A POWERFUL MESSAGE ON BODY POSITIVITY

When a VERY well known bridal magazine asked their followers to post their top pre-wedding diet tips on their Facebook page last week, I think I speak for all wedding bloggers when I say I was mad! But mostly, I was disappointed! Disappointed that a publication as influential as this was still ignoring our pleas to market in a socially responsible way. Simply put, women are frequently told that they need to lose weight. Consider how many weight loss advertisements you will be exposed to in a day, on TV, social media, in magazines and newspapers. Sure, dieting is a pretty big industry and many of us actually do want to lose weight but do we really want to be told to use what should be the happiest day of our lives as ‘motivation’ to size down.

Some of us will read these irresponsible messages and not give them a second thought, but for those of us who are already struggling to feel comfortable with our own bodies, something as flippant as a request to post dieting tips could just be that final straw that sends someone one more step towards an eating disorder or depression. The pressure to diet is apparent in almost everything we do and although I don’t think media alone is to blame for these issues, I do think it plays a part in a much bigger problem. So aren’t we on to something when we plead with these giants to make weddings the one place where talk of dieting is off limits?

You may want to lose weight, you may need to gain weight or you may not be interested in either, but it seems to me in either scenario that this decision is yours! And yours alone.

Today’s post is a celebration of women in ALL shapes and sizes, a way to encourage you to embrace your bodies and give a HUGE middle finger to those who feel they are entitled to have an opinion on what you should do with your body on your wedding day.

Photographer Mallory and lead make-up artist Sarah, wanted to organize a styled session that was very different and unique, something that showed how amazing woman are, in a new way. They used real women, not hired models, there are absolutely no touch ups to anyone’s skin or bodies. These are real women, exactly as they are mothers, wives, girlfriends, friends, and most important of all, incredibly beautiful.

“In today’s society, women especially are very hard on themselves. We look at these standards of “the perfect body” in magazine and movies, but we don’t look to our actual peers or even better, in our own mirrors. Shouldn’t we love ourselves and our bodies as they are? There is no such thing as one perfect body. Every woman comes in her own shape and size that is unique to her. We all have flaws, and those flaws make us unique. There are women who are tall, short; have long hair, or short hair; have tattoos or scars. All of those things don’t make us imperfect; those are the things that make us beautiful.” Mallory explained.

“As artists, Sarah and I always strive to show in our work that ALL women are gorgeous creatures. This shoot was all about showing the world how amazing, bad-ass, and beautiful women of all shapes, sizes, and colors, can be! I’m so glad we got the opportunity to portray how we feel, and I hope this session helps you look in the mirror and realize you’re perfect just the way you are!”

And while I know one small post wont change an entire industry, I am hoping it will help even just one of our beautiful readers to change how they think about themselves…

Photographer: Photography by Mallory | Makeup Artist: Making You Glow | Submitted via Two Bright Lights |