Plus-sized Brides!!!

So I'm not plus sized, but I was definitely not at the weight I wanted to be when I got married. I just never got into the "sweating for the wedding" mentality. I wanted to be like 20lbs thinner (and I'm 5'1 so that's a lot). Here's what I discovered, though, and maybe it'll help cheer you up (I hope!)


1) My husband loved me at my largest and when we first met. He makes me feel like the most beautiful person in the world. 2) Spanx are your friend. Get good support BEFORE you go shopping, and especially during alterations. 3) Don't feel pressure to find it on your first appointment. Use that time to figure out what shape flatters you the most. (There are no rules here for what that looks like). When you find it, you will feel beautiful in it. 4) When hair and makeup and your dress come together you will see your complete look and you'll feel like a queen. 5) On the day of, I only had eyes for my husband. I didn't notice anything other than him until we were sitting down at dinner (after our first dance,etc). At that point, the night was half over. It is a whirlwind.
Good luck and HAVE FUN!

I am a size 18/20 in street clothes and I was SUPER nervous about dress shopping, but ended up having a great experience. I would make sure ahead of time that the salons have samples you can try on in something close to your size. I really thought salons wouldn’t have anything in my size, but luckily I think most places are getting better and carrying more sample sizes!


Also, I thought I would want something with sleeves and those dresses under up being very unflattering. So I would be open-minded and try on a bunch of different styles! Generally I found A-line V-neck dresses with straps to be the most flattering on me.
I personally loved a lot of Essense of Australia dresses and they carry plus-size gowns

First be totally open to try in all different types of dresses. So many women have this idea of what they want just to discover that the style just doesn’t work for their body type and that’s ok. Be open to trying different types to find the one that DOES flatter your body the best. And there will be one.
This is my dress....
And this was the one I almost changed my mind for. But in the end I decided my first dress was the right one.

In my area there is a dress shop that only does plus size. If I hadn’t found my dress at David’s Bridal I would have gone there at least to look
I am a 16/18

I am a 16 street size and I’m the biggest I’ve ever been in my life, trying to drop some of the weight but it’s extremely hard. So when I went dress shopping I felt the same way, I knew that the size I tried on was going to be a lot larger than I ever imagined my wedding dress would be and I was super nervous. Then I put the dress I chose on. All of that completely wiped away from my head because wedding gowns (if you choose the right ones) have a way of just completely flattering you in ways you never thought possible! Even the gowns that I didn’t choose looked beautiful and made me look skinnier than I am. Also side note, David’s Bridal gives you undergarments to try on with the gowns, such as a corset and petticoat, which help with that whole skinny effect. My dress is a corset so I don’t need one underneath but if you feel more comfortable wearing one, consider it! My dress is below.

I'm a 20/22 in bridal, and I had so much anxiety before my first shopping experience that I ended up going by myself on a weekday so it was just me and the consultant. And you know what? Some things didn't flatter me - the shape I wanted didn't. But there are dresses that will make you feel GORGEOUS. I had my ballgown picked out at my heaviest weight, and even though I then lost a lot due to diabetes and needing to...I knew my hubby loved me then and now. He has said multiple times that he'll love me in anything! And honestly, the important thing is to find a dress you love and that makes you feel gorgeous. David's Bridal has a great selection of dresses - just breathe and allow yourself to enjoy the experience! Its magical and so much fun when you don't put pressure on yourself.

My first dress, at my heaviest.

Second dress, the style I originally wanted.

View Quoted Comment You look stunning!!

View Quoted Comment Wow I love that shape on you

View Quoted Comment The second dress is the style I want and I’m nervous that I’ll hate how it makes my body look, but you look gorgeous! Definitely makes me feel a lot better going into it

View Quoted Comment Thank you for the kind words shopping has always been something that is difficult for me, and I am trying to figure out how to make this day amazing

View Quoted Comment The shop that I am going to just launched their plus-sized collection to be more inclusive, but I was still nervous about feeling confident. Thank you for the advice!

View Quoted Comment Yes! We curvy girls can also wear mermaid, don't worry! David's Bridal has a corset that sucks things in, and with their curvy styles they're designed to flatter. Don't worry!

View Quoted Comment I always loved mermaids but didn’t think at my size that they’d look good on me. That was the only mermaid I picked for myself and when I put it on I was SOLD. The other dresses I had were ball gowns, which also looked beautiful, but my heart was with a mermaid. So be sure to actually try on a style you truly want, you don’t know how it will look on you til you try!

View Quoted Comment Thank you! You will find a beautiful dress that will look amazing on you.

View Quoted Comment It'll be amazing no matter what. Things will go wrong, don't cling to them. It goes by in what feels like minutes!

So, I'm a recovering anorexic. My body has been very big and very small throughout my relationship with my fiancé. I told him I was stressed about the prospect of not liking our wedding photos because of how my body may or may not look when we get to the ceremony. Obviously, he has no control over how I feel about my body but he did say this: "I love you now, and I'll love you in a year and a half no matter what you look like."

I know it matters a ton to us how we look in our wedding dress. We want to feel more beautiful than we've ever felt and that can be remarkably hard when you have a body that society doesn't often represent as beautiful. But the person you're marrying is going to see you as that incredible beauty no matter what. So yes, work on your self-image. Find brides rocking it at your size to look up to and find a dress that makes you feel gorgeous. And remember, even if you can't see what a beautiful specimen you are, your partner definitely will. That's helped me at least.

View Quoted Comment I am also recovering from an ED, and that is why I have put so much weight on in the first place 😞it’s hard not to slip back into it with all the pressure to look great! That’s why I would come here for reassure, so thank you for sharing. It really helps a lot ❤️

I think whatever you wear you will look perfect. I would look at amazon, Zulily, and Jane. But I like simple.

Rock the body that you are in now your future hubby loves every little inch of you and so should you! Trust me I know it's hard. I've dealt with my own stuggles believe it or not. But one thing I have slowly learned throughout the years - there is so much more to you than just your size - that's what I tell myself :-)
Many blessings your way!

I am not getting married until October 2021 and I wanted to lose 50 lbs. (I am about a size 14-16 US pant size and 5’4).Then I realized after over a decade of failed diets this was going to put undue stress on me and if I didn’t meet my goal, very likely ruin the day for myself.
I decided that instead of diet I would learn how to eat to feel good and focus on accepting myself as I am. I am reading a book on intuitive eating and Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach. I am learning to listen to my body and enjoy my eating experience as well as getting movement in my day because it feels good and is good for my body, not to burn calories. I’m doing things to manage stress and also invested in good siin care to clear up my complexion. I decided I am going to work with what I have instead of fighting against myself.
And like others have said, my fiancé loves me as I am. He isn’t marrying me because I am a certain size or because he wants me to be. Focus on making peace with food and your body and loving yourself and enjoy the journey and your special day just as you are.As for a dress, definitely don’t dismiss anything and see if there are any shoos that specialize in plus sizes or have someone on staff experienced with fitting plus sized brides. Maybe even see if there is a seamstress in your area that will design a custom gown if you can afford it, though than can be pricey.