by Tom Sawyer
•
5 April 2023
Clothing size is a point of contention for a lot of women, especially if you are plus size. It’s hard enough to find regular plus size clothes in stores, let alone plus size bridal gowns. There are very few dedicated plus size bridal shops which makes it even harder. There are so many decisions to be made, from style, color, size, and even price. The whole process can be very overwhelming. But have no fear, because at The Curvy Bride we are here to help and give you all of the knowledge you need to pick the perfect dress for you! Today we are going to talk about bridal gown sizing. Something that is distressing to a lot of brides is the label size of wedding dresses. If you have never done research on this topic before, it can be very intense when it’s finally time to try on a dress. Something that is important to keep in mind through the whole dress buying process is that wedding dress sizing is very different from street-wear sizing. Wedding dresses tend to run small because most designers base their sizes on a European size chart, even if they are an American brand. This means that, depending on the style, your dress size could be between 2-4 sizes larger than your standard clothing size. For example, if you are a size 20 in pants, your bridal gown may be a size 24. But we always say not to worry about the number! Our goal is to help you find a gown that you feel beautiful in, regardless of the size on the tag! -- Below, we have answered some questions regarding sizing that we often get asked: "What if I end up losing weight before my wedding?" If you think your weight might fluctuate before your wedding, bridal shops will always suggest that you buy for the size that you are today, as it is typically much easier for a dress to be taken in than it is to be let out. It is not recommended to order a smaller size dress, because if it is too snug when it arrives, you may have some trouble on your hands. You could risk the integrity of the dress just to make it fit. This could lead to a whole other host of problems, like having to find another dress last minute or having to find "What if I am planning on getting weight loss surgery?" If you plan on losing a significant amount of weight with a weight loss surgery, for example, then it is in your best interest to wait a little bit longer to get your dress and then do alterations as close as possible to the wedding date. This way, you can choose a size accordingly and not have to "guess" on sizing. "What if my dress is too snug?" We suggest assessing this situation as soon as possible so we can get a plan in place. Some options are to order fabric to build out the dress, or build a corset in the back for additional room. Matching dress fabric can sometimes take months to arrive, but if we don't have time to order we can always try getting similar material from another company or using extra fabric we may have. We will always work with you alongside our seamstresses to find the best solution. -- Ladies, please note - there is no need to try to get yourself into a smaller size dress for your wedding! The size is only a number. You just want to feel beautiful and comfortable on your wedding day, and having dress stress is certainly not going to get you there. You don't need to change your body to fit into a gown; you want the gown to fit your body and feel comfortable on you! That's why we are here at The Curvy Bride in Manalapan, NJ - to help you find a dream dress that you love and feel good in! If you are in the market for a plus size wedding dress and want to shop at the first and finest plus size bridal shop in New Jersey, visit us online at www.CurvyBrides.com for more information or to book a private appointment. We can't wait to meet you!