Post # 1
Member
189 posts
Blushing bee
So I typically know what looks good on me and never really have a hard time picking out something online and it not looking good. That’s why when I saw the dress that I have decided to wear at my wedding, I knew it was it! No bling- very classic and elegant. A-line, natural waist…. sigh….
I am a size 20-22 and have been working out- I would like to be an 18, but only because I take better pictures at that size. (Fat and happy, that’s what HE did! LOL)
The thing is, everyone says I should go and try dresses on to be sure I have the one. And all of my (smaller) friends say that it is half of the fun, with your mom and sisters and BMs to go and play in the dress shop.
Here is my dilemma- I have read some horror stories about plus size girls going into a boutique and finding out that they only have size 6 to try on and having to squeeze into those and getting depressed!
I don’t want the stigma that those little dress shop ladies try to impose on us curvaceous girls to be an “ideal” size.
So what has your experience been? Should I just stick with my original idea and go with my gut feeling? Skip the whole process, get my measurements done and order my dress? I will have time to take it in for alterations if need be.
Post # 3
Member
4652 posts
Honey bee
I would call around and see if they have plus size dresses or just go to davids bridal(they keep all sizes in the store) and try on the shape of the dress and make sure you like it..
Post # 4
Member
189 posts
Blushing bee
@MsPanda:Have you had any experience trying on dresses at David Bridal? I heard that they don’t have much of a selection in plus sizes.
Post # 5
Member
729 posts
Busy bee
What about alfred angelo stores? is there one in your area. I find that AA has a lot more selection than DB.
Post # 6
Member
6886 posts
Busy Beekeeper
I would call around bridal shops you never know! Every shop I went to had plus size dresses to try on. In fact the place I got my dress actually caters to plus size women, that is the only kind of dresses they do!
Post # 7
Member
173 posts
Blushing bee
@soontobemrsjohnnyb: I live in WA too! I think you will be surprised by the number of salons with plus size dresses. I went to a couple of salons and each had dresses from a size 0 to 30. Here’s a place in Olympia that carries size 0 to 28: http://weddingswithjoy.com/about/
I went to Benita’s Bridal in Silverdale and Pearls and Lace in Burien and they had a good selection of all sizes.
Post # 8
Member
4652 posts
Honey bee
I went to davids bridal and tried on some im one size from being plus size so didnt actually try one plus size ones but you can always look at the website and See what they have for plus size…
Post # 9
Member
4581 posts
Honey bee
I skipped the the bridal boutique experience and just ordered online and I’m perfectly happy. Bringing a whole entourage to the store and trying on dozens of dresses was never a concept that held much appeal for me.
Post # 10
Member
780 posts
Busy bee
i agree with all the previous posters. another spin on your original idea is that some dress salons/designers can take a CRAAAAZZZY amount of time to get a dress back after you have ordered it. you may lose the 2 dress sizes in a flash, but if you bod is as stubborn as mine, it may take a minute. HA!
annnnnnd, i don’t mean to scare you but wedding dress sizes tend to run 3…4 sizes behind street sizes!!! I KNOW RIGHT??!!! so you certainly should go in and try dresses on at salons that have a variety of sizes.
i thought about going the online dress route as well, but the reviews were so up in the air and there were so many different replica companies and some were supposedly better than others and…WHEW!!!! i just decided not to do that and go in and try the dresses on.
🙂
Post # 11
Member
569 posts
Busy bee
I found that the smaller, boutique type salons really didn’t have a good range of sizes in sample dresses, but larger salons had samples up to size 30. Just call ahead and ask them if they have plus size samples.
Post # 12
Member
189 posts
Blushing bee
How does a plus size girl feel, though, going in and baring it all?! I typically don’t have alot of shame, but, well, you know!!! 
Also, I don’t want to get depressed with the feeling of OMG this doesn’t fit!
Post # 13
Member
189 posts
Blushing bee
@katieebee: Thanks! I am happy someone else felt overwhelmed!!
@Klb5882: That’s funny you say that! I want the Alfred Angelo in 1148w!!! I will have to go there!!
Post # 14
Member
941 posts
Busy bee
I went to two bridal shops when looking for dresses…they were both independent stores, not necessarily tiny boutiques, but not a David’s Bridal or anything like that. And I was really surprised how many dresses I was able to try on. I don’t know what sizes I was actually trying on, but there were quite a few options that were the style I was going for. It wasn’t like I tried on the one they had.
I think if you feel comfortable, going to the store to try on dresses can be a fun experience (especially if you have a good group of people to go with). And if you call the store in advance and find out what their size range is, I think it’ll be a much more enjoyable experience.
Good luck!
Post # 15
Member
189 posts
Blushing bee
@Sassygrn:Aw! The perfect world!!!!
Post # 16
Member
6886 posts
Busy Beekeeper
@soontobemrsjohnnyb: Honestly the places I went to either there were quite a few other brides no one else was paying attention to me (not talking consultants but other customers). As for the consultants they are so used to brides they don’t even bat an eye at nearly naked women. Heck the place I got my dress at it was just me and the consultant, (she owns the shop) She put me in the long line bra as in hooked it in the back and helped me into the dress.