Plus sized bridesmaids

eamcw8214 · November 2009

I have seven bridesmaids - three are plus size, and the rest aren't but they do not have super model bodies (I have REAL ladies! And I love them!) I really wish that they ALL will wear the same dress at the wedding - I do want to have my two maids-of-honor stand out a little, though..maybe the color of their sash, or what have you. If my wish "comes true", what type of dress should I begin looking at before I take my bridesmaids to decide on a dress from my top 5 (or however many I love)?

eamcw8214 · November 2009

**I do want them to all feel comfortable, also.

sarahmk5 · November 2009

Honestly, probably the best thing you could do is take them shopping with you. They know what's best for their body.

Night_Sprite · November 2009

Honestly, you probably want to see dresses on their bodies. It makes a difference to have a person in a dress. Also, things like bust size, butt size, etc. make a different. I'd start looking at Alfred Angelo and David's Bridal.

Brie2010 · November 2009

If it's possible, I'd take a few of them shopping from a range of sizes before you pick out your top five so they can help guide you to stuff they like.Off the top of my head, I would suggest no strapless--it's a pain if any of the girls are large-chested. BM dresses don't have as much boning and support as wedding dresses. We are doing a knee-length v-neck dress that is really cute, and flattering to my BMs, who range from size 2 to 20.

danieliza1127 · November 2009

No strapless. They're rarely flattering even though they're really popular.Other than no strapless, it's hard to say without really just picking ones you like and letting the girls try them on to see how they feel and fit.

eastunder1 · November 2009

I know this isn't what you want to hear, but if you truly want your BMs to feel and look wonderful, let them pick out different dresses. It isn't impossible, but it will be very tricky to find a single dress that is going to flatter a large range of figures and sizes. That's just a lot of work for you. Its not just about making them happy, its about making your life as easy as possible. If you're dead set on one dress, I suggest a dark color and something right above the knee. And are skinny women not real?

eastunder1 · November 2009

Ditto the V neck. It tends to be the most flattering.

elf828 · November 2009

I have two girls in my wedding party, and they will be wearing the same color but different styles - that way they will be both coordinated and comfortable. The two girls have very different body types and it would be impossible to find one dress that would make them both look fabulous. I would suggest this approach.BTW neither of them are plus size OR super models, but they are in fact real.

carrieoz_76 · November 2009

So take them shopping, or send them out to go shopping and have them tell you what styles work best for them, then you can try to select one that works the best for everyone. Also, make sure you pick a BM designer that makes it easier for us plus-sized girls. I love Alfred Angelo for this b/c they carry all their dresses up to all the plus sizes, and they don't charge extra for larger sizes. Plus they have a pretty good selection to try on in their shop. DB also carries larger sizes, but I just don't love that store. Another option is having them tell you generally what style works for them, then you can order online from a designer that carries all sizes. Some of the online vendors are really well-established and well-reviewed - just make sure you buy from one of the good ones.

agk0125 · November 2009

I agree with east. You'll probably be better off picking a color and a designer and letting them each pick a dress they are comfortable in.And of course everyone knows skinny girls aren't real. It's a very well known fact.

ootmother2 · November 2009

take that back agk! Skinnies can't help it, we didn't ASK to be born this way :P

brookelynpaisley · November 2009

Real huh? I guess my size 2 bridesmaids were fake then? An empire waist with an A-line is typically flattering for all body types, since the combo creates a slim waist. I'd avoid strapless - it's not as comfy or flattering for full-figured girls. Honestly, I think that you'd have more look and have a lovelier looking bridal party if you chose a color and has them choose the style - youre unlikely to find one dress that will look good on 7 women of difference sizes.

carrieoz_76 · November 2009

It's possible that the reference to "real women" is reiterating advertising for plus-sized fashion. They regularly talk about "what real women wear."

elf828 · November 2009

Those advertisements make me so angry. I am a real person. I am no less "real" because I am smaller than the current average female size. Why is it not EVER okay to say anything less than supportive about an overweight woman, yet it is perfectly acceptable to dismiss a normal- or healthy-weight woman as "not a real woman"?

ggmae · November 2009

SIL is plus sized and I just told her to get whatever black dress she wanted. I think your best bet in this instance is to give them some guidelines and allow them to pick their own dress. That or take a few shopping with you so that you can get a feel for styles they like and feel best in.

squirrly · November 2009

Lots of good advice from pps. Also, call ahead to stores and ask if they have sample dresses in the sizes you want to try on. It STINKS when one of your BMs literally can not put anything on in the entire store. At all. Even unzipped. NOT a good shopping experience.

tidetravel · November 2009

Like PPs said, the best thing for your girls would be to give them a designer and color and let them pick what they feel comfortable in. That being said, all of my BMs wore the same dress. The dress that I chose was one that REALLY did look great on all body types - how they managed that, I will never know. My mom, size 4, sister, size 8 and myself, size 18 all tried it on before we chose the dress, and it flattered us all. Pics in bio of the wedding party.Here is the dress - style F12688 from Davids Bridalhttp://snipurl.com/t5a03

ggmae · November 2009

DB does it. They have their "Woman" line for plus-sized women. It makes it sound as though non-plus-sized women aren't women at all.

jessiegirl_98 · November 2009

I agree that if you really want them to feel comfortable, let them pick their own dress in the same fabric/color. Mine ranged in size from 00 to 22, so I let them pick their own. Otherwise, no strapless, a-line dress in a flattering material (nothing too shiny). I'm not plus sized, but have large boobs and I disagree with the v-neck. It may work, but I've tried on many v-necks that would be super inappropriate for me!

ggmae · November 2009

SIL chose this dress in black. [url]http://www.davidsbridal.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplayView?storeId=10052&catalogId=10051&categoryId=-49998974&currentIdx=3&subCategory=-49998976|-49998975|-49998974&catentryId=6096954&sort=[/url]

temerityjane · November 2009

Please check one*:___ Male ___ Female ___ Pretend(Please choose "Pretend" if you are under 130 lbs, thank you.)

mags0607 · November 2009

I think you are getting some good advice. I also think that you might want to consider letting them get the same length/color and then letting them pick the dress. You said something about having your honor attendants in a different sash color. You could try to get sashes for all the dresses to tie them together, and have your honor attendants in a different color. That would make it cohesive but let them pick what is best for their bodies. Also, I am about a size 1o, but very heavy chested, some v-necks don't look modest on me while they look great on a friend who is the same size but less boobage, giving your BMs options might take into consideration of differing butt/bust sizes.

temerityjane · November 2009

PS I am joking please don't fill that out, I believe in your existence no matter how much you weigh!

eastunder1 · November 2009

I've always thought V necks were pretty flattering on larger chests. I guess granted that they don't go too low. I'm a full C and prefer them. Other necklines (like a scoop) seem to add weight there or just make them look bigger trying to cover them up. Something about the V seems to skinny them up. At least to me. But I could see a much larger chest having too much of a cleavage issue with it. I totally agree with what you said Elf, but I have to admit I had a giggle when I read your rant then noticed what your screen name was. It was fitting

agk0125 · November 2009

take that back agk! Skinnies can't help it, we didn't ASK to be born this way :PNo, oot, we don't exist. We're like Bruce Willis in the 6th Sense. We think we're there but no one else can see us.

SarahSmile23 · November 2009

(I have REAL ladies! And I love them!)you almost lost me with this crap.i agree with east about v-necks being flattering on larger chested women.

elf828 · November 2009

oh that's funny East! ELF will be my married initials. I am pretty excited about that - my current initials don't spell anything.

eamcw8214 · November 2009

Thank you everyone for the supportive advice. (I guess my comment on "REAL ladies" was not clear enough, however, and I did not mean to offend anyone or stir up conflict. I am a size 2 bride. I did not mean that skinny girls aren't real. I am talking about the unfortunate ladies who feel that they are not skinny enough and continue to starve themselves just because the media has decided what's skinny and what's not. And no, I did not pick bridesmaids larger than me to make me look better. These ladies were my sorority sisters, best friends, and relatives. I love them so much - they each mean so much to me.)

agk0125 · November 2009

I knew you didn't mean anything by it. It was amusing more than anything. I'm sort of grasping at straws in the amusement category tonight.You can count me among the un-offended.

chosen175 · November 2009

Have you asked what they would like in a dress? I'm a plus size girl and never once has the bride ever asked for input before choosing the BM dresses. I always end up in something that looks AWFUL! At least if you have some preferences before you go looking at dresses, you know what to pull off the rack. Personally, my choice would be an A-line dress with either some type of sleeve or wrap because I'm VERY self-conscious about my flabby upper arms.

Plus sized bridesmaids

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