TO SLEEVE OR NOT TO SLEEVE?

Shifsgirl

I adore strapless and sleeveless wedding dresses, BUT...my arms look like the micheline tire man . I am very self concious about them, but everyone else thinks I'm crazy and should just get over it and get what I would like. I want to know what you ladies would do (and yes I know about the jackets and shrugs, but I would really like to feel confident enough to not wear either). What helps boost your confidence? When trying on dresses, I did feel a bit more comfortable by adding a cathedral length veil maybe that will just have to work???

Barbiiieee

Honestly, if you love a strapless, get a strapless! You have over a year to go until your wedding, so you have plently of time to work on toning up. I know personally, when I start a diet/work out plan I always start feeling more confident probably even before I really start showing results. 

cinderellasjc

Get what you love!! When you put on the right dress for you, you will know.  Sleeves or no sleeves, Noone will be looking at your arms on your wedding day.  When taking pictures if you slightly lift your arms away from your body, it will take that "puff" look away.  Do not sacrifice your dream dress..... remember, your FI loves you just the way you are...

edaire

I chose a dress with lace 3/4 length sleeves. It's beautiful, classy, and made me feel more comfortable. For myself, after looking at hundreds of wedding pictures to get photography ideas of my own, I noticed a trend with brides. Even thin girls that I never would have thought of as fat had rolls and back fat in strapless dresses. It really did surprise me! I had to remind myself that these pictures are forever! I agree with the other ladies, do what makes you feel beautiful and comfortable. Either way, you will look fabulous!!

melissa199

I'm having this same dilemma! I have a spaghetti strap dress and I'm so worried about my 'wings' as I call them. Wedding is in less than 3 months and I've been trying to tone, but only having little luck. I'm just going to hope that pp is right and people won't be looking at my arms.. lol.

puppetrick

I hate my arms,  but I LOVE strapless dresses! You can rock whatEVER dress you get, b/c you'll be GLOWING - like seriously RADIATING excitement b/c of the day! AND, remember, your husband LOVES you!  You will be the only one concered about that "detail" - I know I did kettlebell exercises for a bit, but now I'm just doing that 17-day diet to get my waist down first and foremost. Congrats on your big day!

EastSideBlonde

it took me a while to figure this out but your arms will be the same size whether you put fabric on them or not so do what ever you want ... 
I did get a strapless gown
Personally i wish i had "Guns" and not thick pudgy arms so I am working out but I am also realistic... I know I am real pasty and will be getting a spray tan cause i think on me the Tan fat looks better then pasty pale fat   and hides some of my stretch marks a bit and the very light tan helps me not fade into the ivory dress

no mater what if you love it you will glow and look absolutely beautiful! your FI loves you how you are or he would not be your FI

QueerFemme

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_plus-sized_to-sleeve-or-not-to-sleeve?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:973cdc6f-961e-4fb0-a628-bef2bb559697Discussion:ce6d9c48-a60f-4365-934a-9fbaf8459020Post:099b7e83-b201-4988-b8b5-c825ddd0506f">Re: TO SLEEVE OR NOT TO SLEEVE?</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong><u>it took me a while to figure this out but your arms will be the same size whether you put fabric on them or not</u></strong> so do what ever you want ...  I did get a strapless gown Personally i wish i had "Guns" and not thick pudgy arms so I am working out but I am also realistic... I know I am real pasty and will be getting a spray tan cause i think on me the Tan fat looks better then pasty pale fat :)  and hides some of my stretch marks a bit and the very light tan helps me not fade into the ivory dress ;) no mater what if you love it you will glow and look absolutely beautiful! your FI loves you how you are or he would not be your FI ;)
Posted by EastSideBlonde[/QUOTE]

THIS!!    Your arms are the size that they are.  Covering them doesn't make them any smaller.  I say, rock the strapless dress.

Shifsgirl

You all are AWESOME and I cannot thank you enough for helping me realize that I should be comfortable in the skin that I'm in! He loves me just as I am, so I should not be stressing so much! I just want to look my best and give my all to him

frig05

I would recommend getting what you want. I feel the same about my upper arms, but I fell in love with a strapless dress. I am having a shrug made by the same place where I got my dress (Alfred Angelo) in the same fabric of my dress so that if I feel self contious during part of the wedding, I can put on the shrug. 

kaceymarie

get what you feet good in. i'm getting a strapless dress but adding a sheer shrug. i just want to feel comfy on my own wedding day.

smartn2sexy08

Felling confident about yourself is not about whats on the outside. You have to learn to love yourself unconditionally and not care what anyone else has to say. Personally, outside of the way my parents raised me, I find a lot of songs empowering like "Video" by India Arie.

flounder511

I had the same issue. Felt like my arms looked like hams lol. But I tried my strapless gown on and it was PERFECT. You will know when you have your dress, no matter the style. And he loves you just the way you are, so rock it out girl!

Shifsgirl

Thank you all! I feel like once I try on MY DRESS, I will be so high on cloud nine that my arms will be thr furthest thing from my mind! Hoping all goes well and that I can learn to love all of me (after all, he does!!) 

sopraffina

One of the videos on my videographers site has a plus-sized bride. She was GORGEOUS, but you could see her in the video adjusting her shawl all the time. She looked really uncomfortable. If she would have just taken the shawl off, she would have looked amazing.

JoanE2012

I vote for sleveless as well!  I think something adding sleeves just draws more attention to what you are trying to hide!