Every bride wants her wedding to be perfect and live up to the picture they have in their heads, and everyone pictures herself as a trim, fit bride, moving weight loss to the top of the wedding to-do list.

There are so many details brides have to attend to, but one of the most important is how they can lose weight and look spectacular. Try the following tips to make sure you look as beautiful as you feel on your special day.

1. Don’t forget nutrition.

Many brides feel like they need to lose some weight before they can fit into the dress of their dreams, but do yourself a big favor: don’t resort to depriving your body of food and nutrition.

Achieving your weight loss goals requires that you feed your body properly. Following a safe weight loss program is the only way to shed pounds healthily. Quick weight loss is often neither safe nor healthy.

* To lose weight, cut calories. Simply cutting 200-250 calories (a few cookies, a slice of cake, a soda) can help you achieve your goals.

* Eat! Starving yourself or skipping meals causes your body to store fat instead of burning it.

* Add fiber and protein to your diet. They help with weight loss and keep you healthy so you can actually enjoy your wedding.

* Skip the convenience foods. If you are too busy to eat right, start bringing healthy snacks with you on your errands.

* Stress can make us eat more than we normally would, and weddings are very stressful to plan. Instead of eating, go for a walk, try a yoga class, or do a cardio video each night. You’ll feel calmer ? and thinner.

* Don’t get carried away with pre-wedding parties. Instead of grabbing a calorie-laden, bloat-inducing alcoholic drink, try water instead.

* Get the most from your calories. Sugary desserts offer no nutrition in exchange for the whopping amount of calories. Opt for fruit if you want some sweetness.

2. Your body needs exercise.

If you want to lose weight for your wedding, don’t wait until a week before the big event. That is not going to work.

You have to make the commitment well before the big day. You wouldn’t expect yourself to plan a wedding in a few days ? don’t expect your body to change in a few days either.

* If you don’t exercise, start. Do anything that gets your body moving. If you exercise regularly, add intensity and variety to see faster results.

* For people who do exercise, Bride Boot Camp videos and exercise programs can be just the challenge their body needs to kick up fat and calorie burning. There are a lot of different videos offered by excellent trainers, and they can be immensely rewarding.

* Take dancing lessons. This will prep you for the big first dance with your new spouse and help you get more fit.

* Some particularly effective exercises include:

- Cardio. Try anything to get your heart rate up.

- Pushups. If you can’t do a traditional form, try a modified one. You’ll still get the same terrific results and have great chest and back muscles to show off on your wedding day.

- Lunges. These really help work your thighs and butt. Pair them with an chest press for even more fat burning power.

- Pilates or yoga. These are great for toning.

- Resistance bands help add intensity and difficult to cardio or strength training routines.

* Have good posture. This can help you look thinner.

3. Avoid common mistakes brides make when trying to lose weight.

* Procrastinating. With all the details they have to deal with, it is easy to put weight loss on the back burner until it is too late. Losing ten pounds in the week before your wedding is not safe or healthy. Effective weight loss takes time, and fad diets can actually hurt your long-term weight loss goals.

* Not exercising. Diet alone is not going to help you lose weight and keep it off. You need to exercise. Plus, it firms your muscles and makes you look more fit.

* Skipping meals. This is worth repeating because so many people try to stop eating to lose weight. Don’t! Your body thinks it is starving and stops burning fat. It is a survival mechanism that you can’t trick your body out of. Eat!

* Wanting to do too much too fast. You need to have realistic goals. If you have always had a muscular curvy build, you won’t be able to diet or exercise your way into a willow slim figure. Accept your body. You can look amazing no matter what your body size or shape. Don’t choose your dress according to the body you wish you had but the one you actually do have.

If you want to lose weight before your wedding, start as soon as you get engaged!

You can have that glass of champagne to celebrate, but then start on your nutrition and exercise program for real, lasting weight loss and not just quick weight loss.