Do bridal shops order larger sizes?

Bridal sizes are typically 2 sizes bigger than your street size. Salons should suggest you order the size you are now and only order smaller if you’re super confident you’ll lose that weight.

View Quoted Comment So my dress is a size 10...you're saying my street size is an 8 or 12?

When they took my measurements they based it on what would fit. My top was a size 4, my waist was between a 6 and an 8, and my butt was a size 10. Thank goodness it’s a ball gown or I’d have a lot of alterations to do. I just got my dress in today. I was really worried I should have gotten the 6 but the 8 fits perfect, I barely need any alterations.

Usually they’ll order what the biggest measurement on your body fits and you’ll get the rest altered. When I bought mine my boobs were a size 14 but my hips were a size 4. They ordered the 14 to fit around my bust and my seamstress altered the rest of the dress to fit.

View Quoted Comment If your dress is a 10 you’re likely a size 6 in street clothes (6, 8, 10). But like the poster above said, they’ll measure to the largest part of your body—like your busy or hips—to make sure it fits.

My shop took my measurements and consulted the designer’s chart for the dress to see where my numbers lined up, and ordered the size the measurements corresponded to (I was present for all this and signed off on the size). The measurements happened to fall in the dress sized 14. For reference, I usually wear a size 8 in dresses— so bridal sizes are annoying different from regular! Some are the same and some are way off, to complicate things. My size 14 wedding dress came in and fit perfectly on my size 8 body!

It's way easier to order it big and alter it down than to take it out if it's too small!

View Quoted Comment

Mine is also a 10. Typically i am a size 6/8. don't be discouraged by the number. sometimes the way the dresses are cut and the type of fabric calls for an even bigger "size". my MOH had to order 6 sizes up for her hips. just will have to have a lot of alterations on the top.

My bridal salon measured me and ordered the dress size that fit those measurements.

As others have explained, the bridal shop should take your measurements and then compare them with the manufacturer's size chart for the dress you've chosen. They will probably STRONGLY encourage you to order the size that matches your largest measurement (it is much easier to take a dress in than to let it out). However, after explaining the options, they should let you make the final decision about what size to order, and they will very likely make you sign the order form confirming that you know what size is ordered and agree with it, and know that the dress is not returnable/refundable. They should not just be randomly choosing a size based on some arbitrary "order two sizes up" process; if that's their practice, RUN and find another shop. (Also, realize that dresses you try on in salons are probably VERY stretched; so, a size 6 sample gown that fits perfectly doesn't mean a new size 6 will fit you the same way. Insist on them measuring you and then ask to see the manufacturer's size chart to see what your correct size is.) Good luck!

Mine was ordered in my exact size, but in regular day-to-day clothes I'm a 0/2. In bridal dresses, I was a 14. I did lost 15 lbs and it had to be taken in, but they ordered in my size at the time of my purchase.

I am usually a Size 4 and the wedding gown sale person ordered me a 14. I figured she knew best since it was her job. Fast forward to when it came in, the salesperson had left and it was so
big I couldn’t even imagine wearing it. I left holding back tears.
I just went back for an alterations appointment at the same place and the seamstress said “why did you order such a big dress?!?” I was like um...I did what they told me to! She was super nice though and assured me she could fix it. I go back in a week to be sure. (Crosses fingers)
My friend and sister totally wondered if the bridal consultant gets a kickback for having me order a dress I would have to have altered.

DB ordered my correct size. I needed a 10 and that's what she got. I wanted a petite but it would take 5 months to come in so I said forget it. Other than that, I had a great experience.