Newly engaged and ready to lose! (dress question....)

skybride11

Hi all! I'm new to the Knot and wanted to introduce myself! I'm getting married on September 17, 2011 and am super motivated to get in shape! I'd like to lose about 50 pounds for the wedding (I joined Weight Watchers and am working out frequently), but I was wondering, for brides who have lost/are losing weight for the wedding: how long before the wedding did you order your dress? I really want to go dress shopping soon but worry that if I choose my gown now, it may be taken in so much it will look like a different dress at the end. Should I wait? Thanks!

MyWedding13

Hey! Welcome! I'm getting married 6/5/11 and I am ordering my dress tomorrow!!! It is about 9 months out. I am still in the process of losing weight, but my dress probably won't come in for 4 months and alterations will be about 2 months before. I would wait until about 9 or 10 months before to order.

nnoble4

I think it depends on where you get it. The place I got my dress told me it would be three months before it got in, then take into account some fitting time. Another place told me it would be 6 months before it comes in, then fitting time.  
I'd say you can definitely go dress shopping now, that will help you get an idea of the timeline for the dress you think you want and the place you want to get it from. Then, take that timeline to figure out when you should purchase the dress.

GL!

iarguello

I ordered my dress over 12 months in advance- I won it on ebay! Brand new and with tags. I love it and I'm working to fit into it perfectly. I had 30 pounds to lose and I'm on my way- look and buy if you find a great deal. Just be very realistic about what you can do in a reasonable amount of time. I'm watching my measurements very closely so that I'll fit.

BrittKnight

Hi and congrats!

I ordered my dress in mid- January, and my wedding is October 1st.  (8.5 months before.)  My dress arrived (to the shop) in May.  (I went to a smallerSo it took about four months to get.  I was told to do my fittings 2 months before my wedding date, so my first fitting was in late July.  The fittings are either 2 or 3 weeks apart, depending on how much time there is between the time you come in and the wedding.  My 2nd fitting was 4 weeks after my first (originally 3 weeks, but I got sick), and my 3rd fitting will be 3 weeks after my second.  My 3rd fitting is about 2.5 weeks before my wedding.  (My first fitting was to adjust the waist, bust, length etc. and my second fitting was to make the bustle/train.  The 3rd is just to make sure everything fits.)

Speaking from experience, I would say don't put off losing weight.  It is so easy to go, oh I have x months before the wedding, I'm fine...I'm less than 6 weeks away and still thinking I could lose a few pounds. 

I'd say, the latest you should order a dress is 6 months.  Also, the seamstress at the fittings would be able to adjust your dress if you lose weight.

Hope this helps!  Good luck with your weight loss and finding the perfect dress!

skybride11

Thanks guys!

raynes

Ditto everyone else, how long it takes depends on several factors.  For my Aug 29th wedding I think I ordered my dress in October?  November?  It was in by February and I had my first fitting in April.  I had a TON of fittings, (or, like 3) and they ended up taking my dress in about 2 sizes by the end.

The best thing to do is start looking, talk to the store about delivery and alterations times, order when it's reasonable to do so, and order a dress that fits you at that time.  It's much easier to take in a dress than let it out. 

cmmosley81

For my dress I went to the DB as soon as we decided on a date. I went there with the idea that I was only looking then tried on 2! I went back a week later to make sure that this other dress I found wasnt better for my frame. They told me it takes 4 months to get it in and then 2 months for alterations. When I mentioned the weight loss I am hoping to accomplish they said order it in your size and after it comes in we can see how much it has changed. They said as long as you dont go down more then 3 sizes then it wont change the look of the dress.

deb84

It depends a lot on the shop you are ordering from like PP said.  You can start looking now, even if you find one you like NOW you can wait to order it.  Let's say you find a dress tomorrow but don't need to order it for another 5 months.  Write down the designer and style number (and have the shop write it down!) and walk away for 5 months.  Then go back and get measured and put the order in.  Keep in mind they make make you put a deposit on the dress, which as long as you know it is the dress is fine.  GOOD LUCK!

I Want Cake

My wedding is on 4-9-10, and I haven't ordered my dress yet, or even gone for fittings.  I'm planning on making my decision next month.  I'm also losing weight and haven't shopped for that reason, because I don't want my dress to look completely different after being taken in.  I guess it depends on the level of detail on it and if the embellishments will still flatter you when you're a smaller size.  I'm planning on a fairly unembellished look, so it shouldn't matter for me, but if you're looking at something heavily detailed with stones/beads/pearls, you should probably take it into account.

janet75

Yes it is definately possible.  I am getting married in 10 days and started watching what I was eating in February and to date I have lost 30 lbs.  I am a busy mom of 3 kids ages 7, 13 and 15 and I run here and there every evening of the week.  I went on Atkins and watched the bad carbs that I was intaking, and about 3 months ago I started on Herbalife.  I feel fantastic, I have tons of energy and I feel like a million bucks.  I have cheated quite a bit, being on holidays and camping and all. 

When I started on my dieting and exercising I went dress shopping, phobably not the smartest thing to do know, however, to make a long story short, the company I bought it from went bankrupt and I was stuck having to buy a new dress 2 and a half months away.  The First dress I bought was a size 18 well low and behold, 4 months later the dress that I bought ended up being a size 14.

vegprincess

I'm getting married on 9/17/11 too!  My goal is to lose at least 20 lbs, so we'll both be working on it!

Anyway, I already bought my dress and decided to get the size I am now because it's always easier to bring the dress in than it is to let it out later.  (It'll take 5 months for it to come in to the store.)  For me, 20 lbs is only 1-2 dress sizes because of the way my body is proportioned.

Depending on the dress you find, the company may only come out with new dresses once or twice a year and therefore are pretty predictable.  If this is the case, I'd talk with the people at the store to make sure you can come back right before the old styles will no longer be in production so you can get fitted - you don't want to miss the perfect dress!  You can also discuss your weight loss plans with the salespeople at the store - I'm sure that they are asked similar questions all the time and will help you figure out the perfect solution.  Good luck!!!!!!!!