‘ When couples should be worrying about venues, flowers and seating arrangements, they start to fixate on their bodies instead.’
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Body positive
Time to ditch‘ shedding for the wedding’ and celebrate our differences, says Alice Hiley
The body positive( bopo) trend is taking social media and the fashion and beauty industries by storm. Brands like Dear Kate and Dove are taking on plus-sized models for their advertising campaigns and catalogues, and Instagram is being flooded by # selfiesforselflove.
But when it comes to weddings, crash diets and workouts are still very much‘ in’. After asking to see the ring, many people immediately go on to ask if the happy couple will be losing weight. Campaigns trying to sell crash diets, slimming tummy-tucking underwear, weight loss pills and waist trainers are all part of this culture of‘ bridalplasty’ and‘ shedding for the wedding’ that’ s still as popular as ever.
Scientists have proved that losing dramatic amounts of weight before the big day can actually be incredibly harmful for a variety of reasons. There’ s nothing wrong with dieting if it’ s done safely and in moderation, by making small steps towards a healthy lifestyle, which you continue following into married life. But if you make massive changes to your food plan and go overboard on the cardio and lifting on day one, you risk dehydration, a weakened immune system, and heart problems such as palpitations and cardiac stress.
Even more worryingly, Dr Ira M Sacker, a professor from the NYU Medical Centre who specialises in eating disorders, found that ten per cent of women who start dieting in preparation for their wedding day end up developing a long-term disorder.
Planning a wedding is already stressful enough, without the added pressure of squeezing into a dress or suit one or two sizes smaller than your initial weight. So are we finally beginning to tackle the misconception that you’ ll be happier on the happiest day of your life if you’ ve suddenly become skinny?
Instagram user thechristinecho recently did an interview with The Strut explaining her decision to be a‘ fat bride’ at her wedding in a few weeks’ time. In the video she explained why wedding dress shopping has been even more stressful for her than the average bride:‘ I feel like if I wasn’ t a fat bride, the consultants would be open to me trying on whatever I wanted. But because I happen to be fat they assume that I want to cover up and I must be really insecure.’
Other plus-sized brides have unleashed their frustration at the lack of choice available in bigger-sized dresses. Many are steered away from strapless or figurehugging numbers towards the standard empire waist
with long sleeves by staff at fitting appointments. Though probably well-intentioned, these comments begin to seep into our view of ourselves.
When couples should be worrying about venues, flowers and seating arrangements, they start to fixate on their bodies instead. Society drills into us the idea that we should hide our socalled‘ problem areas’ – our big stomachs, chubby arms and round necklines – from a young age. But if a woman has reached this stage of her life without wanting to change the way she looks, why should her wedding day be any different?
‘ When couples should be worrying about venues, flowers and seating arrangements, they start to fixate on their bodies instead.’
It’ s all too easy to fall into the rabbit hole of Photoshopped, posed, perfect images when searching for online wedding inspiration. Instagram and Pinterest are full of brides with professional makeup, flawless hair and‘ million dollar’ dresses. But this ideal just isn’ t attainable for the majority of women, and the bopo community is doing a brilliant job at reminding us that most of these photos are very different to the reality. And even if one woman really does look that slim and shiny while she’ s getting married, who’ s to say that everyone should look the same?
Let’ s change the meaning of‘ wedding goals’. Instead of aiming for a certain number on the scale, let’ s find someone who doesn’ t think we need to change, and celebrate the ways we look and love and live differently with them.
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