Dress Shopping for Body Positive Brides!

I feel like it's important to remember that bridal sizes (by most designers) do not run like street sizes at all so there is no use getting caught up over what size you have to order. It's most likely going to be a lot bigger than what you buy regular clothes in and that is totally okay! I am at the end of my engagement but I think what worked for me was not getting caught up on changing who I am or how I look. I went/am still going through a lot of big life changes at the same time as being engaged (we moved twice, started new jobs, had loss in the family, and are in the process of buying a house and moving again currently) so it was important for me to not add any more stress about my body on top of that. I just buy only healthy food so that there isn't anything bad for me in the house to eat and then I let myself eat the things I like on the weekends that I don't have during the week. I also hate the gym so I didn't put pressure on myself to work out x days a week, I just started incorporating exercise more into my daily life as much as possible such as walking during my lunch break at work, walking after work and on the weekends with my FH, hiking with FH or friends on weekends, etc. I also think I was really good at worrying more about how I felt about myself during our engagement rather than what I weigh or what size I was wearing. If I felt happy and good about how I looked in my dress, that was all that mattered to me. I honestly couldn't even tell you what size I ordered my dress in (it was over a year ago lol) because I just didn't care about the number.

I think what's most important to remember - at all times, not just while shopping - is that the person you are marrying loves you for you, regardless of the size. A clothing size is just a number that represents the amount of fabric it takes to create the dress to make you look BANGIN. It is not a number that indicates your self worth or ability to wear whatever the eff you want!

A great dress will make you feel amazing, and a great dress that is fitted to YOU will make you feel absolutely unstoppable. There is absolutely no reason you should feel anything but perfect. Eff the beauty standards of industry models, magazines, etc.

(For what it's worth, I struggled with my size for a long time. At 5'5 my highest weight was 220. And this was what I had to tell myself ALL THE TIME, and it worked. Granted, it wasn't in a bridal sense - it was in my 20s - but it worked for me then, and translates well for brides as well.)

I normally wear a size 10/12 in regular clothing. However as we know in certain clothing stores those sizes vary and I might have to buy a 14/16 so I gave up on worrying about clothing size a long time ago. My bridal gown was actually a size 18 because my chest is large and then I had to have $400 worth of alterations done to make it fit to my body. I love me and I love my dress and I love the way that I look in it. You have to start there! Love yourself

I haven't read any books, although I totally should if time allowed, but what I did was went dress shopping with a very opened mind and the thought that I WOULD FIND A DRESS I LIKED ON MY BODY. It took me nearly two months going almost every weekend.

I was SO surprised when I found a dress that I like on my body with me the size I am. I have been losing weight and i had started just prior to dress shopping. So when I went shopping I thought if I could find a dress I liked on me now, at this size, then I'd know it was the one. And it totally happened!

Just try to focus on the parts of your body you love and accentuate those with your dress! Good luck!

Like many said bridal sizing... Is complete garbage, do not think about what ever made up number they assign you. Remember the point is for you to look beautiful, for you, not anyone else.

Focus on what makes your body feel good and healthy- not what a bridal magazine tells you. This applies to dress sizes, diet and exercise, hair and skin products, etc.

Remember that the person you're marrying wants to marry you just the way you are.

If you're worried about the dress shopping experience I recommend trying on lots of different silhouettes. Different cuts will make your body look drastically different. Some will make you feel amazing and some will make you feel ridiculous. Remember that it's just clothing and that the perfect dress is out there (possibly with the help of some alterations) so don't get discouraged.

I agree and appreciate those words and I am so on board. But I want to look my best on our day and I'm going to do my best to lose at least 20 pounds... I know he loves me for me, and I know he respects my decision to lose some weight. For my own good and for looking great on the day I'm going to do my best. Although I respect the ladies that don't want to go that extra mile I don't think is bad wanting to lose weight and make yourself look your best for the day.

I intended to lose weight (I've gained a lot of weight over the last few years and used to be skinny) but I have my 1st fitting tomorrow and with everything else going on, I did not have as much time to exercise as I've wanted to. I've been upset with myself but I try to just remember that my fiance loves me for me. He always tells me how beautiful I am. When I feel crappy about myself, I just think about how this wonderful man loves me for who I am and will think I'm beautiful on my wedding day and try to just shut all the other nonsense out. It works like 70% of the time lol.

View Quoted Comment Absolutely, I totally respect folks’ decisions on what they choose to do! The tough part is that voice in our heads that says we have to lose weight in order to look our best. I’m trying to learn to sit with that voice and give it less power in my life, and it’s hard. Hang in there and enjoy the process!

I'm plus size. No cusp. I made sure that any place I called to make an apt had plus size options to try on.
I am the size I am. Do I plan to tone up and lose a little weight in the next 10 months? Sure. But I'm thinking no more than 25.
It just comes naturally to me I guess.

Just be you. I find clothes that flatter me and make me look beautiful because I know everyone’s eyes are on me during this time. Your smile says so much about you, don’t forget that.