LONDON, England—On Friday, many of us tuned in to watch the highlights of the glorious British royal wedding of Catherine "Kate" Middleton and Prince William. We gasped in awe at her stunning lace dress, and sighed in romantic admiration as they left Westminster Abbey hand in hand, surrounded by an exquisite procession of mounted cavalry and special guests. Much was mentioned of how stunning the Princess bride looked, and a few commented on how she appeared to have dropped a dress size or two in time for her big occasion. The royal bride had a crowd of billions around the world watching her every move, so ensuring she looked her very best was no exception.

Photo courtesy of the Official Royal Wedding website

This is the busiest time of year for couples tying the knot, so if your big day is looming ever closer, how do you follow Kate's wedding and get your figure in tip-top shape when marrying your own Prince Charming?

Preparation is key when it comes to achieving the perfect figure, so allow for ample time to not only lose weight but also to tone up. One should ideally begin the fitness and diet plan at least six months to a year before your wedding date. The initial fitting of the wedding dress should take into consideration any future weight to be lost, but equally should not be tailored too optimistically small or tight either. Aim to have your final dress adjustments ready for your new figure ideally six weeks before the wedding day.

Most wedding dresses show off the upper body, with a tapered focus on the waist, skimming over the lower body in waves of fabric cascading down into a long train. In order to carry the dress as elegantly as possible, your body must never be too muscular or too thin. Instead, aim for a balance of long, lean limbs with a slim waist and toned upper body. In light of these ideals, I find my bridal clients are most suited to Pilates and yoga-based exercises. These classes specialize in lengthening and tightening the body, as well as utilizing body weight for strength and balance, whilst still embracing the essential curves that every girl adores. These are combined with solid core exercises and cardio driven, power busting aerobic moves, which pull in and sculpt the waist and hips at every angle, ensuring the lifting and toning of the entire body.

Good nutrition is vital to compliment any new fitness regimen. Your diet should include essential proteins and amino acids to aid muscle repair, balanced carbohydrates and fats to ensure correct function of the organs and promote healthy skin, hair and nails, plenty of fruits and vegetables to bring ample an supply of vitamins and minerals and lots of fresh water to flush out any toxins. Additionally, calories should be reduced according to the basal metabolic rate of the individual, creating a deficit so fat is lost gradually alongside the workout plan.

Of course, appearing slim is important to every girl, but above all, every bride must look happy, comfortable and glowing on her big day. Therefore, good rest and relaxation beforehand is important. An abundance of cardiovascular exercise and a nutritious eating plan will ensure the body and mind is in peak condition for such a once-in-a-lifetime event. Whatever Kate's diet and fitness plan secrets were leading up to the royal wedding, they seemed to have done the trick and her hard work paid off. She looked positively slim, radiant and overjoyed as she waved from the balcony of Buckingham Palace with her new husband. She will continue to be an inspiration for many brides to be as she proved that sometimes fairy tales really do come true.