If there’s one thing every bride has in common, it’s wanting to look and feel beautiful on her wedding day. For a lot of brides, this includes getting in shape.

For some, it means losing 10 pounds. For others, it means toning those arms and shoulders to show off in a strapless gown. And for others, it’s all about starting married life in a state of better health. (Or it’s mostly about that, and only a little bit about wanting to inspire jealousy in one or two of the wedding guests. Hey, you can admit it. I’m the photographer, and when I know these things, I can light them accordingly.)

Whatever your reason, it’s valid. The key is in developing a program that leads to success and energizes you for your wedding. Here are a few tips I’ve picked up over the years:

Get Real

That sounded more motivating in my head. I guess there’s a reason I’m a photographer and not a personal trainer.

Anyway, what I mean is, keep your fitness goals realistic in terms of how much time you have to prepare. It’s tempting to jump in to an intense routine, especially if the wedding is only a few weeks away. However, by doing that, you put yourself at risk for injury and burn-out, because two hours a day at the gym isn’t really a sustainable program for most of us. (Plus, you could end up really sore, which will affect the wedding photos if you can’t lift your arms.)

The CDC says safe, sustainable weight loss is about one or two pounds per week.

Hire a Trainer

A fitness pro will help you make the most of your time, whether that’s an hour a day for a year or 30 minutes a day for three weeks. He or she will help you design a program that is effective and sustainable.

Don’t get lulled into the “I have a year, I have plenty of time” false security net. You do have plenty of time for some serious transformation, but only if you use it.

Likewise, don’t think, “Ugh, I put it off and now I only have a month and it’s not even worth it.” It is! You can make changes that you’ll feel and that other people will see in as little as a few weeks, but do yourself a favor and take out the guesswork. Hire someone who knows what’s realistic and how to help you get there.

Do It Together

If you and your groom set fitness goals together, it gives you an opportunity for some quality time, and it can help you both stick to the workout program.

Make Meal Planning a Part of Wedding Planning

Not only will this help you achieve your fitness goals, it’s going to give you the shiny hair and glowing skin that you want to show up in your wedding photos, as well as the energy to power through months of wedding planning and the big day itself.

As the wedding approaches, you might have some nervousness that impacts your eating habits. You might get so busy that you start relying on fast-food meals and quick snacks. Resist! Your energy will crash and you won’t feel as great.

Schedule meal planning into the entire wedding planning process. Make time for shopping and meal prep so you can continue to eat well in the days leading up the event.

Bonus tip: keep eating. Drastically cutting calories is not healthy, could actually halt your weight loss, and will steal your energy.

Think Healthy

You already know that fad diets might help you drop weight quickly, but there’s a good chance you’ll regain it. So what’s the point? Think of the entire process as a healthy lifestyle change that will leave you looking your best for your wedding and for years to come.

Take a Deep Breath

And I don’t mean in yoga, although that might be a great addition to your program.

You’re going to look amazing, no matter what happens between now and your wedding day. I’ve never photographed an unattractive bride. The Unattractive Bride is like the Loch Ness Monster or the Bad Chocolate Chip Cookie: they don’t exist.

Besides, the wedding is one day, and it’s the gateway to your new life as a married couple. It’s a great big party leading to the ultimate adventure, and that’s what’s important. So your dress is a size larger than you’d hoped, or you bare those un-toned shoulders proudly. No one’s noticing. They only see love, and that makes everything look perfectly beautiful.