Plus Size Wedding Dresses
Strategies to maximize your success
By Natalie Tsang
September 7, 2011
The average clothing size of women in the U.S. is a size 14, but you wouldn't know that from the average bridal shop. The sample size there is eight or ten. At smaller bridal shops, the stock of sizes is even smaller.
Finding a wedding dress is hard enough, but dresses that don’t fit? That’s downright soul-crushing. So what's a curvy girl to do?
Call ahead
If you're shopping in the area, call local dress shops to see what sizes they carry. More and more stores are carrying sizes larger than 16, but sometimes it requires a little research. Rather than wasting time and facing disappointment, call ahead and ask to talk to a consultant. If it’s a chain store, they can let you know if another store nearby carries your size.
If the shop has a size or two smaller than what you usually wear, you can often get a sense of the dress by wearing it with the zipper down.
Shop specialty
Some stores cater specifically to plus-size women. Rather than increasing the size of the gown, these wedding dresses are made specifically to fit larger women. The service in these places is often extremely helpful with fashion and alternation advice. They're experts, after all. However, the prices are often not budget-friendly.
The Internet
The Internet promises variety, anonymity, and affordability. However, you often get what you pay for. You should always read return policies and customer reviews carefully. Due to the waiting period, you might consider buying a few dresses at time. Make a party by calling your bridesmaids over to discuss the dresses at home.
Have it handmade
Many women want one-of-a-kind dresses and hiring a seamstress guarantees the creation of something that meets your taste level. Since larger women carry weight in different areas of their body, it's hard to standardize sizes above 14. However, A line wedding dresses are universally flattering. For a custom fit, go for a custom made wedding dress.
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