Skip to main content
ARE YOU A BUSINESS?

Post content has been hidden

To unblock this content, please click here

A
Beginner May 2023 West Midlands

Wedding Dress Shopping has been Disappointing!

Alexa, 14 of August of 2022 at 11:26 Posted on Wedding Attire 0 25
Saved
Reply
Hi everyone! I've recently started shopping for my wedding dress. So far I have been to seven dress shops in total and at each place I have been left feeling disappointed and quite upset. I am a UK size 16 and I am constantly being told that the dresses I like are not available for me to try on because the samples are too small. I was completely turned away from one shop who said that all of the dresses on my wishlist are not available for me to try on and that I should consider looking at dresses in the plus sized collection- none of which were in a style that I liked. The annoying thing is that all of the dresses are available to order in a full range of sizes but no one over a size 12 will even be able to try them on. So am I just expected to buy a dress without actually trying out the style first? It seems as though anyone over a size 10/12 has no access to 90% of wedding dresses and we just have to make do with whatever samples are available in the stores. I think this is awful and it has spoiled what is supposed to be a fun and exciting process, and this needs to change. The designers need to provide bigger samples and wedding dress shops need to fight for the sizes that their brides need. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

25 replies

Latest activity by Rachel, 30 of August of 2022 at 17:34
  • Michelle
    VIP July 2024 Cheshire
    Michelle ·
    • Report
    • Hide content
    Im sorry you have had that experience i think bridal shops forget alot about the brides that arent a size 6 to 10 its annoying have you thought of wed2b for a dress or tried plus size bridal shops in or around your area x💗
    • Reply
  • A
    Beginner May 2023 West Midlands
    Alexa ·
    • Report
    • Hide content
    View quoted message
    Thank you for your response💓. I have heard good things about Wed2b so I will give them a try thanks for the recommendation. Xx
    • Reply
  • Michelle
    VIP July 2024 Cheshire
    Michelle ·
    • Report
    • Hide content
    Anytime hun where about are you i can do a search for you x💗 butvwed2b is best i didnt buy from shop due to being a size 18 to 20 x💗
    • Reply
  • R
    VIP July 2020 Monmouthshire
    RomanticGreenStationery27135 ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    Try the plus size bridal shops. I agree it's ridiculous that so many dresses are only available in 8-10 at boutiques, when the average size is 16!

    • Reply
  • J
    Beginner April 2023 Perthshire
    Jennifer ·
    • Report
    • Hide content
    I would definitely look at wed2b I’m between sizes 14 and 16 and when I went there they had quite a few choices in both these sizes. Obviously not as many as the smaller sizes! But still enough to give you a good idea of what style you suit
    • Reply
  • Michelle
    Savvy June 2023 Worcestershire
    Michelle ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    I'm sorry to hear you had such bad experiences!

    I'm a size 14/16 and went dress shopping last week and had nothing like this! I saw you're in the West Midlands like me so not sure if these are near you but I went to TDR Bridal in Birmingham and Wedding Belle's Love in Stoke. Both shops were brilliant and size wasn't even mentioned! Wedding Belles do a plus size range but I think that starts at a 18 so I'd have thought you'd just be looking for a normal dress appointment. I think most their samples are in larger sizes as well so easy to try things on!

    Even if the sample is too small they should be able to give you an idea of how it looks, i'm absolutely shocked you were even turned away! I hope you have a much better experience going forward xx

    • Reply
  • K
    Dedicated June 2023 Essex
    Kirsty ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    I am so sorry to hear this. I am a UK 20 and I was worried about dress shopping, but the shop I went to were amazing and had a good plus size range. I looked through the smaller dresses too and showed my Bridal Stylist the ones I liked and she then selected the the equivalent in a larger size. I tried about 8 dresses on, all in my size. There was only 1 that was too small and she then clipped it to my bra so I still could try it on. I left the shop having ordered my dream dress and had the best experience.

    I would suggest doing some research into the sizes bridal shops stock and then call up to have a chat with them and see what vibe you get from them. When I called my shop up they were amazing, reassuring and made me feel like my size didn't matter.

    If you can travel down to Essex, I cant recommend the shop I went to enough.

    I really hope you find somewhere good to go to Smiley smile

    • Reply
  • A
    Beginner May 2023 West Midlands
    Alexa ·
    • Report
    • Hide content
    View quoted message
    Thanks Michelle that's really kind of you to offer to do that for me😊. I'm based in the West Midlands so there is a Wed2b quite close to me that I will try. It's good to hear that there are some better shops but it still isn't right that we're limited to a few shops and dress styles. Women of all sizes should be able to enjoy bridal shopping and try on whatever they want. I really appreciate the support and the suggestions though. I do hope that awareness is raised and big improvements are made. Xx
    • Reply
  • Michelle
    VIP July 2024 Cheshire
    Michelle ·
    • Report
    • Hide content
    View quoted message
    Sadly it wont be x it is a shame but these bridal shops dont think like that i think every bridal shop should cater for plus size woman but dont x. I will have a search for you x💗
    • Reply
  • A
    Beginner May 2023 West Midlands
    Alexa ·
    • Report
    • Hide content
    View quoted message
    Hi Kirsty! Thank you for your comment 💓I think going forward I will definitely be checking the sizes that they stock because it's been a big waste of time going to some boutiques. I actually travelled down to Essex last weekend and tried out a few shops so please let me know which one you liked and i'll see if I can give them a try too. Xx
    • Reply
  • Michelle
    VIP July 2024 Cheshire
    Michelle ·
    • Report
    • Hide content
    View quoted message
    I found 4 i think are by you. Georginascottbridal.co.uk. Avamaybridal.com. Weddingbellesbridal.co.uk. Thebridalrooms.co.uk. they all say plus size so its worth a look if not then they just do it so we will look x💗
    • Reply
  • K
    Dedicated June 2023 Essex
    Kirsty ·
    • Report
    • Hide content
    View quoted message
    I went to Abigails Collection in Colchester, Essex. If you give them a call and let them know about your worries, I am sure they will put you at ease Smiley smile
    • Reply
  • A
    Beginner May 2023 West Midlands
    Alexa ·
    • Report
    • Hide content
    View quoted message
    Thanks Michelle! 💗 Yeah I went to TDR and they were one of the better ones to be fair. I went to the Wedding Belles in Four Oaks but haven't heard of Wedding Belles Love I'll have a look. Thank you. Xx
    • Reply
  • Michelle
    VIP July 2024 Cheshire
    Michelle ·
    • Report
    • Hide content
    View quoted message
    I have just had a look at them and they all cater for plus size even show pics makes a change x💗
    • Reply
  • A
    Beginner May 2023 West Midlands
    Alexa ·
    • Report
    • Hide content
    View quoted message
    Hi Michelle! Thanks so much for looking. Funnily enough I have been to all of them and had no luck! If they do have plus sized styles there must only be a few. The Bridal Rooms was the best one out of those.
    • Reply
  • Michelle
    VIP July 2024 Cheshire
    Michelle ·
    • Report
    • Hide content
    View quoted message
    Sorry hun i should have asked first thats not on i think your best bet is wed2be then hun i hope you find somethin x💗
    • Reply
  • H
    Beginner August 2023 South Yorkshire
    Helen ·
    • Report
    • Hide content
    I felt like you did too! I’m a size 12 and I was being crammed into size 8 dresses and being told I looked nice! Then asked if I wanted to buy them! I came away even after buying my dress feeling tearful and I still don’t know if I’m going to like it when it comes in January!
    The best shops I found were the ones that put me in a fitted corset so maybe you could invest in something you could use on the wedding day?
    Good luck, the right one will be out there! Hope you find it soon! Xx
    • Reply
  • Yorkshirelass
    Super July 2022 Surrey
    Yorkshirelass ·
    • Report
    • Hide content
    I didn’t have this experience and I’m sorry that you did. I’m a size 12-14 in UK high street depending on the shop and size wasn’t mentioned when I went for my fitting at bridal shops. I was told not to look at the labels when she put the dresses on as wedding dresses notorious for being small! I got my dress from a short wedding dress specialist in Bexley and it ended up being a size 16 however it was altered quite a lot as I’m small on top but big on the bottom 🤣
    • Reply
  • Lea
    Rockstar July 2023 Kent
    Lea ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    I've been looking at Phase Eight and Monsoon. I ordered a couple online so that I could try them at home. They do bigger sizes which is good.

    • Reply
  • Leanne
    Dedicated September 2022 West Yorkshire
    Leanne ·
    • Report
    • Hide content
    100% wed2b what you can actually do is email customer service the day before and find out what ones they have in the store you go into,I did this so when I went I knew which two I wanted to try on and they had them both in .... bosh bought mine that day


    Really cannot fault them at all !I am curvy 18 and had no problems with wed2b
    • Reply
  • Charlotte
    Beginner October 2022 Leicestershire
    Charlotte ·
    • Report
    • Hide content
    View quoted message

    I loved shopping at TDR Bridal. They were absolutely fab, super supportive and really good at making you feel special. I couldn't recommend them enough!

    • Reply
  • K
    Beginner August 2022 South West London
    Kimberley ·
    • Report
    • Hide content
    I only went to two places for their wedding dress sample sales but I felt so crap after those two visits as all the samples were too small (I’m UK14) so they just had to leave buttons undone or they were uncomfortably tight (doesn’t help they run a size smaller too) and a couple were too small to even get on! After the second visit that left me feeling crap I went to wed2be and ending up getting my dress. I felt so much better as I could try my actual size and it was also just generally nicer as I’d been at sample sales that were a bit no frills! Definitely recommend wed2be!
    • Reply
  • Leanne
    Dedicated September 2022 West Yorkshire
    Leanne ·
    • Report
    • Hide content
    Yey so pleased you got one!!! And yes wed2be is amazing
    • Reply
  • K
    Curious April 2023 Lancashire
    Kim ·
    • Report
    • Hide content

    Hi Alexa and everyone on the thread,

    I'm sorry Alexa that you had this experience. If it makes you feel any better I'm planning to go shopping for a dress in a few weeks and am really nervous. I've got a few girlfriends joining me for moral support. But because of that am feeling worried that I won't find anything. I used to think I was quite chilled about my dress but am getting married abroad and worried I won't find a dress for a beach that actually looks nice too. I'm also trying to keep to a budget as well so I've gone from thinking it should be easy to think oh my lord I want sleeves but don't want to break the bank.

    If anyone has recommendations for Manchester I'd be really grateful. I'm planning on Wed2Be so am really pleased that so many people have had good experiences there.

    Take care everyone

    • Reply
  • R
    Beginner August 2023 Herefordshire
    Rachel ·
    • Report
    • Hide content
    Hi hun,


    This is sad to hear! All dresses should be available to everyone regardless I think!Try Wed2Be, they stock all sizes and are helpful in bringing you dresses in the style you tell them you are keen on! If you find a dress that is slightly too small or large they will check in all their other stores and you can have it shipped to a store more convenient for you, good luck! 💜
    • Reply

You voted for . Add a comment 👇

×

Related articles

What I Wish Wedding Dress Shops Knew As a Bride in a Wheelchair
Planning Essentials What I Wish Wedding Dress Shops Knew As a Bride in a... Wedding planning isn't easy at the best of times but, as a bride in a...
26 of the Best Wedding Dress Shops in London
Wedding Fashion 26 of the Best Wedding Dress Shops in London Whether you want to buy a designer gown, have a bespoke couture dress made for...
27 Things You Need to Know Before You Go Wedding Dress Shopping
Wedding Fashion 27 Things You Need to Know Before You Go Wedding Dress... Planning on going wedding dress shopping soon? We asked a bridal boutique owner...
Read more articles

General groups

Show more

Hitched article topics