So, youre a pregnant bride-to-be or bridesmaid and you dont know the first thing about shopping for your baby bump, let alone DRESS shopping for your baby bump. Have no fear, this is a topic our bridal stylists are very educated about.
Lets start with the brides...
DONT STRESS! This is something we tell all of our brides, but for you we REALLY mean it. Treat yourself to prenatal yoga or spa days leading up to your wedding to help manage stress and get you mentally prepared for the big day. Wedding planning is stressful on its own, add a baby on the way and youve hit the mother-load.
For those of you dress shopping with a pregnant bride-to-be, we went to the pregnancy experts for advice.
"Pregnancy brings on so many changes, physically and emotionally. Dress shopping with a pregnant bride or bridesmaid might present some unique challenges. Make sure to be sensitive to her needs," Lisa Marie Raynor, Owner and Founder of Coral Springs Doula.
COMMUNICATE WITH US! The best thing you can do is plan ahead, so its important to mention that youre pregnant when you call us to make your initial appointment. We have an array of sizes we can order to accommodate your growing bump. Take advantage of panels and corset styles that can easily be loosened or tightened.
FLAUNT THE BUMP! Lets face it, not everyone looks good in certain bridal styles and materials. Do whats best for your body and your bump. Silk jersey, (some) laces and english netting will give you more of a stretch and shape your silhouette the right way. Based on your body type, look for a dress that hugs your curves and flatters the rest of your body. We always recommend dresses that highlight your shoulders and neckline as they tend to be the most flattering.
[gallery ids="3506,3505" type="rectangular"]
[gallery ids="4161,4160" type="rectangular"]
BUMP COVER UP! If youre newly pregnant or dont want your guests knowing your pregnant, we have a solution for you too! An empire waist is always a style we recommend to our brides trying to hide their baby bump. Look for dresses that have a lace or tulle overlay, this fabric will give an illusion of the lace as a design and take the focus away from the lower part of your figure. Choose a fabric that has stretch to it, opposed to something stiff like taffeta or satin.
[gallery ids="4168,4167" type="rectangular"]
[gallery ids="4165,4164" type="rectangular"]
SIZE UP! It takes about 4-6 months to receive your wedding dress once its ordered, which means your belly will have grown a lot more during that period of time, not to mention when you put it on on your wedding day. "The general rule of thumb is to add an inch to each measurement for each remaining month of pregnancy from now until your wedding date," says maternity style blogger Becca Daniels. Pay attention to how your body changes. Some women carry wide, while other women carry outward, so pay attention to those signs, so its that much easier for you when you go to get alterations.
WEAR THE RIGHT SHOES! We cant stress this enough to our brides as it is, but if youre pregnant, this is a necessity. Your belly isnt the only thing that grows when youre pregnant, you have probably started to notice your hands and feet growing as well. Dress for comfort! More often than not your wedding dress will cover your shoes anyway, so look for a stylish shoe with comfort with a lot of support and small heel.
Okay bridesmaids, youre up!
SIZE UP! You will find a lot of these tips are similar to what we mentioned for our brides, because its all relevant. As bridal stylists, we will take your exact measurements and most likely add an inch (or two) to those measurements to play it safe. Remember, its much easier to get dresses taken in than out.
TIMING! Its no secret that pregnant bodies can change drastically overnight, so timing is everything when ordering your bridesmaid dress. Typically, bridesmaid dresses are ordered 5-6 months before the wedding. We recommend ordering them during this time period, but waiting until you are as close to the wedding as possible for alterations.
WONDERLAND BRIDESMAIDS HAVE IT EASY! Not to toot our own horn, but...toot toot! Our Sorella Vita Bridesmaid Collection is not only one of the best collections out there, theyre also the most versatile. Gone are the days of the ugly bridesmaid dresses. Now more than ever, brides want their besties to look and feel their best on her wedding day. Not only that, but more and more brides are letting their bridesmaids choose their own dresses these days. If youre lucky enough to have a bride like that, than choose a dress that has an empire waist. Chiffon fabric is always the most flattering choice and particularly forgiving.
We interviewed one of our formerly pregnant bridesmaids,
Lindsey Waibl, and she had some great advice to give during photos.
"You're going to go through a lot of body changes that are eye opening and new to you, and you want to look just as good as the girl standing next to you," said
Lindsey.
DONT STRESS! Weve seen it all; brides that couldnt be happier their bridesmaids are pregnant and brides that are visibly annoyed their bridesmaids are pregnant. Dont let them make you feel bad for a single second. A lot of brides have expectations of how each and every moment leading up to their wedding will be.
If youre a Maid of Honor stressing over bridal shower/bachelorette planning, delegate! Delegate tasks to other bridesmaids to take the pressure off of you. If you have less than enthusiastic bridesmaids willing to help, reach out to party planning companies. For example, companies like the Bachelorette Boutique will do all the work for you! The Bachelorette Boutique takes ALL the stress out of planning bachelorette parties by offering an easy online booking system that invoices the girls separately. That means youre not fronting the bill and tracking down the rest of the group for payment, they do all of that for you! They tailor the perfect bachelorette experience around your brides tastes and favorite things to do! Weve worked with them in the past and highly recommend their services.
Whether youre a bride or bridesmaid, its easy to get caught up in the negative aspects of being pregnant during this exciting time, but try your best not to! Embrace your growing belly and enjoy this extremely special time in your life.