Ordering a sample dress from the designer?

No experience of ordering a sample in however I'm a size 14/16 and the shop I bought my dress from had quite a few for me to try on. I even bought the sample dress I loved and took it home with me. So not all bridal shops only stock size 10.

Compared to the price of dresses I would say if you love this dress it's worth the 30 quid if you can't find it elsewhere and if you decide it's not the one for you 30 isn't a lot to lose and be sure it's not the one.

Hi Jayne,

£30 is definitely worth it I think, I'm just waiting to hear back as to whether they can order any size for you. Fingers crossed! X

The shop I went to held a variety of sizes, so I'd guess that she's making it up! Fingers crossed they can get it in for you!

I would say the £30 is worth it. I'm not sure if she is talking rubbish, pushy definitely. When I was shopping I tried on various designers samples some were size 10 all the way up to a size 18. Maybe Justin Alexander only supply their dresses is a small sample size whereas other designers supply a larger size sample.

I've had 3 shops order in samples for me. 2 were tiny, 1 was a bit bigger. IT is very frustrating. However I was chatting about it with a designer at a wedding fair who makes her own dresses. She said that every time she makes a sample she has to make a choice - make it a 16/18 so it can be pinned on, or make it a 10 and it is more likely to end up on catwalks or in shoots. I thought it would be humiliating trying on too small dresses but I got used to it quite quickly, and I guess other brides probably do too.

It is entirely possible that the second shop will not be able to get a different size - but I'm sure they will let you know.

I did speak to a shop recently about ordering in a Lillian West sample of a dress I love & was told it would be in a 10/12 as that's their standard sample size that they loan out, so maybe it varies by designer?

The woman does sound a bit pushy though! £30 isn't a bad price though, I was told LW would charge £50.

Really? The bridal boutiques I've been to have stocked size 20s in the dresses I wanted to try on, I was struggling to find a sample in a much smaller size so I could see what it really looked like.

I tried on dresses in every size in lots of different shops. I'd say most were a 12 or 14. The first time I tried my dress on, the sample the store had was a size 16. I'm an 8 and even when it was pinned I couldn't get an idea of what it would really look like. A few months later I decided I wanted to try it again and another stockist ordered the sample for me to try. They didn't ask my size but it was a size 8 when it came.

I bought a Justin Alexander sample dress from my local shop- I have no idea what 'official' size it is but I'm a large 12/small 14 usually and it fits me like a glove- so not all JA samples are 'catwalk model' size! Hope that helps!!

I would take the risk for £30, you don't want a dress that is too small especially if you're self concious in it. Taking a dress out that you've paid a lot of money for is also a huge risk and the shop should really never suggest or offer it, it can ruin the gown. I've known a dress get ruined and the bride was broken hearted and had to fly to her wedding without her dress and buy a new one once there, don't let the seller push you into a decision you aren't happy with. ( I know you haven't said they'd try and refit it but if the seller is pushy I thought they might try.)

Hope that helps.

I think it depends on the designer and area. I'm a 10/12, and all of the samples that I tried on had to be pinned, except for a couple of mermaid-style Ronald Joyce dresses. Certainly, all of the Maggie's I tried on had to be pinned at the back.

Thanks ladies. I have emailed the store and asked if they can order me a size 14 and then it can be pinned. I'm waiting for them to get back to me.

This is the dress I am interested in. It has no give in it at all...

If they can't order a bigger size then I will just have to go back and try it on when I've lost more weight! X

This is the other dress I tried on that fit me like a glove. I preferred this one but my BMs keep talking about the satin one! X

Which one one do you prefer? X

It doesn't really matter which we prefer - we haven't seen either of them on you, and we may all have completely different tastes. The most important thing is which one do you feel most special in?

I agree with madam red that's impossible to say without seeing them on you. Based on model pics my favourite is the second one. I could easily change my mind if they were on you. I'm sure you will get votes for both. With regard to bridesmaids remember it's your dress not theirs and you should chose the dress that makes you feel the best not chose one based on others opinions or you could regret it. Remember you will need to stand, sit, dance and go to the loo not to mention breathe. It will be a long day. When you chose and order your dress it should be ordered in a size that they can then fit to you so it shouldn't be so tight you can't move anyway. Best of luck x

Personally, based on the model pics, I prefer the second one. But has Jayne said, it doesn't matter what others say. Its how you feel in the dress. Both are stunning, both will look different on you compared to the models, but one will make you feel more special than the other. That one is your winner

Perhaps you should go back without your bridesmaids, sometimes too many other opinions can be overwhelming and can stop you from making a decision based on what you like best! From your posts with the pictures it sounds like you are falling in love with the second dress, maybe just take one person you can trust like your mum, and see how you feel then?

Go back and try them both again and go with the one YOU prefer..... just because your bridesmaids prefer one over the other, it doesn't mean that is the right choice- YOU have to be totally in love with the dress you choose for YOU.... I suspect you will regret it if you don't buy the dress you prefer to be honest!

Oh and for what it's worth- going by the model pics (and as others have said, they will look totally different on you!) personally, I prefer the one you prefer- the one with the lace!

Thanks ladies. I definitely prefer the second one but I would like to try the satin one on again to see. I have an appointment at David's Bridal on Wednesday with one bridesmaid who was on holiday when I went last time and then I have another one at the end of the month with everyone coming. I agree, I will get the one I like the most. I definitely will take a trip back to that shop to try them on after I have been to my other two appointments x

Just popping back to say I 'visited' my JA dress at the shop yesterday (to take some photos of the embellishments and lace so I can try and match accessories, not JUST to drool over it!!) and I checked the label- it's marked as a US 12 for size and fits me really well- as I said before I'm a UK 12/14 depending on the cut! Hope that helps!

So I went to David's Bridal yesterday and OMG it was awful! All of their dresses were hideous and I didn't even want to try any of them on! It made me think about the 8731 (beaded mermaid style one) even more! I have another appointment on 30th. I think that will be the deal breaker, to see if I find a dress that I like more than that one!

Thamks for the tip about the size. I tried the 8731 on in a UK 12 and it fit really well x

Oh! I was going to go to Davids Bridal - now I'm wondering whether to bother or not! Glad it made your mind up a bit more about the one you like though!

I prefer the second! Not a fan of satin. Of course it entirely depends on which one suited you.

I tried a dress on in a bridal store and my friend absolutely loved it, she raved about it; all I could think of was 'I look like sea foam!' Don't choose a dress based on what others think or you'll spend your wedding day thinking about your other dress. Especially if you've got a reasonable amount of time to come away and think about it, you only get this day once, make it perfect for you.

Hope that helps x

I went to the one at Westfield Shopping Centre in East London. Awful! My friend also went to another branch when she was wedding dress shopping and said it was equally as awful!

Thanks girls. I am very good at knowing what does and doesn't suit me. I said I hated lace, big princess dresses, illusion necklines etc etc. Tried them on and it turns out I was right, I still don't like them on me at all. So if I like something, I will wear it. I am really angling towards the second dress now. I think I will take my mum and my bridesmaid who hadn't seen it yet with me when I try it on again as too many opinions just gets confusing! X