Wedding Dress - hips don't lie

I had this problem at one store. I was near tears because few dresses fit. And it's so embarrassing trying to tug something on with a consultant staring. I finally got a bit blunt and said "Please...only bring me dresses in my size." I'm not one for "imagining" what it'll look like on me unless it's truly something I had my heart set on. I had a good experience with David's and Bonny Bridal.

I had a similar experience, but had many more than 2 dresses that would fit up, so it wasn't as devastating. However, any time a dress came up that didn't fit (because of the cut/style..they were all the same size) I took it as a sign from God that it wasn't meant to be and moved on

I went to a smaller boutique that didn't need an appointment between two scheduled appointments. I tried on one dress that was the same size as all the dresses at the previous store and that dress must have ran small. I could barely get it over my butt and it wouldn't zip. The shop owner was rude about it. "Sweetie, it's okay to admit your not as skinny as you think you are". Basically dress shopping is stressful even if the dresses do all fit, some people are rude AF, embrace your body, and don't be ashamed because a shop doesn't realize that brides come in every shape and size.

I had that problem at David's. The consultant actually said, "that's all I have in your size & price range". Didn't even offer to go bigger and clip them. Oh, & she was pulling my street size, which we all know is smaller than bridal size. I left crying.

AA was such a different experience. Never made me feel bad about my size or budget. Worked really hard to find a dress I loved.

I had that experience the first 2 times I went shopping. then I got off the pill and I lost most of the weight I gained on it. (I'm not betting you or anyone to get off the pill I did because I wanted to) I finally went dress shopping again this past weekend and bam I found my dresses. I am Latina also of Puerto Rican descent. my current measurements are 36-27-45.5(hips definitely don't lie) which in bridal is a 10-10-16. I must say I did my size 16 culo in whatever sample size they had. even the fitted ones. I think maybe you should take your measurements and call salons before you go to make sure they have sizes you can fit into. If you're planning on losing weight then maybe do that first then go dress shopping again.

FYI I envisioned myself in a mermaid. My FH loves my curves but I ultimately chose a ball gown. As my consultant said you only get to wear a ball gown once you can wear a mermaid or fit and flare whenever you want. Just keep that in mind when you're shopping. Good luck

It happens. When I went they had a butt shoehorn for my ass. There was no zipping size 2 dresses up over my 40" ass. Lol. The struggle is real.

Thank you ladies! I've never been one to really care about bridal size. I knew they would run smaller than regular dresses. As long as I felt good in it let be a size 2 or size 50 for all I care. But gosh was it mortifying when the girl would pull out a size 10 and I'm like uhhhh that will not go over my hips ! I was sized at AA and basically my biggest measurement were my hips, so I knew I would have to run larger simply so that I could fit since I wanted a fit and flare style.

@Teresa We have basically the same measurements (at least according to AA) and at AA I felt the girl would only pull dresses that I would fit into, or bigger to clip to size.

@Meaghan OMG I felt like telling the girl the same thing! She's like "imagine when we get your actual size it would look like this and like this" I felt like telling her "I'm an accountant, I'm not big on the whole "imagination" department".

But true I will just call ahead from now on, and make sure they have something I can fit into. Losing weight is a semi-option I might shrink the waist a little, but these hips ain't going anywhere! haha besides I love them!

Also I'm sure you already do this but most bridal consultants don't. put the dress on from the top down instead of stepping into them. that really helped me a lot.

Oh I know the feeling. I am all hips-no boobs. I haven't gone wedding dress shopping yet (one of my BM and I are going next week). I am afraid of how the dresses will look on me because of my pear shape. You will look beautiful no matter what, and you are marrying the love of your life, so that is what is really important. =)

@Teresa-great idea!!!

@Trish you have my ideal wedding date! I would've loved to have married on 6/10 mine and FH 5th dating anniversary!

I have other appointments coming up, I feel like even though it was a total fiasco at that particular store I feel better about the styles and details I like so I'll just chalk it up to a learning experience.

@Kimi that's awful! I'm surprised too. my consultant at david's asked for my street size and then measured me. I had to size up but she made sure I was comfortable and felt normal about it. I ended up trying on like three or four dresses and if they didn't fit it was because they were too big (she only brought me sizes that were larger when she didn't have the right fit) . I would have been so depressed if i couldn't zip as i imagine anyone would be.

I too had this problem with some of the stores I went to. Most I could get on and zipped, but there were a few that I felt forced into by the consultant where they didn't fit right at all, nor would they zip. It's so hard to imagine how a dress will fit you when it isn't even laying right, or zipping all the way up. So I feel for you on this one.

OP, I hear ya. I'm a 32FF and have a huge butt, so my measurements for my wedding dress were 39-28-47. OUCH. It's frustrating being put into huge sizes and then pinned everywhere else just because of your booty/hips.

But I just try to be proud of it- all the dieting in the world doesn't help. Even when I'm been thinner or when I was super sick and couldn't eat for over a month, my butt measurement still only went down to like 45 inches. You are gorgeous and your FH surely loves your curves. One thing to remember when you're feeling down about it- whenever I've expressed concern at the doctor's office, I've been told that weight in your butt/hips isn't dangerous to your health the way that abdominal fat can be, which is a silver lining I suppose.

I went in expecting this problem and thats what I got. There is no way im fitting into a size 8 bridal, but i tried them on and got them up as far as possible to try to determine whether i liked them. Try not to let it discourage you. Be proud of your hips cause there are some people that would die to have them

I ended up buy a dress that the same was one size too small and the only way to get it zipped was to shimmy and press my chest in as much as possible.

I've found consultants to be very hit or miss. I tried on at AA and had a wonderful experience. At DB it was ok. I wish the consultants would just listen a little better. One of them was really good about only bringing stuff in my size or bigger but then actually refused to let me try a dress one size too small. It was the whole reason I'd come into the shop and I told her I knew it wouldn't zip and that was ok. They refused. I'd get it if it were way too small but one or two sizes when I've said I know it's small? Come on!

When you go to a Bridal Salon to try on dresses, please keep an open mind. From my experience as an owner and a buyer of Bridal Gowns for my salon, I bring in the sizes that are appropriate for particular body types. I never bring in size 6 dresses for anyone to try on because wedding dresses run 2-4 sizes smaller than off the rack sizes and a 6 will fit a size 2 if we are lucky! We can't stock every size in every dress and you won't wind that anywhere. A wise Bridal Salon owner will start her sizing at a size 12 and clip it back on the customer. Some designers will offer a "loan" of that particular dress in a larger size ( I am saying some not all) however they will charge for it. Ask the store if they provide that service and be prepared to pay $100 loaner fee for the dress which is usually applied to your purchase of that dress if you happen to fall in love with it. Also inquire if you buy another dress from that store (usually within that week) if they would apply it to another wedding dress. Normally this fee is a service to you and not refundable.

A well trained Bridal consultant shouldn't be "hit and miss"!! If you are wider in the hip area than the bust, a dress has to fit over the hip area to fit. You best bet is a ball gown or an A-line. Your dress is going to need alterations because it will be ordered from the widest measurement of your figure. Factor in that cost as well and good luck!

@luckycollection I know most places they only carry a limited amount. But this place had literally only one dress size for each dress. But I see your point about not being able to stock on every size I just wish I had known that so I wouldn't have even walked in. I should've called ahead because there was no mention of this on their website or anything.

Also the consultant did not measure me at all. Come to think of it she probably figured I wouldn't fit in the styles I was looking for because they just didn't have the size.

I'm not a fan of ball gowns but I was open to a lines or fit and flares. I just felt she didn't really listen to my taste but then again I just wasn't going to fit in them anyways.

I personally had a bad experience at the last bridal boutique I went to last weekend. Bridal salon owners should carry larger as it is easier to clip the dress to get a desired look instead of eliminating the possibility of dozen of dresses because you only carry a size 8. I'm a black woman from a family where the women have hips, thighs, and breasts to match. I'm buying the most important, expensive dress of my life. I feel like shops could be more sensitive to sizing of different types of women all things considered. I hate ball gowns. I hate A lines. So I won't make the sacrifice because a few boutique owners can't seem to understand women have hips. Sorry for the rant. This is a real sore subject for me.