update on too small bridesmaids dresses

SmallenForever

Follow up to yesterday's post, you can read it here: http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_attire-accessories_is-there-anything-you-can-do-if-your-bridesmaids-dresses-come-in-way-too-small

So today, two of my three girls tried on their dresses and just like I thought, neither dress fit. One dress was about a size two small (couldn't zip up the last five inches and you couldn't even hold the fabric together at the top to try to help it zip, if you know what I mean). My FSIL said her dress wouldn't zip over her rib cage and she thinks it's more like two sizes to small. My MOH can't try her dress on since she's out of town, but I'm her size and I can't get the dress to zip either.

I called the bridal shop and they aren't super helpful. They said this never happened before and the girls must have gotten bigger. They are asking each girl to come in and try on the dress so they can see what the problem is. They said if it's really bad and can't be altered, they'll send the dress back, but if not, I have to pay to alter it. I knew the dresses would need to be altered, but I feel that altering the dresses each a size or two up is a little extreme. I knew I'd have to alter hemlines or straps or take them in a little each way, but not an entire size.

I have a feeling that someone didn't use the right size chart. The girl I spoke to told me that my MOH's size should fit me because it also matches my measurements, but when I looked up the dress designer's size chart, I would need at least a size, if not two, bigger. 

Thanks for reading all this. I'm just stressed. I spent a lot of money on these dresses and I just want something that fits.

Avion22

They are saying that each and every bridesmaid gained enough weight to be two sizes bigger? Between when they were measured, and now?  Yeah, no.  That just doesn't happen.   

Do you have the measurements written down somewhere?   

csweaney

You need to be VERY assertive with this bridal salon. I would make them remeasure your bridesmaids in front of you and compare their measurements with the original measurements they took (they SHOULD have them on file) and then watch as they compare those measurements to the size chart. 

This does sound like they used the wrong size chart. I don't think these dresses will be able to be altered out that much. 

But really, stand up for yourself and be very assertive. Its obvious something happened and it was probably the fault of the salon (unless you think your BMs have gotten bigger?)

SmallenForever

Thanks. I don't have their measurements written down anywhere. I also can't imagine that the girls all got bigger. They were measured less than two months ago. I'm going to be as assertive as possible.

Giaspo

The girl I spoke to told me that my MOH's size should fit me because it also matches my measurements, but when I looked up the dress designer's size chart, I would need at least a size, if not two, bigger. 

This.  It really sounds like they used the wrong chart.  Good luck - I hope they can reorder the dresses for you.  You should go in as a group which will have more of an effect than each girl going in separately.  It's hard to deny the entire bridal party not fitting!  New dresses sound much better than a ton of alterations. 

marston258

I agree. Stand up for yourself. If you have to, point out that you post reviews to sites like The Knot.

ShellyAvery

This definitely sounds like they're foul up, not yours. If you let them walk all over you, you're going to get stuck with the bill. I would raise hell :P make sure you can compare your dresses to the same size charts and try to show them what you are telling us. Don't let them get away with overcharging you for their mistake!