Dress Size and Alterations

Order the correct size. Unfortunately a lot of us have good intentions about shedding a few pounds, but it doesn't always happen. You can always make the dress small, but never larger.

Agree with PP. Order based on your current size. Alterations can easily size down a dress by taking it in, but it's far more difficult to size up if you don't hit your exact goals.

A dress can be taken in up to two sizes! Only you can know how much weight you can realistically lose. I was determined to lose 15 pounds and when I bought my dress, I was in between sizes so I knew 5 pounds was no problem and if I lost more I could take it in more (which I did because I lost 15).

Do you gain weight when stressed out? Weddings and life can be stressful and some brides stay the same weight. I lose weight when stressed but only you know you.

I believe the advice is to always order the measured size or size up, never down. It’s much easier to take a dress in than let it out. Sometimes it can be much more difficult to lose the weight you’re hoping to (stress eating? Anyone?) and there would be nothing worse than finding out that your beloved dress is too small still and can’t be taken out any more.

Definitely order the size you are when you go shopping. It's better to have to take the dress in. And its hard to predict what size you'd be if you lost weight, some times the weight comes off in some parts of your body but not others, for example I lost 15lbs after ordering my dress in the size I was the day I went shopping, inches came off my waist and thighs but not my hips/butt. So if I were to have ordered a size down it wouldn't have fit my hips. So they took the dress in at my waist and it looked great!

I had a friend who ordered her dress a size down with every intention of shedding the weight before her big day and ended up having to pay a lot of money to let the dress out because she wasn't able to do it. I say order true to size just in case. But good luck in your goals! I really hope you can accomplish them and end up taking your dress in!

Thank you, everyone, for the suggestions!