Weddings and weight pressure somehow seem to go together—and not just because they alliterate. There is a huge amount of expectation for brides to look their “best” on their wedding day, which is somehow equated to being skinny and losing weight. The focus is on the bride.
Has anyone else seen this Verizon commercial?
I think it’s amazing how the pressure to lose weight is transferred from the bride to the father of the bride. I mean, I support physical fitness/healthy weight loss in the general sense, and I understand that big events give you that little extra ounce of motivation…but seriously? What happened to simply enjoying an event?
What do you think about the commercial?
My whole family is in on the weight loss thing right now. My brother is getting married in October, so my parents have TWO weddings to really motivate them. I will say that my dad has lost the most weight of any of us, and it really makes me so happy because I know he’s getting healthy not just for our weddings – but so he can live longer and be there for all our important events… maybe there is something to this commercial.
I think it’s great. The U.S. is one of the fattest countries on the planet. There is nothing wrong with wanting to lose weight and live healthier. I would rather see commercials that promote weight loss over those that further promote the obese culture we live in today.
I actually like the commercial to some extent, but everyone should feel beautiful just the way they are (male or female).. Granted, I am working on losing weight in time for my wedding, but it’s because I don’t feel beautiful just the way I am, and, mostly it’s that middle section pudge that needs to go 
I saw this commercial and rolled my eyes so hard I’m surprised they’re still attached to my body. I hate the pressure on brides to lose weight. I think weddings are a great motivating factor for people who want to lose weight anyway, but the pressure is still there for people who are healthy and happy with the way their bodies look. It’s ridiculous.
I think it would be fine, if the commercials WERE promoting health, but this one is not. It is promoting the fact that you have to be a certain size and look a certain way to be beautiful or accepted. Dad did not lose weight to be healthy he lost it to look good for his daughter’s wedding. I know quite a few people (myself not included unfortunately) who are healthy and do NOT meet the NORM of what society considers beautiful.
I hated this commmercial. Fat is not ugly. Thin is not beautiful. What makes you ugly or beautiful is your character.
This commercial makes me laugh a bit, and then it made me think “maybe *I* should do that” and then.. I just didn’t. My whole issue with losing weight/working out/etc specifically for the wedding is that.. if you never looked like that before and you revert back to your old ways after.. is it really *you* on your wedding day? I know a lot of people may not agree with that, but it’s always floated around in my mind a bit. I tried to eat healthier before the wedding, but that was about it. Looking back, sure, I wish I lifted a few more weights (hate my arm fat) and did a bit more cardio, but what can you do?
I do have to say that our wedding has gotten my fiance and I both on a track that we hope to continue. We’ve learned so much about nutrition and our bodies after doing our Whole 30 program. Once we finished the program we just couldn’t go back to our “old ways”. I hate the added pressure that weddings bring for the bride but for us it’s exactly what we needed. I lost 13.5 pounds in 30 days and cannot wait to lose the final 10-15 pounds.
I also think about our pictures and don’t want to have any regret that I wasn’t the best ME possible. I will never be a size 5 but want to feel good about myself that day and afterwards.
@Mrs. Fox: “I wish I lifted a few more weights (hate my arm fat)” Death to the person who said everyone HAS to wear sleeveless/strapless wedding dresses!
I don’t agree that brides/or anyone else for that matter should feel pressure to fit a certain body image for their big day. However I like that the commercial puts some emphasis on being healthy, which I think a lot of people (myself included) could do a better job doing (leading a healthier lifestyle). The wedding is helping me establish some healthier habits that I hope will last after September (visiting the gym more and drinking more water).
I feel like everyone in my family lost weight for the weddings except for me! My body shape looked very different from when I tried on the dress to when I wore it, but the pressure to lose weight retroactively worked on me. I was so stressed the whole time, eating crap, and trying to redeem myself with a healthy diet and a run here of there. It was annoying. But on the day of, I probably had lost 3 pounds due to stress in one week, and I felt I looked beautiful, even though I wasn’t the size 6 I once was. My next goal is to get back to that size 6, but just for me, not for a wedding.
@Miss Fairy: Totally agree with everything you’ve said, Miss Fairy!
@Misstreasure AGREED!
Ugh. Everybody is beautiful. Cliché, but true. I think it’s great to use a wedding as motivation, but it shouldn’t be a source of stress.
I HATE the wedding weight pressure. I love myself exactly the way I am, and this is the person my fiancé fell in love with. I would hate to look back at wedding photos in the future and instead of thinking about how happy I looked, be sad because I had not been able to maintain an unrealistic weight. Thanks for starting this discussion.
Did anyone read the ny times article about how men are now also feeling pressure to lose weight so they won’t look huge next to their newly skinny brides?
I am never against a campaign that encourages a healthy lifestyle of eating right and exercising. If a special event is your motivation, so be it.
I love all the comments that say “I love myself the way I am” … I think that is really great and how it should be. But to celebrate a new found way of being healthy should not be frowned upon either.
I thought the commercial was cute. We do live in a culture where obesity is epidemic, and I think its important to look at healthy living. I liked the commercial because they showed a man who was obviously overweight, and making healthy lifestyle choices to get in better health. My best guess is that it probably hit home for some people who want to try and improve on their health to make sure they are around to enjoy precious moments in their families lives. I probably would think differently if the commercial showed a twig thin lady worried about not being a size 0 or something ridiculous.
Miss Bracelet, Frankfurt, Germany/Rapid City, SD Age and Occupation: 26, Post-Graduate Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Electrical Engineering Student/ Ex-Navy Cal Tech Engagement Date: May 11, 2011 Wedding Date: September 2012 Venue: Schloss Heiligenberg/ Spearfish Canyon Lodge About Me: I'm a half-American from Germany who fell in love with a wonderful guy from Montana. We met in Japan and have been in a LDR for most of our relationship. I love organizing so much that it could be my middle name (Post-Its, anyone?). I have a serious addiction to paper products and milk chocolate. My fiancé totally gets my tomboy-princess-combo personality and will bring me chocolate when I need a pick-me-up. After a legal ceremony in Germany, we're planning a down-to-earth (semi-destination) wedding with our friends and family in the US.
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