Wedding Dress Size question

JZSMC121208

So I was wondering when ordering a wedding gown, should you always order two sizes up or one? I tried on a 6, but it was too snug on the hips, but perfect everywhere else. I was thinking of ordering a 8, but the bridal shop said a 10 or a 12.

divinemsbee

If you trust your shop, and are pretty sure that they're good at what they do, I'd order a 10. I know some shops might say this so that they can charge more for alterations, but only you know who you're dealing with. I know that it hurts your pride (and as a bigger girl, for me it's downright horrible), but better to order up and tailor down. The people in bridal shops do this all the time, and I think this is one of those times when you trust their judgement. 

achiduck

I had to go up three sizes in my dress. My measurements were between two sizes, so I got the larger size and am having it taken in where it's too big.

kushie77

I wear an 8, my dress is a 12 b/c the boobs just didn't fit.  They measured me and ordered what they said would work best. 

BrittRN+

I would definitely go with what your store recommends. I'm a street 4 and my dress is a 6, but every bridal designer is different.

snuff9861

I'm a street 14 and my dress is a 14. I was rather surprised since my MOH is also a street 14 and her dress was a 20. Really depends on the designer. I would play it safe and order the 10. Like PPs said, your seamstress can always take it in where they need to.

Lyra1020

I'm a street size 4 and my measurements were 6 (bust and waist) and 8 (hips). I'm so glad I went with the store's recommendation to get the 8, because all I had to do with the fit of the bodice is have the bust taken in.

csweaney

I work at a wedding dress shop and we recommend a size based on what our measurements determine your largest measurement is (for me its hips) and then we go to the size chart(which is different from designer to designer) and compare it to your measurements. I would go with the ten and then have it taken in. Better safe than sorry

PJSPJS

The consultant at the salon I went to said that many wedding gowm designers follow  "couture sizing," which is why one's size in a wedding dress is usually 2 sizes larger than one's usual size in street clothes. 

Magdala9

Order the size that fits your largest measurement. 

dogsandfrogs

As PP's have said, you should order the dress to fit your largest measurement.  Wedding dresses are sometimes sized and/or proportioned funny, so you can end up in a completely different size range than you would in normal "street" sizes.

It also varies wildly between designers.  I'm a street size 2, and my wedding dress also happened to need to be a 2, but when I was a bridesmaid recently that dress had to be a 10.  When they said they wanted to order a 10 I just about panicked.

Sizing has really become a mental game, so I completely understand the 10 or 12 recommendation of the bridal shop being shocking (and possibly insulting), but sizing has also become a game for designers, and the scale they use is rather arbitrary.  If the shop is saying your measurements would put you in a particular size, even if its not your normal one, I'd say your best bet is to listen to them.  If you're really unsure, ask to see the size chart they're using so you can see which of your measurements is putting you in which sizes.

KJeffs

My largest size was in my boobies..and holy crap I measured at a 20, I about cried, But I do wear a 38 DDD so even though I wear a 12 or 14 on bottom I usually wear a 16 on top. I did have to take in the waist but the rest fit beautifully.

JZSMC121208

Thanks Ladies!! I really appreciate all your input. The one thing is, I wasn't measured at all. I was at David's Bridal and wanted to try on what at the time was my dream dress, and IS. I usually wear an 8/10 and this was a 6. My hips/butt are big (proud of it). I think the next time, I go back I'll have them meausure me and see what happens. 

abbitha7

My dress is the opposite. I'm a street 0-2, bought a 2, and it had to be taken in so much that I might as well have gotten a 0...