Body Beautiful, Part 2

From squats to exfoliation, here’s how to get dress-ready for your big day

As a bride-to-be, you have a to-do list a mile long. But while you’re booking your reception site, hiring a photographer and testing out bands, we’d like to remind you to

As a bride-to-be, you have a to-do list a mile long. But while you’re booking your reception site, hiring a photographer and testing out bands, we’d like to remind you to remember the most important part of the whole ceremony: You!

“Brides get so caught up in the wedding and being busy,” says Richel D’Ambra, owner of Richel D’Ambra Spa & Salon in Philadelphia, “they forget about themselves.” To help you look and feel your best as you walk down the aisle in that gorgeous gown, we’ve teamed up with local fitness and beauty experts to help you prepare your most visible parts — your back, buns, arms and legs — for their Big Day. Try these exercises — most of which can be done at home — to target these four key areas, and then take in a spa treatment to enhance your glow.

Part 2: In Hindsight

On your first honeymoon stroll on the beach, you don’t want to worry about your backside. Check out these exercises to buff your buns.

Lunges: “You can do lunges stationary,” says Snyder, “or make it more challenging by doing a walking lunge.” Starting with your feet together, step one foot forward about 2 to 3 feet. Lower your body until your back knee comes close to the ground, but not past your ankle. Return to starting position and switch legs.

Squats: Squats come in variations to suit your fitness level. For a basic squat, stand with your feet hip distance apart, toes facing forward. Lower your butt until your knees form a 90-degree angle. Rise back up, keeping your heels on the floor and squeezing your butt at the top.

Chair pose: To tone your buns, Debra Santoro, yoga instructor at Flip Dog Yoga and Pilates in Lahaska, recommends the chair pose. With your legs together and big toes touching, bend your knees and lower your hips — “as if you’re sitting back into a chair,” she says — and reach up over your head. Hold for five to 10 breaths.

See part 1 for exercises to tone your back.