{"id":51333,"date":"2021-10-17T23:00:49","date_gmt":"2021-10-17T12:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/au\/articles\/loving-wedding-body\/"},"modified":"2023-08-04T15:48:32","modified_gmt":"2023-08-04T05:48:32","slug":"loving-wedding-body","status":"publish","type":"au-article","link":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/articles\/loving-wedding-body\/","title":{"rendered":"How to love your body and feel confident in your wedding dress"},"content":{"rendered":"

On one of the happiest, most memorable days of your life, you want to feel your best – and if you’re struggling with body positivity, it’s likely this will be a challenge. This is why we spoke to an expert about how we can all learn to love ourselves and our bodies, just as we are.<\/h3>\n

In an ideal world, doughnuts would grow on trees, our celebrity crush would passionately reciprocate our affection – and, miraculously, know who we are, and we\u2019d feel happy and confident with our bodies 100 per cent of the time, never second-guessing whether our bottoms looked too big or too small in a pair of jeans.<\/p>\n

Alas, I\u2019d hazard a guess that most women – and men – have had a body hang-up at one time or another, with a seed of self-doubt blossoming into full-blown insecurity.<\/p>\n

While normal to have some reservations about your body on occasion, in the lead up to your wedding, stressing about how you\u2019ll look in your wedding dress won\u2019t do you any favours.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, you don’t need to suffer through body image troubles, and there are things you can do to feel more comfortable in your own skin before your wedding day (and afterwards, too – why stop the body love once the day has passed?).<\/p>\n

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Photo by Popcorn Photography<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At Easy Weddings – and according to Audrey Hepburn, too, but we digress – we believe that happy women are the prettiest, and love when women are unapologetically themselves: snort-laughter, pimple scars, lockdown weight and all.<\/p>\n

There’s nothing more attractive than the glow of someone happy within themselves, and we want to help you get there so you can enjoy your big day.<\/p>\n

This is why we spoke to Julie Sweet, a clinical psychotherapist at Seaway Counselling and Psychotherapy, practising in Sydney\u2019s eastern suburbs in Bondi Junction (learn more about her by visiting her website<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Here, Julie breaks down why we may have body hang-ups, and details how we can overcome these insecurities so we can feel happy and confident come wedding season.<\/p>\n

“For brides to feel confident and comfortable in their wedding dress, they must feel confident and comfortable within themselves, which is underpinned by self-worth and self-acceptance,” says Sweet.<\/p>\n

“That\u2019s an inside job, so regardless of the big day or chosen dress, if we don\u2019t feel we are deserving, that needs to be explored”.<\/p>\n

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Photo by McKay Wedding Photography<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So, what can we do about our body insecurities?<\/h3>\n

Julie stresses that we validate ourselves, steering clear of self-gaslighting, minimising our lived experiences, or giving our power away.<\/p>\n

\u201cNegative thinking can often be questioned when we identify what we are feeling and label it. Having another person to share our thoughts with, like a professional or trusted friend or close family member, can bring about fundamental behavioural change,” says Sweet.<\/p>\n

Another way you can help yourself? Self-care – and it has nothing to do with buying a new piece for your wardrobe or watching Younger<\/em> reruns in the bath.<\/p>\n

\u201cStress can cause anxiety and overwhelm so self-care is critical. Often people think self-care is nothing more than running a bath or listening to a podcast (both of which are wonderful, however, self-care consists of more).”<\/p>\n

Julie explains that self-care is less about pampering ourselves and more about setting limits and having boundaries. She also recommends asking for help when we need it.<\/p>\n

“Additionally, it’s helpful to practise gratitude and mindfulness, as well as sleep hygiene, mental wellness, and physical health.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Photo by Sam Wyper Photography<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Some other helpful coping strategies include:<\/h3>\n