Celebrity Trainers on How to Look Like a Star on Your Wedding Day

By Leta Shy

Updated on 5/15/2014 at 6:22 PM

Celebs pay a lot of money to look their best, and that's especially true when they're prepping for a wedding. Here's five insider tips from some of Hollywood's biggest trainers on how to look paparazzi-perfect for your big day.

  1. Up your game: No matter what your fitness level, you can benefit from taking it up a notch, says trainer Shaun T, creator of the sweat-inducing and uber-popular DVD workout program Insanity. Even if you're a regular at the gym, you can still make small changes that will challenge your workouts. "If you're a person who works out at the gym, try to take [fewer] breaks," Shaun recommends. "If you're a weight lifter, while you're not doing weights, try to do some different cardio exercise in between to try to ramp up the calorie burn."
  2. Stand tall: Since you're going to be the center of attention on your big day, perfect posture is important. So important that celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak incorporates back and shoulder exercises into his celebrity brides' workouts. What does Harley, who trained Hilary Duff for her wedding, recommend brides-to-be do in order to walk down the aisle looking confident? Targeted exercises like dumbbell rows and tricep presses. Get the whole list of Harley's favorite back-strengthening and boob-lifting exercises here and you'll be a toned-and-tall vision in white when you walk down the aisle.
  3. Just do it: Starlet favorite Tracy Anderson's advice when it comes to losing weight for your wedding is simple: don't just diet. A regular exercise routine should be a major component of your weight-loss plans so you can look and feel your best on your big day. "If you want to look like you and a healthy version of you and the best version of you for your husband-to-be, then you need to start sweating and exercising and designing your body to look like a woman," says Tracy, who helped Nicole Richie look her best for her big day.
  4. Nix empty calories: Both Shaun T and Harley agree: one of the worst things you can do if you're trying to lose weight for your wedding day is to drink your calories. The trainers warn that all those glasses of soda, wine, and juice can get the best of you if you're looking to slim down. Shaun T calls it "the number one rule of thumb" to lose weight for an event. "Everybody knows that sugar that's not burnt off eventually turns into fat," he says.
  5. Wedding week: What to do when it's down to the wire? For one, don't starve yourself, of course. Practice portion control and make sure you stay away from belly bloating foods like "beans and any sort of roughage" Harley recommends, and keep snacking clean (opt for yogurt with berries, say, instead of high-carb options). If you want to see results but only have a couple days, Tracy recommends a four-day meal plan of lean protein, lots of veggies, and no fats.

Source: Marianne Wilson Photography for Style Me Pretty