Nervous about dress shopping...

cookiesandwine

I'm going to start dress shopping this weekend and, after being a bm, know that sample sizes at bridal shops are limited.   I wear like a 12/14  so if a sample is a 6 or 8, it's obviously too small. 
I am really excited and want this to be a fun experience but I'm afraid of getting frustrated with trying on too small dresses and not really getting a good idea of what they'd look like on me. 
Did anyone else go through this? Have any advice?  TIA ladies

jagore08

I am a size 12 and dress shopping wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  If you're looking for a fit and flare or mermaid dress, it might be a little difficult finding one that you can fit into for the sample.  I went with A-line and even it the sample was an 8 I could still fit into it (they just had to clamp the back to my bra so it would stay together).  Are you going to DB or AA?  They have a great selection of sizes so that really made me feel good.  Don't stress.  It won't be as bad as you think.

CA2MT4EveR

Though I am not a fan of DB, I think it is a great place to go and try things on.  They have a variety of sizes (like jagore said) and can give you a great idea of the type of dress you may like, then you can go to a boutique or salon and find something similar.  Many salons will  not even allow you to try on unless you know you want a certain style.  They sometimes only allow 3 dresses, where DB will allow several.

MISSCOURTNEY20

DB has dresses in almost every size. Don't worry and have a ton of fun!!! The second dress I tried on was the one I loved and bought, but I still tried on 4 more, just for the hell of it. We were having a great time!!

jackieg82

i really appreciate your post because i felt the same way. when i met my fiance i was a size 12 and happily worked by way into a 14 so i was double afraid of the choices i'd have.

let me tell you that i had the most positive dress experience ever. although many dresses weren't in my size, the shop i went to had about 6 or 7 sample dresses in my size, one that was PERFECT for me. the attendant was very smart and gave me the dress that she thought matched my specifications perfectly. i ended up buying the first dress i tried on and it was marked down by 60%...guess it was meant to be 

i can't promise you'll have the same experience as me, but i guarantee that you'll find things in your size. i never personally dress shopped at david's bridal, but you might consider going there. they have every size and a broad selection. at worst you can decide what dress shapes suit you best! i hope you find it!!

Googs79

I would suggest going to a bridal shop that carries Maggie Sottero or Sottero and Midgely dresses because all of them have a corset back...most samples are an 8 or a 10 from my experience, but because of the corset, a 12/14 size gal like yourself will have little problem sampling the dresses.   Even if you don't go with that line of gowns, you can get a good sense of the styles of dresses that look best on you.  And also, David's Bridal always have a diverse size selection to try on...just ask your local board about the stores in your area.  Some of them are awesome and some are awful, so it would be good to do some investigating before you go. 

Good luck!  I ended up getting the very first dress I tried on, and for other people, they have to try on 100 before they find the one.  Just enjoy the moment and you'll do just fine.

amwilli5

I wouldn't be nervous at all.  The places that I went to carried virtually nothing in smaller sizes and pretty much everything I tried on was a size 10 or higher.  

SweetCharade

I was a size 14/16 when I went dress shopping, and most dresses I fit in to...the samples at the stores in my area were mostly 10s or 12s, so they definitely had to clamp the back of the dress to my bra, but it looked fine from the front and gave me a good idea of what I would look like in a dress that was my size.  I did try on mostly A line dresses, so that may have been part of why they looked okay, too.

NicoleJay312

I am also a 12/14. I went to both DB and AA. At DB they were very nice which seems to be hit or miss depending on your area. They had tons of dresses in my size to try on. The same was true of AA. They made the experience fun and I was completely at ease. I brought pictures with me to show the consultants and they pulled exactly what I wanted to see. I found I was most comfortable in A-line dresses and I ended up with an A-line with a lace-up back.

[Deleted User]

The key is to get a salesperson that is experienced and knows how to help you with your body size, type, etc. I went to a local bridal shop in my hometown and the girl was fabulous. I also went to DB first, and the girl was nice and all, but didn't help me nearly as much as the speciality store. I have found with DB that they can be pushy bc they are on commission, so just something to keep in mind whereas if you choose a bridal boutique/store they aren't so pushy, but really focused on your needs and making your feel good.

I am a Sottero and Midgley bride and absolutely love my dress! It also depends on your  price range/budget. My dress is a size 8, usually wear a size 5 in pants, so your dress will no doubt be a little bigger than your pant size. Good luck and have fun!

cookiesandwine

So I went to DB this morning and all but one dress I tried on was my size or one size bigger. I was a little surprised they had so many sizes, but I definitely had a good time! The salesperson was helpful, maybe slightly pushier than I would've liked, but I guess they have to make money too. 

Anyway, thanks for all the comments, it really calmed my nerves this morning!!!!!