This morning I read an excerpt from 'personal trainer to the stars and David Cameron' Matt Roberts' new book, 'I Will Make You Fit Fast' (nothing better than book titles that tell you EXACTLY what they're about, right?). In it he says that without question, the people he trains that see the best results are brides-to-be. Every time. The reason? It's because they have a tangible goal; according to Matt they're all spurred on by it being "the highest pressure moment they will experience in terms of looking their best...the dread of the photographs, the nightmare of the dress..." Despite the excessively cheery spin Matt puts on it, this could well be true. I'm going to two family weddings this year, and the brides are definitely very focused on looking good. And they do - in fact they probably do look better than ever (though both of them are naturally gorgeous anyway).
But I always feel slightly guilty when I read things like Matt Roberts' (or anyone else's, for that matter) sermon on bridal fitness and weight-loss, because it's all so accepted as the absolute truth for brides, and I didn't bother with any of that when I was getting married myself, six (eeek!) years ago. In fact I bucked the whole 'bridal trend' and actually put on a bit of weight! I ate a bit more than usual (stress does that to me unfortunately), I didn't get a spray-tan and I did my own make-up. I had no tangible 'goal' for how I looked as a bride. I didn't care about being "the best version of myself I could possibly be". I just wanted to be me, but in a wedding dress.
Is getting married really, truly the "highest pressure moment (brides) will experience in terms of looking their best"? Only if you make it, I would imagine. I can think of a fair few situations where people will judge you a lot more harshly for how you look than a loving group of your closest friends and family. Such as a job interview, or that horrible moment on holiday when you're out in public in your bikini for the first time. As for the "dread of the photographs", isn't the great thing about wedding pics the fact that you have so many of the bloody things taken on the day, there's the best chance ever that there'll be at least one you'll want to show off on the mantelpiece? Holiday pics are so much worse - for most normal people there's only going to be one picture of you in front of that gorgeous orange sunset and if you happen to be gurning, or have a hint of double chin, then that's it ruined.
But it appears I'm in the minority on all that, and I must admit that when I look back at my wedding pics I do sometimes catch myself wishing I hadn't chosen a dress and hairstyle that made me look like one of those knitted dollies grannies put over their toilet roll holders. I wasn't a 'Buff Bride' either, seeing as I weighed approximately a stone heavier on my wedding day than I do now. But in a way that's a positive thing, as I'll never be one of those brides who peer wistfully back at their pics and think "I'll never look that good again". In fact I'm pretty much thinking the exact opposite! So my advice to any prospective brides-to-be is, just be yourself and enjoy the day. And sod the photos.
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