Attire & Accessories Forum

Bridesmaid Dress Size: Potential Disaster

What do you do if a bridesmaid wants to order her dress two sizes smaller?  The wedding is two and a half months away and the bridesmaid dresses are coming in just a few weeks before...def not enough time to order the same dress!

Anniversary

Re: Bridesmaid Dress Size: Potential Disaster

  • Why does she want to order it smaller? You can alter a dress at least two sizes down without it looking out of proportion, usually.
  • If a bridal salon person hasn't said it already to her, they pretty much forced me to order my gown a size up.  Odds are the bridal salon will recommend to her that she not order it a size small.  

    And frankly, I would let her deal with it.  It will either give her incentive to lose the weight, or she'll have to buy two dresses.  Either way it's not really your problem.
  • Smile and nod.  Purchasing the dress and getting it altered to fit are pretty much the only responsibilities of the bridesmaid, treat her like an adult and let her handle it.  If that means paying extra fees for rushed alterations, that's on her.
    This is a neglected planning bio.
    This is a belated married bio, with no reviews yet because I'm lazy.

    image
    Sometimes I feel like people think that brides are delicate little flower princesses who get all dressed up and pretty for one special moment of their dreams, when really they're just normal people who just happen to be getting married. Things shouldn't have to be sugar-coated for grown-ass women. -mstar284
  • edited December 2010
    It depends on the dress you picked, and you should trust her to make the right decision.  FWIW, the last wedding I was in, the store measured me and ordered me a size based on the measurements.  It was so big when it arrived that the bust fell to my waist instantly -- I spent more on alterations than I did on the actual dress itself.

    When I got to the wedding, I accidentally put another girl's dress on while getting dressed.  Hers fit me perfectly.  It was 3 sizes smaller than the one that was ordered for me.  Since the style of our dress was a flowy / loose bottom, and while my hips are the biggest measurement, I would have been totally fine 3 sizes smaller.

    Knowing what I know now, I would demand a smaller size for similar styles in the future, and would be annoyed if the bride took issue with it.  Give her the benefit of the doubt to make the right decision.
    image
  • edited December 2010
    Have her ask the salon if she can see the size chart for the designer before she orders. All my girls ordered off that chart and 2 didn't have to alter their dresses at all. FWIW, I also had to order my gown 2 sizes larger than street size, it's just the way some dresses are sized.
    image
    Lilypie First Birthday tickers
  • Was she measured properly?  My SIL was measured (not at a bridal store, but just by a tailor) and it put her in a dress 2 sizes too big.  She's tiny, so I knew she couldn't wear an 8.  Everyone else in the party ordered a 4 and she was at least their size, if not smaller.  I just made the executive decision to order it for her in a 4 and it was perfect!

    If she's just hoping to lose weight and fit in the dress, that's tough.  Does she understand the timing of these things?
  • If she has a weight issue and she's trying to use this as a goal, tell her to just say no! Tell her to order the dress at the size she is and that you will pay to have it taken in if necessary, but that the wedding stress is high already without worrying that she won't be able to walk down the aisle cause she doesn't fit into her dress--this isn't the biggest loser--it's your wedding. It would be embarassing and stressful for her as well--MUCH easier to take in than let out.
  • Do you mean she's ordering it two sizes smaller than her street clothes or she got measured for this particular designer and is choosing to order two sizes smaller than recommended?

    if it's the former, all designers run differently and most don't match up with street size at all.

    But if it's the latter, I would be leery like you. How close are you to her? If I was really close to her, I would probably gently voice my concerns. Like "I am just worried you will end up having to order another dress or pay out the butt in alterations if it is too small." If she is still all for it, let her order it. It will end up being her problem.


    Image and video hosting by TinyPic

    Vacation
  • Just pray your other bridesmaids get enough material taken off their dresses to contribute to hers when it doesnt fit!!  I was MOH in my cousins wedding and ordered my dress a size larger, lost 10lbs and it STILL was too small.  When it comes to dresses, you can always take away, but its almost impossible to add more. 

    Wedding Countdown Ticker
  • Hey ladies,

    Yes, she was measured at the salon and they gave her size according to the dress designers charts.  She still, however, wants to order down two sizes because she's trying to lose weight...I am really concerned that this will be financially AND emotionally devastating for her if the dress doesn't fit.  I feel obligated to let her know it could really backfire!! 


    I'm def taking Summer2011bride's advice....thank you! 

    Anniversary
  • In Response to Re: Bridesmaid Dress Size: Potential Disaster:
    [QUOTE]Just pray your other bridesmaids get enough material taken off their dresses to contribute to hers when it doesnt fit!!  I was MOH in my cousins wedding and ordered my dress a size larger, lost 10lbs and it STILL was too small.  When it comes to dresses, you can always take away, but its almost impossible to add more. 
    Posted by kmd0501[/QUOTE]

    Hahaha.  That's awesome.

    Anniversary
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_bridesmaid-dress-size-potential-disaster?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:15Discussion:69e0af3b-76bb-4ed3-b4a0-faf8a07bc63ePost:aaa12c1b-0a7c-4893-bf40-ec38a58bc915">Re: Bridesmaid Dress Size: Potential Disaster</a>:
    [QUOTE]I'm with aerin.  It's her responsibility, and having a talk with her that is basically "I don't think you have the ability and willpower to lose that much weight that quickly" is just going to start drama.  I know that's not exactly what you are thinking, but I guarantee it's exactly what she's going to hear. Just mention that her dress can be altered down to the two sizes, but likely can't be altered up, so it's better to order the size on the chart, just in case the chart is off a little and it ends up being smaller already.  Then, let her do whatever her little heart desires.  <strong>This isn't a hill worth dying on, IMO, and anytime you bring a woman's weight into the equation, the options pretty much become die or get off the hill.</strong>
    Posted by StageManager14[/QUOTE]
    Yup.  Or maybe you could suggest that she could order it down only one size, so it doesn't have to be taken in as far when she loses the weight.  (And the unspoken part of that is, it doesn't have to be let out as far if she doesn't.  But don't say that.)

    Ultimately, though, she's the one who has to figure this out.
    This is a neglected planning bio.
    This is a belated married bio, with no reviews yet because I'm lazy.

    image
    Sometimes I feel like people think that brides are delicate little flower princesses who get all dressed up and pretty for one special moment of their dreams, when really they're just normal people who just happen to be getting married. Things shouldn't have to be sugar-coated for grown-ass women. -mstar284
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards