Did you try to lose weight before or after dress shopping!

smaejuli

I'm shooting for an August wedding this year. I am only in the begining stages of planning. I have about 20lbs that I'd like to lose by the big day and I have started making changes.

My question is if I go dress shopping in the next two weeks, how will I know what will fit 6+ months from now??

What did all you brides do?

meg65

I am doing both. I lost 40 pounds before buying my dress and I am *hoping* to lose 15 more before my first fitting. To answer your question, you can't really know what you'll look like after you lose the weight, but most dresses can be altered two sizes down. Just make sure you lose the weight by the time you have your fittings, and don't buy your dress in a smaller size than you are now, even though it may be tempting. Good luck!

em01092

Order it in the size you need the day you order the dress. Things happen, and sometimes you don't wind up losing weight the way you thought you would. Or you lose weight but your dress size doesn't change because of where you're losing the weight (happened to me). I've lost 15 pounds and I'm still a size 12/14 as I was when I started. Like PP said, whatever you do, don't order it too small. This is bad news bears. 

It is usually easier to take a dress in that let it out. My seamstress told me that <5 pounds isn't typically a big deal, but it's when you start losing 7+ that it can start to matter in terms of what she needs to do. 

She has already taken in my gown 9 inches in the waist (was my aunt's gown), and I am still doing WW and trying to lose a little more. 

iloveu4ever

I had a baby in Oct 2010 so as far as that. I am losing weight after getting my dress.

gsg717

My original intention was to lose the weight beforehand, but I found the perfect dress sooner than I thought, so now the weight loss will have to come afterwards. I ordered my dress in the size I was that day (size 12). I plan to lose 20lbs, but I don't think it'll be enough to change the dress size altogether. I figure the dress will just look better on me. Still, it can always be taken in as I get closer to the wedding. And in the event that I don't lose the weight, I know that the dress fits just fine as it is, I'll just need some Spanx underneath.

Like PP's said, feel free to shop, just be sure to order the dress in the size you already are, not the size you think you will be.

Jennifer102011

Like pp I had every intention to lose weight BEFORE shopping for my dress, but that didn't happen. When I found THE dress and was measured, my measurements fell into 3 sizes. I chose to go with the smallest of the 3, knowing that I was going to get serious about losing the weight. I honestly could've ordered a size smaller than the smallest I measured in. I lost 22 lbs before the wedding and the alterations for my dress weren't too bad.

Starqueg

I ordered my dress in the size I currently am, because I honestly don't trust myself to lose the weight I want to before the wedding.  I got engaged over a year ago, started trying to lose weight with the plan to be my goal weight before dress shopping, but it didn't happen.  I got a dress with a corset back, so even if I do lose the weight I want, all I have to do is have my MOH lace it tighter. 

jesannnne

I thought of losing weight THEN buying my dress but I couldn't wait any longer so I went ahead and bought my dress 2 months ago. I've been working out since the new year and I think so far I've around 10 lbs. My first fitting is around March so I think it should be fine. I don't mind paying for alterations

Eyejewel

I ordered in Sept and it will be in late Feb. I had lost 10lbs since getting engaged and ordered the size i was that day. I hope to finish taking off the last 5-8lbs before my first fitting in late Feb. Well see what happens.

MrsHoward11

I'm like Star. I'm getting my dress in my current size because I don't trust myself to lose the weight. Luckily, I'm not trying to lose too much. I'm already a size 6/8 but toning is my biggest issue. I don't think toning will affect my dress fitting too much.  I definitely think you should get the dress in your size though. Maybe get it a little snug so if you lose only a couple lbs it'll fit right but you still have room for alterations if you meet your goal. good luck!

xobride

I was glad to come across this question because I was wondering the same thing.  Before I met my fiance, I was 20 pounds lighter.  Thanks to him being a gourmet chef and an avid wine lover like me, I packed it on pretty quick.  Nothing in my closet fits anymore and I'd been frustrated about it for some time and tried a few times to lose the weight and never got more than halfway there. 

The wedding (mostly the pictures) is  HUGE motivator for me so I know I will lose the weight and I know what size I am when I'm in shape, but it is still risky.  I've lost 5 thus far.  My only other single girlfriend is now a coach on Beachbody and getting married around the same time I am.  She's been a dancer all her life, too so while I'm not doing any of the Beachbody workouts, I'm using their site to track my workouts and will use the Sparkpeople app on my phone.  We're going to motivate each other.

Diatribe aside, I am still debating.  I'm going a risky route anyway by ordering my dress online and had planned to need alterations anyway, but not sure if I should order a size up just in case.  I don't need to order it yet so I guess I can see where I am in a month or so.

kendalldavis

I was in the same boat. I wanted to lose the weight and then get my dress. BUT I found the perfect dress so I went ahead and purchased it! When it came in I had lost 10 lbs. I can tell in my regular clothes but it did not make a difference in my dress. I just felt better in it. I plan to lose 25 more lbs and have it taken in a size. Good Luck!

foxybritches

I went dress shopping knowing that I was planning on losing about 20lbs, but also knowing that I wouldn't be ordering my dress for a couple months anyways.

Then I ended up finding THE dress. I was still planning on waiting to order...when the sample that I tried on (almost my size!) went on sale for half off.

So I went ahead and bought the dress that is a teensy bit too tight, knowing that I have over a year to shed the extra weight.