Plus-size model discusses feeling body positive in lead up to wedding

‘There’s just something beautiful about a woman radiating happiness from within’

Caralyn Mirand (YouTube)

Weddings are happy and joyful occasions, but they can also undoubtedly be fraught with stress at the same time.

One aspect of wedding preparations that some brides find difficult to manage is the pressure to look perfect on the big day.

When plus-size model and blogger Caralyn Mirand, from Buffalo, New York, became engaged to her boyfriend in June last year, she couldn’t help but immediately consider how she would look when she exchanged her vows.

“When it comes to my own big day, I’ve internally battled with how I want to look and feel,” she wrote for Martha Stewart Weddings.

“What’s most upsetting to me is that, after getting engaged, my initial thought was, ‘I need to lose weight before my wedding.’ And I’m sure that’s something many brides-to-be can relate to.”

It’s easier said than done to become body confident overnight, especially when you know that all eyes are going to be on you.

However, as Mirand aptly wrote, learning how to overcome your insecurities “is a journey, not a destination.”

“This ideology of needing to lose weight for a wedding has been placed on us by society, but no one should have to live by these standards,” she said.

“After all, it is your day - you should look and feel how you want.”

The societal expectations for women to become the pinnacles of perfection on their wedding days can lead them to overlook why they’re getting married in the first place, Mirand explained.

Weddings are a celebration of love, and so how you feel on your wedding day should be a greater priority than how you look.

“When you think about how you look on your wedding day, remember what’s really important,” she said. “It’s your wedding, and you’re marrying the person you love.

“There’s just something beautiful about a woman radiating happiness from within.”

While learning how to be body confident is an ongoing journey for women of all sizes, Mirand believes the key to being a happy bride is being your authentic self.

“There are a few things I’ve learned on my journey: I will always have full hips, thighs that touch, and a round stomach, and my body was made for wearing items that showcase curves,” she said.

“To me, being a bride means being who I really am, from the inside out.

“And I’m learning that woman is quite alright."