Dan's Papers - September 14, 2007 - The Y-Factor with Christian McLean

Everyone loves a wedding. Though it costs you a fortune in gifts, hotels and travel, wedding season is a lot of fun. The problem is that it can take a toll on your body. There's dinner, dancing, cake and while those seem like they should be on the plus side, they have their pitfalls as well.

It's September and for many that means outdoor weddings. For some reason, everyone thinks that the moment Labor Day is over, it instantly becomes fall. The past weekend was sweltering - temperatures in the 90s, the blazing sun - and it was almost too much to bear for anyone in a black tuxedo. While what you wear to a wedding is dictated by the invitation, if it isn't a black tie event, put more than a minute's thought into what you're going to wear. The wrong suit can lead to overheating and even heat exhaustion. Wearing dark wool at an outdoor wedding is like sitting in a sauna. If you're the groom and you've decided on a more formal outdoor affair, it isn't a bad idea to think about doing the nuptials under an arbor or another type of shaded platform. Also, limit the service's length. The less time in direct sunlight, the better chance your guests will make it to the reception dry and healthy.

I know there's an open bar, but pace yourself. No one wants to be the "hammered guy" at a wedding. It looks bad in pictures, it looks worse in videos and the groom's parents will never forgive you. Besides just making an ass out of yourself, you are also doing a serious disservice to your body.

Drink plenty of water. We all know booze dehydrates, but dancing up a storm does, too. Think of it this way, when you exercise you wear shorts and a t-shirt, right? And the only people in the gym wearing pants and a long sleeved shirt are doing it to sweat more and burn more calories, right? Well, when you've wearing a suit or even a shirt and tie and you hit the dance floor, your added layers raise your body temperature forcing you to sweat in order to cool yourself down. The more you dance, the more you sweat. Add booze to the equation and you'll feel like a train wreck the next morning if you don't stay hydrated. As a guide, drink a glass of water for every glass of alcohol you consume. Also, try to drink as much water as you can before the wedding begins. It's always a good idea to start with a solid base.

While dancing can be great for burning calories, wedding food is the ultimate for putting them back in the body. At the cocktail hour, you've got crab cakes, mini-hotdogs, scallops wrapped in bacon and the list goes on. I once attended a wedding that served deep-fried grilled cheese sandwiches as hor d'oeuvres and, while they were fantastic to eat, they were not exactly good for the body. Just because trays full of food keep appearing in front of you like magic, it doesn't mean you have to eat from every one of them. Trust me, it's not considered rude to say, "No thank you." Plus, you still have dinner and dessert waiting for you.

Dinner is generally the healthiest meal you'll consume during a wedding. Chicken, fish or beef (depending on what you checked off) is usually matched with a starch and veggies. The portions and quality of food depend on the caterer, but it is important not to skip the meal because you'll need the sustenance to get you through the event. Desserts on the other hand are a nightmare. Buffet-style is even more frightening - all you can eat cheesecake, for example - so opt for less glutinous dishes. If there's fruit, that is probably the best option. Packed with vitamins, they are actually healthy. Plus, the natural sugars will give you a small burst of energy to get you through the night.

One last thing, if you're one of those people who are afraid of germs, pack some Purel. Shaking a hundred hands and kissing the new in-laws will definitely put you in germ's way. Another trick to stave off catching something is to get a good night's sleep the evening before and eat a sturdy breakfast the day of. Hopefully all this will prevent you from crashing at your next wedding.