You’ve reserved the date and the venue and set things into motion. Now that the countdown to the big day has begun, it finally starts to feel real: you’re getting married, and you still have a thousand different things to take care of. In between sending out invitations, trying on wedding dresses, going to cake tastings, and deciding on wedding decorations, there’s probably little time (and energy) left to hit the gym. 

But as any bride-to-be, you certainly want to look and feel your best, which means getting or staying in shape is a non-negotiable. Luckily, a well-rounded fitness routine can help you get your body wedding-ready, so you can walk down the aisle confidently and blissfully. 

Set your goals 

Whether you want to lose some weight, tone certain parts of your body, enhance your strength and energy levels, improve your range of motion, master the cartwheel or do the splits (who knowns what wedding dance you have in mind), you need to set clear fitness objectives, so you can start working towards achieving them and measure your progress as you go. 

It’s also important to maintain realistic expectations and establish achievable goals. If you haven’t worked out in a long time, it’s highly unlikely you’ll become as flexible as an acrobat in just a few months, so you should set unreasonable aspirations aside and make better use of your already limited time by focusing on what you can do instead. 

Start early, start small 

The best time to begin a pre-wedding fitness routine is as early as possible. We’re not saying you should sprint to the gym five minutes after you’ve been proposed and said yes, but giving yourself at least six months to prepare is a reasonable window. Don’t leave things to the last minute and try to squeeze 6 months’ worth of training into a couple of weeks. Results take time, and the earlier you start, the easier it’s going to be to reach your goals without feeling rushed or stressed out. 

Also, you shouldn’t jump straight into hardcore training as that’s only going to overwhelm you and make you want to give up after just a few sessions. Instead, start with easier exercises and work your way up toward more difficult ones, so your body can adjust. 

Mix and vary 

One of the reasons why people find it difficult to stay consistent and eventually give up on working out is that they grow tired and can’t find any joy in exercising. Building a varied fitness plan that incorporates different elements, such as aerobics, strength training, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), balance training, stretching, and yoga, can help you ward off workout ennui. 

You can also include sports like cycling, swimming, or tennis in the mix, for good measure. Changing your perspective can help as well. Many see workouts as a chore, but if you treat them as a self-care habit, you may begin to feel differently about them. 

Work with a personal trainer 

With all the planning and organizing you have to do ahead of your wedding, trying to create a fitness routine and sticking to it can be a real challenge. Since you don’t want to add extra responsibilities to the pile, but you also don’t want to neglect your fitness, why not let a professional help you out? 

The support of an experienced fitness trainer can make things so much easier. They’ll know exactly what exercises to recommend based on your personal needs and goals, and guide you through your workouts, thus taking the guesswork out of the process and relieving you of the burden of doing your own research. They’ll also help you stay organized, leaving you with no excuse to skip your training sessions. 

Choose a wedding dress that suits and fits your body

Clothes are meant to fit you, not the other way around, and the same unwritten rule applies to wedding dresses. You want your wedding dress to take your breath away because it’s beautiful, not because it’s too tight or ill-fitting. While focusing on getting in shape is admirable, you also need to learn to love yourself as you are. So, choose a wedding gown that flatters your natural shape, rather than forcing yourself to change your physique overnight, which is often a lost battle anyway. 

Fortunately, you can find beautiful wedding dresses for every body type, so you don’t need model proportions to look stunning as a bride. For instance, for hourglass figures, the best options include fitted or wrap dresses, classic mermaid gowns, and A-line styles that highlight a defined waist. Pear shapes can wear A-line dresses, empire waist dresses, and designs that draw attention to the shoulders or neckline through details. Someone who is shaped like a rectangle should opt for fitted-waist dresses with belts, ruffles, or other details that create shape and add volume to the chest and hips. Find the most flattering dress for the body you have, not the one you wish you had, and you’ll feel a lot more confident. 

Eat nutritious meals 

A good workout plan can go a long way in helping you stay fit, but if you want to get optimal results, you also need to pay attention to what you put on your plate. Fitness regimens are most effective when paired with balanced, nutritious meals. This means that drastic diets are off the table, quite literally. The goal is to maintain a healthy body weight and look radiant, not starve yourself to death. 

There are no magic diets that can help you lose weight fast without also damaging your body, but there are plenty of delicious and nourishing foods that can support your fitness journey, so make sure you incorporate them into your diet. 

Take it easy

As you work on achieving your fitness goals, keep in mind that you’re not training to compete in the Olympics or trying to turn yourself into a fashion model. So, there’s no point in adopting the fitness regimen of a professional athlete or someone whose career is based entirely on their looks. 

A lot of brides take the whole idea of looking their absolute best on their wedding day a little too far, often pushing themselves to the point of exhaustion. Your workouts shouldn’t wear you out or make you feel miserable. Quite the opposite, they should make you feel empowered and bursting with joy and energy. 

And there you have it — with smart training, thoughtful planning, and a little self-care, you’ll be glowing on your wedding day.