April 19, 2011 It was her worst nightmare ever. The perfection-seeking bridezilla has been hunting for that one flawless gown to complete the fantasy wedding she had envisioned having since she was seven. Of course, no one factored in that the bride now … can’t fit into the gown.

From executive producers Dave Broome (The Biggest Loser), Rick Hurvitz (Pimp My Ride) and Ari Shofet (Pimp My Ride) comes a brand new reality series very close to the hearts of brides-to-be – Shedding for the Wedding – coming to Sony Entertainment Television (SET) this June!

Nine engaged couples from all walks of life live together and compete to see which team will lose the most weight over a three-month period. Their dream wedding is up for grabs, and their goal is to shed the pounds.

The experts are called in to help achieve their goal; celebrity nutritionist Ashley Koff advises on their lifestyle and diet changes while world-class trainers Nicky Holender and Jennifer Cohen put them up through hours of gruelling workouts. Also on hand is A-list wedding planner Brian Worley, who helps map out their fantasy wedding theme according to each couple’s character and background.

Perhaps no one is more apt to host this series than Sara Rue (Less Than Perfect, Two and a Half Men), pictured left, who is planning for her own wedding and has shed an astounding 50 pounds in recent months. Having dropped from a size 14 to 6 and conquered her first half marathon, Rue identifies with the physical and emotional traumas that the couples go through. She is also real-life testimony to the joys of gown-shopping when you look and feel good. “I wandered to the back of the store where all the bride gowns were. The woman zipped it up and she had to clamp it in the back because it was too big. It was just a great feeling!” quips Rue.

In each episode of Shedding for the Wedding, the couples have an added incentive to push themselves harder in the physical challenges, just to win one element of their dream wedding for the sake of their other half. This could be the ring, the cake, the flowers and table setting, the chef or even the wedding gown! The two couples who lose the least combined weight at the end will face off in an elimination challenge, and the losing team will be out of the game.

“The challenges have a wedding element to all of them," Rue explains. "So they might be hanging onto a giant ring in a swing hundreds of feet up in the air using only their arm strength to win their wedding bands. Some of the challenges are even old-fashioned wedding themes. There was a log-sawing contest that's apparently a German tradition."

It’s not game over yet for the early quitters, though. The first seven eliminated teams get another chance to redeem themselves at the next weigh-in during the finale, by being the team to lose the most weight at home on their own. This couple will win their dream honeymoon while the last couple standing and overall winner of the show will score their fantasy wedding, a once-in-a-lifetime event that American viewers will attend.

Rue sums up the essence of Shedding for the Wedding simply: "Yes, [the show is] about weight loss, but it's also about these couples really bonding and making each other better so they can start their lives off together at their happiest and healthiest."

Indeed, to have and to hold, for better or for worse. Embark on an emotionally gripping journey with these lovebirds on Shedding for the Wedding, premiering on SET this June!

Shedding for the Wedding premieres 13 June 2011
Airs every Monday & Tuesday at 10pm (SG, HK) 9pm (JKT)
First and Exclusively on Sony Entertainment Television (SET)

Five Weight-loss Tips From Dietician Ashley Koff
As tried and proven by the contestants in Shedding for the Wedding (a.k.a Shedders)

1. Drink to Hydrate, Not Gain Weight: Get rid of any beverages that contain added sugar, artificial ingredients (see #2), and stick with water + lemon, herbal teas (no sugar), coffee (moderation, 8 ounces daily), fat-free organic milk, sparkling water and plain coconut water. Instead of juice, opt for fruits instead.

2. Clean Out the Pantry: Get rid of any packaged food that contain “partially hydrogenated oil”, “high fructose corn syrup”, “artificial colors” – these chemical lab experiments have no (good) place in your body.

3. Pit Stop versus Fill-Up: think of your body like a race car not a street car – only give it the fuel it will use and burn right now, then pit stop again 3 hours later. For most Shedders, that’s one serving of each carb + protein + healthy fat and unlimited vegetables (see the Nutrition Worksheet at www.ashleykoffapproved.com).

4. Nutrient Balance AND Calorie Control: As noted in point #3, we need a balance of nutrients at each pit stop (I call them “Eating Occasions), so while it’s important to count calories and to spread your calories throughout the day – you want to make sure your calories are nutrient-balanced. A 100-calorie pack may be only 100 calories but if it’s more than one serving of carbohydrates it can prevent optimal shedding. Instead, grab an apple and 1 Tbsp peanut butter for better nutrient balance and about the same calories.

5. Sleep it Off: Our Shedders know that diet and exercise are key, but sleep is the keyhole – it’s what enables your body to recover, to recharge, to get rid of unwanted fat and toxins and to build lean body mass for good. So make time to sleep and if you have trouble, try reducing your caffeine or adding magnesium-rich foods (like whole grains and high fiber cereal) during the day or even taking a magnesium citrate supplement.