Size 18 dress shopping

I would say it depends on your dress shop. I went shopping yesterday and the first shop they were all 14+ but the second shop I went to they were barely a size 10. I am a 12 and they pulled/squished me in to them but to be honest it was very off putting and I felt fat. I would phone the shops and ask what sizes they have in stock. I bought my dress from the first shop because it was the right dress but also as I felt much happier being pinned into dresses rather than them being too tight to walk in. I hope the second shop was unusual and most shops should cater for a range of sizes.

Whereabouts are you Lommel? I only deal with 16+ and the majority of the samples in the shop are a size 20 and over. I have dresses from Mon Cheri, Mori Lee, MGNY, Justin Alexander, Callista and Sonsie by Veromia, with lots of them being in the sale the weekend of 27th/28th July. Why dont you come over and see what short of thing we have?

I have fear of this as well, i'm a 16/18 atm but aim to be 12/14 by the time of the wedding, scared of shopping though,

you should e-mail any shops you're planning on visiting before hand and ask if they stock larger sizes, I plan on doing that to save myself any embarrassment in there

A good bit of planning Matthewsmummy, although you may need to be a bit more specific. The "normal" dress shops may class a 16 as a plus size, which in the fashion work technically it is, but if you tell them your current dress size they may have a better idea of the dresses that would fit. Dont forget wedding dresses are notoriously small and can be up to 2 dress sizes smaller than high street clothing. Also ask them how many they have as Ive had ladies disappointed when they have done their homework, travelled miles to visit a shop that claims to have what they need to find 2 size 18s tucked on the end of a rail when the other 80 in the shop are a size 10 or 12.

I am a 16 and my dress is a 22, i found that both shops i went in (and a few i know people that hvae been to) stock larger sizes because its much easier to make a dress thats too big fit than to squeeze people into a dress 4 sizes too small, sizes often come up small with 'designer' dresses and therefore your dress size is pretty irrelevant when it comes to it (if you can get the idea of 'oh my god im SO not a 22' out of your head (which took me a while) its much easier)

Nope nope nope! It won't be a problem at all! I was a size 20 when I started dress shopping and- although there weren't many dresses in my size (and the ones which were were pretty vile)- there were enough size 14-18s for me to at least try on and get an idea of the style / shape. You'll be surprised what a couple of bulldog clips can do! The dress I bought was a size 14 sample; they ordered it for me in a size 22 (!) although I was down to a size 16-18 by then in high street sizes...as clareio said, if you can get that whole "Argh, I'm a size X" out of your head, the whole experience becomes much more pleasant!

You'll DEFINITELY find something. Size 18 isn't even that big!!

I found the majority to be size 12, although there was lots of bigger and a few tiny (why order a sample in an 8?!). I'm a 10/12 and still got stuck in a couple! I'd avoid trunk shows as they tend to be tiny!

Also, I'd avoid busy periods so there's not too many brides in the shop.

It's like what someone else said - that it depends on the shop. I am a 16 and the shop I got my dress from had loads of 14+ sizes (I only looked at the sample sale rail though).

I think you should wear dress in which you feel comfortable and relax. Otherwise you cannot enjoy your wedding.

I thought this myself, I've been dress shopping this weekend and I must say I was pleasantly surprised, I went to 3 different shops and most of the dresses were 14-16, there were a few 10/12's but not many. Even though some of the dresses didn't do all the way up you get a good idea what they look like and honestly It didn't put me off, I ended up buying a dress what was a 14, the zip did all the way up and yes it was snug, the shop have put my order in so they are in the queue and don't need to confirm the actual size till November which is amazing!! My weddings in April so if you are ordering a dress you will be fine enjoy it, it's so exciting.

I was also worried, but as everyone has said, you can get a good idea even if you can't do a dress up! My mum was getting a bit upset because she thought it was making me feel bad, but I know I'm going to be smaller by the wedding so I wasn't particularly bothered ?

I completely agree with Skeptical - I am a 16/18 and tried on dresses of all sizes. I went to about 10 shops and all of them had a good number of dresses that I could try. Some were too big, some were a bit small and some were just perfect but I usually got a good idea of how the shape suited me anyway. I was even squeezed into a size 10 at one point and it looked terrible from the back but you couldn't tell it was too small from the front.

The beauty of a tie back dress is how many different sizes and shapes it will fit!

You should have to dig some shops, do some changing, pick ur dress that's suits you but always check the quality of thread before purchasing....