Losing weight before dress shopping?

Take a look at BHLDN. They carry a limited line of designer gowns at various price points. If you live near one of their brick and mortar stores, you won't walk out with the dress that day, but should have it within a week. My daughter purchased hers on a Monday and had it that Thursday. Her veil took a couple weeks longer due to a temporary stocking shortage. If you order online, they allow for returns within a reasonable time window.

As long as you have about six weeks, alterations shouldn't be an issue. I'd look for an independent seamstress as soon as you have your dress or even prior to shopping.

Hi! First of all, I’m glad you’re doing better and your health condition is resolved. Regarding dress shopping, I’d start a bit earlier, so that you know for sure which one is the dress and then you can go and just pay and order when you’re ready. If your plans are to lose the weight before the wedding, you can always order it a size down. I ordered my dress a size down and when I received it I was 20 pounds lighter, it fitted me perfect (except for the hem, of course). Also, I’d order it in March at the latest, in April you’re cutting it too close to wedding date and they usually request 6-8 weeks for alterations. Ask your bridal salon for their policy on timing, mine requested at least 6 months before the wedding in addition to the time for alterations. Another bridal boutique requested 8 months.

Regarding buying the dress at the moment, bridal salons and boutiques usually have the samples of dresses, therefore they don’t sell them right then and there, they need to order yours, therefore the long wait time. I’m aware that there are places where they sell those samples, therefore you can buy the dress and take it the same day, but alterations must be covered by you. Of course, these are less expensive dresses, because they’re on a discount since they were samples. I’m not sure about stores that have a variety of dresses (not samples) for you to try and take home. I hope this helps a bit, and I wish you success in your wedding dress shopping.

I think 6 months would be the latest you should buy your dress. My dress took 4 months to come in, and I still have to have alterations done. I REALLY want to lose weight for my wedding, but I bought a dress that flattered the body I have now, that way if I lose the weight great and if I don't at least I know it will still look good. Also, they told me a seamstress normally can alter a dress down two dress sizes.

View Quoted Comment

Thank you, Mim! I'll look into BHLDN and see if there's one in my area!

View Quoted Comment

Thank you so much for this! This is really helpful advice. I don't think I'll order a dress size smaller than I am, only because I'm so afraid of the scenario where I'm not able to lose the weight, or for some reason the health issue comes back and I have to deal with it for another few months, which could be possible!

I completely understand about ordering the dresses and having them come in. I actually didn't realize it worked that way, lol! I'm glad that I know now. Thank you for explaining!

I think I'll go ahead and workout now and try to see where I end up by March. If I lose the weight, great. If not, I'll order the dress size that I currently am and maybe talk to the seamstress about my concerns. Thanks!

View Quoted Comment

Hi Danielle, thank you for the advice. I'm glad to know that the seamstress can normally alter a dress down two sizes. I agree, I think I'll plan to shop by April 1st, and if I lose the weight in that time great, but if not I'll order the dress the size that I currently am!

My wedding is this April 2019 and I didn’t dress shop until December 2018 - I went to David’s bridal and my dress was in at the end of January. Being altered rn - will be ready early May. However, I think they prioritize alterations based on when the wedding is so if you come in like a month before they’d work on yours before a wedding that’s in 3 months.
also, the dress they ordered for me was a size bigger so they could “sculpt it” so I’d say yes most places can take a dress in (i hear it’s more difficult to take it out). In fact, I’d lost 7 pounds from the time I bought the dress till my alterations last week and they still were able to sculpt it and it looks great.
if I were you, I’d go look now (to see what you like) and then look again in April to see what size will be best. Or maybe the dress consultant can offer some advise

Oops sorry I meant my dress will be in early MARCH not May lol that would be after my wedding lollllll

If you buy a dress off the rack, you can take home that day and alterations take about 1 month. If you plan on doing that, you can wait until August. You can call local bridal shops and see if they sell off the rack or find a trunk show in your area. I found a boutique that sells sample dresses only and bought one there.

View Quoted Comment

Wow! I am happy to hear from someone that ordered their dress a little bit later than "normal". I have hopes that I will find a dress that doesn't take 6+ months to come in. I may be limited by choices but that's fine! I think I'll look in a month, see how things are fitting and see how long certain dresses will take to come in! Thank you for sharing!

View Quoted Comment

Thanks Katelyn! That's great to know!

Another option with a shorter delivery window is Azazie. It's online, but you can order dresses to try on for a nominal price, and they do custom-sizes for the same price as standard. They've been a favorite for BMs dresses for a while, and in the last year or so greatly expanded their wedding gown selections. Definitely worth checking out as an option!

View Quoted Comment No problem!
Everyone kept telling me “oh no you need to go now!” We got engaged in September but in early November we lost a very close family member unexpectedly so I just didn’t care about wedding dress shopping I almost waited till January tbh.
Granted, that was from a lager retailer not a local boutique they may not be able to accommodate the timeline.
if you’re wedding is in October though April seems like it should be fine.
Good Luck!

View Quoted Comment

I didn't think about Azazie. I'll have to look into that, thank you!

Honestly, April is late. My dress is taking 5 full months to arrive & an additional 2 months for alterations. It's easy to take a dress down 1-2 sizes. I'd just explain in advance to the salon & alterations person what your situation is.

View Quoted Comment

Thanks! I'm so happy to get various opinions. Okay maybe I will look in March lol. It's good to know that they can take the dress down a free sizes if need be.

I'm in a similar but opposite situation. Had a condition where I ended up losing lots of weight quickly. Got treatment and it's expected that the weight comes back unless I update my eating and work out habits. Also wondering when I should go dress shopping.

Seconding the BHLDN suggestion— there are a couple stores that are notorious for quick ship times, that being one (David’s bridal being another!). You can also try consignment or off the rack (at any place that does like sample-style sales), but the down fall of a lot of sample sales is that the dresses are all pretty much one size and come as-is, and condition can vary greatly.

THAT SAID! The above was the information I had in my head when I went shopping, also “late” , also largely due to recent weight gain at the time and not feeling my best, so I kept procrastinating. So, I did all the above first (worrying I’d be laughed out of a regular boutique 😳). I had a great experience at BHLDN (I found some contenders but didn’t have my moment), and then had less than great experiences at all the other places (the sample selection where I went was somewhat bleak). So, I did a little more poking around and realized some DESIGNERS have shorter turn around times, and I found a boutique that carried those designers. I shopped early March for a late August wedding...and ultimately had a great experience. Found a dream dress and some great contenders. So, your early April idea may not be too far off. I did have SOME limitations, for sure. But I told the salon my date and made sure they ONLY pulled dresses that they could get in on time (and I had a lovely selection). Also a number of designers have a rush option for a fee. But, timeline is something a shop should be able to help you with. I’d say calling around and now and asking if they had dresses that could work with that timeline would be your safest bet!

i will also say that while my late shopping worked out, it came with a little stress, and extra expense: my dress came in, as quoted, in 4 months. BUT it came in wrong— I received the wrong color. I super panicked that they wouldn’t have time to fix it, but the shop was ON IT and the manufacturer replaced it in no time at all (lIke maybe 2 weeks?). BUT, the delay did cause me to miss my appointment and window with the seamstress I had selected, and I ultimately had to find someone new, ASAP. I had to pay a rush fee for the alterations, and think in my desperation I got a little screwed with costs (my previous seamstress find was after careful research to find someone affordable, and then in my rush I went for the best I could
get ASAP, and definitely paid a premium for it!)

...short version: you’re probably okay early april : you won’t have your pick of ANYTHING in the store, but you’ll have options still. But, don’t push it off much longer than that, as it will potentially cause unnecessary stress down the road !!

View Quoted Comment

This is awesome advice, thank you soooo much!

You can get sample dresses in store that day, but you are limited in selection. There are also websites online that you can order from that take about 1-2 months to come in, like JJshouse. I would definitely wait a few more months to lose the weight, then buy. My sister was taking steroids and gained over 50 lbs. She bought a dress a year in advance and then couldn't wear it. She lost so much weight they couldn't take it in enough. She ending up buying a prom dress off the shelf, which looked beautiful, but it was a waste of the first, expensive dress.