Extreme wedding weight loss - MacZar style

One of the first things you think about when you get engaged is how you are going to look on your wedding day. If you open a bridal magazine you are assaulted with the various nip and tuck procedures you should consider having in preparation.

If I believed everything I read, I would currently be in hospital recovering from breast augmentation surgery, with my liposuction scheduled for a few months time, botox now and in 6 months and of course some chemical peels to keep my skin looking 'youthful' (when did we start peeling layers off our face?????)

Instead I wanted what most brides do, a slightly slimmer physique and a beautiful smile, sounds easy, how wrong I was!

I haven't had any orthodontic work done. My teeth are okay, people aren't horrified at them but I'm certainly not going to be posing for dental magazines. Knowing that there are many new less obvious ways to straighten your teeth up a bit I consulted my dentist and then orthodontist for options. And boy did I open a can of worms.

False sense of security

The dentist was very nice and suggested a very quick method would be the use of crowns on my front 6 teeth which would not correct my overbite but would make my top teeth look straight. At about R30 000 for the 6 teeth this seemed like a feasible option.

Not to be. My fiance was horrified at the thought of me filing down my otherwise healthy teeth and getting false ones glued on. On to the orthodontist.

Reality bites

My orthodontist (Dr Steven Flax) strongly agreed and took all the necessary scans and x-rays and suggested I join him in a few weeks to discuss our options. What had started off as my own vanity, revealed issues that required treatment and fast...

My lower jaw is underdeveloped and is the reason my face is so round, this position of the jaw is causing migraines which are getting more frequent and severe and the longer it is left the longer the recovery is and the worse my migraines will get in the mean time.

This combined with the fact that I need my wisdom teeth out because they are in the exact position where the surgeon cuts through your jaw means I will be a frequent hospital visitor for the next 6 months and need braces!

The up side

After the op my face will be longer and look a bit thinner as a result. The braces will come off before the wedding and I will be getting my own exercise free weight loss program.

I start with the wisdoms on Monday and then braces towards the end of September, so I'm enjoying ribs and popcorn and other such food while I can.

Chat once I'm healed

A nervous MacZar bride

Crisis averted, until the next one

So we have done the seemingly impossible..... found and booked a wedding venue.

After much consideration we decided to go with a local venue, the stress of filling rooms at a hotel was an uncertainty we weren't willing to deal with. After looking at some venues we went with Morrells in Northcliff.

Pros of Morrells

This is one of the most impeccably decorated and maintained places I have had the luck to pass through. The style exactly matches my aesthetic (french country) and the staff are friendly, professional and helpful.

The chapel is non-denominational.

There is a flow between the indoor and outdoor spaces making for a very fluid event and nice to haves like a cigar bar, piano room, rose garden and a bar covered in old war love letters.

We haven't tasted the food but have heard fantastic reviews, all catering is done in house and the wine list is impressive.

Lastly, they cater for many of a brides concerns in house. With décor, flowers, food, drinks and entertainment sorted out it leaves us to arrive in pretty outfits, make sure there is someone to marry us and that our guests know where to go.

Cons of Morrells

As expected, a full-service venue like this does not come cheap. The venue hire and staff costs are some of the highest we have seen and with the need to use their in-house florist, flower and décor costs could escalate quickly.

The venue is located on quite a busy road in Northcliff, once you are inside you can barely here it, but you can't help that feel if it was situated down a quiet street it would be even more idyllic.

Despite this it was definitely the place we wanted to have a party with our nearest and dearest and dance the night away next to a vintage rocking horse.

What next you ask

With a lovely stationery designer, Tash Chapman at Bridesign we have our engagement party invites out. A casual affair at a cafe on a peach farm, peaches champagne and giggles!

We have our photographer booked.

We both have an idea what we want to look like but still need to find the dress/outfit without breaking the bank.

Then its downhill to the fun stuff, booking honeymoon, tasting menus, choosing cake and picking flowers

Hoping the wedding expo next weekend has some great ideas for us.

From a very happy but exhausted

Maczar bride