My Wedding Workout Journey From Stressed to Strong

On August 22nd, I got engaged to my best friend and the love of my life. Yes, the moment I (Addie) had been waiting for finally happened. It was everything I imagined, and then after coming off of the high of the moment what was my next thought? I have to get in wedding shape! Like many, I had fallen off routine. But like anyone, I wanted to look and feel good on my wedding day. On top of that, I unfortunately also fell victim to gut issues and a surprise case of e.coli during my bachelorette party - a story for another time!

If you've ever planned a wedding, you are fully aware that wedding planning is a lot—so I started small. Three workouts a week, focused on building my stamina through cardio and full body workouts to build my core strength for weight lifting. I also tried to walk every day and drank more water than wine (well, most days). My goal was progress, not perfection.

Before wedding training, I considered myself as being fairly fit and athletic. I mean I was living and marrying my personal trainers so I literally could not escape the accountability reminders (thanks babe!). But with the big day quickly approaching I was looking to ensure I was looking and feeling my best. We decided to get married in Riviera Maya, Mexico and par for the course of having a destination wedding, we were planning not just a day but a 3-day wedding weekend. The name of the game then became endurance, strength, and steadfast energy. I mean, let's face it... those photos are for life and why not show yourself and your partner off to everyone while basking in wedding bliss?

My 6-month Wedding Fitness Program

I started my accelerated wedding fitness program 6 months prior to our wedding day. The first 2 months I focused on rebuilding my foundation: cardio to strengthen my heart and endurance while shedding a couple of pounds, and total body workouts with one day a week focused on lifting.

The next 3 months I hit it hard on the weights. My focus was on my glutes, arms, back, and core. I used a personalized workout program tailored by our Master Trainer JT (my now husband ;)) to get to the gym at least 5 times a week. There were some cheat days, some weeks I took an extra day off but I always made up for time lost to ensure I was keeping my momentum and not falling off the wagon. If you're anything like me, it's very easy to lose motivation but having a strong support system and keeping my eye on the prize definitely helped.

The last month leading up to my wedding, I incorporated cardio back into my workout routine and focused on squeezing in some extra tone up until the last mile by doing heavy weight hip thrusts and squats twice a week, with lighter weight and higher reps for the remaining days. I used the same method for arms as well.

Instead of punishing myself with hours of cardio for 6 months, I focused on strength training and functional movement. I tailored workouts to my body and schedule. It wasn’t about shrinking—it was about sculpting, building endurance, and feeling in control of my energy again. I learned to listen to my body. Some days, it meant pushing hard with circuits and resistance. Other days, it meant stretching, breathwork, or just getting outside. Ultimately I felt more grounded, less anxious, and honestly happier.

Final Thoughts

I would be lying if I didn't mention there were hard days. There were moments I felt discouraged. Fittings where I still didn’t feel “wedding ready.” Long planning days where the last thing I wanted to do was move my body. But I kept coming back to my “why”: I wasn’t just training for a look, I was training for a feeling.

What I gained (besides muscle):

• Stronger core and definition in my glutes, abs, and arms

• Better sleep at night and more energy to carry me through the day

• Confidence that carried into every area of my life

• And on my wedding day, feeling completely beautiful and grounded and secure in my own body

  
  

If you're a bride-to-be reading this, here’s my advice: don’t make fitness about punishment or pressure. Make it about you. You deserve to feel strong, clear-headed, and proud of yourself—not just on your wedding day, but every day after.

And if you’re looking for support or don’t know where to start, don’t be afraid to ask for help. The right coach or program can completely change the way you feel—not just how you look.

Here’s to loving ourselves while we grow—and sweating with intention 💪💍

Want my exact workout plan? Let me know here and I'll send it to you!