Brides, Get Your Arms Out!

Tuesday 15 August 2017

While Stu and I got married last June, I have to admit, I'm still a bit wedding obsessed and I'm in a few wedding Facebook groups. One of the things I see crop up over and over again is brides looking for their dream wedding dresses and panicking about having their arms on show. But brides, I'm hear to tell you you can have your arms out and look amazing, and not even think about them on the day!


I have big arms. And I do mean BIG arms. I always have done. My arms have stretchmarks and uneven skin tone, and a crease in them. They aren't smooth, and they certainly aren't small. And I rocked bare arms on my wedding day and felt wonderful and beautiful.


For a long time I really struggled with my arms, and I used to keep them covered at all times. I was convinced everyone was staring at them all the time, and that my arms were all people noticed about me. One summer it was just too hot to keep my arms covered up, so I wore a vest top instead. And you know what, the world didn't end. No one even noticed. So I started wearing sleeves less and less, and found that over time, I cared less and less too.


When it came to planning my wedding dress my first instinct was to have sleeves so that my arms weren't on show. I initially planned lacy three quarter length sleeves, and a totally different dress, thinking that I just couldn't possibly wear the style of dress I'd always dreamed of. Once I actually booked my dressmaker however, that all changed and I just decided to go for it. It was my wedding day, and my wedding dress, why not just go for it?! So I did, I decided to have a purple version of the dress of my dreams, the wedding dress from the Guns n Roses music video for November Rain. Which meant legs out, and arms out.


So I got my arms out. And no one cared. Not even me. I was the most beautiful I'd ever been on my wedding day, and not even once did I feel self conscious about my arms. I was far too busy having the best day of my life to care about my arms! I'm so glad I decided to ditch the sleeves, it ended up being a beautiful summer's day and I'd have been too hot and just plain uncomfortable all day in sleeves. 


My arms didn't stop me from looking and feeling amazing on my wedding day, they were in fact something I never thought about even once. Don't feel like you have to cover yourself up to be beautiful, I didn't and I'm so happy because of that decision. When I think about the dress that almost was, versus my dream dress, I'm so pleased I didn't settle because I was scared of what people would think.

No one looked at my arms, they looked at my smiling happy face and told me I was beautiful instead. (I mean hell, they probably looked at my boobs a bit too because where the hell did they come from and where have they been since?!). The only person your arms bother is you, your loved ones will see you in your wedding dress and think wow, and your partner will fight back tears on seeing you for the first time. So go for it and get your arms out!

Much love,
Kitty xxxx

PS. My wedding photos are by the incredible ClickClickBang Photography.

Comments

  1. YESSSSSS GIRRRRRRRRRRL.

    For me, this year has been the Year of the Leg. Turns out I love nothing more than kicking about on hot days in proper, tiny Daisy Duke shorts, even better when my bare legs get rained on. The first time, I was convinced everybody would be staring at my massive thighs - but nobody did. And if they did now, it wouldn't bother me.

    Did I ever tell you that a photo of you in your wedding dress popped up on my Facebook feed one day and my stepmother demanded immediately to know who that beautiful woman was? I love those pictures. Your dress is crackin', and I love how happy you are in them.

    Lis / last year's girl x

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    1. aww that's so sweet!! Thank you for telling me that, that's adorable <3 My legs were a big challenge for me the last few years too and the world hasn't ended since I got my knees out yet :D xx

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  2. Yes!!!! I only wish you had written this years ago. I have similar issues with my arms and was adamant that I wouldn't be showing them off on my wedding day.
    I wore a lace bolero which was lovely but it was a warm day and I felt a little restrictive. If I could do it over again I like to think I would get the arms out bit hindsight is a marvellous thing
    X

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    1. I bet you looked absolutely beautiful Nicola! x

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  3. Oh I couldn't agree with you more! I have never been bothered about my big arms, in fact I never even realised that many women did, so I guess I am quite lucky. I think as long as you are comfortable in your skin, then people don't even notice!

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    1. exactly this, I often think the things I'm self conscious about people notice more because I'm more aware of them

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  4. So first up - you look RADIANT in your photos! I love how positive you always are, and couldn't agree more about dressing for the weather and feeling comfy. You look incredible, and I am sure this will inspire other brides to ditch their pre-conceived notions of "good / bad" and just go for what's important - what will make them happy. <3

    http://blog.fashionlovesphotos.com

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    1. Also on a side note, you say you have big arms, but that's not something I see when I look at your photos at all. I think we have a habit of blowing our own insecurities up in our heads - all I ever notice is enviable curls and a big smile!

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