I think one of the most surprising parts about having a wedding was bridal dress shopping. I had an ideal dress look in mind, however, when it came to actually trying on a dress, there were so many that were not complimentary at all. I’ll admit I began to feel it was hopeless as a plus-size bride. I wanted to look beautiful on my special day, however, I did not know if there were any suitable dresses for my size and my body type. I was not a model figure 8. My hope is that this article content will encourage and inform anyone of any dress size on different dress styles. The ultimate goal is to prevent the surprised frustration when one begins their dress shopping.
When I initially thought about what to write for this post, I thought I would base it on body type to give you some ideas for where to start, however, then I realized I cannot tell you what is best for your body type. What works for one person may not work for another, so instead I decided to list out some simple things to get started and, from there, you can decide what is most suitable for your body and desired wedding look.
Consider jotting down your answers to the following basic questions:
· Do you like corset bodices?
· Do you like ruffles?
· Do you like floral features?
· Do you like high slits?
· Do you like ballgowns, A-line, or something in between?
· Do you want lace?
· Do you like short, long, or no trains on your gown?
· Do you want white, off-white, or a different color altogether?
· Do you prefer little, no, or plenty of bling?
· Do you like short or long dresses? Or do you want a pantsuit style instead?
· Do you want short, long, or no sleeves?
· Do you want a veil or no veil?
· Do you want gloves or no gloves?
· Do you want a jacket, wrap-around, or neither?
Once you have decided what you like, find a few photos of the desired dress style and present those to your bridal store salesperson. There is joy in seeing how close you can come to your dream dress within your budget. You will undoubtedly enjoy the process of trying on various dresses with friends and family. Also, one tip that I did during my fittings that I’d love to pass on is to always wear a sports bra and biking shorts with some kind of midsection garment to keep covered and have a smooth non-bulky fitting as possible. I know if you do the prework beforehand this will lead to a happier and more satisfying bridal dress shopping adventure.
Before I end this blog, I must take a pause to give a special “thank you” to my friends and work mom for the numerous bridal stores we visited and the multiple gowns you helped me evaluate. And I still could not say ‘Yes to the Dress.’ I also want to thank the patient bridal store staff for all the many dresses you provided to try to win my sale.
So let me end with how my wedding dress journey concluded. I purchased two dresses when it was all said and done. With my first dress, I ended up not liking it anymore after the alterations were complete and the required inclusion of extra poofy undergarments. The dress no longer flattered me. So it was time to shop again. This was two weeks before my wedding and the panic arose again. My mother and I made a mad dash to every local bridal store we could find during this time. One evening after work at the last store we could go I finally found my dress, minutes before the store was closing. Mission Accomplished and I felt so beautiful on my special day. I’ve included a photo of the final dress selection from my special day here too. It was all worth it in the end.
Overall, I hope this content was helpful. Wishing you an enjoyable day and shopping adventure. Do not give up…you will find your perfect bridal dress. Also, try not to become as obsessed or in a panic as I did. It will all work out.
Happy Shopping!!! And don’t forget to thank you bridal dress shopping supporters also for their patience 🙂.
JAS Blueprint 