Our FitBride Jenna
We love to celebrate our FitBrides - their achievements, their success - but we thought it would be special to celebrate the reason they are "fit brides" in the first place - their relationships!
We thought it would be fun to do a series of FitBride Interviews - we'll ask our brides questions about their wedding, their hubby, and maybe a little about their experience with the program. We hope you'll enjoy!
First up, our FitBride Jenna:
How long were you and your [now] husband together before he popped the question? Were you surprised? How old were you two when you first got together vs. got married?
My husband and I met in the summer of 2015 at a close mutual friend’s karaoke party. Here is what followed in my husband’s words (as featured on our wedding website):
I might characterize the year that followed as a light and casual but romantic courtship replete with Billy Joel concerts, a search for the best burger in Manhattan and a growing sense of love for and attachment to each other. Jenna might try to tell you that she begged me to ~officially~ date her on three separate occasions, the invitations of which I thrice politely declined. Which take is more historically accurate? Who’s to say, really.
If you believe her version… Nevertheless, she persisted.
We became ~official~ in September of 2016, got engaged in February 2021 (I thought we were meeting his parents, but instead I got proposed to on a very public beach pavilion), and we were married on March 26, 2022.
Which did you pick first - the venue or the dress?
The venue. As soon as we got engaged in Florida, we knew we also wanted to get married there. We picked the first venue we toured!
How did you find out about FitBride?
I learned about the FitBride program through a friend of mine who was getting married a few months before me. She looked and felt absolutely incredible, and knowing that I had similar wedding goals, she made the intro to Lee… and the rest is history.
Had you ever followed a program like FitBride before?
I had experimented with a personal trainer before, but the experience was nowhere near as structured or comprehensive of a program as Lee offers. Prior to FitBride, I was mainly sticking to cardio (big no-no!)
Was it hard to pick bridesmaids? Who was in your bridal party (if you had one)?
My husband and I each ended up with 9 bridesmaids and groomsmen. It was a bigger group than expected, but we had no regrets!
My bridal party included 7 girlfriends from all walks of life (childhood, college, adult years) and my 2 sisters-in-law. My Maid of Honor was my best friend from college, Cristina. We were randomly assigned roommates freshmen year… you could say we hit it off.
Who came with you to pick out your dress?
My mom. It was a special bonding moment for the two of us.
Did you find planning a wedding stressful?
Yes. In fact, I am stressed answering this question. It was the best process that I never want to go through again.
How did you pick your first dance song?
We wanted to surprise our guests, so we picked two! We started with a traditional slow song (Can’t Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley) and transitioned to a choreographed dance routine to You Make My Dreams by Hall & Oates. Video available upon request :) (Oh I've seen it, and can't wait to share it!!)
Describe your husband in 3 words.
My better half.
What advice would you give to someone planning their wedding now?
Don’t sweat the small things because chances are that no one will notice (including yourself!)
What advice would you go back and give yourself if you could?
Don’t overthink every single decision. Make it and move on.
What was your favorite part about your wedding?
Making our entrance into the reception as Mr. and Mrs. Nuetzel... and partying the night away!
What is the biggest thing you took away from your FitBride journey?
Too many things! FitBride changed my entire perspective on diet and exercise. But to narrow it down to three: lifting heavy weights will not make you bulky; macros are key (carbs included!); your happiness is not defined by the number on the scale.
What flavor was your wedding cake?
Lemon cake with lemon buttercream and strawberry buttercream… yum!
Did you go on a honeymoon afterwards?
We went to Fiji! Home to the happiest people in the world. It was pure magic.
Thank you for being our first interview Jenna! Jenna rocked the FitBride program in all areas. From the first coaching call we had, she took all the tools and suggestions I provided and hit the ground running. Strength training, nutrition, practicing awareness around habits and more. And when we needed to step it up, she stepped it up to reach her goal. She was committed and ready to make a change and did just that. I’m so happy you continue to work with me and can't wait to continue to see your progress and wins.
