Why You Shouldn't Have to Lose Weight For Your Wedding
“Shedding for the wedding” – we’ve heard this term being used for years to motivate brides to lose weight to fit into their dream gown.
Well, real talk: there’s no such thing as one perfect bridal body size and there shouldn’t be.
Brides come in different shapes and sizes and shouldn’t be guilted into feeling they need to lose weight for their wedding day. But, the public perception has made it seem that brides and grooms alike don’t just need to lose weight for their wedding, they have to. There was even a reality television show that ran for a season in 2011 called “Shedding For The Wedding” that required engaged couples to compete to lose weight. Whether you’ve heard of the show or not, you’ve likely come across the phrase at some point in your life and maybe even felt the pressure of it. We’re not here to judge, any weight loss decisions are up to the bride, but it shouldn’t feel like it’s a requirement. Planning a wedding is stressful, but shopping for a gown and reaching a bridal confidence that makes you feel beautiful shouldn’t be. Here are a few reasons why you shouldn’t stress about losing weight before your wedding:
Dress Fittings Can Become A Nightmare
What is supposed to be a minor step in the wedding gown process will become a big priority. You’ll be dreading any dress fittings because they’ll either remind you of the weight goal you haven’t reached or have you overly criticizing your appearance, possibly even after you’ve reached a goal. Some brides even go as far as ordering their wedding dress one or more sizes too small to motivate them to reach their goal weight. This can lead to a higher alterations budget, twice the amount of fittings, and more stress, which can lead to you ending up with a wedding gown you don’t love.
Photography by Ria Mackenzie
Photography by Lynne Reznick
It Will Distort Your Image of Yourself
If you’re constantly thinking about the weight you feel you need to lose, you’ll start to develop a distorted image of yourself. When really what is most important is that you feel confident in your wedding gown, if you love the way you look in a dress then that’s the only “goal” you need to reach. For some brides, exercise might already be a part of your everyday lifestyle and that’s completely fine. The problem isn’t with exercising and living a healthy lifestyle, rather it’s with the pressure to lose an excessive amount of weight just to look “perfect” on your big day.
Create A Healthy Relationship with Food and Exercise
Rather than using exercise as a mechanism to lose weight, use it as a way to destress from wedding plans. Try out an exercise class with friends, take up a dance class as a fun way to be active, or if you want to take a week off, that’s okay too. A little R&R is the secret to making it through wedding planning with your vision intact and no headaches! But, most importantly throw away any crash diet plans or intense workout schedules. Not only will it create a stressful environment, but it can lead to health issues later on. Switching from an extremely low-calorie diet to your regular eating habits post-wedding can cause a rapid weight gain that is unhealthy for your body.
Photography by Emily Boudreau
Photography by Jess Sinatra & JNR Photography
Remember Who Loves You For You
At the end of the day, your wedding is supposed to be a celebration of you and your partner’s love. Your partner proposed to you because they love who you are as a person, not because they foresaw you reaching your goal weight pre-wedding. The same goes for your family and friends that attend your wedding, they aren’t a bunch of critics, they came to love and support you on one of the biggest days of your life. If you started your wedding planning journey not worrying about losing weight, don’t let any outside influences make you feel that it’s necessary – if you love your wedding gown and how you feel in it, your confidence will shine through.
LVB is supportive of all brides and promotes inclusivity because every bride deserves to feel beautiful on their big day. Share this with a bride who is feeling discouraged by their wedding journey. Looking for a wedding gown that is size-inclusive? Browse our collection of made-to-measure wedding gowns that are tailored to your unique measurements.
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