How to cartwheel in a wedding dress

I taught myself to cartwheel when I was 11 years old. It was the summer, I'd become obsessed with gymnastics — watching the “Nadia” movie, reading the “Gymnasts” books by Elizabeth Levi, and sadly realizing I was already too old to start, if I had any hope of reaching the Olympics.

That didn't stop me wanting to learn, however. I begged for lessons but instead was sent to learn piano. So what else could an enterprising kid do but teach herself?

I've done at least one cartwheel a day since then. It's a skill I am determined not to lose — I'm going to be that 80-year-old granny who is always upside-down.

So on my wedding day, there was no question about what would happen! To me, a cartwheel is an expression of joy, and there is so much joy when you get to marry the love of your life!

Here's how you too can pull off a cartwheel in a wedding dress…

STEP 1:

Buy your dress with a consideration for cartwheels.

Truth is, if it's so long that you might trip in it, you probably can't cartwheel.
Likewise, if it's tight, or mermaid style, or super-short, a cartwheel probably can't happen in that either. You need free legs and free range of motion!

STEP 2:

Practice, in heels, without the dress.

STEP 3:

Practice, in the dress, with NO SHOES.

This step is essential. If your dress has a train, you will very likely land on it. This should happen in an extremely clean (indoor) area with lots of space. I did my practicing at the dressmaker's (where I went for alterations). She had a beautiful big carpeted space!

STEP 4:

Consider taping your dress along your bust. Especially if the dress is strapless. (Thankfully I didn't need to do this!)

STEP 5:

Wear underwear that you wouldn't mind everyone seeing.

STEP 6:

Practice in the dress AND your wedding shoes. Just so you know you can land it before doing it in front of everyone.

STEP 7:

On the wedding day, make sure your hairpiece and accessories are secure. Be prepared for them to get knocked askew (particularly the veil) but that's half the fun, right?

STEP 8:

Go for it!

TRICKS FOR THE CARTWHEEL:

• Land lightly. Even if you land on the train, keep it soft.
• Do not keep your legs together — this will risk the skirt flying up. Your legs should be at a “V” angle.
• Whip around FAST. This will ensure your bust doesn't spill out at the top, AND the momentum ensures your skirt doesn't fly up.
• You cannot cartwheel slowly. You need the momentum to keep your skirt around your ankles (or knees, if it's shorter) and so you need to make it speedy.

I wanted to cartwheel down the aisle for my wedding, but, due to a hurricane turning the beach into a swamp, I wasn't prepared to get muddy before the ceremony. So it happened after the ceremony, and at the reception.

And my husband joined me in the cartwheels of joy too…