Plus Size Brides! Dress shopping experiences

@kate and @FB always give me heart eyes when I see their pics.

I went in with an open mind and 3 pictures of dresses I wanted to try on and to 3 places that had each of them. I numbered them 1-3 and 3 being the one I preferred the least. I eneded up going with #3 because I felt so beautiful in it and loved how my body felt. So, to reiterate what PPs have said, go in with an open mind. Do not exclude a dress just because you "think" it will look bad on you. Try it on. You will be surprised.

I went to davids bridal and a local shop, though i did do my research and studied which designers cater to plus size brides, and i booked my local shop appointments - i had others i ended up cancelling because i found the dress! - based on the designers that carried sizes that i knew would fit me. the samples i tried on at the local shop i found my dress at were all standard sized, but the consultant made it a point to pull dresses made be designers that she knew carried extended sizing and made me feel more than comfortable. the consultant at davids bridal did the same, except i tried on dresses that were closer to my size because they carry extended size samples.

i had no bad experiences. both DB and the local shop were excellent and open to my ideas, opinions and pulled according to my desires just like they would have for anyone else, despite my size.

happy shopping!

View Quoted Comment That dress is so beautiful on you. Which dress is that? I am going to try on dresses at the JLM Boutique in Hollywood next week and I am so scared I won’t be able to fit in any of the dresses. I have my eye on some HP and Lazaro dresses.

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Hi hun! Thank you so much for saying that. I feel like a queen in it, and I can't wait to put it back on. This is coming from someone who has worn nothing but leggings and baggy shirts the past year as I am so unhappy with my figure and am trying to work on it before the wedding.

Anyhow, it is HP's "Lorelei" gown, which comes in the Rosewater (the color I am wearing) and also a gorgeous baby blue. She goes up to a 28. I had to order a 24 even though I am street size 16-18 now. I hope to get down to 12 by the wedding. The dress was light as air and I could twirl and move so comfortably. The sample I tried was a 12, for reference (you can see the sleeves didn't fit all the way up). FWIW, I also tried on her "Hayley" gown - I felt was far too heavy, her "Remmington" - gorgeous with similar beading and sleeves to Lorelei but not a full skirt. I also tried some Allure gowns and an Essence of Australia - I felt essence dresses were super stiff and heavy, and I loved the Allures as they cinched my waist well but I just didn't get the feeling.

HP is an amazing designer. She is truly magical and her gowns are well worth the money. I don't see many plus size girls in her gowns, and I want to help break that barrier. You don't have to be a size 4 to look gorgeous in her whimsical creations. I hope you fall in love with her stuff as much as I have. Try on every gown that speaks to you and remember, alterations will do miracles. I hope you post pics

Also PS - we added the beaded belt which I will be purchasing. It helped cinch my waist a little more and gave it a more put together look. When you are trying on dresses ask the consultants to play around with the look with accessories to give you optimum fabulousness.

I'm about a size 16/18 and because I was nervous I just asked when making my appointment if they had a good selection of plus size dresses. I had a fine time shopping and a lot were actually too big. I picked this dress and had the buttons added all they way down the back. It also has pockets! Which I love!

View Quoted Comment Every time I see your dress I swoon

I went to Della Curva and I wasn't happy with any of their dresses. They were all extremely ball gown type which isn't my style. The staff there was wonderful, though.

David's bridal was amazing though. The gal that helped me actually picked out a style I wasn't sure about and it ended up being my dress! Id post a pic, but my FH has access to the account and don't want him to see it

I found my dress yesterday at the JLM Couture boutique in West Hollywood. I was so nervous I wasn't going to fit into the tiny samples I heard they had. But I was worried for nothing it seemed like most of their samples were in 10/12 but there were also some in a 20. I was able to fit into every dress I wanted to try. I had a wonderful experience. I love my Lazaro dress.

View Quoted Comment If you don’t mind me asking, about how much was your dress?? I am going to a bridal boutique in Huntsville, AL that has Essence Australia and I’d love to buy one but I don’t want to spend a fortune!

View Quoted Comment What brand is this again? I love your dress!

View Quoted Comment They’ve changed the interface since I was last on! If you send me a private message, I’ll share that with you. It’s about the same as the top brands at david’s Bridal but much better quality

Try dresses on with and without spanx. Since I already have a hourglass figure, spanx ended up pushing up my back fat. A seamstress had to talk me down. My dress was corseted already anyways. Also, practice standing up straight. I wish I had more. My dress was killing me by the end of the night. Lol.

The dresses in store will not fit you because they are not your size, but a good sales person can clip it on for effect and accurate measurements guarentee a good fitting dress. I'm a 14/16 my dress is a 22! Numbers are meaningless! Just look at all dresses! I never would have picked mine!

I got my dress at David’s bridal! They provided me with shapewear (even though the dress I got didn’t need it). Here is my dress a long with a few others I tried on. I have a problem with trying clothes/dresses on because I have big boobs but a lot of the dresses I tried on actually kept the girls in!

Curvy size 16! I was dreading dress shopping until I got there. I tried on different styles and it was actually a fun experience!

Personally my Davids bridal appt was meh. I honestly think it was the consultant I had. I would point out a dress id like to try on or see and id never see it again. she kept grabbing dresses she thought i would look good in and not listen to my concerns, she also kept putting me in dresses that were way to small for my figure( ex. putting me in a 18 when i'm easily a 24) but we are going to try again with a different consultant.

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I love this dress! Is it a blush color? Who is designer/price point if you don't mind me asking. You look stunning!

I dreaded shopping

, but I specifically went to stores that would have my size and I had no problem. I also went with a good friend who had been a plus size bride -- so that helped a lot! I couldn't believe they looked good on me! Take lots of pics -- because I felt so overwhelmed with choice.

I was so nervous about dress shopping as a street size 18W but dare I say it was the most amazing experience ! The consultant was bubbly and absolutely wonderful to work with. She already knew my theme, colors and where my venue is and came in prepared. She escorted myself my mom and sister through a sea of gowns to a seating area and asked us to stay out she was grabbing a few gowns for me to try on. She then took me behind a curtained fitting room and proceeded to help me into my gown. She was such a sweetheart and made me feel calm, beautiful, important and special while stepping into each gown. I was dreading seeing myself even with the fact that I was convinced no gown would fit properly so I didn’t look at my self in the mirror at first and kept shying away from my reflection. I turned around to show my family and they gasped!! Holy crap that looks amazing. I turned around looked at my self and said wow!! It was a big puffy ball gown Cinderella gown that I felt magical in. Then we tried on a mermaid, then an A-line and another mermaid and they all looked good and I had so many options. I was actually overwhelmed and so confused and so was my family because I didn’t expect to look good in everything!! I ended up trying on four dresses at Lotus Bridal in Long Island and was torn between two gowns and was actually preparing to buy both. But then the consultent suggested I stop by the Brooklyn shop since they have more plus size options if I want to keep looking. So at that point we left her shop for another appointment we already had scheduled at Bridal Reflections. I felt bad cancelling last minute but was convinced we would go back and purchase from Lotus Bridal and work with my favorite consultant. In fact, we walked into the Bridal Reflections and receptionist told us we were over an hour early and all of their consultants were busy but if we hang out a bit one was finishing up. My mom tried to convinced me to leave but I decided to stay since we were already there. About ten minutes later, a consultant came to greet us and said take a look around and let her know what I like and she’ll pick some gowns to try on after I’ve had a chance to browse. As I started perusing I noticed the dresses were tiny!! I’m like oh God, I should have left this shop when I had the chance, this salon is going to ruin my experience etc. So then the consultant came back and I told her I just came from Lotus and tried on some gorgeous let’s try on styles I havent tried on before. She then brought out four gowns grabbed the first one put it on me had me come out to show mom and sister. I didn’t even look in the mirror because I figured I was wasting my time. In the meantime, I noticed mom and sister also looking away disinterested not really focused. Then thé consultant grabbed a veil and a belt and told me to look in the mirror. I turned around and my heart stopped!! I was in shock and tears started rolling down my face. Then I started to panick and tried to keep my tears from falling on what was the most beautiful gown that I laid my eyes on!!! Needless to say sis and mom were in disbelief and balling their eyes out too! It was a magical moment and that’s how I knew I found the one. A mermaid gown with sweetheart neckline with gorgeous lace and delicate beading throughout the bodice. Just stunning!!!! It took two salons and the fifth dress or i guess the first dress at the second salon to find my dress. It was an incredible experience for me and I urge all my plus size beauties to go in with optimism and positive attitude . I was the curviest and largest bride in both salons but took over with my beauty and excitement. Ultimately, the other brides who were significantly smaller than I were in awe and wish they were experiencing the same moment I did. I looked stunning and it was the first time I had such an amazing experience dress shopping. Hope you get to have a similar experience. Best of luck ladies!!!!!

I went to DB, and tried on dresses it wasnt horrible and they had some dresses that "fit". I am a size 20/22. If you are in Pa try Brides of Today....I loved my experience there. The dressing room was extra cold so I didnt sweat and the ladies were so kind, encouraging and helpful. Here are a few pics from DB and Brides of Today. DB of course has the horrible teal carpet. Niether pic is of my dress...but just wanted to give you an idea.

This is also a concern for me, I have found a shop in Chicago the specializes in plus size brides, it will be a 4 hour trip for me but to have the full experience I'm willing to check it out. All you ladies look fabulous in your dresses, I'm hoping to been this lucky.