By Keely Coxon

From tai-chi to permanent makeup and Yogalates (yes, this is an actual word!), personal health and cosmetic options have never been more widespread or available. People everywhere are reaping the benefits of whole-body health, and brides-to-be are no exception. Many popular salons, spas and gyms now offer pre-wedding services, meant to cater to the hordes of girls and guys alike who would rather enlist trained professionals to help make sure that they look their best for their special day. Here are some of the local options.

Gyms and private studios

As far as getting in shape for one’s wedding is concerned, there is absolutely no such thing as a “typical” preparation strategy, says Donelle McMahon, who works at a local 24-Hour Fitness location. While only a few traditional gyms in the Salt Lake City area offer specific pre-wedding classes, many yoga and Pilates studios do, and with the inception of the 24-hour fitness facility, even the busiest of brides- (and grooms!-) to-be have no excuse to not get, or stay, healthy. As weddings are one of the most personal times in someone’s life, their fitness goals should be equally as personal, explains Donelle. Some people are already in nearly perfect shape, so for them, it’s more about staying that way, whereas for others (especially those who could use to drop a few pounds), the goals may be a bit more of a “stretch” (pun very much intended!). Either way, as long as what the individual has in mind is healthy, our staff and trainers are there to support them all the way, she adds.

For those betrothed who could benefit from some serious stress-relief, yoga may offer the best option. A combination of strength, breathing, flexibility and meditation exercises, yoga is one of the most effective full-body (and soul!) workouts in use today. While this low-impact alternative may seem “boring” to those accustomed to more fast-paced exercise, they can rest assured that their instructor can (and will) be able to expose them to the rigor and intensity that yoga has to offer.

As there are multitudes of gyms, both traditional and alternative (i.e. yoga and Pilates- offering), in the Salt Lake area, your best option for finding one that offers a pre-bridal strategy similar to what you had in mind is to call around and talk to the establishment in person. That way, you can get a better idea of what they can do for you, and work out whether or not it is something that you can realistically stick to. If you go the route of choosing a personal trainer, says Donelle, it may be a good idea to go meet the trainer first, just to make sure that there aren’t any personality clashes that may temper your plans down the road.

Spas and salons

As it is likely that most brides will pay someone else to do their hair and makeup on their big day, some will probably lump “preparation” in with that session. However, as anyone who has ever had any waxing or other skin-care work done can tell you, trying new treatments immediately before an already-stressful event can be very risky, especially if you’ve never done anything similar to it before. In addition, certain procedures, from cellulite-reduction to tanning and skin-care treatments, work much better when done gradually, as this allows the body to recover and settle in to its new “self” in a less-drastic manner.

For the experienced spa-goer, a set pre-bridal “plan” may not be necessary. You know what works for your body, and probably have a general sense of what you like and don’t like, in terms of personal appearance. That said, certain package deals may be much, much cheaper than getting your favorite treatments separately, so be sure to ask your salon/spa of choice if there’s any way you could work something out. You’d be surprised what some beauty locations will do to make their customers happy; after all, it is your big day, and as you’re essentially a walking billboard for them, it is in their best interest to be helpful and make sure that you’re satisfied.

For those of us who aren’t as spa or salon-savvy, there’s no reason to worry. Part of the reason that these establishments set up bridal packages in the first place, besides providing the treatments at a lower cost, is to help beauty-befuddled brides-to-be with selecting the proper preparatory services. For a relatively non-invasive (read: not-too-scary) way to get “into” spa-ing, try offerings such as one of Akasha Spa and Salon’s bridal packages (801.364.3330), which range from day-of to bachelorette party services, or Tranquility Day Spa’s “Tranquility Get Away” package (801. 272.8188). Either of these, or any other spa’s package that looks similar, is a great way to start out slow and figure out which treatments will be best for you as your wedding day approaches.

Whether you go for a pre-bridal kickboxing class at an area gym, or choose to indulge yourself at a salon (or both!), your options for looking your best are nearly unlimited. While this may seem intimidating at first (too many options, ah!), the best advice is to just ask if you find yourself wondering how to achieve your appearance goals. These professionals have likely seen many brides before you in the exact same situation, and are there to provide solutions. So, with this in mind, it seems about time to get started on your big-day look!