Wedding dress? Check. Venue? Check. Carefully-curated menu? Double check. Sounds like you have all the makings of an evening to remember. But as you prepare to say “I do,” you’re likely also wondering how to look your best on the day of. That might involve scheduling an appointment with your favorite derm and finally taking your skin-routine seriously, but we’re also here to make the case for using red light therapy before your wedding.

Any skin-care connoisseur knows red light therapy to be one of the most efficacious means to treating one’s complexion, both in office and at home. Per nurse practitioner Dr. Liliana Lopez, this non-invasive treatment uses specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light to stimulate cellular repair, increase collagen production, reduce inflammation, and enhance circulation. “In clinical and wellness settings alike, it’s valued for its ability to rejuvenate the skin, calm the nervous system, and support overall tissue healing,” she says. Specifically, this rejuvenation results in a host of skin benefits, from smoothing fine lines and wrinkles to diminishing the look of dark spots.

To reap these benefits, time is certainly of the essence. “In an ideal world, I would have people come in as early as a year before their wedding to create a plan—that way, we can discuss what you’d like to achieve and work together to ensure that you will have the best results on the day,” Boston-based board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ranella Hirsch previously told Vogue in our ultimate wedding skin prep guide. “While my general rule of thumb is the more time the better, six months is a decent amount of time for your dermatologist to get a grasp on your expectations and also see how your skin responds to the treatment.” That way, you can adequately plan out your treatment schedule. Double board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Prem Tripathi, you need six months to a year prior to a wedding to get the best results from a light therapy, and it needs to be used very consistently every single day. And fortunately, red light therapy mingles well with any other cosmetic procedures and treatments on your docket.

For example, you might consider chemical peels or microneedling three to four weeks before your wedding which, according to Tripathi, work wonders at removing dead skin, revealing healthier skin, building collagen, and improving the overall brightness of the skin. “You will see a much quicker result with those than with red light, [but] red light is a nice complement to help you heal from those treatments.” The beauty of light therapy, too, is that it requires no downtime and virtually no downsides. “Unlike more aggressive treatments, red light therapy is gentle, cumulative, and non-irritating,” Lopez says. “It doesn’t cause peeling, redness, or downtime, making it a great alternative, or complement, to facials and microneedling. I often pair [it] with other modalities to accelerate recovery and enhance overall glow without triggering inflammation.”