The part of wedding planning that most brides look forward to is the wedding gown shopping. For plus size brides the process of finding the right dress can be the most challenging. Nothing breaks our hearts more than knowing a bride had to settle on her wedding dress because she wasn't aware of these 5 tips to shopping for a Plus Size wedding gown!
Do your research
Many brides start their Pinterest boards the moment they get engaged. This is where you can really start envisioning your look for your big day. Part of this is noticing what you like and don't like in a wedding dress. The next step is to google plus size wedding gown designers.
Stella York is an incredible designer that has a plus size wedding gown collection called
"Every Body, Every Bride". This an amazing collection of different styles and fabrics.
Wonderland Bridal is a preferred retailer of
Stella York and carries this line which is available to order in sizes up to 34. Once you have determined that a store carries your size,
schedule your appointment!
Only bring supportive people to your appointment
It's the best feeling in the world when you are on the pedestal in a beautiful gown and you know you have found "the One". If you don't have the right people with you, that moment can be ruined by one misplaced comment. Bringing people who are overly critical of your body shape or size is not the ideal situation. If it is important to you to have one of these people at your appointment, make sure you bring someone who can reign them in. Have as many supportive people with you as possible come to your appointment. There should be tears of joy, not of sadness when you are feeling your most beautiful.
Be open minded
We see many girls who feel like they want to hide everything in a poofy ballgown or something more A-line to "hide their tummy". Why hide your assets? Try at least one mermaid or trumpet gown to see how it feels. You may discover that you love the way your figure looks in a fitted gown.
Often times we hear brides ask for sleeves to cover their arms. It is not unusual for one of these gals to fall in love with a strapless wedding gown. If you feel like you absolutely have to have sleeves, try a strapless gown on anyway. There are many ways to add coverage your arms with a custom made jacket, sleeves, or popover using the same lace or fabric as your dress. Your seamstress can help bring your vision to life.
Don't limit yourself on what you think will look good on you. Let your bridal stylist recommend something you maybe never thought of.
Don't worry about the size number
Bridal sizes are usually two sizes smaller than your regular dress size. If you are a size 16 in regular pants then you would possibly fit comfortably in a size 20 wedding dress. Don't worry if your bust is two sizes bigger than the rest of your measurements. The rest can be taken in with alterations. No one is going to see the number but you. The important thing is that your gown fits like a glove on your wedding day.
Don't wait until you lose weight to order your dress.
We see it all the time, brides want to lose weight before their weddings and then maybe wait too long to order. Wedding gowns typically take anywhere between 3-6 months to arrive. If you feel comfortable ordering a s size smaller,
Stella York wedding gowns have at least an inch and half of fabric on each side seam to let out in the worst case scenario that the dress is still too tight. If you lose more weight than anticipated the dress can be taken in. We have seen miracles happen in alterations. Ask your bridal stylist any questions you have before placing an order for a size that is not the one you currently measure.
If you are a bride looking for an amazing dress and an equally amazing experience, look no further!
Book your appointment with us today!