Today on the blog we are looking at your wedding health and fitness and the things you can do to prepare to look and feel your best on your wedding day.

Skin

Starting to look after your skin before your wedding will not only leave you feeling more confident about your appearance, but most importantly will also give you better skin health.

Following a good skincare regime, drinking lots of water and even taking supplements like collagen are all great ways to get better skin. It helps with texture, reduces the ageing process and makes skin more vibrant.

I follow a skincare regime tailored to me by Nikki, the Flawless Facialist in Worthing, and since I have been doing this I have seen a significant change in the appearance of my own skin. Having regular facials is also something I would highly recommend, perhaps combining this with regular infared treatments to repair your skin cells. Is there a recommended dermatologist/facialist in your area to set up a treatment plan to reach your skin goals in time for your wedding? This may even start a love affair with a new skincare routine taking you beyond your wedding day.

Anything that you are trying for the first time or if you are having your regular botox/fillers etc should definitely not be done too close to your wedding day, I would recommend doing this at least 2-3 weeks before your big day.

You should be wearing an SPF on your face everyday….even when it’s not sunny!!  This prevents sunburn, reduces the risk of skin cancer, and decreases the signs of early skin ageing.

Being mindful of what you are eating and drinking is vital to healthy skin as it all starts with our gut health. Consider food and drinks that are detoxifying, cleansing and anti inflammatory for example lemons, avocados, cucumber, celery, beetroot and green tea,

Sleep plays a huge role in how our skin looks, aim to get at least 7 hours of sleep. During sleep, your body prevents and repairs skin cell damage which will improve your skin’s appearance and its ability to protect against harmful elements.

Healthy skin is better looking skin!

Something else that I would highly recommend is having your colours done. This involves being advised by a trained colour consultant the colours that suit your skin tone, hair and eye colour. This would be super beneficial when you are choosing your wedding gown, bridesmaids dresses, makeup and even flowers and decor for the venue. Colour analysis really does work and will make an immediate visible difference to how you look and feel. I can recommend a fantastic colour consultant who is based in Horsham in West Sussex Colour Consultant Michaela at House of Colour

Hair

Chat with your hairdresser about your wedding hair goals. Even if your regular hair dresser isn’t part of your wedding day hair & make up team, they can help you with ensuring your hair health goals are met during your usual appointments. Regular trims will keep your lock looking healthy, shiny and split end free.

Find your wedding hair stylist early to discuss how you want your hair to look on your wedding day. Think about style, colours and cut. Pinterest is great place to get inspiration. Start making a board of ideas that you can share with your hairdresser & stylist. It’s vital that you have a trial to decide how you will have your locks on your wedding day. You most certainly don’t want any hair disasters on the day!

I’ve worked many times with Toni Todd Wedding Hair & Make up who is a genius in her craft, specialising in bridal hair (and make up) as well as running a successful hair salon.

If you are thinking of having a new colour or a drastic new hairstyle then this is NOT something that I would recommend before your wedding. You want to feel like you and this could really impact how you feel…..especially if you don’t like the result!

Supplements and hair masks are a great way to get your hair in the best condition leading up to your wedding. You can get some great supplements from Holland and Barrett. I use a company called British Supplements  and have had great results.

Being mindful, again, of what you are eating as your gut health will significantly impact the condition of your hair.

Body

Eating healthily with regular meals and staying hydrated is vital to a healthy body. What you eat and drink will have a big impact on your overall body image and how you feel. Consider fresh foods, grab some recipe books and try out some new healthy cuisines. I have found Gusto and Hello Fresh a great source of inspiration and healthy new meal ideas. I know I’ve said it before but lots of water is your friend! And cutting back on your alcohol intake will help with your overall well-being.

I wouldn’t recommend doing any drastic diets for weight loss before your wedding, unless that really is your intention, but just bear in mind dress and suit fittings. To look your best you will need to have adjustments for your changing shape. Ultimately having a positive healthy approach to your body leading up to your big day will result in you feeling more confident and great!

Making sleep and time to relax a priority, self care is a great way to look after your body.

If you are wearing a strapless dress then think about tan lines! If you are going to be sitting in the sun maybe invest in a strapless top like a bandeau. If a spray tan is your thing then be sure to do it a few days before the wedding. However, I don’t know about you, but I have had a few bad experiences with fake tan! So I would recommend trialing the spray tan maybe a few months before. I love a good body exfoliation for baby soft skin….so give this a go! You can buy great body scrubs but also treating yourself to a full body scrub at a salon is such a relaxing experience.

Fitness

Getting regular exercise for your wedding health and fitness is a great idea leading up to your big day. Just 30 minutes of walking every day can help boost your mood and improve your health significantly.

Maybe consider a class that you’ve always wanted to try or maybe start running together. It will really boost your confidence and give you some quality time together leading up to your wedding that isn’t wedding related….because I’m sure that’s all you’ll be talking about!! Another option is a personal trainer….this is great for really targeting your specific needs and they will tailor you a programme that will get you the results that you want. I highly recommend Gemma at Reach Your Goal Women’s Fitness based in West Sussex. Check out her website here Reach Your Goals Women’s Fitness

Small goals……for example, if you’re choosing a dress that is strapless and your arms are something that you’d like to work on then maybe try some triceps dips or wall pushups. Adding little things like this into your daily routine can make a big change…..I do squats while brushing my teeth every morning!! I will of course get you in the best poses that enhance and flatter your shape, that’s what I’m there for!

Moving your body everyday will have a significant impact on how you feel about yourself. It doesn’t have to be a drastic change to your lifestyle, especially if you’ve been inactive for a long time, it’s best to start slowly in order to reduce your risk of injury. Things I would recommend are walking, swimming or try gentle exercises at home….YouTube is great for free classes in things like yoga and pilates.

I really hope this blog has helped you in the lead up to your big day and given you some helpful tips and inspiration for your wedding health and fitness. Most importantly it’s about you feeling great and being the best version of you on your wedding day!

Xx Fiona Xx

Wedding Health & Fitness – How to prepare to look your best