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Ahh! Well I just found my dress yesterday, so the pictures are still on my sisters camera. But yes--I am a plus size, and though it took about five bridal stores to even find the kind of dress I was looking for, I found it! (Maggie Sottero's Sterling)
What I did was this: call every bridal shop around you within about an hour's drive. Ask how many dresses in your size and in the size above and below they have for you to try on. If it's over three or they have one in your ideal designer's line, go there and try on what they've got. Try to hit two or three bridal stores in the same day in the same area! TRY ON EVERYTHING! My dress is NOT an A-line, NOT structured like they told me in one bridal shop that it would "have to be," it's what I wanted and I love it!
You won't be a "big white whale" when you step into the dress that's best for you. And I will say this--I went with Maggie's line after seeing I looked TERRIBLE in David's Bridal, so find a line that's cut best for you!
Good luck girl--and know that your groom will think you look beautiful in whatever you wear :)
Here! Here! cinemaparadiso!
I am a 16 regular in my jeans. I ordered a size 18 dress. I will say that it is frusterating trying on a 10 or a 12 in the store. Dresses that were an 8, I just didn't try on. I wore a long line bra (A MUST!!) when I went, which essentially made me a lot slimmer in the middle. My hips are the biggest, so I put a lot of sample dresses on over my head. Even if the underlay didn't lay flat, a lot of the overlays went to the floor. For my bust, have the sales associate stand behind you (or a good BM) and pull or clip the back of the dress flat to your chest, so you can get an idea of what the dress will look like when it fits.
I will also say that I the dress I ordered, I was lucky enough to try it on in a size 18 at a store that carries larger sizes. HOWEVER! I was not comfortable with the sales associate at that store. So, I found a store I did like that carried that line and ordered it through them. My dress comes in in January.
But totally, if you like a particular style of dress or top or skirt in your regular wear that makes you feel good, then look for the same characteristics in the dresses you try on. You'll find something that makes you look good!
My dress is Anjoliqe #921, size 18. The arms in the 16 weren't leaving me much room to dance but now that I have the 18 they will have to be taken in some.
I dreaded dress shopping as well because none of the dresses would fit. But I tell you what, I was able to try on dresses from 12-16 and they were tight in some areas so they weren't zipped up all the way but you could still visualize yourself. I ended up having a pretty decent experience and wasn't scolded from the dress people for being plus-sized and no one looked down their nose at me either.
I've heard Maggie Sottero's designs are more plus sized friendly and the sizes are more true to street size. Anjolique seemed to be the same thing.
Oh yes, us plus sized brides are out there & we are beautiful!
Here's a link to some of the pics on our photographer's website. My dress is a $200 online dress from David's Bridal & was exactly what I wanted - simple with short train. I went to the store just to figure out sizing and then ordered it online. It was funny as they kept trying to pressure me into buying the more expensive dresses when everything they showed me just helped me decide that the online dress was perfect.
http://stephanieasmithphotography.blogspot.com/2009/07/congratulations-michelle-and-ralph.html
I'm not regularly a plus size (at least not yet) but I wear about a size 16 dress (maybe 18?). I'm usually an XL because I have very broad shoulders and am overweight by about 60lbs. I also have the hips of a 12 year old boy and A cup breasts. All in all, I'm built basically like a 12 or 13 year old, fat boy. And I've got great big, muscley calves that I absolutely cannot wear boots with because I can't pull them up. But I don't really care much. As long as my fiance's OK with it because he's the only person who sees me naked. It sucks a bit that I can't wear the boots I like or the clothes I love looking at, though! I'm hoping to lose a lot of it, but I'm not going to stress myself over it. I have enough stress in my life as it is! I'm OK with being a little overweight. I'm primarily concerned about my overall health. That's it.
I found a nice lady (sales rep) who was about to help me pick out a dress style. And it totally matched what I was looking at! A-line, or empire waist, long and smooth lines, corset back to help give me a figure... I have to say, I think I look beautiful in them (I'm usually really very modest and think I generally look like crap, but I really do think I looked gorgeous). I still haven't found "the one" and I doubt I will, but at least I know what looks good on me :) I was looking at Maggie Sottero dresses and she suggested I try the Avery and Dynasty. I loved the Natalia, but she said that because of the broach right in the middle in the front, that it'll draw more attention to my tummy and it wouldn't be as flattering. I believe that.
My own mother was the one who told me not to wear a strapless or spaghetti straps. She told me to find someone with sleeves to cover up my fat upper arms (my mother gave me her genes where upper arms and thighs is the first place we get fat). But I've basically only been trying on strapless dresses because there's so many out there. And they look gorgeous regardless!
And I totally hate that they only have size 8's to try on. A size 8 barely covers my fron tand sides... much less actually getting to my back to zip up. It's a little ridiculous.
A word of warning also to my plus sized peers...
Often times a designer will charge more for a dress over a size 16. Anything over 16 falls into the plus category and then they charge more for the extra fabric. So ask if the price will be more than what's in the store before you place your order.
Here is what I just tried on I didn't feel too bad in them I was quite please with how it turned out. I am still looking this is just the first time.
DSCN5475.1.jpg (47.1 KB, 114 downloads) 2 years old DSCN5462.1.jpg (75.8 KB, 98 downloads) 2 years old 
@ goodart-- i really like the second dress with the off the shoulder sleeves on you!
Don't worry..we're out here. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to try dresses on because I am an 18/20 in dresses, but I had really good luck. First stop was David's Bridal because I knew they would have stuff in my size so I could figure out what looked good on me and what didn't. I'm glad I did because there were a few surprises. I didn't think a drop waist would be flattering at all, but I liked it.
Then we headed to one of the larger bridal shops in town and they had a 20 or so dresses in 14 and above that I could try on. They didn't close in the back, but I could get an idea of what I wanted anyway. Of course I fell in love with a dress that was a sample size 10, but the saleslady squeezed me in enough to get an idea and it ended up being the one I bought. It's a Watters and Watters which do run pretty true to street sizes. All of my second choice dresses were by Spanish designers and are all very flattering on larger girls.
My best advice is to keep an open mind. Things look different on the rack and so often big girls are told that they should only wear certain styles, but you never know what will work and the best way to be beautiful is to be confident!
I'm with you! I am a street size 16 and I'm scared to try on dresses. I will prob not get married until late fall 2010 though, and I don't plan to buy a designer dress, so I am going to try to get down to a 10 or 12 in the next few months before I shop!
I was a street size 14 pushing a 16 this time last year and I'm now in a size 10. I've worked really really hard because I bought my wedding dress 6 years ago when I was 30lbs lighter. Long story behind the dress.
I haven't lost weight but I've lost inches and I'm getting really really toned. I'm working out 3 nights a week for the last year and just trying to be better about eating and drinking. I'm not doing any crazy diets.
Just keep working hard and you'll find something that suits you!
I completely understand how you feel. I am a street size 16 and I was so worried that I wouldn't find any gowns that I really loved by designers who made gowns in my size. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that there are plenty!
I ended up with a Jim Hjelm gown and LOVED it!!!! There are pics of my gown in my bio if you want to see. Just wanted to give you a positive boost and to reassure you that you WILL find a fabulous gown and you will look and feel gorgeous on your wedding day! Don't let your nerves hold you back from finding your wedding gown - enjoy it! It is a glorious, but fleeting time in your life :) Good Luck!
@goodart- I think the 2nd dress looked fab on you!
Thanks for the boost of support everyone! Its good to know I can be plus sized and still be a beautiful bride. :)
We're out here! There's a great thread of plus-sized brides on here -- search for "plus-size-show-us-your-dress". So many beautiful brides!!
Rabbit,
I'm a plus-size bride, and feel gorgeous in my dress-- but part of that feeling comes from being confident on the inside. The most beautiful girl in the world can put on a stunning dress, and still hate the way she looks in the mirror. It's really sad the way we talk down to ourselves in our heads-- would you talk to a girlfriend that way? We have to flip the script in our own minds, and exorcise these demons.
I'd recommend that you read this post by Mrs. Kiwi: http://www.weddingbee.com/2008/01/07/my-regret/
Mrs. PeepToe also talked about the same fears, surrounding her search for the dress: http://www.weddingbee.com/2009/01/07/bridal-shopping-angst/
So my waist is six inches larger than another girl-- who cares? That doesn't make me any less of a person, or less worthy of a fantastic dress! I'm not going to walk around depressed, and angry with myself, simply because my thighs have a little extra bit of curve. Trust me, the salesgirls in the dress salons are just there to sell you your dress-- they're not judging you half as much as we women judge ourselves.
There is a dress out there that is going to make you feel incredible. Don't be afraid to go out and try to find it!
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Looking around wedding sites and at pictures of the beautiful brides here on Wedding Bee, I sometimes wonder- are there any Plus Sized brides out there like me? I almost never see pictures of women street size 16+ and it makes it hard to visualize myself in a wedding dress. It depresses me that even after losing 35lb so far (hoping for another 60lb before the wedding!) that I'll probably still end up in a plus size gown. I am not excited about going dress shopping at all and I am hoping my lovely fellow bees can help.
Anyone else feel this way? Are there any Plus Sized brides to be (or that have been) out there? Do you have pictures of yourself in your wedding dress to inspire me? Any words of advice about finding gowns which flatter and don't make me feel like a big, ugly, bright white whale?
Please, show me your gown!