Bridal beauty standards: How to feel your best bridey self
Hello there, my fellow brides.
First of all, congratulations, angel! What an exciting time to be alive—getting married to your person is such a beautiful celebration. BUT if you’re anything like me, you might be feeling the push. What push, you ask? The push to perfection. To look the best you have ever looked and will ever look, feel amazing, act amazing, be amazing. It’s a lot of pressure. So today, I wanted to speak directly to you, babe—unpicking what can really help you feel your best on your big day and how to prepare for it with self-kindness and compassion.
Why am I talking about this?
As someone in the fitness industry who has always pushed back against the often toxic narratives around body image, I thought I would be immune to societal pressures regarding how you look on your wedding day. But as 2025 (the year I’m getting married) arrived, I suddenly felt intense anxiety. The thought of all eyes on me and all the photos genuinely filled me with dread. I started picking myself apart, scrutinising angles and aspects of my body I had never really considered before. It left me feeling pretty rubbish—not excited for what’s to come.
So, I decided to do something about it. I addressed where these negative voices were coming from, how I could start to detach from them, and how to reframe the situation. And so, you meet me here—not in a perfect place, but actively working on it and hoping to help you do the same.
Unpicking insecurities
First of all, recognise what you’re saying to yourself. Whether in a notebook, the notes app on your phone, or simply speaking aloud, catch the times you speak negatively about your body. Don’t shame yourself for doing it—just acknowledge and recognise it. It might be indirect, like denying a compliment, or direct, like criticising a specific part of your body.
After a few days, you’ll likely be shocked by how often you tear down that beautiful body of yours. Ask yourself:
How would I respond if someone said this to my best friend?
How would I react if I watched a character on TV say these things about themselves?
Both of these scenarios help to externalise these feelings and reveal how cruel they really are.
Next, question where these insecurities have come from. Are they even yours? Have they been inherited from other people’s comments, formed through comparisons with others, or influenced by marketing and influencer culture?
Finally, write responses to common insecurities or negative statements you tend to repeat about yourself. Make some strong comebacks you can easily recall—because, girl, we are going to war with those negative thoughts. Bye-bye!
You can have fun before your wedding
A messed-up thought I had in my head was that I had to be super disciplined before my wedding. Not only is this unrealistic, but it’s also not very fun. Your wedding should be a celebration of your life, not the result of putting it on hold for months on end.
Now, this isn’t to say that you can’t look after yourself. Eating nourishing foods and moving your body will help with that feel-good feeling on your big day. However, crash dieting or over-exercising will only stress your body and impact the joy of the pre-wedding process. So, keep a balanced approach—enjoy meals out, connect with others, savour your hen party with family and pals, and embrace everything in between. Your life doesn’t have to go on hold for the sake of one day.
Remembering what it’s really about
Finally, it’s all about coming back to what a wedding is really about: connecting with your partner, basking in joy and love with family and friends, eating good food, having a boogie, laughing, and crying. Looking “perfect” will never exist in all of these situations. Looking like yourself is the only way to truly be present.
Your partner and loved ones are there to celebrate you and the relationship you’ve built together. Yes, there will be eyes on you, a photographer, and guests taking pictures throughout the day. But that isn’t the focus of the event. What YOU will remember is the feeling of the day, the love in the room, and the sheer joy of it all.
And, if you’re anything like me, you’ll ugly cry, laugh with multiple chins, flash a bit of skin during your first dance, or be caught in the act of devouring some wedding cake. A wedding is meant to be lived, not just captured.
So, return to what it truly means—the significance of the day for you and your partner—and remind yourself that what you look like will be one of the least interesting things about it (no offence, it’s just the truth). Your body is already bride-ready—so crack that smile and start your journey of self-acceptance.
Good luck—you’re going to have the best time!
Check back on the blog for more fun and thoughts next week. 💕
