Reading your vows during your wedding ceremony will be one of the most intimate and possibly even scariest moments of your life. It’s a time when you’re standing in front of the person you love, committing your plan to spend forever with them — in front of all of your closest friends and family members. It’s a moment of laughs, tears, and an urgent request to find tissues so that your mascara doesn’t run and stain your veil. So when you’re sitting down to figure out what you want to say, here are six things to know before you write your wedding vows.

1. You don’t have to make them perfect.
Don’t bog yourself down with a desire to make your vows sound absolutely perfect. You may run out of words, ideas, and time. Instead, focus on getting a draft done and then revise that draft until your wedding day arrives.

2. You can add in humor.
Your vows don’t have to be all mushy, all the time. You can add bits of humor throughout to get your guests laughing.

3. Your vows don’t have to be very long.
Try to keep your vows under two minutes. That’s the perfect amount of time to keep your guests’ attention and also a long enough time to say what you want to say — without rambling or repeating yourself. Keep it as concise as possible.

4. Start writing as early as possible.
The sooner you start, the more time you’ll have to brainstorm what you’d like to say. If you wait for the night before your wedding, you may be suffocated by nerves that you can’t seem to string together a sentence.

5. Try writing them as a letter.
If you’re having trouble starting, try opening up a card or take a piece of paper and write your vows down as if you were writing them as a letter to the person you’re marrying.

6. Pick your words wisely.
It’s always best to skip the clichés and instead use specific details that define your relationship with the person you’re marrying. That way, it will feel very personalized and geared towards showcasing your true passion, commitment, and connection.

See More: 64 Perfect First Dance Songs

Jen Glantz is a “Professional Bridesmaid” and the founder of Bridesmaid for Hire. She’s the author of All My Friends Are Engaged and frequently wears old bridesmaid dresses to the grocery store and on first dates.

If you’re a dancing pro like Dancing with the Stars‘ Kym Johnson, donning a second wedding dress that allows you to really bust a move during your reception is obviously a must. With all the dancing Johnson and her now-husband, Shark Tank‘s Robert Herjavec, did at their California wedding last weekend — they had two “first” dances! — the bride knew she’d have to trade in her big ball gown for something a little more pirouette-friendly. And the unique, sultry frock (see photo below) Johnson chose scored perfect 10 from us!

After a short, five-month engagement, Johnson and Herjavec — who first took to the ballroom together last year as DWTS partners! — hit the dance floor yet again, after tying the knot last Sunday at the Fours Seasons in Beverly Hills, California. For her walk down the aisle, the dancing pro stunned in a strapless Monique Lhuillier ballgown, free of any sparkly embellishment for a look that was clean and classic, but made modern with voluminous tiered skirt. Beyond beautiful yes, but that big ballgown skirt was not exactly conducive for dancing the night away at their star-studded reception. So like the pro she is, Johnson did a quick costume change into a second wedding dress for her post-“I do’s” party that was every bit as gorgeous as her first — but a whole lot more daring!

For her reception, the Australian dancer slipped into a custom ensemble featuring a cropped lace bodice with a down-to-there V-neckline, and a sheer tulle skirt. “The costume department made it for me,” Johnson explained to People magazine. “I put it on for the dancing!” And it’s a good thing she did, considering all the grooving this bride and groom did!

The newlyweds actually performed not one, but two first dances for their guests. According to Us Weekly, their first first dance was to Etta James’ “At Last,” with the couple doing a classic waltz to the ultra-romantic number. Then, the pair’s bridal party also hit the dance floor to join the couple in a group dance to LunchMoney Lewis’ “Bills” — a song that’s particularly special to the newlyweds. The 2015 hit was actually the first song Herjavec and Johnson ever danced together back during their DWTS days.

Two first dances and two wedding dresses?! We’re seriously jealous of this ultra-lucky bride!

A photo posted by People Magazine (@people) on Aug 5, 2016 at 9:18am PDT

See More: Memorable Vows from the Best TV and Movie Weddings

While all eyes are certain to be on you as you make your way down the aisle on your big dal, the special little girl in your life has big shoes to fill, too. She will also never forget having a part in your big day, and it’s important to make her feel as special and beautiful as you hope she does. Finding the right dress for your little love can be one of the most fun tasks of wedding planning, so grab her little hand and shop until you both drop at our favorite NJ children’s boutiques for flower girl dresses.

Dress 2 Impress (Linwood)
Whether you’re looking for a mini-ball gown or a sleek and refined silhouette for your flower girl, Dress to Impress boasts a slew of styles — perfect for the cutest little member of your bridal party. Designer Jessica Lynn has over 150 styles of dresses to choose from to ensure your flower girl and/or junior bridesmaids look and feel like the little princesses they are. Read real brides’ reviews here!

Ragamuffins (Cherry Hill)
Ragamuffin’s children’s boutique has been helping families dress their kids for all of life’s special occasions for over 25 years. With an impressive collection of Joan Calabrese flower girl dresses available, whether you’re looking for lace, embellishments, a hint of color or a traditional gown you’ll be able to dress your mini-me in the perfect dress for her while creating meaningful memories together that will last a lifetime.

Nene’s Lullaby Boutique (Turnersville)
Looking to knock off two to-do list tasks — finding the oufits for both your flower girl AND ring bearer? You can do so at the adorable Nene’s Lullaby Boutique in Turnersville, New Jersey. With a broad selection of boys formalwear and suits and flower girl dresses by designers including Christie Helene, Sweetie Collection, and Macis Designs, Nene’s specializes in upscale children’s apparel. Dressing little ones for their special occasions for 20 years, Nene’s offers heirloom quality items to be cherished long after the big day.

See More: Get a Sweet Treat Your Flower Girl (and the Rest of Your Guests!) Will Love at These New Jersey Wedding Bakeries

Jefre Bridals (Greenbrook)
Aside from being a one-stop shop for brides-to-be and their own ensembles for the big day, Jefre Bridals also offers an extensive selection of flower girl ensembles. Whether you’re looking for traditional, modern, or trendy styles the consultants at Jefre can help you find the dress you dream of in the fabric, texture, and color you’re looking for. With designers including Rosebud and US Angels, this boutique can also get any dress you desire, from any manufacturer — just ask! Read real brides’ reviews here!

Angel’s Gowns (Red Bank)
Flower girl dresses, handbags, baskets and headwear are all available at Angel’s Gowns in Red Bank. Specialty children’s clothing items is Angel’s specialty, and this boutique can outfit the tiniest of toddlers through older children’s sizing as well. With designers including Joan Calabrese and Sweetie Pie, you can be sure to find a flower girl dress to please any vision you may have had for the littlest bridal party member on your big day.

Dress the rest of your bridal party in fabulous frocks from these other New Jersey bridal boutiques!

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, deciding on your first dance song — 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 7: Shift to Single Muscle Strength Moves

During the last 2 to 3 weeks before your wedding, Pete McCall — an exercise physiologist and personal trainer in San Diego — recommends doing toning moves that isolate a specific muscle, like your biceps, or hamstrings.

“I love multi-muscle exercises, because they work more of your body at once and burn more calories, but the load is spread over all those different areas. By focusing on things like weighted hamstring curls, triceps kickbacks, shoulder presses and squats you’ll be putting all the work into that one muscle group. And if you’re working on appearance, stressing a single muscle will get definition much more quickly.”

See More: This Is What Happens To Your Body When You Take A Break From Working Out

It might take a little longer to get through your toning routine, but the results will be worth it.

It’s the final countdown until Kevin Hart’s wedding to his fiancé Eniko Parrish. The pair is set to wed on Monday, which means by now the wedding plans are in place, the guests are on their way, and it’s time for the bachelor and bachelorette parties to paint the town. So how’s the big day shaping up for the hilarious comedian and his bride-to-be? Well, Hart just spilled about his wedding details — and why The Rock is banned from planning his bachelor party!

“That’s right, ladies. I got to put this chocolate in the freezer!” Hart joked about his off-the-market status to Entertainment Tonight. “That’s right, it’s over. So if you wanted a piece, you better take that and put it in your pocket because you can’t get it, because it’s happening August eighth. That’s right.” Think this groom will be doing a stand-up set at the reception?

The nupitals are set to take place in Santa Barbara, California in front of two hundred wedding guests. Hart’s eight-year-old son snagged the role as best man, while the bride is pulling double duty as wedding planner. “To be honest with you, I don’t know what the hell is going on,” Hart said. “I told her to do what you want to do and just come back to me with the finished product.” Spoken like a true groom! But his bride-to-be sounds perfectly content playing planner. “He just wants me to be happy, and it will be both of our day,” Parrish explained.

But before the “I do’s” comes the bachelor party! But while the groom’s BFFs typically plan the bash, Hart has banned his Central Intelligence co-star, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, from handling the details. “I can’t throw him a bachelor party!” Johnson divulged. “A bachelor party full of protein shakes and dumb bells?” joked the groom.

Well, maybe protein shakes come spiked? Sound like a party to us!

See More: Memorable Vows from the Best TV and Movie Weddings

According to the traditions of anniversary gifting, your first wedding gift to your other half is supposed to be something made of paper. So if you’re having trouble looking for an interesting, thoughtful gift to ring in your first beautiful year together, look no further, because we’ve got just the paper present — from the heartfelt and home made to the creative and splurge worthy. Happy Anniversary!

1. Your vows
As a couple, your vows are the most meaningful words you have ever said to one another, which makes them the perfect present for your one year anniversary. We suggest getting in touch with the calligrapher you used for your wedding to have them professionally write them out for you on a high quality piece of paper in fancy handwriting. Or keep it simple and write it in your own hand. Either way, you’re bound to see a tear or two from your significant other, which is basically the goal of this present anyway, right?

2. Silver framed pictured
Ok, so a silver frame isn’t paper, but the picture inside is and that definitely counts. Locate an old photo of when you first met or a picture from one of your couple milestones to throw it back to old times. Pick the perfect frame for it to go in and you’re good to go. Having a photo that isn’t on Instagram or Facebook of the two of you is something you’ll treasure in your home for all the anniversaries to come.

3. Early edition book
You know your significant other like no one else does in the world. That means, you also know who their favorite author is and the books that thrill them and open their minds or the stories they’ve cherished since childhood and become a part of them. Show your partner you know their heart by tracking down a first or second edition copy of their favorite book on Ebay or via a private bookseller and you’ll win at first year anniversary presents.

4. Stationery
We tell our loves we love them via texts, Facebook messages, and phone calls, but we don’t really write a good old-fashioned love letter anymore. Change that by gifting a beautiful stationery set personalized to your other half for your one-year anniversary. Throw in a fancy pen and a letter to them of your own and you’ve got all the makings of the best pen pal.

5. Concert tickets
As a couple, you have songs that mean something to you and remind you of different times and moments in your relationship. Go paper by buying a set of concert tickets to the band that plays your song, or a band that you both enjoy together, and turn the “paper” present into another invaluable memory.

6. Plane tickets
Alright, so maybe this is kind of cheating, but if you print out the tickets, that totally counts as paper! Whether you want to plan a quick weekend getaway to one of your favorite locations or go for a full on second honeymoon, it’s never too early to celebrate being together for one year by being away.

See More: 10 Genius Ideas for Your First (Paper) Anniversary Present

Flowers and weddings go hand-in-hand, from bouquets and boutonnieres to centerpieces and cake decorations. But all those blooms can really add up, and the thought of throwing them away when the party is over can be pretty heartbreaking. Instead of putting those flowers in the trash, can your wedding guests take them home as a sweetly-scented souvenir? Our experts weigh in.

Finding something to do with your flowers at the end of the night is a great idea, whether it’s donating them to a local senior center or sending them home with your guests. There are, however, a few things you need to keep in mind.

The first is your vases. Chances are you’ve rented these from your florist, which means unless you want to pay retail price for each and every vessel, you should make sure your guests take the flowers and nothing else. A lot of larger vessels are actually holding flowers tucked into floral foam and sitting in plastic dishes, so that makes removing the flowers easier while allowing guests to leave the vases behind. For smaller centerpieces that are simply arranged in water, consider stocking up on cheap glass or plastic vases, then transferring the flowers out of your florist’s vases and into the ones you’ve purchased so guests can take them home. A dozen $3-$5 glass vases will be much less expensive than the artistic or special-ordered versions your florist is renting to you (which could run $20 a pop or more).

The second is how guests will transport the flowers home. Sure, they could simply tuck the flowers between their feet in the car, but having cardboard boxes and paper towels or newspaper will make it a little easier. Place the vase in the box, surround it with crumpled up paper for cushion, and the flowers will be much more secure in transport.

And of course, you have to get the word out! As the lights come on at the end of the night, ask your planner or catering manager to let guests know that the flowers are available to take home. Make sure they’re equipped with extra vases, and ask them to keep an eye on the ones you’ve rented from your florist to make sure none of his or her vessels walk out the door!

See more: 9 Wedding Items to Bring to Your Post-Wedding Brunch

If you’re a bride-to-be, we have a feeling your weekend looks a little something like this: Eat, sleep, plan a wedding, and repeat. With two free days to devote entirely towards wedding planning, you might be in need of a little inspiration. Enter our real wedding video channel, packed with sweet love stories and idea-packed celebrations. Each week we take a deep dive into one of our favorite new parties, and today we’re giving you the inside scoop on Cristina and Ryan’s romantic Philadelphia wedding.

Is rain on your wedding day your biggest fear? This beautiful party, which was captured by Florescio Films, will put those worries to rest. Despite less than perfect wedding weather, Cristina and Ryan’s wedding at Stone House went off without a hitch — and looked beautiful, to boot. Rainy skies simply meant guests would have one extra accessory: Umbrellas!

See More: 25 Wedding Bouquets Full of Fresh and Fragrant Herbs

Despite the stormy weather, nothing could put a damper on this couple’s good mood. They met for their first look on a covered porch, meaning they could stay dry while still having the natural surroundings as their backdrop. The darker lighting also lent a romantic vibe to their ceremony, thanks in large part to floor-to-ceiling windows behind the altar.

You would have no idea that it was raining during this couple’s dinner reception and dance party. Guests danced the night away without giving a second thought to the weather outside.

When wedding planning, it’s only natural to want to peruse Pinterest for all of the latest trends and wedding décor ideas. But if you’re like some brides, this Pinterest addiction can get out of hand — sucking up all your time and taking you away from the wedding tasks that need to get done. Here, therapist Allison Moir-Smith shares how she helped a client with a Pinterest addiction as well as what to do when you realize you have a serious pinning problem.

“Hi, I’m a bride-to-be, and I’m a Pinterest addict.” That’s how one bride introduced herself to me. Jokingly. But also kind of not joking.

She’d been engaged for four months, and at the very beginning, her behavior was completely normal by today’s terms: she went straight to Pinterest. She created boards galore for every possible wedding she could have: City chic, country quaint, vintage, modern, destination — the list goes on! At this stage of her engagement, the world was her wedding oyster, and she had the spectrum of Pinterest boards to prove it.

But she got a bit weirded out when large chunks of times disappeared down the rabbit hole that is Pinterest. In her quest for her Holy Grail of centerpiece designs, she’d look up from her computer and 45 minutes had evaporated. And she still hadn’t pinned that perfectly rustic mason jar with precisely styled wildflowers, that impeccably matched her color scheme. “If I just click around enough and spend enough time,” she thought, “I absolutely will find my perfect centerpiece.” The big question is — did she really need to find her ideal centerpiece on Pinterest? Or could she go on using the information she had in her imagination? There comes a time in each bride’s Pinterest journey when you must shift from “everything is possible” to getting actual tasks done.

Making that transition requires you to know what you like, make final decisions, start executing your plans, and get off Pinterest — so you can get your wedding planned. Going cold turkey with Pinterest isn’t easy; it’s a wonderland of possibility and pretty things. But, the website can be a time suck and avoidance tactic as well.

So, if you find yourself still down the Pinterest rabbit hole when you really should be working on prototypes for your centerpieces, do this: Set a timer.

See More: The Flower Wedding Cakes We Absolutely Loved on Pinterest This Week

The bride who called herself a Pinterest addict did just that: she set the timer on her phone to 15 minutes per day, and she let herself click around to her heart’s content during that timeframe. And then she logged out and got to the work on her wedding that actually needed to be done.

If you’re a Pinterest-addict, the good news is that you don’t need to cut Pinterest out completely. For Pinterest, as with anything, can be consumed in moderation.

Allison Moir-Smith is a bridal counselor and author. She counsels newlyweds, too. Visit Emotionally Engaged for information.

Start practicing your officiant lines, Chris Harrison, and break out the rose bouquet because it sounds like Lauren Bushnell and Ben Higgins of Bachelor fame are getting closer and closer to tying the knot! The Season 20 couple recently spilled their upcoming wedding plans, how they’re enjoying their to-be-wed status, and, oh yeah, the double date they recently went on with The Bachelorette‘s <a href="http://www.brides.com/blogs/aisle-say/2016/08/bachelorette-finale-2016-jojo-fletcher-winner.html“>JoJo Fletcher and Jordan Rodgers. Awkward, much?

Double dates with your ex and their significant other? Only in Bachelor Nation! After Ben Higgins chose current fianc&eacut;e Lauren Bushnell and said goodbye to JoJo Fletcher during the Season 20 finale of The Bachelor — after saying “I love you” to both women, we might add! — Fletcher snagged the Bachelorette title and found love with her now-fiancé Jordan Rodgers on Monday’s season finale. And to celebrate, the foursome headed out on the town for a double date!

According to an eyewitness, the two engaged couples chatted over mimosas and sushi, with the brides-to-be comparing and complementing one another on their engagement bling. Reportedly, Higgins also told his ex how happy he is to see that she’s found love. “He said it was crazy that seven months ago he was ending a relationship with JoJo, and was genuinely concerned about her and that he is so happy that she found in Jordan what he has with Lauren,” the source shared with Entertainment Tonight. “JoJo kept saying over and over, ‘It’s so hard to explain the process of what we have gone through to find love.'” All’s well that ends well, right?

But it’s only the beginning for Bushnell and Higgins. Since announcing their engagement back in March — with a gorgeous Neil Lane engagement ring, of course — the couple has moved in together in Denver, Colorado, and the perfect pair is currently filming a new reality show, Ben and Lauren: Happily Ever After?. But don’t let that question mark fool you, as The Bachelor couple seems just as in love as ever. “It’s been really fun to kind of step out of the spotlight — the Bachelor world — and just really start our life together,” Bushnell recently told Entertainment Tonight. And that of course entails — drumroll, please… — wedding plans!

Can't wait to eat grilled cheese forever with this man. ????

A photo posted by Lauren Bushnell (@lauren_bushnell) on Mar 27, 2016 at 7:58am PDT

“We don’t have a date yet, but we have kind of started the initial phases,” said the blonde beauty. “We both kind of talked more about maybe a winter wedding… Hopefully cameras will catch it, and I think that’s something that’s really cool, because I know nothing about wedding planning. I wish I could’ve watched someone else plan!”

We’re here to help, Bushnell! Just give us a ring — and a rose!

See More: Memorable Vows from the Best TV and Movie Weddings