Pinterest is not in your wedding party. It is not your soon to be mother-in-law. You do not have to take its advice on your dress, decor, or food. Wedding blogs, magazines, and Buzzfeed articles do not dictate your schedule, traditions, colors, or any piece of your wedding day. You do. Use them like a good friend who has been married before; as inspirations, not dictations.

There are hundreds of forums, lists, and advertisements telling you that there are '8 must-haves for the perfect wedding' and '4 things that will ruin your reception'. Perfection doesn't have a formula-- it looks different for everyone. In the end, you and your partner should decide what your perfect wedding looks like. Sit down together away from the computer and make a list of things you feel are your personal must-haves before you open up magazines or Pinterest boards. Make it a date night with wine or pizza or whatever you love to do together. You need to weed out the crazy and decide what you want to surround you on the day of your wedding. If you love mason jar centerpieces, have them. If you want sparklers when you exit, have them. If you know that when you look through your wedding photos a decade from now and think 'I had the most beautiful ceremony', that's the most important thing. Don't feel obligated to follow trends OR tradition; do what feels comfortable, happy, and what feels like you. This is a day to celebrate the love and friendship that you have built with your partner. Eat the food you want, have the flowers they brought to your first date, and the beer from your brother's brewery.

Tell the internet to back off. Consult it when you need to, but don't use it as a road map or checklist. In 20 years, you'll want to look at your photographs and see your wedding for what it was: a fantastic celebration of who you and your partner are. Decide what holds the most meaning for your relationship, what makes you the most happy, and have fun!