Plus size wedding dress

I had a horrible time when I first went dress shopping because I didn't think to ring the shop to check whether or not they had my sizes in stock to try etc. Following rude comments from the owner, a nervous breakdown, alot of tears and some kind words from Hitchers I finally found a shop that had loads of plus sizes to try on and I had the best day shopping. I loved that experience and bought my dress the same day so I couldnt emphasise more the importance of finding a shop that has a good amount of dresses that you can try. I can't help with shops in your area but bridal mags quite often advertise plus size stores that you could contact and see if they have a branch near you?

Hi

I was a a plus size bride myself (22/24) and had the best experience at Elderberry Brides in Basingstoke (so not a million miles away from Newbury!). They stocked loads of dresses in the bigger sizes and they made me feel so special.

I ended up buying the first dress I tried on there and they were just so helpful.

Good luck in your search.

Nat

I'd go to a wedding fair - there's a huge one at Detling Showground next month - and talk to some of the wedding gown suppliers there. I'd also be doing a lot of research on line, looking at styles and shapes, before going to a shop.

You can get a magazine free from the Kent Registrars - it's called A Kentish Wedding - which has loads of suppliers listed for every kind of wedding service available, you might find something useful there.

I saw a lovely lady at glamourous gowns in farnborough but not 100 % of sizes-she does have loads of dresses?!

also have lots of good stuff about elderberry brides

not sure if im allowed to do this but me and a friend have both had awful exp of berkshire brides-really rude to my friend who is a size 18-she told her she wouldnt find any dress that would suit her and said not many styles would flatter her size...b@@TCH

then she told me my budget was too small and i would never find a nice dress under £500! she said i need to make cutbacks elsewhere as everyone on the day will be talking about my dress and i didnt want them saying bad stuff about my dress!!

x

Hi gigglerm, i know completely how you feel I am the same size as you. I went to elderberry brides in basingstoke for my first dress shop and they were lovely i think i tried on about 6 dresses in there ( they stock up to 32 i think) there is one i really like but i want to try a few more on.

I have been too a few since, i basically made a list of all the bridal shops starting closest to home and working my way out. And the MOH and me set about phoning them all up and finding out how many they have in sizes 26+ i found that some shops that i didnt expect to do plus sizs had a few in and when they are local it doesnt seem to bad to only try 1 or 2 on.

I am going to The Big Day in west yorkshire next month ( this is about 5 hours from me ) but they are the only stockists of plus size samples of justin alexander and ian stuart in uk . They only stock 16/18+ and have loads to try on. I can let you know how it goes.

Other places i have found but not yet tried are , about a bride ( milton keynes ) sammyjay has been here so she would be able to let you know what they are like and amore plus. I can have a look on my list of shops and probably have few more to let you know about if you like

Good luck and keep me posted on how you get on xx

It's a fair way from Kent, but I cannot recommend About A Bride in Milton Keynes highly enough. They're just wonderful and stock samples from sizes 20 - 30, average being about a 26 I think, and some of their styles go up to a 54 so they really are focused on making plus size brides feel wonderful.

Amythest - thats really bad won't be going to berkshire brides then people like that really make me mad what right have they to judge anyone about size or the amount of money you may or may not have!!!

Stupidlamb - thanks for your advice and yes please do keep me updated I have spoken to my mum tonight (as she lives in Newbury Nr Basinstoke) and we are going to go to elderberry brides in the next couple of weeks, I can't wait to get married but for me this is going to be the hardest part and i know i will get dis-heartened by it! I may have to take a trip to milton keynes though thanks for the heads up Thanks sammyjay - have you got your dress yet?

Thank you ladies your replies mean alot to me xxx

Gigglerm I hope you have a good experience and find the dress of your dreams. I was also a plus size bride at a size 18 and had such a bad experience its made me want to do something about it! Im based in the Midlands and couldnt find many shops that had size 16+ so I have decided to open a shop only for size 18+ - upto 36/38 and hope to be a leader for plus size bridal dresses within the midlands

Plus size brides should have just as good an experience as any other sized brides!!

xx

I was a size 24 when I went shopping and petrified but I can't recommend bridal wardrobe in gravesend enough. The lady made me completely at ease and I tried on about 6 dresses. You are the only person in the shop and you go into a huge curtained cubicle to get in the dress so is all v private too not like another shop I went to that had an open changing room. I called ahead of my appointments and said what size & my worries etc

No worries at all :o) I will keep you posted . Try and enjoy it i think Elderberry is a very good first experience ( it was for me ) they were very lovely wasnt made to feel big at all

xx

My bride to be is a 26/28 and I know exactly what you mean. It annoys the hell out of us both too (and not exactly being thin myself, I too have problems finding clothes in 'normal' stores).

I can understand shops not always stocking every size in every style - whether it's wedding dresses or t-shirts - but us 'larger people' do seem to have so much hassle finding stuff to wear at the best of times let alone special occasions, then because we end up with specialist shops they charge twice as much because they know you can't get it anywhere else ... a bit like everything doubling in price for a wedding really.

You can't abuse or discriminate against people because of their gender, sexual preference, race, skin colour or disability... but fat discrimination is still very much alive and kicking unfortunately.

I was lucky to get me a suit a few months back for her sister's wedding for under £200 from Suit City in Redhill (as that wasn't too far away) and hope that will be adequate for ours. It helps cut down on our already stretched budget!

Hi Stupidlamb

Tried to start a conversation with you but it wouldn't let me - just to let you know I am going to basinstoke on sat to Elderberry Brides it is there sale and no appointment is needed hopefully i will be able to try on a dress or two - will let you know how it goes!!

Have you got any further with your dress?

How are your plans going? I have sent out my home made save the date cards today and i have been messing around with a few ideas for the invitations but i cant decide I know the colour and have the stuff just cant decided on a style!!!

Hope you are well xx

Hello!

I went to Supernova Bridal in Datchet (nr. Windsor) and they were fantastic!! They stock loads of plus size dresses and I was definitely not short of lovely dresses to try on. I picked up my dress at the weekend to find that they have now expanded their plus size range and have opened a new shop especially over the road. The new shop is called Daisy Love. Really can't recommend them enough!!

Good luck dress hunting!! ?

Hi gigglerm

Am not sure how it works might have to add me as a friend? Ohh good hope it goes well keep me posted.

I am going up to west yorkshire The Big Day next month, they are the only place that stock large samples in Justin Alexander and i love his dresses , havent been anywhere else since last spoke . Am liking this dress at the moment , its one of the new dresses they have in. And would go with the theme i would like

Its going quite well, got venue, caterer, church and ordered save the date magnets ?

I am struggling on the style of invites too at the moment - been googling tonight but just cant decide.

What colour etc are you going for?

Good luck saturday xx

Ah thanks stripeyrache will look that one up much appreciated xx

Thats good to know i phoned them the other month and they said they would be opening it soon I may have to get an appointment too #

Thanks ?

My dress is from The Big Day, their service was amazing. They weren't pushy, really huge range of dresses. Most of their samples were size 28, they are a lifesaver for plus size brides.

Although I too hate the term "plus size", as my b2b is also a 26-28 we've had the same issues and these may be of interest to you.

https://whyteweddings.com/ - based in Sussex, size 6-36

http://www.bigbeautifulbridescollection.com/ - a manufacturer, various stockists across the UK (see map).

Hope that helps

@ Shnarfy1 really what dress do you have? It is good to hear that someone on here has been as it so far away from me i was a little worried, i have spoken to them a couple of times on the phone and they have been lovely and very helpful ?

I wouldnt like to say what all stockists of big beautiful brides are like but we used the main store in weston super mare ( the owner also owned the BBB designs ) for my sisters wedding last year and it was a horrible experience, they were/are going bust and the dresses were never received as she hadnt settled her bill with designer even though we had already paid in full! she fed us a lot of lies we ended up phoning everyday with little luck and to be fobbed off everytime, it felt wrongs so my parents had to go down to the shop to find out what was happening and it was all closed up with barely any dresses luckily she was there (packing up the shop) in the end we managed to buy the wedding dress and two bridesmaid dresses direct from the designer and get them sent directly to us 2 days before the wedding!!

........So I would advise people to be very cautious i definately would not by a BBB dress from any stockist after that experience.

Hi,

Beautiful dress! I haven't looked at his dresses will google him. We are going for Red and Ivory/Cream. i have a 2 year old girl who will be 3 when we get married she is my only bridesmaid and she will have a ivory dress with a red sash unless I can find her a really nice red one, or if i end up with a red dress she will just have an ivory one!

Save the date magnets good idea there is just so much stuff out there I could spend a fortune!!xx

Hi

Yeh definately have a look, they do ian stuart too.

Sounds lovely there are loads of gorgeous dresses for little bridesmaids, my friend got married recently and her brisemaid had red petals in the dress, very sweet.

I am going for green, purple and ivory ( not too much of the green and purple tho) havent decided on bridesmaid colours yet i must admit i quite like the black dresses, i have seen a lovely one with a ivory bow and brooch which would look stunning with JA dress i posted above.

Got them from Vista ( posted them on here somewhere) I know i keep finding so much stuff i want to get xx

Hello gigglerm, i have read ur post and would like to help as a wedding dress designer i know that there is not much to choose from in the market at this present moment, if you are still looking for your dress i can help, i will make it to your criteria exactly how u want it making ur day even more special.

my email address is *************@*******.**.**

Leah x