Wedding Weight Woes

Even though it's already August, it seems that wedding season is far from over, and that's fine with us. We love weddings - the beautiful brides, the symbols, the customs, and the parties. Most importantly, we love the fact that in our high-tech, tabloid-filled world, weddings show that there is still room for commitments of love, ceremonies, traditions, cake, and for blushing brides to put deep thought into something old, new, borrowed and blue.

What we think many brides put too much thought into, however, is their weight. The bridal industry is ever growing, and is placing more and more importance on all things physical. Of course we understand that all brides want to feel extra beautiful on their wedding day, and we encourage women to take care of themselves in the months leading up to their weddings. But custom wedding workouts, personal training sessions, Botox treatments and tummy tucks are now becoming the norm, and we think this is ridiculous. It is so common for brides to lose weight before their weddings that now it has become a foregone conclusion. Some bridal stores even insist that brides order their gowns in a size that's too small for them when they buy it. Then the bride feels even more pressure to lose weight, having spent thousands of dollars on a dress that she knows will otherwise be too small. As a result, so many brides end up showing up at their weddings looking like a completely different person, and that should not be anyone's goal. Your guests want to see you at the altar looking glowing and happy, not starved into a smaller dress size or red-faced from a fresh chemical peel.

The same thing goes for the groom. Many men become workout fiends and calorie counters when they get engaged, but the months you spend engaged should be months of celebration and joy, not torture and malnourishment. Our friends at GroomGroove.com asked us to help them give advice to grooms who are either looking to drop pounds themselves or hoping that their brides will lose weight before the wedding. Well, our advice is the same as always: Eat real food, indulge in moderation, and stay active. For more specifics, you can read the article at here. But for now, what we really want all grooms and brides to remember is to live a healthy, fun, active life together celebrating your engagement without the constant stress of trying to be smaller, tighter, better, or different in any way. Brides, he loves you already! You do not need to shrink considerably for him to marry you. Grooms, it's fine if you want to trim up before getting fitted for your tux. But don't go too far, insecurely sip Michelob Ultra at your bachelor party, or give your future wife a lecture about M&M's. Don't count calories at your engagement party or miss dinner with your fiancé to spend an extra hour at the gym. The only thing you should be fixated on right now is your passion for each other. Spend more time together under the sheets, and we promise that you'll feel hotter and happier on your wedding day than you would if you ate nothing but boiled chicken for a year.

Comments

[unclesmedley]

I was all set to belittle this article as a tuft of fluffy foolishness--but, au contraire... It's nice to see a "lifestyle" piece that actually makes a useful point. Some of these brides look dreadful--like chemotherapy patients with suntans. And more to the point, they seem unhappy.

[InformedSources]

My fiance is starving herself silly. She says she wants to have a body like Cerina Vincent's for the honeymoon. She has a pic from Cerina's web site pasted on the fridge to keep her on track -- you know the one I mean. Any bright ideas to halt this crazed obsession? Help!

[cyranorox]

More time under the sheets? Are you not aware that many couples are chaste? That many can and do mutually offer their virginities? Forget the right-wing idiots who have adopted this idea. This is the ideal of the ancient Church.

I am not saying that you need to endorse it, but I am saying that you ought not to present the unchaste position as a given.

[InformedSources]

Not sure the Hot Chicks are seeking to embody the ideals of the ancient Church. Maybe Father John Bakas would be more receptive to your criticism. Just sayin'.

[unclesmedley]

Hocus, pocus, dominocus... The "ancient church" used to torture people. Those sure were the days.

[winnie1]

I also found that line in the article offensive. I understand many are not chaste, but many are, including readers who otherwise would benefit from this article. While you don't need to endorse my position, you also don't need to endorse the opposite, or assume that no one is chaste before marriage.

[rini]

The wedding is supposed to be a celebration of your plans for the rest of your life. If you diet you are giving yourself metabolic and psychological issues that will haunt you for years. Concentrate on enjoying your life and a healthier lifestyle. Celebrate your life. Don't punish yourself. You'll gain the weight back anyway.

Do you want to see yourself in your wedding pictures and think "I'll never be that size again." Or do you want to see yourself happy and enjoy the rest off your life gradually getting healthier and thinner?

[dennyd]

it is nuts to do this-- starving yourself to 'look good' for the special day-- then all hell breaks loose afterwards and the pounds (and more) come rolling back-- weight loss/management is about sensible eating in sensible portions and moderate consistent exercise.. THAT is the magic.. there is absolutely no other way to do it in a sustainable, healthy way--