Plus size trying on Regular size dresses?

coly06 · August 2012

Hello Ladies

I am around a size 18-20 street clothes. I haven't really started trying on bridal gowns yet, but I am going to be making appointments soon. I am new to this and my question is, should I only be making appointments at stores that carry plus size sample gowns? That is quite hard to find in my area (there are a couple, but not many options).. or would it be okay to go ahead and try on 'regular size' gowns knowing that they can be ordered in my size?

Thanks!

Valbeth · August 2012

I'm a plus size bride as well and I was worried about that too. I went to David's Bridal and they were really awesome to work with. I'm not sure where all of their locations are but I went to the one in Pinole. They have some gorgeous plus sized dresses. I do know that you can go to other stores that do not carry plus sized dreses in their store and see if they can order in larger sizes. I went to a different wedding shop for my bridesmaids dresses...this store doesn't have plus size wedding dresses and not once did they even offer to allow me to try on or even look at their dresses...kinda rubbed me the wrong way!

QueerFemme · August 2012

Where in Northern California are you? I would absolutely recommend going to a store that has plus size samples. If you tell me where you are located, I may be able to come up with some ideas for you.

PS - If you are an 18/20 street size, you will likely be a 22-24 wedding gown size. Most samples at smaller salons come in a 12. If you are trying to try on 12s, your dress shopping experience may not be that great. I would make sure you call ahead and only make appointments at salons that carry at least a half dozen or so plus size samples.

scstar17 · August 2012

YES definitely ask what sizes they carry and if there are plus sized samples when you call and make your appointment. This saved my time (and embarrassment) at a couple shops. David's Bridal will have a ton of different sizes. I was a street 18 when I went shopping, and was able to try on 14s and up (that is a street 10) - they just don't close in the back. Some I had to put over my head rather than step into since they wouldn't go over my wider hips.

Another tip - I wore the Spanx that cover my whole belly to the tryouts. This helped dresses slip down my gut easier AND I felt less exposed. A good shop will have employees that truly help you find what shape fits YOUR body best. Be open to their suggestions even if it's not the shape you think you'd want. Bring your mom or friends that will give you honest opinions. Good luck! My dress is not what I thought I'd end up with and it hides my belly like you wouldn't believe - corset backs are your friend.

coly06 · August 2012

Thanks for the advice ladies!!

I have heard a lot that the corset backs are awesome.. I have tried corset backs on before on prom dresses etc and hated them because they made my "back fat" (don't you just hate saying that?!) look even worse than usual. But maybe they were just poorly made. And luckily I have lost a significant amount of weight since then and that said back fat is nearly gone

CMgilpin- I am in the Modesto/Stockton region of California, though I can easily travel to San Jose and Sacramento for dress appointments and I definitely plan to do so as they are the bigger cities near by. Do you happen to know of anything near there? I know there is a new store for plus sizes only called Sparkle, I am excited to check it out, although a little gaurded because they are so so new.

I have had only ONE experience with bridal so far and it was quick, and I hardly count it as an experience at all. It was at a local David's Bridal. They said they only had dresses up to a size 12 so I am suprised to hear that you all found DB's with plus size dresses. My consultant was not helpful at all, and although I expected the back of the dresses not to close, she didn't even pull them tight enough to stay up on me so she had me hold them up to myself to see what it "might look like" if the dress were to fit. I would never, in a million years, spend that much money on a dress that I had no idea what it would look like once it actually fit. Needless to say, I was very disappointed, and that is kind of what I wanted to know if that was just my one experience or if in general I need to go to speciality plus size bridal stores.

Thanks for all your input!!

StevieSquaw · August 2012

I was a wedding gown size 22 and tried on a size 16 and DEFINITELY call ahead to places to find out if they carry plus size dresses. It 's the best way that you can get a good idea as to how the dress will fit properly. The corset back was a plus as it gives you a good idea. I had curves again. :-)

StevieSquaw · August 2012

I was a wedding gown size 22 and tried on a size 16 and DEFINITELY call ahead to places to find out if they carry plus size dresses. It 's the best way that you can get a good idea as to how the dress will fit properly. The corset back was a plus as it gives you a good idea. I had curves again. :-)

StevieSquaw · August 2012

I was a wedding gown size 22 and tried on a size 16 and DEFINITELY call ahead to places to find out if they carry plus size dresses. It 's the best way that you can get a good idea as to how the dress will fit properly. The corset back was a plus as it gives you a good idea. I had curves again. :-)

QueerFemme · August 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_plus-sized_plus-size-trying-on-regular-size-dresses?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:973cdc6f-961e-4fb0-a628-bef2bb559697Discussion:a296312a-455c-458d-923c-b88d51e107f7Post:4a6151ec-46b0-4590-92ad-845dcfb94bb8">Re: Plus size trying on Regular size dresses?</a>:
[QUOTE]Thanks for the advice ladies!! I have heard a lot that the corset backs are awesome.. I have tried corset backs on before on prom dresses etc and hated them because they made my "back fat" (don't you just hate saying that?!) look even worse than usual. But maybe they were just poorly made. And luckily I have lost a significant amount of weight since then and that said back fat is nearly gone :) CMgilpin- I am in the Modesto/Stockton region of California, though I can easily travel to San Jose and Sacramento for dress appointments and I definitely plan to do so as they are the bigger cities near by. Do you happen to know of anything near there? I know there is a new store for plus sizes only called Sparkle, I am excited to check it out, although a little gaurded because they are so so new. I have had only ONE experience with bridal so far and it was quick, and I hardly count it as an experience at all. It was at a local David's Bridal. They said they only had dresses up to a size 12 so I am suprised to hear that you all found DB's with plus size dresses. My consultant was not helpful at all, and although I expected the back of the dresses not to close, she didn't even pull them tight enough to stay up on me so she had me hold them up to myself to see what it "might look like" if the dress were to fit. I would never, in a million years, spend that much money on a dress that I had no idea what it would look like once it actually fit. Needless to say, I was very disappointed, and that is kind of what I wanted to know if that was just my one experience or if in general I need to go to speciality plus size bridal stores. Thanks for all your input!!
Posted by coly06[/QUOTE]

The first store I would recommend is Trudy's in Campbell (near San Jose). They have a very large plus size selection.

Look at the Mori Lee and Alfred Angelo plus size lines on their websites. Trudy's carries Mori Lee, and quite a few other designers and have lots and lots of plus size samples. Blossoms in Dublin also had a very decent size plus size selection.

The David's Bridal in Milpitas has a decent plus size selection,but the quality of DB dresses compared to Mori Lee and Alfred Angelo is significantly lower, and the prices are comparable. My Mori Lee was 990, and it was one of the more expensive ones there. You can get a Mori Lee or AA, depending on the dress style for anywhere from $700-1200. And in my experience, the service at DB is really awful.

Alfred Angelo has a signature store in Roseville... I know that's the other direction, but they have a ton of plus size samples to try on. I am pretty sure Blossoms had some Alfred Angelo samples, as well as Casablanca in plus sizes. I would maybe hit Trudy's and Blossoms on one day, and if you don't find "the one", spend another day and go the other direction and hit up the AA signature store in Roseville.

What is your budget?

<a href="http://www.morilee.com/bridals/julietta/" rel="nofollow">www.morilee.com/bridals/julietta/</a>

<a href="http://www.alfredangelo.com/collections/displaycollection.aspx?CategoryId=1af402e9-205f-4b7b-9d22-6fec77b3d187" rel="nofollow">http://www.alfredangelo.com/collections/displaycollection.aspx?CategoryId=1af402e9-205f-4b7b-9d22-6fec77b3d187</a>

P.S.. if you do go to Trudys... see if you can get an appointment with Victoria. She was my consultant twice... and when she first walked out... I was like, are you KIDDING me? they gave me some 6 foot tall, model pretty, skinny girl to put my big assss into these dresses? And I'll tell you... she was AWESOME. She knows what she is doing... and she won't put you in anything over your budget... and not only does she "not care" that you are a plus size girl... she will tell you to flaunt those curves. She is super nice.

SSaltzman87 · August 2012

I called DB in advance to ask how many samples they had in my size and went to the location that had the most. Ended up getting a $99 sample that fit perfect other than being too long :-)

coly06 · August 2012

CMgilpin- Thanks so much for all this great advice!!! Your are so great! I will definitely check those few stores out and I am going to look at those links you posted right now! My budget for a gown including alterations and all is $1300. So those prices you mentioned are awesome! And I agree about DB, I know a lot of ladies go there, and there are mixed reviews, but like I said before I've only ever tried on dresses once and it was at a DB and it was not a good experience at all. I'm looking forward to trying out a variety of places.

What's your take on that new plus size only bridal gown shop called Sparkle, in Sacramento? Since you seem familiar with the area, I thought I'd ask. I think they sell their own personal brand, if I'm not mistaking, but I might be! It looks like they have a huge selection though.

Thanks again for the tips.. Off I go to check out those websites!

QueerFemme · August 2012

I haven't seen any sparkle dresses. I have heard of a few people talking about it, but haven't actually heard of anyone going there yet. It may be worth a try if you are going to hit up Alfred Angelo in Roseville though.

zizibet · August 2012

If you can travel at all, Phoenix has a great plus-size only bridal shop called Strut. They've had several brides come from California. Their blog is at www.strutbridalsalon.com/blog
They carry several different lines, and all kinds of silhouettes.

Kimberly0402 · August 2012

Before you go in to try on wedding dresses, know that you can't let your feelings get hurt with the actual size that you order. I'm normally a size 14 and I had to order a 16W for my wedding dress (I just got married a month ago). I'm also the MOH in a wedding this Columbus Day weekend and my dress is an 18. As long as you feel beautiful and comfortable it doesn't matter what dress size you order. Congrats and good luck dress shopping.

Plus size trying on Regular size dresses?

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