A One-Hour Bootcamp-Style Wedding Workout
Sweating for the wedding is becoming increasingly popular. I mean, they have shirts for it.
Wanna squat before the knot?
While I don’t encourage women (or men) to put their bodies through hell for months in an attempt to look “perfect” for one day, sacrificing health and setting unrealistic expectations (but that’s a topic for another day), I always support people starting or continuing practical, long-term exercise plans.
But why stop before the wedding? Many couples are now adopting a ritual of sweating on the wedding (pre-ceremony of course).
Getting the blood pumping and neurotransmitters flowing on the big day is a great way to release any pent up pre-wedding jitters.
At my sister-in-law’s wedding last year, I put together an hour-long bootcamp style workout for her wedding day, and on my own wedding day I forced encouraged all our guests to join me for a wedding day namaste.
So when our cousin Sean and his fiance Michele tied the knot this weekend in Santa Barbara, naturally I was called upon to throw together what is quickly becoming a tradition in our clan — a wedding day bootcamp.
To fit with the wedding vibe, I worked in exercises from my Couple’s Core Workout, along with a few classic cardio bursts and a yoga-esque warm-up. And to get some friendly competition going, we rounded it out with a partner relay race.
This wedding workout is great for all ages and levels of fitness. We had children and grandparents alike join in this one, and several horses as you can see.
As it turned out, we’d picked a very inopportune time to host a bootcamp in the park. This park happened to be the meeting point for a horse parade that day and by the time that we were done exercising, we found ourselves fully surrounded by about 300 horses who were looking a little spooked by our squat jumps.
It all worked out though and everyone had a great time celebrating the happy couple and getting their sweat on before the ceremony.
If you have any family gatherings coming up, or just want to get a group of friends together, this wedding bootcamp workout is a fun, healthy activity for big groups.
A Pre-Wedding Workout Bootcamp
Warm-Up (5 min):
Complete each exercise once slowly, then pick up the pace, repeating the move for 1 minute.
- Sun Salutes
- Walk-Out Pushups with a Jump
- Plank with Alternating Leg Lift
- Plank with Alternating Runner’s Lunge
- Downward Dog to Plank
Cardio Burst #1 (5 min):
Complete each exercise at your own pace, back to back, for as many rounds as possible for 5 minutes.
- 10 Jumping Jacks
- 10 Butt Kicks
- 10 High Knees
- 10 Squat Jumps
- 10 Push-Ups
Strength Circuit #1 (10 min):
Complete each exercise, back to back, for 1 minute. Take a quick break, then repeat once more.
- Backward Lunge to Knee Raise (1 min each side)
- Squat to Calf Raise
- Single-Leg Deadlift (1 min each side)
Cardio Burst #2 (5 min):
Complete each exercise at your own pace, back to back, for as many rounds as possible for 5 minutes. *Burpees can be modified by eliminating the push-up and stepping back instead of jumping.
- 10 Speed Skaters
- 10 Front Kicks (each leg, touching the ground in between)
- 10 Burpees*
- 10 Triceps Dips
Strength Circuit #2 (8 min):
Complete each exercise with a partner for one minute, back to back. For the side plank and sit-up/knee drive, partners switch roles/spots at 30 seconds. After a short break, repeat the circuit once more. *Option to add a leg lift for a challenge.
- Partner Squats
- Plank “Pattycake” (4 High-Fives, 4 Shoulder Taps, 4 Leg Raises)
- Parter Side Plank*
- Sit-Up/Knee-Drive
Partner Relay
Choose two points for participants to race between. Each partner runs to one point and back, doing the chosen exercise, then their partner runs there and back. For the wheelbarrow, partners will switch roles coming and going. The first team to finish wins. Note —if you have a bride or groomzilla, I suggest you let them win!
- Karaoke
- High Knee Skip
- Backward Run
- Wheelbarrow
- Sprint
Another fun way to end bootcamps is with a plank challenge. At my sister-in-law Mary’s bootcamp, she won, holding her plank for four minutes. I can honestly say, no one let her win that!
Want to try the workout? Print this graphic or PIN it for later! >>
Naomi Vidal says:
Yes I have with you, and it was great!! :)
Jennifer Dene says:
You know I love this Whitney!
I think that the wedding is great motivation to make some healthy tweaks that make you feel great in yourself, and exercising is definitely part of that. With that in mind I hate hearing about brides who want to lose an arbitrary weight just because they’re getting married. Tone up, increase energy, boost endorphins…that’s what’s worthwhile.
And while I quite like #sweatingforthewedding I have a real problem with #sheddingforthewedding :( Not cool!
I bet your new sister in law loved having you take the reigns for their workout!
XOX
Ellen says:
I prefer to try and always stay in good shape but if I ever get around to finally finding a spouse I would not be opposed to putting in a little extra effort! This looks like fun, I like the games at the end:)
Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment says:
Couples workouts are fun and actually a great way to connect. Wedding workout, awesome.
Buster Solomon says:
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kimlee0497 says:
My partner and I had planned to train together on Valentine’s Day. But unfortunately, my Valentine’s Day didn’t work out this year. My partner and I had a fight because there is no trust in our relationship. And I think that is the basis for a healthy relationship.
Fiona says:
I agree with you. Without trust, strong relationships cannot be built. I had trust issues when I met a guy on a dating site. I did not understand at all whether he was kissing with many girls or only with me. But after reading a few tips from this cisna.org website, I was able to resolve the trust issue. It really helped me, even though I broke up with that guy. But in a new relationship, I was already more loyal in this matter.
Robert says:
Wedding bootcamp workouts are such a fun and active way to bond with your partner and even your guests before the big day! More and more couples are incorporating fitness routines into their wedding day traditions, whether it’s to shake off nerves or just have a good time together. These workouts bring people together and create shared memories that last a lifetime. Whether it’s yoga, cardio, or strength exercises, getting a group of people moving can be a wonderful experience. If you’re also looking to connect with new people or meet singles who enjoy staying active, check sex meet link. It offers a space where you can meet others, chat, and even hook up with singles who share your interests in fitness or other activities. The online world provides so many opportunities to make connections, and who knows, you might find someone to join you in your next workout session.