in-bar rates running around $65 for a consultation and $95 for day-of hair (varies by state). Maids, mother-of-the-bride and flower girls are $40 and for brides who opt for hair to be done elsewhere, Blo charges $150 for the bride and $100 for each additional bridal party member.

See More: Now That Your Hair is Done, Start Planning Your Bridal Beauty With One of Our Local Vendors

Flow
Flow Blow Dry Bar is NoVa’s first blow dry and beauty bar. Not only does Flow offer traditional blowouts, but brides can get hairstyling, treatments, makeup, waxing, and facials. Flow also has “Glam Squads” who work with each individual bride on her big day to create her ideal look. If you’re wanting to hire them for your big day, Flow charges between $75 and $110 for each bridal party member. For brides wanting to walk down the aisle with a bit of retro flair or perhaps something more edgy, Flow’s stylists are highly trained for many looks and styles, whatever your bridal preference may be. Read real brides’ reviews here!

Need more hair inspiration for your big day? Check out our Local Vendors page!

This is it… The final countdown to your big day. And along with settling those last few details — figuring out where to seat your eccentric Uncle Carl, firming up the flowers — you’re likely also making one last push to make sure the body that will be wearing that gorgeous white gown looks as good as it possibly can. You and nearly every other woman with an engagement ring on her finger. In fact, research shows that an overwhelming 91 percent of brides-to-be are anxious about their weight. But from here on out, you won’t have to be!

Whether you want to drop those last few pounds or look more toned — or both — we’ve got a month’s worth of daily tips (none of which require starving yourself or working out nonstop!) that will help you feel stunning and confident when you walk down that aisle. You know where to send the thank-you card. Let’s get started!

Day 26: Add Some Fun (And Effective!) Toning Moves To Your Routine

If your strength workout is beginning to feel a little ho-hum, make it interesting again by subbing in these three moves: Bear Crawls, Lateral Crawls, and Crab Walks (how-to’s follow).

See More: 4 Reasons You Shouldn’t Crash Diet Before Your Wedding

“The combination of these exercises gives you a metabolic boost and hits just about every muscle in your body,” says exercise physiologist Neal Pire, a spokesperson for the American College of Sports Medicine. Get to it, girl.

Bear Crawls: Get down on all fours, hover knees just above the floor and crawl forward on your hands and feet, keeping your body as low to the ground as possible. Try two sets of 20.

Lateral Crawls: Get down on all fours, hover knees just above the floor and walk right hand and foot out to the side, followed by your left hand and foot. Do 10 lateral walks to the right, then switch directions and do 10 reps to the left. Do two sets.

Crab Walks: Sit on the floor with your knees bent and feet flat; place your hands behind you, fingertips facing your butt. Lift hips off the floor and walk your hands and feet, moving backward for 10 reps (keep hips up high as you “walk”), then do 10 moving forward. Do two sets.

Just getting started on our 30 Day Wedding Shape-Up? Kick off your journey from Day One, here.

When it comes to wedding d&#233cor, what’s hot and what’s not is an ever-revolving door. Some trends turn into timeless staples and others can seem totally outdated by the time your wedding date rolls around. We have a feeling the below prints and patterns are not only about to take the wedding world by storm, but will stick around for several seasons to come.

1. Classics With a Twist
Bye-bye blush! Say hello to a more subdued color palette with white, neutral and monochromatic tones-on-neutral tones (traditional) paired with richer darker tones (the twist), says Hopkins. “The trend is heading towards a classic and timeless affair with traditional d&#233cor at the forefront, while at the same time remaining current through the use of subtle touches.” Tone-on-tone alone will also be big, tell wedding and event planners Natasha Burton and Jennifer Arreguin, co-founders of Swoon California. “This is great for people who just want to choose one wedding color, as it can look more sophisticated than two or three different hues.”

2. A New Take on Lace
Think more Downtown Abbey wedding as opposed to rustic style, recommends interior designer Anna Kohler, founder of My Chic Nest. “Stepping away from overly delicate lace, bold textural options exude sophisticated drama reminiscent of brocades seen in decades past.” Matthew David Hopkins, Creative Director of Matthew David Celebrations, agrees. “Lace is having it’s comeback in modern wedding dresses and additionally, in the wedding event itself.” Soon to be trending, according to him, is the incorporation of the lace pattern as seen on the bride’s gown into aspects of the event. An example is of the wedding cake. “The pattern on the lace is replicated into one tier, or more, that ties the bride’s pattern on the gown into the wedding.” We also love this new take on lace for table linens to add a ton of texture.

See More: Chic Alternatives to Traditional Bridesmaid Bouquets

3. 80’s Inspired Prints
One trend wedding planner Leah Weinberg, owner of Color Pop Events, has been seeing pop up in party d&#233cor is a resurgence of ’80s inspired prints (picture Saved By The Bell style) that are very graphic and very colorful. “Couples who want a fun and playful look for their weddings are going to gravitate toward bold prints and patterns like these.”

4. Flower Power
Floral prints are back and in a big way. And what better place to incorporate some extra flower power than at your wedding? Expect to see fun floral printed designs (on the table linens particularly) in the future, notes Kohler. “It’s soft, unexpected and playful, while also being dramatic.” Perfect for the bride and groom that can’t get enough of color.

Sometimes, the best part of a bridal shower is what you take home with you — and we’re not talking about the bride! With these adorable, edible, and even plant-able favors, your shower guests will be happy campers walking out that door. No matter your budget or theme, there’s a unique bridal shower favor for your party.

S’Mores in a Jar
They can take dessert on the road with this favor. Layers of gooey marshmallow, sweet graham cracker, and melted chocolate make for the ultimate snack in a jar. (“Classic Devotion” seven layer S’mores jar, $9.99, Viveltre)

Garden in a Can
Got a bride with a green thumb? Help her guests match her gardening prowess with these easy-to-grow herbs in a can. Just pop the lid, water, and watch the magic happen. And since each guest gets a different herb, you can throw a garden swap party next! (Garden in a can, $24 for 4, UncommonGoods)

Edible Geodes
These candy treats are almost too pretty to eat — we said almost. With layers of bittersweet and white chocolates, vanilla bean icing, a hint of raspberry, and rock candy crystals, they’re just too sweet to resist! (Rock candy geodes, $48 for 4, The Groovy Baker)

Floral Bottle Stoppers
If your bride is having a vineyard wedding — or just loves wine! — get guests ready with these stunning petal-topped wine stoppers. Bonus points if you hand them out with a take-home bottle of wine. (Wine bottle stoppers, starting at $25 for 10, Kara’s Vineyard Wedding)

Scented Soaps
Celebrate the Mr. and Mrs. with some hugs and kisses. This x’s and o’s soap set will go a long way in bringing some love to the homes of your shower guests. (“Hugs & Kisses From Mr. and Mrs.” scented soaps, starting at $2 each, Kate Aspen)

Wine Tumbler
A to-go wine glass is the perfect favor for a girlfriends-only shower. Better yet, if the shower comes before the bachelorette party, guests going to both can double dip and take this glass to the next party! (Gold glitter wine tumbler, $12.95, Paper Source)

See More: 10 Bridal Shower Invitations We’d Totally RSVP ‘Yes’ To

Personalized Ring Dish
Chances are, the bride’s not the only one with some bling on her finger. Every guest has at least one piece of jewelry they want to keep safe, so hand out these monogrammed ring dishes as a take home gift. (Monogrammed garland ring dish, $10, Karen Guethlein available Anthropologie)

Succulent Vases
Not only will guests love these colorful and fun plants, the wooden box vases will help show them off in their own homes! And guests without a green thumb don’t have to worry because succulents are easy to care for. (Wooden planter succulents, $3 each, 5 Star Succulents)

Go Nuts!
Hand-stamped containers reading “Love is Sweet and a Little Nuts” are cute enough, but stuff them with gourmet toffee-covered mixed nuts and you have a treat your guests won’t be able to resist! (Boxed nuts, $60 for 20, Apropos Roasters)

Funny Tea Towels
Throwing a kitchen shower, brunch, or cooking class shower? Consider giving each of your guests a tea towel from a fun, personalized set. They’ll love adding these witty towels to their kitchen. (Tea towels, $12, Core Kitchen available at West Elm)

Full of Beans
A java-loving bride will love this partially-DIY favor. Take “The Perfect Blend” canvas bags (an ode to the happy couple) and fill them with fresh coffee beans or tea leaves. Remind guests to indulge in a little caffeine before the big day so they can party all night long! (“The Perfect Blend” burlap bags, $11.99 for 12, Kate Aspen available at Bed Bath and Beyond)

Gourmet Lollipops
As if sparkling hearts weren’t cute enough, these lollipops come in fun cocktail flavors like Piña Colada, Champagne, and Mojito. Pass them out to guests at the end of the party for a sweet finish. (“Frosé” wine lollipops, $24 for 12, Sweetniks)

Nailing a workout requires a lot of energy — energy that you can easily get from a delicious pre-workout snack. When it comes to choosing the right kind of grub, you need to know which nutrients will most efficiently help you get through your sweat sesh. Look for something with complex carbohydrates, which will give you that much-needed energy, and something with a bit of protein to keep you satiated until you’re finished. Avoid eating foods with too much fiber and fat, as those lead to an upset stomach.

If you’re in need of some tasty snack inspiration, we’ve rounded up 11 different options that registered dietitians and nutritionists adore. They’ve got all those nutrients that you need, and they taste pretty stellar to boot.

1. Sweet potatoes with Greek yogurt and cinnamon
“This snack is great when you’re in the mood for something satisfying and sweet. I’ll use one small peeled and cooked sweet potato and top it with 1/2 cup Greek vanilla yogurt, and dash of cinnamon. Be sure to peel the sweet potato to lessen the fiber content.” —Lindsey Pine, M.S., R.D., owner of Tasty Balance Nutrition

2. Medjool dates
“This is my all time favorite pre-run snack. About 30 minutes to an hour before my workout, I’ll nosh on two pitted dates. This will give me sustained energy throughout my run, and they taste like candy. Talk about some extra incentive to lace up my running shoes!” —Shannon Garcia, M.D.S., R.D. with KISS in the Kitchen

3. A veggie omelet with toast
“If you like to workout in the morning, go ahead and eat your breakfast first. Eggs make a great pre-workout snack because they’re a light meal that is also high in protein. Adding any type of veggie that you like is a great way to get complex carbohydrates and any necessary vitamins and minerals. Just be careful not to add too much cheese, because that will make it a bit harder to digest. Pair this omelet with a slice or two of your favorite whole grain toast for some extra complex carbohydrates. Just be sure your toast isn’t straight white bread, which will digest very quickly and provide you with less energy for your workout.” — Emily Cope-Kyle, M.S., R.D., owner and consulting dietitian at EmilyKyleNutrition.com

4. A banana with peanut butter
“The best pre-workout snack consists of mostly carbohydrates and a little protein. And it should be low in fiber and fat. This will ensure that the food digests quickly, which will give you energy for your workout without causing any stomach cramps or nausea. One of my personal favorites is a banana with a tablespoon of peanut butter.” — Alissa Rumsey, M.S., R.D., spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

5. Overnight oats
“Oats provide carbs for energy and yogurt is a good combination of fat and protein. I’ll combine 1 cup of Greek yogurt with 1/2 cup of oats, 1 tablespoons of maple syrup, and a dash of vanilla extract and cinnamon. Then I refrigerate them overnight and top them with fruit and nuts.” — Brittany Kohn, M.S., R.D.

See More: Registered Dietitians Reveal The High-Protein Dinners They Eat Regularly

6. Carrots and hummus
“When it comes to choosing the best pre-workout snack, I look for a combo that provides simple, unrefined carbohydrates (for quick fuel) and a small amount of protein, fiber or fat for extra staying power to carry you through the entire workout. I also opt for simple, easy-to-digest snacks, steering clear of anything that’s too acidic, spicy or high in fat to avoid stomach upset during a workout. Carrots provide simple carbs for fast fuel and the hummus boasts fiber to tide you over until after your workout.” — Kara Lydon, R.D., L.D.N., R.Y.T., author of Nourish Your Namaste and The Foodie Dietitian Blog

7. Strawberries and flax meal
“I like 1 cup of sliced strawberries topped with 2 tablespoons of ground flax meal. This combo is super satiating (thanks to all the fiber) and easy to digest which gives me a quick energy boost. Turn this into a great post-workout snack too by adding 2 tablespoons of plain Greek yogurt — that added protein will aid muscle recovery.” — Brigitte Zeitlin, M.P.H., R.D., C.D.N., founder of the New York-based BZ Nutrition

8. Coffee
“A little caffeine buzz can actually help energize your workout by improving circulation, which means that it will send more oxygen to your muscles, and add a little pep to your step. The key is to drink coffee with a light snack, like a piece of whole wheat toast with almond butter. Or you could try blending up 4 ounces of black coffee or espresso with 1 cup of almond milk, a banana, 1 tablespoon of peanut butter, and 1/4 cup of uncooked rolled oats. Avoid drinking coffee on an empty stomach before a workout to prevent possible gastrointestinal distress. And definitely forgo the sugary coffee drinks.” — Dianna Sinni, R.D., L.D., wellness dietitian and blogger at Chard in Charge

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9. Grapes and cheddar cheese
“Sometimes you need to figure out what works best for you. This is not a “traditional” snack before a workout, but I love it. It provides quick energy and it digests well: 1 cup of grapes plus 1/2 ounce of grass-fed Cheddar cheese provides 160 calories, 28 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, and almost 5 grams of protein. (Hint: Cheese made from 100% grass-fed organic cows provides better-for-you fats and a boost of beta carotene.) Try it!” — Jackie Newgent, R.D., culinary nutritionist and author of The All-Natural Diabetes Cookbook

10. Popsicles and protein
“As hot as it has been lately, I love indulging in a one-ingredient popsicle (just 100 percent frozen juice) along with a LUNA protein bar. My current favorite juice to use is 100 percent pomegranate juice, because it is a good source of potassium, which is an important electrolyte for fluid balance. It’s a little sweet and tart without any added sugar or artificial ingredients.” — Sarah-Jane Bedwell, R.D., L.D.N., host of Cooking with Sarah-Jane

11. A banana milkshake
“Because this snack is blended, it’s easier to digest. I like to blend half a banana with 1 cup low-fat milk, along with a dash of cinnamon. The drink provides both the carbs and protein needed to help fuel my workout. This combo is moderate in fat and fiber, so it doesn’t sit heavy in my tummy.” — Amy Gorin, M.S., R.D., owner of Amy Gorin Nutrition

Quotes have been edited for clarity.

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This article originally appeared on SELF.