Just another WordPress site
Your wedding day provides the ultimate opportunity to showcase who you truly are as a bride and as a couple. From your wedding dress to where you say, “I do,” your special day reveals your inner essence as well as the image you wish to put forth into the world. Take the quiz below for insight into your true tie-the-knot identity.
[qzzr quiz=”408826″ width=”100%” height=”auto” redirect=”true” offset=”0″]
We’ve all heard about the extravagance of celebrity weddings and the high costs of all their lavish celebrations. In some cases, it may make us wish we had similarly massive budgets for our own weddings, and in other cases, it helps us realize we have much better ideas on how to spend that money. (A villa in Tuscany, anyone?)
Here’s the breakdown of some big-ticket celebrity wedding expenses and what you could do with that budget.
Want to share this infographic? Just copy and paste the code below!
Sofia Vergara & Joe Manganiello
This stunning engagement ring was a 7-carat cushion cut diamond with a diamond halo encircling the center stone and French-set diamonds covering the platinum band. The estimated cost was an equally stunning half-million dollars.
What you could buy for $500,000: For the cost of Sofia’s gorgeous rock, you could buy beautiful (and normal size) rings for 81 brides.
Prince William & Kate Middleton
Their wedding was blooming with beautiful flowers, and the price tag for all those blooms totaled $800,000. Her bouquet had lily of the valley, sweet William (yes, he is sweet), hyacinth and myrtle. (Did you know it’s royal tradition to carry a sprig of myrtle in the wedding bouquet?)
What $800,000 gets you: Enough flowers for 315 weddings, or nearly a wedding every day for a year. As another option, you could use this flower budget to plant a field of tulips large enough to span 4.1 football fields.
Lauren Morelli and Samira Wiley
This couple both wore custom Christian Siriano ensembles with a price tag of about $20,000 each. Samira wanted “her fairytale wedding moment,” according to the designer, who added a modern twist to that concept with a two-piece gown so Samira could change into a simpler skirt for the evening. Lauren “wanted to feel regal and elegant,” the designer added. The result was a tailored pantsuit with a crystal and beaded pearl collar.
What $20,000 could buy you: an extreme amount of fabric. We ran the numbers, and you could buy 2,316 yards of French satin (nine times the height of the Eiffel Tower) or 4,317 yards of chiffon (longer than the Hollywood Walk of Fame). Now that’s a lot of fabric indeed!
Jay Z & Beyonce
The music cost for their wedding was about $60,000 with DJ Cassidy spinning old-school hip hop and R&B. The playlist included classics like The Jackson 5 and Whitney Houston. The couple’s first dance song was “Crazy in Love,” the 2003 song that the couple first collaborated on.
In real life: With $60,000, you could buy 5,454 albums on iTunes. But to make $60,000, Jayoncé would need their music streamed 10 million times on Spotify.
Kim Kardashian & Kanye West
This couple had extravagant wedding favors that cost $125,000 per guest. In total, the budget was $25 million just for the favors. Each guest received Bollinger champagne ($500), Creme de la Mer products ($200), Swarovski crystals etched with the couple’s initials, bottles of scents from local perfumeries and a hotel spa voucher ($250).
With $25 million, you could buy: a Caribbean island, a villa in Tuscany, 25 Manhattan parking spots or two dozen orca whales.
Blake Lively & Ryan Reynolds
The couple’s cake was a centerpiece. Costing about $20 per slice, it was a vanilla-and-sour-cream cake
with peach-apricot preserves, and Earl Grey-milk chocolate buttercream. Yum! But the cake wasn’t the only desert; there was a table of delicious treats including lemon meringue tartlets, blueberry cheesecake bites, mini chocolate bundt cakes filled with chocolate ganache and artisanal popsicles with fun messages like “Ain’t love sweet?”
In real life: Typical cake costs are $1.50 to $12 a slice. Using the celebrity budget, a typical wedding cake would be 28 layers tall or about 9.3 feet high. Now that’s a lot of cake!
Anne Hathaway & Adam Shulman
The couple used celebrity wedding planner Stefanie Cove of Yifat Oren & Associates, who took home about $200,000 to plan this event (about 20% of a $1 million wedding). The firm has on staff 10 full-time and 40 part-time employees, but it’s rarely glamorous, she said: “We work 18-hour days for three months straight.” Fighting paparazzi comes with the territory. When Anne learned that her big day was no longer a secret, the planner got an enormous balloon art installation to prevent unwanted photos. But instead of hiding the couple, it made them a paparazzi target. Yikes!
With $200,000, you could: Buy your very own yacht. You could also use it to book a spot on the world’s first commercial passenger spaceship or even pay for 20 years of rent (based on a median rent amount of $800 per month).
George Clooney & Amal Alamuddin
The couple celebrated their marriage in Seychelles, an island off the coast of East Africa, with honeymoon costs totaling $74,000. They stayed in a 5,000-square-foot private villa at The North Island resort, which boasts its own plunge pool and many other luxe amenities. Bonus: It’s only accessible by helicopter! Other couples who have honeymooned in Seychelles include Nicky Hilton and James Rothschild, Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills, and Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade.
In real life: The Clooney honeymoon could have paid for two couples traveling the world for a year. Alternatively, you could use that money to buy 18 around-the-world plane tickets. On the other hand, you could just buy an airplane.
Sources:
https://www.theknot.com
https://www.bustle.com/
http://www.therichest.com
http://www.eonline.com
http://www.glamour.com
http://www.brides.com
http://www.dailymail.co.uk
http://us.hellomagazine.com/
http://www.stylebistro.com/
http://people.com
http://www.marthastewartweddings.com
http://www.yatesjewelers.com/sofia-vergara-engagement-ring.html
https://www.buzzfeed.com/elliewoodward/the-most-outrageously-expensive-celebrity-weddings-of
http://www.celebritytalent.net/sampletalent/1660/dj-cassidy-(cassidy-podell)/
http://people.com/
https://www.tessa.com/prices
http://xogroupinc.com/press-releases/theknot2016realweddings_costofweddingsus/
http://honeymoons.about.com/cs/eurogen1/a/weddingstats.htm
https://www.airtreks.com/ready/create-a-travel-budget/how-much-will-it-cost/
http://alittleadrift.com/rtw-budget-travel-around-the-world/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/africa/seychelles/articles/Inside-George-Clooneys
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2251255/Mrs–Mrs-Reynolds-The-glimpse-Blake-Lively
http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/blake-lively-and-ryan-reynolds-wedding-1316454
https://twitter.com/LaurusBridal/status/298252748913258496/photo/1
http://thehill.com/special-reports/weddings-february-2013-/282987-chefs-help-to-satisfy-wedding-sweet-spot
Wedding season is here. It’s time to prepare for weekends full of dancing, socializing and celebrating happy couples. Wedding guests have a responsibility to help make the day go as smoothly as possible for themselves and everyone else. That means making sure they do come prepared and don’t bug the couple or immediate family too much. Here are some critical do’s and don’ts for this season’s wedding fetes.
Months of preparation go into planning a wedding, which means every single guest is accounted for. It can be a drag and a time-suck to have to track down every guest who hasn’t sent back the RSVP card. Save the couple a few hours of logistical work and RSVP on time — whether you’re sending a card in the mail or checking a box on a wedding website. They will appreciate it immensely!
How many times have you been caught unprepared for rain when the weather has been nothing but sun for weeks? Or how many times have you gotten a sunburn on half your face from sitting in the same place during the hottest part of the day? Stock up on facial sunscreen, grab a wedding-worthy sun hat and pack a picture-perfect umbrella in case the weather doesn’t go your way.
Your shoes are adorable — truly the perfect complement to your carefree, summer wedding-guest dress. But weddings are long, and you don’t want to have to sit for the entire reception. Instead, you may consider ditching the stilettos after a couple of hours for some flats or flip-flops. And who says comfort has to compromise cuteness? Try these rose gold flip-flops from Havaianas to slip out of blistering heels and into an effortless night of fun. You might even make it to the after party.
Can’t find your way from the ceremony to the reception? Don’t know what time the post-wedding brunch is on Sunday? Don’t ask the busy, overwhelmed bride or groom. It may be tempting since they’re just a simple text away, but it’s not fair to burden them if you haven’t taken the time to visit their website. Plus, it may not be the most effective way to get a response.
Unless you want to cramp someone’s style by ordering up a cot after you realize you don’t have a room for the night, book ahead. It’s the first rule for not being stranded after a long night of fun and cocktails. It sounds basic, but it happens. Find great deals at Hotels.com or Expedia.
It doesn’t have to be much, but a gift is a gesture of thanks for the wedding festivities (which surely cost the couple a pretty penny). It’s also a nice way to wish them all the best in their new marriage. If nothing else, a card from Greeting Card Universe will do. They have a huge number of congratulations cards for newlyweds, including a large selection for same-sex couples. And if you are attending more than one wedding this summer, buy in bulk to save on shipping.
There’s nothing more disheartening than a guest telling the newlyweds they weren’t a fan of the food or thought the ceremony was too long. If you have opinions — which is bound to happen for those of us who attend multiple weddings every summer — keep them to yourself or to those closest to you. Don’t let any negativity inadvertently dampen an otherwise wonderful day for the couple.
The newlyweds and their families have gone out of their way to make the wedding as welcoming and fun for guests as possible. Forget what’s happening at work, the traffic you fought to get there and the price of the hotel room you booked for the weekend. While you’re there, do your best to enjoy the celebratory atmosphere and the food, and soak in the love from the happy couple — knowing you’re part of the inner circle!
Imagine yourself on a plane, heading to your wedding destination. You’re relaxed — a feeling that might only become a reality if your packing game is truly on. Put packing off until the last minute, and you could risk leaving behind something crucial. Give yourself more time and space than you think you need, and you likely will be the relaxed bride you deserve to be. Here are some ideas for packing for your destination wedding, and earning Cash Back from Ebates to spend on the honeymoon.
There are so many things to remember, so make yourself a wedding-planner checklist starting three weeks ahead of the wedding. Spend that week picking up any items you don’t have but need to take with you, including killer wedding shoes, rings, jewelry for the big day and any undergarments you might need. Two weeks out, you should start to populate your suitcase with purchased items. Don’t forget lingerie for the rest of the trip, wedding-day makeup, new beachwear, a beach bag and the other white dresses you’ll need. With one week to go, you should be as packed as possible. This also is a good time to make another wedding-planner checklist so you don’t forget things like your toothbrush and deodorant in the excitement of getting all the big stuff in your bag.
You will want to keep the dress, the marriage license, the carefully selected Etsy-made wedding rings and other essentials with you in the cabin of the plane. Otherwise, you’re taking a risk that your luggage won’t make it to the right place at the right time. The best way to manage the carry-on situation is to make sure your wedding dress is in a garment bag, like this one from eBags. Call ahead to your wedding hotel to make sure they have a steamer to get the travel wrinkles out of the dress. The dress is your carry-on, while a super well-organized bag can be your personal item. In here, you’ll want to keep all your critical documents, your passport and the rings in a secure pocket where they won’t roll around or fall out.
What if the dress you packed for the rehearsal dinner has some stubborn cat hairs on it? What if you drop airplane food on your favorite comfy T-shirt? What if the groom gets a painful sunburn the day before the wedding? There are so many things that could go wrong, and the nature of destination weddings makes it tough to get necessities at the last minute. It’s best to be prepared with random emergency items you can get from Walmart — things like aloe, a lint roller, travel stain remover, safety pins and a needle and thread. If there’s a wedding-day issue, you’ll be ready and relaxed instead of panicking.
If you and your fiance are planning to DIY a few things or looking for more space for wedding-day essentials, tap into a friend or close relative early. If you know you need to bring table cards, a guestbook or other supplies for crafting once you arrive, see if you can use some space in someone else’s bag. Securing your packing fallback space beforehand will allow him or her to plan on leaving extra room for you should you need it.
My fiancé, Ryan, and I are planning a wedding in Healdsburg, California, in the heart of wine country. Like so many couples, we’re learning that planning a wedding means lots of shopping. Whether it’s paper for invitations or ties for your groomsmen, spending becomes second nature. So, as a bride with a budget she’d like to stick to, I’m obsessed with getting the best deals when I can. Thankfully, Ebates helped me save on so many wedding essentials, such as invitations, decor, attire — even our honeymoon. In this series of posts, you’ll get a chance to see exactly how much I was able to save and how.
The Knot 2016 Real Wedding Study puts the average cost of wedding invitations at $462. (Is it just me or do these numbers seem to be going up every year?) Ryan and I budgeted $400 for our save-the-dates and invitations. I’m happy to report that, thanks to the great deals we found at our favorite Ebates stores, we came in comfortably under budget and well below the national average.
So how did we do it?
Since Ryan and I live in the Bay Area, our wine-country wedding is not technically a destination wedding. But because so many of our family and friends are traveling from around the U.S. and the world to be there, we decided that sending out save-the-date cards was in order.
We decided to go with Etsy to find a great PDF — created by a talented designer — that we could simply customize and download to send to a separate printing service. We chose a vibrant watercolor design for our save-the-dates. This design from Etsy shop RoseGoldandCopper almost had a feeling of spilled wine, which was lovely and on-theme for us. Cost: $25
After ordering the save-the-dates, I decided to also order a self-ink stamp with our return address, to make labeling our envelopes much easier. Cost: $9.90
Etsy didn’t have any coupons at the time of our purchases, but we were able to take advantage of 1% Cash Back at Ebates. It’s a pretty small return, but I knew I was saving by doing a little DIY.
Ebates Cash Back savings: $0.10
Total saved at Etsy: $0.10
Once our Etsy design was ready, we were able to easily download the PDF and upload it to Vistaprint. The process was simple and completely painless. Vistaprint has a foolproof ordering process for save-the-date postcards (and other add-on goodies, such as thank-you cards and save-the-date magnets). We ordered a set of 90 cards, which came with 90 free envelopes.
At the time I ordered, there was a 40% off coupon for invitations and announcements. After that deal, I also qualified for a site-wide $5 off coupon. These deals, which I was able to access instantly with the help of my browser’s Ebates Cash Back button, brought the printing cost down from $51.30 to $25.77. On top of that, I saved even more with 4% Cash Back at Ebates.
Coupon savings: $25.53
Ebates Cash Back: $1.03
Total saved at Vistaprint: $26.56
The save-the-dates from Vistaprint turned out gorgeous — just as they looked in the store. Now, our task was to stamp the back of all the envelopes and then print all the addresses on the front. We were counting on a hand-me-down printer to do the job, which we dusted off — and realized required some fresh ink.
We jumped back online and found InkCartridges.com. Not only were we able to score an awesome deal on two new cartridges that outlasted our save-the-dates, but InkCartridges also delivered the ink to our door that day, which meant I didn’t have to take time to run yet another wedding errand. That was impressive.
I was able to access a 10% off coupon for the ink cartridges. Plus, I got an incredible 11% Cash Back at Ebates. Yay, more savings!
Coupon savings: $3.20
Ebates Cash Back: $3.16
Total saved at InkCartridges.com: $6.36
When it came time to send the actual wedding invitations, we decided to eliminate any possible stress. At this point in the planning process, we had a lot more on our plates, including two full-time jobs and an energetic puppy!
We went with an all-inclusive, fully customizable invite package through Wedding Paper Divas, and we loved it. With some incredible coupons and Cash Back at Ebates, we were able to get some awesome savings.
Our favorite design was Heritage Vineyard, since it kept a consistent watercolor look but brought more of our wine theme into it. All we had to do was customize an existing template, and we had control over everything from the typeface to what the text said. We changed the font to something a bit more rustic and playful, and we changed the wording to fit our casual style.
Then we personalized our envelopes. All we had to do was upload a Google sheet with all our guests’ addresses on it, and our envelopes were created and sent to us. So simple.
Now to the savings. Ebates found us a Wedding Paper Divas coupon for new customers, and we automatically got $50 off our order! Plus, Ebates found another coupon for an additional 20% off wedding invitations. And then, of course, we saved even more with our 2% Cash Back at Ebates. Once Ebates worked its magic, I saved $91.02. Not too shabby.
Coupon savings: $86.38
Ebates Cash Back: $4.64
Total saved on invitations: $91.02
Total saved on save-the-date cards: $33.02
To sum up all these incredible deals, I saved about $124 and spent just under $265 on invitations and save-the-date cards. That’s about $200 less than the national average and $135 less than our budget.
I’d say that’s a win.
Next up, I’ll share even more wedding deals. Stay tuned to learn how I was able to save big on honeymoon travel.
You’ve been planning for months, but now that your wedding date is approaching, the pressure of having all eyes on you is really starting to sink in. The best method of attack is to commit to a fitness and wellness plan well before you say, “I do.” Below, eight tips to help you be your physical and mental best for your wedding.
Although it’s tempting to freak out and fall prey to crash diets, experts advise starting early. Keep a morning journal to track your progress. What are your specific goals for how you’d like to feel and look? What types of exercise do you enjoy? Writing down your plan will help you feel a sense of control and keep you focused even when life gets busy.
Even if you’re committing to amazing workouts, it’ll be challenging to meet your goals if you’re still pounding down margaritas after work. The easiest trick: Eat your veggies. Not only will it make your skin, hair and nails look great, but it also will help you feel fuller longer.
When you’re not in the mood to go to the gym, remind yourself that your wedding body is something you can control. There might be a million glitches and last-minute changes with the rest of your plans, but you’re in charge of your daily exercise.
Some brides amp up their workout routines into overdrive, leaving them more prone to burnout. Schedule specific times each week for you to hit the gym — and treat it like any wedding appointment. Make it a priority and give yourself time to get in the groove.
It’s all about baby steps. Challenge yourself to new fitness goals. Take a yoga class after work or work with hand weights during one of your breaks. If you commit to making a little effort every day, you’ll soon notice big results.
Whether you’re getting hitched at city hall or planning a big blowout, weddings add new challenges and issues to your everyday routine. Clear your head of worries. In the mornings, take a few minutes to focus on your breathing. It will slow your heart rate and help you be better prepared when problems arise.
During the wedding process, it’s easy to forget the reason you’re doing it in the first place. Take time each day to connect with your fiance. Schedule a date night, cook a healthy dinner together or go for a long hike outdoors.
You may have your hair and makeup team for the big day under control, but it’s also helpful to pamper yourself before you say, “I do.” Book a manicure, try out a facial mask or spring for a massage.
In our “Staff Secrets” segment, we share faces and habits of the people who bring you Ebates and The Smart Shopper. For our first feature, we spoke with Caitlin Longwood, the voice of Ebates social media and ninja-level Ebates expert.
Social Media Manager at Ebates and instigator of office nerf gun wars. I take both extremely seriously.
I’d say crafting and DIY. I’m into decorating my home on a budget and pretending I’m on my own HGTV show.
3 ½ years.
$1367.52. No judgement! I like shopping. 🙂
I treated myself to a delightful massage through Groupon. I couldn’t pass up such a good deal!
ASOS is my everything.
It sounds kind of gross, but I have a pair of white Converse sneakers that are at least 10 years old… I’m very attached to them, and I like the worn-in look.
There was a sale at Kohl’s where all Nike gear was 25% off. Kohl’s was also offering Double Cash Back that day. I was able to stack the sale, the Kohl’s Cash and the 6% Cash Back to save over $50. Whenever I get Cash Back I feel less guilty about splurging a little on myself.
Use the Cash Back Button! We have so many stores, sometimes even I’m surprised when a store is available on Ebates, and I work here. I have the button installed on my browser, so when I shop, it lets me know if there’s Cash Back available. The other cool thing is that it automatically tries out coupon and promo codes and then adds them to my shopping cart without me doing anything. It takes away that FOMO when I see an empty “promo code” box on a website. I don’t have to Google forever to find one.
Groceries!
Teleportation—think of all the money & time saved on travel!
Related Links:
How Ebates Works
Macy’s Coupons
Puma Promo Codes
Discounts on Jewelry
When you think of even the most expensive, statement-making sneakers, you undoubtedly picture casual settings. We’re here to bust you out of that box and show you a few ways you can dress sneakers up for anything from weddings to workouts. Take a look at these sneaker outfits you can top off with Cash Back while shopping athletic shoes for men through Ebates.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/497858933790835670/
Pairing a dress sneaker, which is just a dress shoe built for comfort, with a suit is always a good idea. However, if you’re tired of playing it safe and you’re craving a sportier look even on special occasions, try a clean, white leather sneaker like these Stan Smith Adidas.
Above all, keep it low-top and tailor your pants for minimal pooling at the ankles for a crisp yet bold look. Depending on your dress code, this could be perfect for those days you go directly from office to outing.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/346214290089253104/
There is perhaps nothing easier and more chic than an all-black aesthetic. For this edgy street-style look, go with fitted black denim and an all-black shoe like these Vans Atwood sneakers.
Remember to opt for no-show ankle socks in black. An unexpected pop of white throws the whole thing off balance. Now you have a casual sneaker outfit Kanye himself would covet.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/349732727296837305/
If those spring and summer weddings are already taking over your calendar, at least you have multiple opportunities to try a bright sneaker. Colorful Converse, like these All-Star Ox sneakers, are fantastic for non-black-tie weddings, and they will give your jacket and pants an instant pop.
When selecting a color for your sneakers, go with one that will match your outfit’s level of loudness. If you’re wearing tan, go for pastels. Match jewel tones with jewel tones and primary colors with primary colors.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/390405861429377998/
With the athleisure trend still going strong, you’re going to want a pair of joggers and high-top sneakers — stat. This is a winning combo every time, since joggers will always stay in place so you can show off your new kicks with ease. We just love a white leather high-top like these Court Borough sneakers from Nike.
We hope you’ll give these looks some thought next time you reach for your favorite jeans and sneakers for weekend lounging. Now that you know how to wear sneakers for all occasions, tell us which of these looks is your favorite with a comment below!
Who can blame you for never wanting to take off your yoga pants? It’s hard not to love pants that are stretchy, figure-flattering, slimming and always in style. And now, with athleisure as one of the hottest trends, it’s more than acceptable to sport the style beyond the studio. Take our quiz to discover where you’re most likely to be CIYYP (caught in your yoga pants).
[qzzr quiz=”404756″ width=”100%” height=”auto” redirect=”true” offset=”0″]
Related Links:
Athleisure Deals
Lululemon Coupons
Athleta Promo Codes
Nike Discounts
Want to share this infographic? Just copy the embed code below!
Charles Atlas: This fitness guru rose to popularity in the 1920s. His inspiration came from an unlikely place: studying the lions at the Bronx Zoo. The company he founded currently has more than 30 million students worldwide.
Electric Muscle Stimulator: We recognize these devices from commercials that say you can tone your abs by wearing a special belt and not doing a single sit-up. But the idea dates back to 1761 when scientists first proved that external electricity can activate muscles. As research continued, Soviet sport scientists in the 1960s reported 40% force gains when using devices in athlete training. In 2007, claims for EMS ab belts said they are “equivalent to 1,500 sit-ups per hour.” Recently, however, there have been $12 million in settlements from four companies due to false advertising.
Initial Workout Machines: These early fitness devices were strange (and steampunk). Vibrating “slimming” belts are a quintessential example of old-fashioned fitness. They’ve been around since the 1920s, when whole-body vibration was used as part of the training program for Russian cosmonauts. An early treadmill dating back to 1923 had large wheels and a footbed made of wooden slats. Another device from the 1930s, the Wonder Cycle Exercisulator, was supposed to simulate horseback riding and had a strange band that bound your head to the handlebars.
Sauna Suits: They became popular in the 1960s. Product claims included the following: 1 pound of weight loss for every 1 pint of sweat, a 40.4% increase in weight loss and a 20.8% increase in metabolism. But not everyone achieved such positive results. In fact, three wrestlers died in 1997 and 1998 from exercising while wearing sauna suits. The risks of using a sauna suit include dehydration, kidney failure, heat stroke and heart attack. Yet Khloe Kardashian praises her sauna suit. There are many brands of sauna suits still sold today, as well as DIY instructions that use a trash bag.
Vacuum Slacks: The product called Slim-Skins was popular in the 1970s. Notably, Rose gave them a try in an episode of “Golden Girls.”
NordicTrack: Launched in 1975, the NordicTrack is still around today. In 2015, 40 professional dancers jogged in place on NordicTracks for 12 hours to film a “fitness flash mob.”
Jane Fonda Aerobics: In 1982, when VCRs were starting to become popular, ”Jane Fonda’s Workout” home video was made for $50,000. In total, there were 23 videos released and 17 million copies sold. Fonda made her last video in 2010 when she was 72. Her net worth now totals more than $120 million.
Bowflex: Launched in 1986, it reached its peak of popularity in 1990. Despite a hefty price tag of $1,000, the unwieldy home gym system often sat unused, making it a “very expensive clothes hanger.” In total, there were 2.5 million sold.
Richard Simmons’ “Sweatin’ to the Oldies:” Since its launch in 1988, there have been a total of 65 fitness videos released and 20 million copies sold. Simmons helped people lose 3 million pounds over his 30-year career. His net worth is $15 million.
ThighMaster: After its launch in 1991, the ThighMaster sold 6 million products in the first 18 months. The product’s success is largely due to the campy infomercials starring Suzanne Somers that are now cult favorites. Its total sales were $100 million, and versions of the product are still available today: the ThighMaster Gold and the ButtMaster.
Ab Roller: The rolling device that facilitates crunches was launched in 1994. Lucrative commercials made these so popular that when inventor Don Brown was issued his product patent, there were already 27 product knock-offs that launched in just two years. With its quick rise to popularity, Ab Roller attained $1 billion in worldwide sales by 1996.
Pilates: In the 1980s and ‘90s, Pilates went mainstream, but it was first developed in 1912. Joseph Pilates created the fitness system while he was in an internment camp in Germany during World War I. After the inventor emigrated to the U.S., he was teaching Pilates to the NYC Ballet and George Balanchine in the 1960s. A decade later in the 1970s, Hollywood celebrities discovered Pilates. Today, there are still 10 million practitioners.
Pole Dance Workouts: In 2003: Carmen Electra released the first “Aerobic Striptease” DVD in her five-part series. Pole dance workout classes rapidly gained popularity and are offered in many gyms. The International Pole Dancing Fitness Association has been pushing for the sport to be in the Olympics.
Zumba: Founded in 2001, the dance-based workout saw 4,000% growth from 2007 to 2010. In 2012, it was valued at $500 million, and in total there have been 10 million DVDs sold. Weekly classes are taken by 15 million people. Celebrity fans include: Natalie Portman, Shakira, Jackie Chan, Madonna, Halle Berry and Jennifer Lopez.
Shake Weight: Launched in 2009, 4.5 million Shake Weights have been sold. As of 2010, revenues were $40 million. The inadvertantly suggestive nature of the product made its infomercials go viral and inspired hundreds of parodies.
Toning Shoes: In 2010, toning shows hit the market and spiked in popularity. Annual sales were $1.1 billion. Although these once-popular shoes had sales of $252 million in just four months and were heavily endorsed by celebrities, shoe companies were eventually forced to pay more than $65 million in refunds due to false advertising.
CrossFit: The brand generates $4 billion in annual revenue. With a cult following in excess of 4 million participants, this fitness regimen was started by a college-dropout-turned-millionaire, Greg Glassman, who claims that CrossFit is “creating a new super breed” of human.
Yoga: It’s a $27 billion industry, and Americans spend $5.8 billion on yoga classes, $4.6 billion on yoga clothes and $3.6 billion on yoga mats and accessories. Yoga has been around for 5,000 years, but the number of Americans practicing yoga has increased by 50% in the past four years to 36 million.
Athleisure: The yoga-pants trend started the fashion crossover of athleisure clothes — workout wear worn in other settings. In 2016, the athleisure market, including footwear, was $270 billion, and it’s cutting into jean sales.
Facial Fitness Pao: Trending for 2017, this Japanese product exercises face muscles.
Wii Fit: Sales for the Wii Fit have been 44 million units, including both the Wii Fit (2007) and Wii Fit Plus (2009).
Fitbit: Launched in 2007, there have been 20.8 million sold to date. Revenues were $14.5 million (2011), $76.4 million (2012), $271.1 million (2013), $754 million (2014) and $1.86 billion (2015). Fitbit currently holds one-third of the wearable tech market (34.2%).
Wearable Technology: Wearable technology is now being integrated into clothing. The Lumo Run shorts and leggings track information about your steps and stride. Big-name companies like Samsung, Google, OMSignal and Under Armour are also pursuing smart clothing.
Health and Fitness Apps: In 2014, this category grew 87% faster than any other type of app. By 2016, it was a $400 million market. Top fitness apps in 2016 were: My Fitness Pal, Fitstar Personal Trainer, Sworkit, Pocket Yoga, SparkPeople and Runkeeper.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org
http://www.artofmanliness.com/2011/09/29/lessons-in-manliness-from-charles-atlas/
https://www.charlesatlas.com/what_is.html
https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704779704574553790579199098
http://nymag.com/thecut/2014/01/dressing-to-diet-always-a-thing/slideshow/2014/01/02/women_working_out/05-women-working-out/
https://diettogo.com/blog/15-crazy-fitness-contraptions-past-100-years
https://www.buzzfeed.com/sarahburton/i-tried-a-vintage-exercise-machine-and-now-i-cant-stop-shaki?utm_term=.quozlRqj4#.ii01MqmPr
http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/passive-exercise-whole-body-vibration#1
https://www.fernwoodfitness.com.au/weight-loss—exercise/exercise/retro-active/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/273136-does-a-sauna-suit-help-you-lose-weight/
https://kuttingweight.com/blogs/news/70054213-how-much-weight-can-you-safely-lose-using-sauna-suits
https://www.yahoo.com/beauty/whats-the-deal-with-khloe-kardashians-sauna-220241937.html
http://www.vintagepaperads.com/1978-Slim-Skins-Vacuum-Weight-Loss-Pants-Ad–Reduce_p_96128.html
