An Essex Wedding - November/December 2020 (Issue 95)

86 BEAUTY FROM THE INSIDE OUT I’m a beginner when it comes to exercise. How do I feel fitter for my wedding and active honeymoon? Give yourself 12 to 16 weeks before the big day for training; this allows for sufficient physiological and aesthetic changes. Initially, some simple steps can be taken to see where you are: ❤ Hold a plank. Over two minutes is excellent, 45 to 75 seconds is average and under 45 seconds is below average. ❤ Do some press ups. More than 50 reps is excellent, 16 to 24 reps is average and under 15 reps is below average. ❤ Go for a 1km run. Under three minutes is excellent, 3.30 minutes to 4.29 minutes is average and more than 4.30 minutes is below average. You’ll want to exercise at least three times a week. This will have a positive impact on your metabolism in the short term, with noticeable improvements early on. Include a basic interval training session: run for one minute, then walk for two minutes for at least five rounds. This will help to burn calories, increase your fitness, improve your resting heart rate and improve the way you use the fuels from fat and glycogen. For muscular work, time yourself for ten minutes completing ten reps of bodyweight squats, press ups (or half press ups) and sit ups. Try as many rounds as possible, then tally up your score at the end. It’s important to warm up for at least five minutes and cool down with some light stretches. You may experience muscle soreness two to three days afterwards, which is normal. Allow your body to recover before exercising again to help prevent injuries. Paul Lennon Paul Lennon Personal Training www.ptdistinction.com/paullennonPT FINDING THE ONE What’s your best piece of bridal advice? Try on a varied selection of silhouettes before settling on one. Sometimes your perfect dress isn’t what you expect. What’s your favourite dress you have in store? One of our most-loved gowns in the boutique is a tea-length style from Mary’s Bridal as it’s so versatile. It can be ordered in full length with the option of a filled-in back and cap sleeves. Bonus point: it has pockets! How long do dresses take to order? Delivery times depend on the designer, but it’s normally at least six to nine months. If you don’t have that amount of time, we have many options that you can buy off- the-peg and we can always check if our designers have a dress in stock that can be delivered quickly. Carla Lynch | Dress Code Nine www.dresscodenine.co.uk AISLE STYLE How did you come to open your Essex bridal boutique? I found my own experience of wedding dress shopping a bit uninspiring; I come from a design and retail background and everything just seemed a bit dated. My husband stumbled upon this beautiful space and everything seemed to fall into place. It still feels like a dream! Ultimately, I see myself as a stylist; I listen to what the bride wants and with my experience guide her through the process to make her vision a reality. What are your top tips for brides? ❤ Choose your guests wisely and don’t bring more than two or three. Too many opinions can be overwhelming. ❤ Don’t try on too many dresses, focus on your likes and dislikes to find the perfect dress. ❤ Go with the feeling; if you don’t want to take it off, that’s your dress! ❤ Start looking a year before your wedding and allow for styling and accessory shopping plus eight weeks prior to your wedding for alterations. Kelly Hull | Erin Kelly Bridal | www.erinkellybridal.co.uk Q&A Beauty Our local pros solve your problems