Off the Rack Dresses - Non Sample Sized Brides

Look for a bridal consignment store in your area. I was able to find a few near me via a Google search and I ended up buying my dress at one. They had a large variety of dresses in all different sizes. Also keep in mind that bridal sizes aren't street sizes. A size 8 in bridal may fit you or be close enough to be altered. I wear a size 4 but most of the bridal dresses I tried on we're size 10/12 and I ended up buying a size 14 that fits like a glove.

You can get a dress from David's Bridal in that timeframe. I bought mine from DB in April and it came in May. I had my dress fitting July 5th and I am picking it up August 5th.

I agree with Kelli. For my first wedding, I had to have mine custom-dyed (had pool blue trimming and corset ties). I ordered it in January and even with the custom dyes it was ready for pick-up in April. David's bridal does have off-the-rack for smaller sizes though, I'm a size 6 and had multiple dresses I could choose from. Also, check out if there's any small mom-and-pop wedding dress stores near you, they normally work with clientele better than a franchise would.

Honestly, I would try DB though check with them before you fall in love with something as to what they lead time is and since things can vary based on which dress tell them you don't want to see anything you can't get in your time frame.

Everyone seems to have different experiences with size and things vary based on designer. I am normally a 0/2 also and the dress I got was a 2 and had to be taken in quite a bit esp at the waist. I never tried on anything larger than a 4. So just figure that some designers run differently than others (if it helps my dress is by Enzoani). I would be sure to check size charts and be carefully measured.

David's bridal has quick ship dresses. Mine came in just two weeks

David's told me two months; I ordered in mid-March and it was there by the beginning of April.

Davids bridal is probably the best option!

Also their website has a search option where you can specifically search for quick ship dresses. I think they recognized that need is there

I got my inexpensive dress from Anthropologie's BHDLN. It came in a week. And if you don't have a store near you you can order it and have 30 days to return.

Look to see if there is an upcoming Brides Against Breast Cancer event in your area. I'm a street 12-14 all of the good dresses there were 0-6.

Everyone has already mentioned David's Bridal, but I'll add this. When I went there to look, my consultant told me that she has had a few brides come in whose weddings were THAT DAY (what?!) and they walked out with a dress. Of course it depends on the sizes they have in stock.

You can buy off the rack in some cases at both David's Bridal and Alfred Angelo bridal. One thing to consider: Alfred Angelo offers nearly ALL BM dresses in white and ivory, and they do offer quick-ship options... My dress (added lace sleeves) was a BM dress and took 8 weeks to come in without a rush order... I bet you can find one in white or ivory that will work, and they are willing to sell them off the rack but I think they can rush in 2 weeks.

P.S., if you can find a dress in a 4 or 6, they should be able to alter it down to your size in the time you need, so make sure you also are open minded about the size... bridal is not designed to fit off the rack - it's always designed to be semi-custom, so taking it in an inch or 4 inches, they're going to know how to do that.

Like someone said before wedding dresses are not street sizes. I about had a heart attack when the bridal shop told me they were ordering a size 8. I normally wear size 3 shorts. It's the way my dress falls they had to accommodate my hips. So don't just stick with what you normally wear.

If you find a good seamstress you can get just about any size dress and they can take it in. As long as there is no beading that is. You'll find something, don't fret!

Hi almost date twin! I would for sure try to find a consignment store around. I agree with everyone as far as the sizes go. I'm a size 2 and when I tried on the dress they told me they were going to order it on a 4. Good luck!

I have bought one dress at zdshe dress online shop, So wish it had what you are looking for.

Both nordstrom and macys have bridal dresses now, I am not sure on the time frame for those but it probably is faster than a traditional bridal salon other than DBs

What about renting your dress? like from Rent The Runway

http://www.renttherunway.com

Thanks for the help everyone! Brides Against Breast Cancer will be here next month so I will have to try that out for sure. My local David's Bridal is awful, so maybe it's worth driving across town to try the other one.

I went to a shop last week and tried on the gown in the picture. I'm wearing the 2 (the first size it comes in). The consultant has it clamped up here in the back and said it would be no problem to get it taken it. When the seamstress came out for a consultation she told me there was no way she could alter it without changing the integrity of the dress shape. Does this sound right? I've grown up watching the seamstress on SYTTD work miracles, so maybe my expectations were too high.