What size is the average UK bride?

Even dresses available in the so-called "Plus Sizes" and often offered by specialist manufacturers tend to use size 14 or similar - which given the average UK female is about a size 16, is still misleading.

As you say, "big" brides can be just as beautiful as thin ones, so I would suggest it's just to continue the media imposed myth that you can only be attractive to others if you are thin.

I was surprised too mc - but I guess only 120 people have responded so far. Perhaps hitchers are particularly slim compared to the average!

I thought this too. I'm wondering if it has anything to do with how the question is phrased though - it asks what size will you be when you walk down the aisle, not what size are you now, so don't know if that is a factor?

Perhaps it's tied in with the fact that so many people seem to think they have to lose weight for their big day "to improve their appearance".

Real men understand that it's what's within that counts, rather than the shell it's wrapped in anyway.

Genuine question - is the UK average size a 16? According to who?

Don't you dare start the weight argument again! Everyone is beautiful to someone regardless of size, colour or shape. I thought we established this last time.

Good point about whether it's what size you are now or what size you would like to be. I would like to be a size 10 when I do but unless I can a severe case of dystentry between now and then there is not much hope!

I've been up and down and all around over the years. Was a 14 when met OH, dropped to a ten when going through a very tough time, and slowly worked my way back to a 14. OH doesn't want me to lose weight, he says he will miss the big bazongers!

Wow, that's a comment with potential to "flame"!

Many many years ago when I was a skinny little thing I used to dream of the big boobies. Then I got them and they just get on my wires! Moral of the story - we are rarely happy with what we've got.

Minicooper - more than happy to donate some of mine - tell me how much you want and get the double sided sticky tape out. ?

At the risk of upsetting people, I suspect that mainstream items of expensive clothing (wedding dresses a case in point) will more often be shown on smaller women. Those dresses will require less material to be used and, more often than not, a dress will hang better on a smaller size and show off the cut of the fabric.

Further, in my opinion, it's easier for someone to look at a smaller model and extrapolate the size upwards to imagine what it would look like on them than it would for someone to look at a much bigger woman and imagine what it would look like in a much smaller size.

For this reason, I wouldn't be surprised if mainstream designers continue to use smaller models.

Just my tuppence worth though.

Well said JST!

AJ, I hope I haven't given the impression that I think people should lose weight for their wedding, it's just that I know many people do so thought this may be a factor in why the answer in this poll seems to be lower than the national average dress size. I know that I am trying to lose weight prior to the wedding - not becasue I feel pressure from images in the media, or because I think it matters to my OH (I know it doesn't), but purely for my own self confidence.

Just so you know where I'm coming from on this, I'm not saying that losing weight in itself should make someone more confident, but I have had a lot of issues with food, weight and body image since I was about 15. For the last 6 years or so, I have been a size 10, but have put on a fair amount of weight over the last year and went up to a size 12. Not an issue in itself, as someone has already said (minicooper?), you can look fab or rubbish whatever size you are, and that is not dictated by your size, but sense of style etc (which I unfortunately am sadly lacking). The issue for me is that I don't feel happy, I run a lot and the increase in weight has had an adverse effect on my race times, and it is something I have been meaning to try to address for a while. The wedding has just given me extra motivation to do this. Having spent 16 years fluctuating between 7 stone at my lightest and 11st at my heaviest, I know that my ideal weight (where I feel happy, healthy, confident in myself and am not constantly obsessing about my weight) is between 9-91/2 stone, so that is what I am trying to get back to. And yes, part of the motivation for that is so I will feel I look as best as i can in the wedding dress, but mostly it is to improve my self confidence generally and to try to maintain a healthy lifestyle for years to come.

Hope that clears things up a bit - I know this is quite an emotive issue and I wasn't trying to kick off another debate on it, was just speculating on why the results of the Hitched poll may have been a bit different to what people were expecting.

That comes across as so ridiculously sizeist. So nice fabric can't look good on a lady with more curves? How ridiculous. It is simply because we have all been conditioned as there are no bigger models out there.

If someone other than you had posted this they'd be lynched.

Queen isn't quite right... How about Don CB?! A horses head in all beds who disagree with her!

I didn't say that a nice fabric can't look good on a lady with curves, nor did I allude to that. All I said was that I thought from a designer's perspective, smaller models would work better. You can't argue with the economics point and many dresses will be worn by a smaller model so you can see the cut rather than the curves of a model. The same with any mainstream fashion for the reasons I mentioned.

I don't care what size anyone else is. I'd look completely out of proportion if I were more than a 10 and that is all that matters to me. I don't see how that can make me size-ist.

"a dress will hang better on a smaller size and show off the cut of the fabric."

Err not sure how that isn't saying smaller is better? As it says... smaller.. is... better?!

Please no horses heads. I haven't got any washing powder in the house so cant wash the sheets.

Goodness me, JST, have a point for semantics.

I didn't mean to offend anyone and I'm not sure that I have, other than you. I'd like to think others have understood the point I was making. I stand by my points as to why designers tend to use smaller models. I have not said anywhere that a larger lady can't look good. Models are often chosen so that the fabric hangs, not clings. Unless a designer wants to use more material, they will need a smaller model to allow that to happen. Seems straight forward enough to me.

It's my opinion on why I think it'll continue. Whether or not I think it should is another matter and not something I've given my personal opinion on.

It does amuse me that you think no one else would be able to make that observation though.

I think that dresses don't look good on size 0... why don't the designers just drape the dress over a broom handle and be done with it?

I kind of know what you mean, but I think that the simple fact is that slim women are perceived to be more glamorous so slim women will always be used. I don't mind models being slim, I object to them being a size 0, this is not a normal size for anyone!

I agree Knitting Vixen, size zero is scary!

I dont think this is any different from men who prefer washboard stomachs. Thank god some men think bigger is better or they'd be no-one for some of us!!

Did I say anywhere I was offended? Goodness me... Words on a t'internet forum don't really bother me my love. It's either reply to this or watch Ben 10 for the millionth time.

The economics point is fair enough (although a little obscure, if that were the case why are so many models tall, why not get 3 footers modelling the dresses?)

I disagree with what you said CB. I want to see how the dress flows across the body, how it highlights curves etc - the reason I liked mine so much was that it nipped in at the waist and shoved up my boobs - you can't actually see that on the model on the website.

I do agree with JST as well to a degree. I think I alluded to it on your thread about was Hitched cliquely, but there is a bit of a cadre of girls that worship you, and seem to agree with everything you say/girl-crush on you. Not your fault, but it does get a bit dull. Personally I go a bit "veil of ignorance" on threads.

BrideSeeking.. why are you so much more eloquent than me dammit?!

BSB, that is really quite amusing, it's the funniest thing to come out of a tremendously crappy day.

CB let me get my coat and lay it on the snow for you my dear!

Ta, Vikster! At this rate I'll be able to make some money from autographs before Christmas!

I am not CB, so I am prepared to be lynched ?

Bottom line is, women like to look slim (not size 0 I might add). I have never heard a woman say, "Oh, if only my thighs and backside were a little bigger" (apart from Victoria Beckham!) We are always trying to loose weight! I am unhappy with the way I look when I am at my largest and feel that clothes look miles better on me when I am smaller. I think a lot of women feel this way, otherwise the majority of us wouldn't diet - and we do! I agree that the use of smaller models and celebrities probably fuel this, but until women become more receptive to the idea of looking bigger, smaller models will continue to be used. It's a vicious circle really, and one which is unlikely to be broken anytime soon. I would, however, like to see the use of more healthy models being used (not obese, that's not healthy either). I don't think size 0 is attractive and it is very dangerous to 'promote' this look.

Perhaps that isn't quite the best wording, but would it not be fair that if someone was purely attracted to someone on their physical looks (and, as a result, just after sex) many women would find that insulting?

I'm a sturdy motha and I can safely say I wouldn't want to see a mannequin (sp?) that was sturdy/ large. I agree with the economic argument and I also agree with what CB says and I think what she has said has been misconstrued. And I'm not merely agreeing with CB just because I'm part of her club/have a girly crush on her (although the club does give out amazing sparkly badges).

I wanted to slim down for my wedding but I didn't as much as I wanted to because A) I like food and B) the gym is evil.

We all come in all shapes and sizes. Mr Spangles loves me despite my large ar$e and moobs, same as your OHs love you because of you - big/small/tall/little.

Let's not get into the size debate again please! Over, roger, ten four, out.

Average size...

What about the average size of the big fat pensions in the private sector?

Outrageous!

Aye?? ?

It never fails to amaze me, how some designers etc can say they do a plus size range...and their plus size is a size 16 to 18..... isn't a 16 the average?

lord do i know.

What i do know is, i'm a 22, it used to bother me, but not now.....My baby is just more toastie during these cold few months xxx