Not sure about size recommended by bridal shop

Hmm. That is a tough one because there's quite a difference between a size 12 and a size 18 and I likewise would be worried the hips wouldn't fit in the size 16.

Did they show you the size chart for the dress? How many inches are we talking? I mean, if I were only slightly over the size 16, I'd get it, since wedding dresses do have quite a large seam allowance, but on the other hand, if I was at the upper end of an 18, I definitely would not, type thing.

Did they have an alterations person, and did they think taking the 18 down to a 12 in the bust was possible? I would not want to make that large of a change without discussing it first.

View Quoted Comment Thanks so much for your response! I did not see the size chart there but did look it up online and there is a 2 inch difference between the 16 and 18 in the hips. Unfortunately there was not an alterations person onsite as they don't do them in house. I just hate to spend all this money on a dress that won't fit, lol.

I have a similar size variation between my bust/waist and hips and have received similar recommendation re: size. What they told me was that you can typically size down approximately two sizes or up by 1 size without compromising the structure of the dress, but any more than that and it requires “restructuring.” They recommended ordering the size that put me in the normal alterations range (taking in the top 2 sizes and letting the hips out 1 size) instead of the size that would have maybe not required alteration to the hips but would have required drastic alteration to the bust

Is it a fitted dress? My daughter ordered an A-line poofy dress and they said that the hip measurement doesn't matter too much in that case. Maybe that's what they were getting at.

View Quoted Comment Thank you! This makes me feel a little bit better.

View Quoted Comment It is a fitted dress. They are the experts so I will just have to trust them I guess.

Most wedding gowns are designed to be altered up to two sizes up or down, so ordering the median size makes sense.

I worked in bridal for three and half years and have sized hundreds of brides. It really depends on the dress- I see that you mentioned your dress is fitted, but what kind of closure is in the back? Is it a zipper or a corset? What’s the material like- some fitted gowns have some stretch to them, some are stiffer. Measuring into three different sizes is very normal, but I can understand your hesitation about wanting to make sure it fits in the hip! Also- what size was the sample you tried on?

Is the dress fitted around the hips or loose there? I have a similar problem with sizing across multiple and have found (with bridesmaid dresses) that going with the waist size has worked because the dresses weren’t fitted on the hips. Good luck! I haven’t gone wedding dress shopping yet myself!

View Quoted Comment Thanks so much for your reply! The dress is described as a lace sheath gown so not quite sure what that means for the stretch aspect and it has a zippered back. The sample was an 18. While I think there may have been a little wiggle room, I don't know that it was an entire size. Plus it could have been stretched out from being tried on so many times. I'm just nervous to spend so much money and not have it fit but I guess I'll trust the bridal shop as they're the experts.

View Quoted Comment Samples are generally pretty stretched. Did it feel like a stretchy kind of fabric? If you do order a sixteen, my advice would be to get in writing a plan for what to do if the dress doesn’t fit when it comes in. Taking things in is much easier than letting them out, but it can be done- but usually means a high alteration cost. I’d also just be very upfront with your concerns; it’s entirely possible that they already have a plan, or that it wouldn’t be an issue with this particular dress for reasons I can’t speak to but they can- but if you’re worried, you should definitely say something