Wedding Dresses for the *cough* "Well Endowed"

I'm a 38DD. I'm wearing Bonny 427, which is off the shoulder. I don't think mine looked any bigger than normal (not obnoxiously so, anyway)-- maybe try that type of silhouette?

Naturally, I had to order a larger size for my chest and it'll need to be altered everywhere else, but that's expected (but I'm hoping the corset makes alterations easier). I'm sure you're used to that as well.

This was my biggest concern when shopping. I wanted to look like I had a waist and not just boobs and a skirt. I went with a drop-waist which I never expected to like, but it ended up being really flattering. Probably a fit-and-flare style would have the same effect.

Also I'm not quite as well endowed as you (36DD) but I was amazed at how well the strapless stayed up. Mine did have a corset which helps a lot. And I went with the corset strapless bra as well.

I have seen a lot of cute cap sleeve and v neck lace dresses, and some like that that are not lace. Adding straps is also a fairly easy alteration that two of my recently married friends did to their strapless dresses. Another two of my well-endowed friends wore cap sleeve lace dresses and looked beautiful, not like "Whoa, boobs!" I'm sure you know this, but supportive undergarments will be your friend! I find that smaller independent lingerie shops do a much better job catering to special event undergarments for women of all sizes.

Ask the consultants if the cups can be made to fit you, most sample dresses are a B cup

While I'm not a G, I do have some pretty large chi-chi's...strapless seemed to trick the eye into thinking they were smaller, which I liked. My dress also has an elastic band that attaches to the back, similar to a thick bra.

Stop looking specifically for empire...just start looking and try on things you like. If you limit yourself to one style only you'll have a hell of a time. My dress is a modified drop waist (photos below)

I'm a 40F and was worried about strapless, specifically sweetheart, but that's what I ended up with. The girls didn't look too big to me.

I'm a DD and I got a V neck as I'm fine with showing them off, but I do reccomend thicker straps which i thought actually kept them in pretty well. Allure dresses have a lot with pretty straps (not me in this pic) though! check out that line

I'm a 34HH-J. It sucks. LOL!

Dress wise I suggest a lace up. You can control how tight it is around your chest. or something with the lace top to add some support.

I'm from Michigan too. There's a shop in downtown Royal Oak that has changed my world. They carry our sizes IN STORE. They are "bra fitting specialists". No charge to get measured there. It's called Bra-vo Intimates.

http://www.bravointimates.com/

My bra is the Elomi 8500. I didn't want a long line bra, and it's perfect. It actually stays up on it's own! I did not know gravity would allow that! haha! Good Luck!!

PS- My dress is very similar to what e=mc2 posted. Great support and still beautiful.

I'm a DDD and I definitely wanted something with sleeves/straps so I could wear a proper bra if I need to. I would stay away from empire dresses because they tend to make busty girls look pregnant in my opinion. I agree with e=mc2 that Allure has some great dresses with straps and sleeves. Mine is Allure

Oh! Just saw you live in CTP! I grew up at 17 and Garfield!

Check out Bombshell Bridal on Harper just north of 11 Mile...they are considered a "plus size shop" but only because they carry larger sample sizes....their bridal selection is huge.

Be careful with empire waist dresses. Its funny how if you are a bigger girl (as am I) that is often what gets suggested. I've seen so many articles/websites, etc. that have said "empire waist will hide everything" - LIES! lol it really depends where you carry your weight. If you carry weight in your thighs and hips, then yes, empire waist would work well and hide most of the areas you don't like... I personally, and unfortunately, carry majority of my weight in my stomach (something I am working hard to eliminate) and in the past when I have been forced to wear empire dresses (for special events), I seriously look pregnant. Not even a little pregnant, a lot pregnant lol. Empire dresses look like maternity clothes to me, at least on a bigger girl... for the slimmer ladies, they are quite lovely.

I am also a G cup and yes you may look a little busting in a strapless, I know I have in the past, but I don't know if this is really because of it being strapless or if it just depends on the overall style and cut of dress. Probably best to try on anything/everything to find the dress you love and feel comfortable and beautiful in, and then add straps if needed.

I second Bombshell Bridal. They do have some smaller sizes, and it's nice to try on dresses tailored to fit. I actually found my dress there in black. (it's a bm dress!) I found it in white somewhere on the way home to try on and was sold!

I'm a 32H and I don't think empire waist is flattering at all, but that's just me. I think you can tell by all these comments that you need to try on a variety of dresses to find out what suits you. Someone mentioned halter, and personally, halter makes me feel like I'm all boob. So, just be open-minded and try on a variety of dresses. Bring your own strapless bra, though some places will provide you with one. This is my dress. I need to get it taken in and am thinking of trying to see if they can do a sweetheart neckline so I'm not a uni-boob. You'll be amazed what they can do with the proper alterations.

ETA: grammar

I'm also well endowed (34DDD)!! My dress is strapless...I found that it actually makes it so that the attention is not all on my chest and I am well covered. I did not want to show any cleavage at all on my wedding day.

ETA: here is a dress (the one with the bling) I LOVEDDDDD but clearly my chest is all out-which I didn't want. This dress was a deeper sweetheart neckline, I believe.

@Chelsea you just saved my life, will definitely be looking into them!

And @maltese thanks for that too. I don't like the look of Empire AT ALL so I wasn't looking specifically for that but I was told that it would look good. Good to know!

@Annabee there is a dress from DB that I really liked the look of that was a sweetheart, but my mom is telling me it'll look awful. So..I'll tell her to sh because you look fantastic!

Seems like the undergarments make a huge difference. So shopping for that should come first hahaha.

But you ladies all look fantastic, and it makes me feel a LOT better than you all have different necklines and (sorry for staring at your chest!) don't have that BAM! factor like I was afraid of. I'm very comforted in knowing that I'm not basically "stuck" in very specific dresses that I have to wear in order to look good, because the ones people around me are telling me I "have" to wear to not look like a giant blimp or that I have two giant blimps in my bra were not exactly ones I wanted to wear.

I actually happen to be a 36G. I got a tea length strapless dress for our May wedding. I can honestly say that it is too tight in the bust, but comfortable everywhere else. So we decided to cut out the zipper and put in a corset back. It will be more comfortable for me that way. Because we can tighten/loosen it to my liking. If you find something you like, just know you have options!

@Maltese I just saw your comment about where you grew up, that's crazy! I currently live at 19 and Schoennher hahaha. But I will check out Bombshell, I keep hearing mixed things about their prices. I don't have a huge budget for a dress but it may be worth checking out!

But yeah everyone is telling me empire waist...and my weight is in my stomach and YES it looks terrible. I never looked good in empire waist so IDK why people are telling me to get it. Again, thank you ladies for making me not feel like I have to get only one specific dress!

I'm a GG, and I wore Mori Lee 1913. It's strapless, but I added straps and some back detail. I don't have pics on this computer, but I actually didn't wear a bra with it! It held up so nicely. Wedding dresses are tailored to actually fit, which is vastly different from any other piece of clothing. You shouldn't have any problems.

You'll be fine. I had a reduction a couple years ago, thank gawd! but I'm still kind of big IMO. What I do know is that empire isn't your only answer. I thought I would end up with an A-line as well, but when I put it on it made me feel BIGGER than I was. I ended up with this dress (old picture when I was trying on belts, but you get the point) I was also scared to try anything on because of the same experience you have had while shopping, nothing looks right in all places.

The consultant is actually who picked this dress out, I would have NEVER tried this on had it been my decision, but I had an open mind.

Just try everything on, it wont hurt you. good luck.

Rosemary, that dress is actually in my favorites at DB to potentially try on!