Advice for Larger Brides

Violetta_2

I remember how bad I felt when I couldn't get maternity wear in my size, as if the shop's thought I was so fat no-one could possibly want to have sex with me despite the very tangible evidence to the contrary of the baby in my belly. I am not going to let myself feel like that over this wedding.

Violetta_2

Found this ebay shop that do garters in all sizes and colours, some look lovely.

shellsuit

I just clicked the link to the thread with the pics of ladies in their dresses - and spotted my cousin in all her glory lol!

Lemon_Tree

i struggled when i got my dress, i'm on the top end of all the dress sizes and went in to shops which looked at me with contempt, one asked me how much i would lose before the wedding.
Eventually I found a lovely dress and had a fabulous day.

lindaatno9

IWantToBeFree wrote: »

they have dresses in all sizes from a 16 to a 36 and loads you can try on without being made to feel like some kind of freak because you aren't a size 10.

Blimey, who in this day and age are a size 10? I think the average size lady now is a 14 and a voluptuous one at that. And yes, wedding dresses are made small. You could be a 14 and need an 18. The shops may order you a larger size to have it "altered to fit" when sometimes you can get away without bodice alterations. Always ask if you can try something in your size and then go one size up to see the difference and if YOU think it needs altering. I used to work in Pronuptia so know all the tricks!

stef240377

Just over a week ago i went on my first trip to look at dresses, this was in a warehouse advertising dresses from £99. I walked in and out quicker than a revolving door can move as the majority of dresses were in sizes 6-10. When reaching the 'larger lady' section these had obviously not been shown the care the smaller ones had - there were broken zips, beads missing and water stains on the dresses. I looked at h2b and he must have read my mind as he told me they obviously didn't think 'big' girls got married anymore and even to him seeing dresses in those states would not be an incentive to any woman with curves to even consider taking such a big step in their lives.

Then a couple of days later i visited another store in the town centre who also offered end of range sale dresses. I told the lady how i wanted to look on my day, colours i wanted and the likes to be told we have nothing like that in stock without even looking through the rails! Call me a sucker for punishment i went back to the shop at the weekend with my SIL2B to make sure i were not being over sensitive and to see if there was a different sales assistant on duty -which there was - and got exactly the same treatment.

By this point i am totally disheartened at finding a dress in time for October 2009. The previous lady had even suggested i were pushing for time to get one specifically made so i am now Bridezilla on a mission.

I left my local town and ventured about 15 miles away and looked in a shop with h2b, here the service was second to none. I explained my previous experiences and how i had been made to feel. The lovely lady said she would help as best as she could. I tried a dress on in my true dress size so she could get an idea of sizing, talked through colour scheme and dress style i wanted. I were totally honest with her saying i had trawled the net for dresses i liked and i was blatantly aware the dress i had in my head could look a bag of crap on i even told her how i could try a dress on that was a grand and look naff then pick one up for a hundred quid and look the best i could ever imagine. She went off and brought back two dresses. The first one i loved but knew i would not be able to find anyone to do up the corsetry back on the wedding morning the second one i purchased after trying it on and wearing it for ten minutes. There was no pressure to purchase anything and all options were made available to me such as different shoe styles types of jewlery which would compliment my colouring and the dress and tiaras - with or without veils.

I am a standard size 16, the dress i have purchased is labelled a size 24!! but this has got to have quite a bit taken off when alterations are made in July. The lady advised it is always worth buying a dress that is bigger than you require so you can afford to let your weight fluctuate before the big day especially for some of you who purchase quite a while before tying the knot.


http://www.camelliabridal.co.uk/products/Bridal%20Gowns/DZage/9012

This is the dress i now own but with red not black detail.

Dont feel as though you wil not find you dress you just need to find a helpful assistant who will be knowledgeable and helpful.

shelovestobuystuff

marshmallow13 wrote: »

how odd - i have been flitting between here and that thread myself today! I still cant believe having only started shopping for a dress last week how small wedding dresses come up - surely you would think they would want to flatter you in this instance?!! I seem to have to go about 2 sizes bigger - is it just me? Also sick of the lack of choice - i am 18 -20 and I went to one shop where they only did 14's! I promptly canx appt!
I am still debating with landy Bridal....any plus size girls got dresses from there?

Are they all 2 sizes smaller than the label says it is.I have been dieting especially to go and try on a size 16 in alfred angelo 1148 in a local store but have read reviews of it saying that people are having to order 2 sizes bigger.I phoned the store for the measurements and it has a 29" waist and a 32" chest,Thats NOT a size 16!Thats a 12 isn,t it?
I am having something made now.

MrsAudus2b

Violetta, thank you so much for posting the link to the pictures :T

The girls look stunning! This thread has really uplifted me on a day when I have not stuck to my diet...in any way!

xx

RainForest_2

Violetta wrote: »

I remember how bad I felt when I couldn't get maternity wear in my size, as if the shop's thought I was so fat no-one could possibly want to have sex with me despite the very tangible evidence to the contrary of the baby in my belly. I am not going to let myself feel like that over this wedding.

What a horrible attitude! Have a hug!

*HUG*
Hope you banged the door loudly when you left that nasty shop!!!

cte1111

This is a great thread, hope you all find wonderful dresses and enjoy your wedding days. I was size 24 when I got married, and had awful experiences in bridal shops, one delightful lady told me that I had to wear a straight dress or would look fat. Then repeated the word fat about 4 times in later sentences.

I ignored her, and bought a gorgeous full skirted dress and think I looked great, as did my husband. I actually ordered a prom dress from the US, and had it altered for about £60 by a local dressmaker. All in, it cost less than £300. Worth a look, it didn't take long to come, and they do up to whatever size you want, as they tend to cater better for larger women in America.