37 Responses to Ask BFD: Plus-Size Bride Wants A Fairy Tale Dress

1. evilsciencechick, on April 13th, 2011 at 1:02 pm Said:

   David’s Bridal carries plus size dresses – lots of ’em!

   I lucked out for my wedding and found a plus size wedding and lingerie store in Atlanta, but I did try on a lot of dresses at David’s too!
• emily, on July 9th, 2011 at 2:22 am Said:

  I also bought my sz 16 dress online at DB. You can return them. You have a limited time frame though. Its like two weeks or something. But they do have some beautiful dresses available online.
2. dindc, on April 13th, 2011 at 1:11 pm Said:

   Second on David’s Bridal. I bought my dress there. The “cater to you” element was minimal and off-putting (no scones, lots of people trying to hug me), but my dress was pretty and made me happy.
3. Sarah, on April 13th, 2011 at 1:15 pm Said:

   It is really unfortunate that most wedding designers only do sizes up to size 28 or 30, as if no woman over that size ever gets married (so obviously NOT true!).

   I have to say, I am a size 24 and had the BEST experience at Alfred Angelo. Not only were they completely wonderful to me and made me feel like a fairy tale princess, they had all but 1 of the dresses I liked for me to try on in my size. They go up to a 30 or 32 in all their dresses. If she is above a 32, could she still try one on and just not zip, and ask the store about alterations?

   The dress I ended up buying they actually only had in a 16. I tried it on and fell madly in love with it, even without being able to zip it up in the back! It is frustrating, but when it’s the right dress it doesn’t matter in the end, in my opinion.

   I would think they can always order fabric to sew into the dress to expand it to her size. I see no reason why they wouldn’t do that, though it would be an additional cost unfortunately.

   If there is an AA near you I’d go there in a heartbeat. I also love Moe’s idea of doing a home bridal shop experience. Good luck!
4. Susannah Merrill-Bernath, on April 13th, 2011 at 2:03 pm Said:

   I believe that this is a job for a seamstress. That is the only 100% way to get what she wants anywhere without ordering online. Every city has freelance seamstresses and dressmakers; they tend to advertise in the local fabric stores or dry-cleaners, and the quality of the dress will likely be much, much higher than any David’s Bridal dress. The costs per seamstress vary, but you usually have to pay for the fabric and trimmings and labor, sometimes separately, sometimes together. It should not be exorbitantly costly, but many seamstresses charge by the hour for labor- lots of hand-beading, tons of trimmings and more labor-intensive things will likely cost more than a plainer dress. I would advise most women wanting “fairytale” dresses to see a seamstress and get estimates. It’s just like getting a haircut- bring pictures, talk about what works on you and what doesn’t, and ask her for references or pictures of her work.
5. Twistie, on April 13th, 2011 at 2:10 pm Said:

   Another option to consider is having a gown custom made. Talk about the fairy tale experience! A one-of-a-kind gown made to measure is a fabulous way to go, if you can find someone to make it for you.

   I got lucky. One of my bridesmaids made my gown from my sketches using my handmade lace. It was (and still is!) gorgeous and completely mine. Nobody else will ever have the same gown.

   If you don’t know an amazing dressmaker, there are professionals in nearly every city in the US. Ask around for recommendations and go in with a good idea of what you want. Check out references carefully and be thoughtful in reading over the contract.

   It’s not the same as a salon experience, obviously, but it might just be better. I know it worked wonderfully for me! And at a size 16W at the time, I certainly had the salon option. I just wanted something even more special to me.
6. Arwen, on April 13th, 2011 at 3:39 pm Said:

   Everyone here has terrific suggestions! I ended up with a corset dress because it allowed for fluctuations in size and gave a very “Princessy” look. Actually off for my second fitting today and the small store I went to is making me a matching bolero because no way do I want my upper arms out there. Grrr to only strapless dresses! Find a great seamstress and you can get what you really want for the perfect dress!
7. Dabney, on April 13th, 2011 at 3:50 pm Said:

   I was to second (or third) both David’s and Alfred Angelo. I was able to try (and zip) dresses at both. I ended up ordering an Alfred Angelo dress.
8. Alice, on April 13th, 2011 at 4:01 pm Said:

   Definitely look into getting a dress custom made – I had a beautiful, custom-designed-from-a-sketch-by-my-fiance, custom-fitted, hand-beaded, pure silk dress which ended up costing less than most of the synthetic-satin off-the-rack dresses at a standard high-street bridal shop, even before they harshed my buzz, and my wallet, by adding on ‘outsize’ fees and the like.
9. vesta44, on April 13th, 2011 at 5:21 pm Said:

   Fat Chic just did an interview with Glass Slipper Bridal Salon in the Twin Cities (MN). They carry dresses from 16 to 30, the dresses she showed in the video interview are gorgeous! If you don’t mind a long road trip, I’d check them out – their dresses are designed for plus-size brides.
10. leora, on April 13th, 2011 at 5:36 pm Said:

    I helped one of my best girlfriends find her dream dress at David’s Bridal. They had an AMAZING selection of gorgeous gowns.
11. Bree, on April 13th, 2011 at 8:41 pm Said:

    Never been a bride, but like a lot of women, I’ve been through the prom dress shopping experience and I ended up having my gown made for me by a family friend who was a seamstress wizard. The dress ended up being hundreds of dollars cheaper than if I went out and bought it (and I was on the smaller end of plus sizes at the time where getting a gown wasn’t a problem). My dress didn’t look like anyone else’s either and was extremely comfortable.

    I think getting the gown custom made is a great option if she doesn’t want to buy online. That way, she can have what she wants and it will fit great too. That might be better than doing the salon, if you have someone that will work with you and won’t have sizing issues.
12. Shieldmaiden1196, on April 13th, 2011 at 10:26 pm Said:

    I wish I hadn’t taken my size 28 dress with a cathedral length train to the resale shop. I’d box it up in a minute for a seamstress to cannibalize for her special custom dress.
13. Cindy, on April 13th, 2011 at 11:40 pm Said:

    The website seems to be down right now, but I recommend chinese-tailor.com for custom-made stuff. Just send your measurements and pick the fabric and they’ll make it to order. I wanted a ‘red+gold over-the-top tight silky with the slit up the side’ long skirt for my wedding reception but Chinatown didn’t sell them in my size. Ordered it from chinese-tailor and it was perfect.
14. Chirons Gate, on April 14th, 2011 at 3:12 am Said:

    Wow, am I the only girl who ran into a world of fat hate at David’s Bridal. I went in there with my S.O. to find a dress because we are quietly starting plans but the people working there… *shudder*

    The appointment was so bad that the other brides next to me were horrified. (Non-plus sized BTW and being treated like princesses.)

    Future Mr. Chirons Gate was going to pitch a fit but I was so heart broken that I just wanted to leave and I cried as soon as we got out of there.

    I know I will never get to have the big family wedding thing or have my mom be a supportive part of my life and the wedding process. So getting a wedding dress is not an easy thing for me.

    Those sales people at David’s Bridal made a hard situation even worse and I have not been able to try again since.

    (Sorry, if this is off topic or too long. It just struck a chord with me.)
• kitten, on April 14th, 2011 at 10:18 pm Said:

  i am so so very sorry you were treated like that!!!
  *hugs you gently*
• emily, on July 9th, 2011 at 2:25 am Said:

  That’s terrible. I’m sorry you had such a bad experience. I bought mine online so I never had to actually deal with anyone in the store. *hugs*
15. Liz W, on April 14th, 2011 at 9:21 am Said:

    Conscious Elegance is an online made-to-measure service that uses organic fabrics, and the dresses are gorgeous. I don’t know what sort of budget Jessica’s friend has, though – these dresses cost around a thousand dollars for the “full service”, which includes alterations and cutting the dress down into a party dress or christening gown afterwards, or around eight/nine hundred if you just order the dress to your basic measurements and then get any final adjustments done locally.
• Lori Del Genis, on May 17th, 2011 at 1:48 pm Said:

  Wow, thanks Liz! ::waves and hugs::

  I can totally understand about ordering a dress online; we do everything we can to make it easier. And we offer a money-back guarantee so you can return the dress if you want to. So far, no one has ever wanted to. ;-)

  Email me at lori@consciouselegance.com if you have any questions. I hope we can help! No one should ever EVER have to feel bad about trying dresses on. We’re in State College, PA which might be local enough? You’d be welcome to come to the studio!
16. Michelle, on April 14th, 2011 at 10:51 am Said:

    Ooh! Northeast Ohio! I can help!
    Denise at Julianne’s Bridal in Olmsted Falls custom-made my gown for me. I wore a size 32-ish, but am extremely pear-shaped so dresses never work for me off the rack anyway. I brought her loads of pictures of dresses I loved, and we worked together to come up with the absolutely perfect dress for me. And she made me feel beautiful and princess-y all the way through the process, just as any bride should. It was very affordable too (for a wedding dress!) – about $500 including all the fabric and finishings, and of course it didn’t need alterations because it was made just for me.

    (Note, I did get married 10 years ago, so I’m not sure she’s still there, but I’m pretty sure it was her shop, so hopefully she is!) Good luck to you!
17. Pretty Pear Bride, on April 14th, 2011 at 2:56 pm Said:

    I have just started a site for Plus Size Brides and have run into all types of bridal salons across the country who cater to only curvy brides. Luxe Bridal Couture is in Minneapolis and is great!! I also agree with going custom made because then you get exactly what you want. And there is a designer, here in Indianapolis who does custom couture gowns for curvy brides, C.C. Elaine, AMAZING!! There are a few in the D.C, Baltimore area and one in Phoenix, Arizona but that might be a little far for you. I hope that helps!!
18. kitten, on April 14th, 2011 at 10:20 pm Said:

    i agree on the custom dress.

    mama made my dress i was married the first time. white and lace and all that good stuff. when i got married the second time…we went to the courthouse. and as it happened, she’d made the dress i was wearing that day.

    the third wedding was 2 years ago, and the dress i wore? she’d worn to my brother’s wedding. very much joyfulness. :)
19. Rhonwyyn, on April 15th, 2011 at 10:42 pm Said:

    I’d tell your friend to come to Lancaster and work with Elizabeth, where I bought my dress, but that’s a tad far. I can, however, recommend Aurora D’Paradiso as the design line to look into. The website is http://www.auroragowns.com, and they use plus-size models. Now, the sizes stop at 32W, last I checked, but the company is excellent to work with. If you go through a local shop that carries that line (there’s a shop locator on the site), your friend should be able to order a dress with custom fullness where she needs it.

    FWIW, I’ve never come across a size 37 in plus, only in juniors. Is your friend using European measurements?
20. Jennifer M, on April 16th, 2011 at 4:20 pm Said:

    I have to say go to http://www.verymerryseamstress.com not only is it made to measure but you bring in any picture be it from a movie or a painting and she will make it. Awesome catalog and pics of great work. She mainly does ren fair stuff but she does have a bridal section.
21. kicking-k, on April 18th, 2011 at 12:51 pm Said:

    I would also go with the custom-made solution. I can’t offer a local solution (I’m in Scotland) but my sister and I have both found it was a much easier way to get what you want, and cheaper than buying from a bridal boutique.

    Incidentally, when I got married I was a size 14 (US 10) and my sister is a size 12 (US 8) and we both really disliked the experience of trying on dresses in boutiques. If you are very body-confident, maybe it’s better, but no matter how much you love yourself, it can be quite hard standing around while your mother, sister (or whoever) and several bridal shop assistants look at you critically (even though what they’re really doing is looking at the dress!)

    Anyway, I got a perfect dress made for me, and my sister is currently having one made for her. I loved the results and I hope my sister will too! (I am also having a bridesmaid dress made since I’ll be ten weeks post-partum at her wedding, and it’s not been easy to find a bridal shop that will accommodate this, either.)
22. lisa, on April 18th, 2011 at 2:38 pm Said:

    silver lining in atlanta. everything is 18 ans up. everything i tried on fit, it was an amazing experience.
23. Zestydew, on April 22nd, 2011 at 6:59 pm Said:

    I wear a size 32, give or take. When I got married, I couldn’t find anything that didn’t look like blech in the stores, though I only went to one. I decided that having my dress (and my bridesmaid’s dresses) custom made was the best option cause I wasn’t going to wear anything that I didn’t like. *I* got to pick out the fabric. *I* got to pick out the lace (and found the lace of my dreams at the first place I went). *I* got exactly what I wanted. It cost me about $600 to have it made plus the cost of the material, so a total of about $800-$900 for a custom made dress made just for me.

    My aunt found the best fabric for the bridesmaids dresses in my favorite color (purple). it was peachskin i think. It looked and felt like silk but cost about $6-9 a yard. Found the pattern I loved for the bridesmaid/maid of honor and sent them to the place for the fitting. All they paid for was the actual making of the dress.

    If i were to ever get married again and wanted the big wedding, I wouldn’t even go and look for dresses, I’d just go straight to having it made for me.
24. Nicole, on April 29th, 2011 at 12:01 am Said:

    I’m a size 24-26, and I struggled to find a *bridesmaid* dress a few years ago that was flattering. I ended up ordering online.

    A lot of places will carry larger sizes, but they do not design the dress for larger women, if you understand what I mean. Therefore, it’s usually best to order a few online and return what you don’t like or have it custom made.
25. kate, on May 4th, 2011 at 3:05 pm Said:

    What’s your budget? I made my prom dress from Ralph Lauren silk and hand beaded lace for $400 and it was a strapless corset top with a big princess skirt (size 22 then). Granted that was 10 years ago, but I know my plus-size friend had her wedding dress made for about $700 out of offwhite silk. It was a boat neck, side-ruched, a-line, with buttoned up back. You may want to look into finding a very good seamstress. For the cost of an off-the-rack wedding dresses and their fittings, you can get one personally made for you. If you were in Colorado I’d do it for free just to help a girl out.
26. kate, on May 4th, 2011 at 3:08 pm Said:

    Also along the lines of altering an ordered dress. It is ALWAYS easier to custom fit a dress before it’s constructed than altering one after it’s made. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS.
27. Ma @ Plus Size, on May 16th, 2011 at 3:22 am Said:

    Hi, why don’t you ask a friend or someone same size with you whose already married. Or how about go to your dress maker and ask for rush order. The good thing about it yo can have your own design or copy the design you feel in love with but you can’t afford. you still have much time.
28. cubicalgirl, on May 30th, 2011 at 12:32 pm Said:

    What kind of dress does your friend want? I’m getting married next year and I went with an Ivory knee-length Calvin Klein party dress that I ordered from macys.com. You can return to the brick-and-mortar store if you need to with them.

    Also, I love the idea of tyring on the dresses at a friend’s house with snacks and champers and all that fun stuff. If I hadn’t been so lucky to find my dress on the first go I would have done that!
29. Sallie, on June 5th, 2011 at 10:24 am Said:

    Hi, for peeps in the UK I’m currently getting my dress at Roberta’s Bridal in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent – the lady who runs it (who is lovely) is a larger lady herself and she stocks plus-size ranges of designers, I’m currently buying my wedding dress which is a size 24 Veromia Sonsie dress. I’d recommend it to anyone in the Staffordshire area. Love to all.
30. Charity, on July 1st, 2011 at 12:52 pm Said:

    hi!

    I’m in NE Ohio as well (Cleveland)! Just got married in May and found my dress at David’s bridal. (http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/250092_10150270922756133_130995496132_9540674_3999021_n.jpg)

    Also, I happen to have a killer strapless, bustier, coset lace up with a small train and beautiful beaded embroidery that’s never been worn white satin dress (Wedding dress size 32, but actual Lane Bryant shopping girl size 26/28 – easy to make fit the curves with the corset laced back) if she’d like to try it on and see if she’s interested. I paid $800 for it and am hoping to sell if for $400 or best offer. I can send pics… also, if she’s up for non-traditional dresses, the dress in pic above that I ended up wearing for wedding was a prom dress. Henry’s Cloud 9 in Canton area and a few other shops around here have a few dresses in your size to try on, but once you find size you can custom order any dresses in their catalog. Might be a good option. I also agree with Michelle, Julianne’s Bridal in Olmsted Falls is a great store, I checked out as well. My email address is raretune@aol.com if you want pics of dress.

    No matter what happens, don’t sweat it. You are not alone in your trils with this! You will look beautiful and at the end of the day you’ll have an amazing man to call your husband. :-)
31. Miss M, on July 14th, 2011 at 5:45 pm Said:

    I went to RK Bridal in NYC (they had sample dresses in my size, but I’m a size 20). I had a lovely experience there. I also tried dresses on at Neidlemann’s in Vermont. they had sample sizes up to a 26. I am ending up with a dress from Dolly Couture. They have a set of “stock” dresses which are customizable. I am having their “Avila Bay” dress customized to my specs. It is going to perfect.

    i think the best bet is to do what feels best, be surrounded by loving and supportive friends/family. ALSO, know that when you try on dresses they are samples. They are going to not fit right. you have to use your imagination, fall in love with the cut, shape, etc. and go from there!

    best of luck to you!

    And remember: if a garment doesn’t fit you, there is nothing wrong with you, it was the wrong garment.

    <3 A costume designer
32. Lisa, on July 26th, 2011 at 6:03 am Said:

    Hello! I purchased my Bonny Bridal gown in a size 32. Althought i take a much smaller size (it will be sized down), the line Bonny, does carry very very NICE wedding gowns in plus sizes. Mine had short sleeves even and fit really really well =)
33. Jill E, on August 19th, 2011 at 8:32 pm Said:

    I am a plus size bride and I just went on my first dress experience. I was dreading it so much that I cannot express it in words. I knew what was waiting for me out there being a plus size woman. However, I happened across an ad for a Plus Size bridal salon. It’s called Miss Pamela’s in Rochester Indiana. Each and every person in the store was fabulous. They carry sample sizes from 14-32. I was able to try on every dress in the store that they brought in with the exception of one. While I haven’t purchased yet because it’s 13 months until my wedding, I know that I’ll be back there to buy. I can’t recommend this salon enough. They have a website that everyone should visit. If your not too afraid to make a little bit of a drive them go go go to Miss Pamela’s. She’s amazing!

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