Is it a bride's prerogative to whip her maids into shape?

A woman's wedding is arguably one of the most important days of her life so it is no surprise that she will want to look her best.

Many cynical brides will say that the ceremony and reception only last a day and that those who spend so much time worrying about the superficial aspects should instead be focusing on the reason the wedding is going ahead in the first place - the marriage.

While that does make perfect sense, I think that women should make an effort to look and feel their best for the big day - if anything because those bridal photos will last a lifetime and beyond.

However, when it comes to wedding body boot camp - I personally draw the line.

I recently read in the news that some brides in Australia have taken looking good in their wedding pictures to a whole new level, by threatening their bridesmaids that if they do not tone-up their bodies, they will be turfed out of the job.

Not content with looking fabulous themselves in their bridal couture, these bossy madams force their best friends to undergo a rigorous exercise regime with a personal trainer because they do not want a fatty in their photo album.

This got me thinking about the vows that a husband and wife make on their wedding day, "To have and to hold … for better or worse … in sickness and in health" - does that really mean anything to these brides?

What if their husband piles on a pound or two a few years down the line, will they be warned to shape up or ship out?   

Looking fantastic and feeling healthy and happy on the big day is one thing, but when it comes at the cost of potentially alienating your best friends, is it really worth it?