Here Comes the Bride, No Matter the Cost

Wedding dress? $1,500. Ceremony? $30,000. Rapid weight loss, whitened teeth, artificial tan, laser surgery and a shot of Botox? Apparently, priceless—but they may come at a health cost as brides-to-be try to look picture-perfect with "red carpet-worthy good looks" on their wedding day. Such extremes can launch a life-time of unhealthy habits, writes Sarah Elkins in Newsweek.

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A recent study found 70% of future brides planned to shed more than 20 pounds, mostly through exercise. But 20% resorted to fasting, laxatives, smoking, and, in some cases, vomiting after meals. Similarly unhealthy quick-fixes abound for women seeking smoother skin, with use of a cheap Botox replacement leading to a cases of botulism. True, nobody's perfect, "but that doesn't mean I won't try!" one bride said. (Read more marriage stories.)