What bride doesn't want to look her best - or better - on her wedding day? Even the slimmest woman wants to tone up to fit into the dress of her dreams.

Suzanne Rowen wasn't any different. Rowen was already an active and regular exerciser, but decided he workout plan needed an overhaul if she was going to look great for her nuptials in Hawaii. So she approached fitness instructor and celebrity personal trainer Tracy Effinger to come up with a wedding workout plan.

"I was getting married in Hawaii, so I had the double-edge sword of wearing a wedding dress and a bathing suit in front of my friends and family," says Rowen, who was married in September.

The fruits of their efforts - in addition to Rowen's wedding-fit body - is "The Wedding Workout: Look and Feel Fabulous on Your Special Day" (Contemporary Books). The book is a blend of workout tips, sensible nutrition advice and lots of discussion about body image.

Body image?

The first trip to try on dresses at the bridal salon sends many brides to the gym, says Effinger. Even so, an upcoming weding is "a really positive motivator. It's really your last opportunity to commit to yourself before you commit to another person."

In addtion to exercise and nutrition tips, the authors offer some fashion advice to help readers wade through wedding styles to find the dress that really works. They devised four "Diamond Girl" body types - the bottom-heavy pear; the top-heavy heart; the tall, slim emerald; and the short, square princess. Rowen found understanding her shape made choosing a dress easier, especially since "your dream dress isn't necessarily going to look great on you." She dreamed of a boat-neck sheath (ideal for lanky emerald-cut girls), but choose a simple, scooed-neck, A-line dress that was ideal for her pear-cut figure.

Once brides have a sense of their true shape and which dress will look best, Effinger and Rowen outline their four-pronged Wedding Workout. It includes moves to improve flexibility and posture, musculoskeletal training, cardio work and a healthy eating plan - all designed to help a bride look her gracefl best as she marches down the aisle.

All that sounds complicated, but it's meant to be worked into a bride's already busy life. Weight-training exercises, for example, use body weight or light hand weights (5 pounds at most), and all the exercises can be done at home. Many are aimed at sculpting key areas likely to be on display, such as the shoulders, arms and back. Effinger also emphasizes abdominal exercises to strenghten the body's core and improve a bride's posture.

Each bride is likely to find different aspects of the "Wedding Workout" will make the difference. What worked for Rowen?

The wight training made all the difference in the world," she says. "That, and the eating plan - I really leaned out."

Ultimately, Effinger and Rowen hope brides will find they've not only whipped themselves into wedding-day shape, but they've made lifestyle changes that last long after the honeymoon.