How bad was it?

[Deleted User] · July 2015

Ok, for all you Knotties that have already bought the dress or at least gone shopping, how was the experience? I'm about a size 14-16 normally and am really putting off shopping because I know wedding dresses run small. I'm afraid of breaking down in tears because, even though I love my body, I don't want to be told they don't have a sample that will fit me or get stuck in something... Trying to get myself moving more to help with becoming more healthy but that will be cut down when I start a new job tomorrow (longer hours, long commute, stressful job- being realistic that my couch will look better to me in the moment than my sports bra). I might just be in pity-party mode. Anyway, if you could share your thoughts on your experience, it'd be appreciated!

AddieCake · July 2015

My experience was that I wore the same size in wedding dresses as I do in real clothes (12). Just make sure you go with an open mind. I looked like a birthday cake in what I Thought was my dream dress, and I never thought I'd fit my big ass in the fitted dress I ended up in, but it made my butt look smaller than it is!

kasasr1024 · July 2015

I went to David's Bridal, even though I thought I didn't want to, and I loved it! I wear a 16/18 and felt absolutely AMAZING in my dress!

1) Shapewear helps, I got a corset to wear from the store while I was there

2) Corset backs are super helpful! They allow flexibility with size, my dress is a 16W and I borderline could have ordered a 14W because of the corset.

Look up some bridal shops in your area and call around to see what their sample sizes are. If they don't have anything in your size, ask if they know of a place that does and/or google plus size wedding shops in your area. Good luck!

onefootinthebayou · July 2015

For me, I found that the shop/attendant can make or break the experience. I'm a small size and the pushy woman in the first shop I went to (who sold my info to wedding vendors) told me I looked like the bride of Shreck in one of my dresses. I was nearly in tears. The 2nd shop, where I bought my dress was a 100% different experience. There were dresses that fit my style, and attendants who helped and encouraged me rather than pushed their opinions on me and pressured me. I would advise just browsing a few shops and try to pick one with a more relaxed atmosphere if possible.

While you learn on this site that several aspects of your wedding will be about your guests, this is one activity that is truly about YOU. Just keep that in mind. You are the boss of this venture, you know what looks good and feels good on your body and what will make you happy on your wedding day.

Oh, and don't get married (pun intended) to the idea of THE perfect dress. There can be several in the end that you may wind up happy with and that's ok too.

Enjoy!

lachattefatale · July 2015

I wear a 16 and I had a great time. There were some 16 samples that didn't fit because some bridal does run small, but others that did. One of my favorites was a size 12 sample that didn't zip at all, but who cares? The consultant just clipped it to the long-line bra and told me how tiny my waist looked. (They will all say that. And in a lot of dresses it will be true because they stuff you into shapewear first, and because half-decent consultants know which dresses will be most flattering.) I think I tried on samples sized from 12 to 22.

pinupbride6189 · July 2015

I wear a size 12 to 14 right now, and I had a great time dress shopping. Even though most of the samples were a little small and didn't zip, my (wonderful) consultant shimmied me into them and stuffed some modesty panels in the back and clipped it up so I could show my mom and sister. It looked like this...lol.

And don't worry about getting stuck in anything. The consultant will help you out of the dress if need be. Hell, I could hear a couple of the dresses I tried on rip while I was walking out. My consultant told me not to worry about it at all.

Don't worry about the number on the tag, and just keep in mind that as much as you love the sample of the dress you pick, it's going to look a million times better when it actually fits you! Happy Shopping!

labro · July 2015

I wear a size 12-14 and had a wonderful time dress shopping!! I think my best advice is to be open to possibilities, to not worry about the sample size (they clip the dress to you anyway, so it doesn't matter whether it "fits" because they'll make it look right) and to just go in with a positive attitude. Also, don't bring a huge crowd. Stick with a couple close friends or relatives.

I think one of the best things I did was set up a few appointments alone so I didn't have other opinions clouding my judgement. I visited 3 three salons and picked out a few favorites at each salon. Then I had second appointments at each of those salons with my mom and sister/MOH. At my second appointment we found the dress!

OliveOilsMom · July 2015

I wear the same size as you and there were only 2 dresses that I couldn't really fit into and didn't walk out of the dressing room in. One was a dress my mom picked, so I let her come back and see me in it.

But overall, I had no issues with the sample dresses. Most of them wouldn't zip up, so I just got clipped into them. But I didn't let that bother me because I knew the dresses weren't my normal size anyway. I went to a Macy's bridal salon. They sell Demetrios gowns, if you are interested in finding one of their locations.

redheadbride15 · July 2015

I was also dreading dress shopping - for the reason you mentioned, and also because I just didn't care all that much (I never had a "dream dress", nor did I enjoy flipping through pictures of dresses in bridal magazines, etc.), and because I was doing it alone.

I ended up having a lot more fun than I thought I would! I quickly realized that almost all mid-range (not specialty boutique) stores are used to the average sized bride - which, let's be honest, is really somewhere between a 12 and a 16. If you are worried call the store ahead of time and ask if they have samples in your size range - I bet they will! I saw brides of all shapes and sizes when I was out dress shopping, and everyone looked stunning!

amiemaria · July 2015

@onefootinthebayou "Oh, and don't get married (pun intended) to the idea of THE perfect dress" this is the best advice.

MandyMost · July 2015

I called a lot of stores. I didn't want to bother going somewhere where they barely had any dresses I could try on. I went to a couple traditional bridal salons, and both had a bunch of plus-size dresses that they had to clip tighter, and some regular-sample-size dresses that barely could go on. I wanted a fairly fitted dress, not a ball gown, so dresses that were more than a size too small couldn't go on at all. But there were plenty that could go on.

I remember calling Alfred Angelo with a list of some dresses I liked, and made them check what sizes they had them in. I was on the phone with the person running around the store checkign for me for like 20 minutes. It's their job, so don't feel bad about asking.

[Deleted User] · July 2015

Thank you EVERYONE! I feel a lot better now with the encouragement :-)

pinupbride6189 · July 2015

jgrace8611 said:

Thank you EVERYONE! I feel a lot better now with the encouragement :-)

Good! Go out and find a dress that makes you feel fantastic!

Casadena · July 2015

I only went to dress shops that had a wide selection and only tried on dress samples that were my size (10-14 in real life and wedding world depending on the style). I knew I would get frustrated if they were way too big or way to small and it was really hard for me to picture how a dress that didn't fit already would look when it was the right size.

I had lots of options and found a dress I loved!

julieanne912 · July 2015

I realize you've probably already gone shopping by now, but one thing I did that I found to be helpful was hit up a consignment shop with my MOH, and tried on pretty much every dress available in my size (I'm a street 10-12, and 12-14 in most dresses), even if it wasn't something I really would consider wearing on the day. The shop I went to didn't have salespeople that hovered, they would help you if you needed it but otherwise it was pretty much self service.

It helped me A LOT to narrow down the style and shapes that looked good on me. That way, when my mom arrived in town, we could be productive with our time and give the consultants at the fancier shops an idea of what I was looking for, and it gave me more confidence that dresses in the proper size do look nice, even if the sample I had to try on wasn't the right size.

How bad was it?

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