Wedding dress dilemma

I believe dresses can be altered *about* two sizes either way.

I think some dresses can take months to come in, maybe around 6-9 months

So in answer to your question you don't need to be the size you want to be to order a dress but my only piece of advice is to say be realistic with what you think you are going to lose, don't stress yourself out by setting an impossible goal for yourself

Hi

Im getting married in July next year and am currently looking for a dress, most shops have said I should be ordering Oct/Nov time to be on the safe side, Iv just gone from a 20 to a 16, would love to be a 12-14 for the wedding but I am buying my dress to suit me and fit me now as I don't want any pressure to lose weight, if I do then its a bonus and I can have the dress taken in but the thought of having a gorgeous size 12 dress and me not squeezing myself into it is the stuff of nightmares!!!

I was going to buy a smaller dress to motivate me to lose some weight, glad i didn't now. I'm still the same size and weight pretty much and not a lot has changed, although last few days i have started to eat better ready for my first dress fitting in Jan. Buy a dress now in the size you are now and if you lose weight then great, if you don't then at least you won't have the worry of trying to make your dress bigger (which isn't always possible) and then being force to buy a new one. I'm sure you'll look great on your day whatever size you are ?

You don't need to be the size you want to be, but you need to bare in mind the tailoring of a dress. Ask the shop assistants how their dresses are altered. I think it's better to get a larger dress and then re-size it smaller (than small to large) as then there's no patching of material. If you're loosing inches then I'd reccommend that you keep a regular record of where and how much, and then that will give you a better idea (if consistent) where you're more likely to lose weight. If you're losing a lot of weight on your hips then consider what affect alterations would have on a dress with heavy hip detailing .

Generally let ordering dresses take about 10 months, I'm getting married in March and have had nothing but grief from shop owners due to the lateness so don't leave it too late

Wow, 6-10 months... really? So if I'm getting married in August, I shouldn't really wait until February to do it?

Yep!

It depends on the designer and the dress but it'd be a shame to be caught out due to timescales.

It bugged me a bit when non married friends said I was too early by looking at dresses when I did. By chance I chose a dress which was in a sample sale which I love but it could have taken me a while to find one and then it needs to be ordered.

Wow... who knew it would take that long! I didn't realise either.

Oh my goodness, I really didn't think it would take that long at all.

The thought of getting married is really motivating me to get on and lose weight but at the same time I am being careful that I don't put too much pressure on myself to lose weight to fit into a specific size dress. I would HATE to order a size 12 and then struggle to get there and it not fit or I make myself ill worrying about it. Would the best thing to do be to go around Dec/Jan time and then order a dress in say a size 16 so it can be altered to fit? Is it likely to fit nicely? I guess it depends on the dress, might need to just go and then talk to them about it when I'm there I guess. On the other hand, I'd love to go and look now but I'm terrified that I'd feel like a whale and it then put me off everything!

When you pick out dresses you like, ask what affect alterations will have on the dress structure. "Plain" A-line dresses shouldn't be an issue, but dresses with big folds, gathers and heavy detailing could loose some of their structure/design if it's taken in too much. But again, better to have it bigger (so that you have extra material if alteration is needed) rather than smaller where they'd have to try and match material and patch it up to make bigger.

One thing to remember as well if you order your dress in a smaller size is that wedding dresses normally come up small as well. You could be a regular dress size 12 on the high street but will need to order a size 14.

Hi Vanadesse, I think you are very wise not to put too much pressure on yourself to lose weight as sometimes it can have the opposite effect and you end up comfort eating!

Dotted around the country are several boutiques that specialise in plus sized bridal (myself included). It doesn't mean our dresses are tents with sequins, it just means that the samples in the shop are going to be in sizes that you are able to try on, fit into easily and do up. This way you can appreciate the shape that the dress will give you and be able to visualise yourself in it, even if you do end up buying a smaller size.

In regard to the sizing and ordering time, I don't know of any supplier who takes 10 months to come in! Justin Alexander is the longest I know of and they are 20 weeks. A seamstress may allow 4-6 weeks for alterations but that still takes you up to 26 weeks max which is exactly 6 months so don't panic yet for a good while. I would advise to start looking at shapes, materials, finishes etc now, try on one or 2 dresses (you will be very pleasantly surprised how good a well fitting gown will make you look) with a view to ordering after Christmas. At that point you will have lost a bit more weight and have an idea how your weight loss is going. This will give you some confidence that you can look absolutely amazing in a wedding dress and boost your confidence. I would strongly advise ANYBODY not to order a gown smaller than they are measuring on the day they order. As someone rightly said to take in 2 sizes is not a problem at all, and even more if it isn't going to change the shape of the dress but to let out (if there is enough seam allowance) can be a costly and risky thing as seam allowances are there for strength and the last thing anybody wants is the seam on their dress to burst open when they kneel during the ceremony. To add a corset back to allow extra room can also be expensive so you are better to go with a gown that fits. After all if the worst happened and you were not able to lose any weight before the wedding (had a bride a little while ago on a very extensive fitness programme who torn ligaments in her knee, was on crutches and put on an extra stone before her wedding), then at least you know your gown will fit.

Let me know if I can help x

I ordered my dress at the 2nd June this year and not getting married until aug next year.

Rang about my dress the other day as was told it would be in in october as i wanted to get veil etc sorted and book my appointment to see it. Now being told it wont be in until end of Jan!!! I can't wait to see it.

When i ordered mine the sample was too small so ordered the next size up. Now i have already lost 1 stone since june and plan to lose at least 2 more. I have been told dress can go in 2 sizes (also know this from working in bridal shop for 10 years)

Get out and even have look. no matter if the dress fits or not as a sample you will know your dress and if you love it when not fitting you love it and feel so good when it is your size.

Thanks for all the replies and advice. I ended up popping in to a bridal shop on the way home from work to have a chat about it and ended up trying a dress on too!

Embrace, my dress had a ten month lead time!