What Are the Best Solutions for Plus Size Brides: Tips on Choosing Plus Size Wedding Dresses

Shopping for plus size wedding dresses can be a very hard and long process. The choice of such gowns is much poorer than of wedding dresses of standard sizes. Besides facing the lack of choice, a bride may also face some other problems.

Unfortunately, we can do nothing for the problems emergence prevention. However, we will be happy to provide you with the pieces of advice, which will make your wedding dress shopping a bit easier. So, let’s proceed to the tips, which will help you to find the proper wedding dress and if you need some inspirational ideas, feel free to have a look at this post.

Start the Search Beforehand

Plus-size wedding dress in A-line silhouette

Clearly, the search of wedding dresses for plus size brides may take up more time than for the girls with standard sizes. That’s why, start the search of your perfect dress beforehand. First of all, you can study the possible ideas of wedding dresses for curvy girls. However, be ready that not everything you like will suit you.

When you are ready for visiting your local wedding boutiques, you can save much time on calling them ahead and asking if they have the gowns of your size. The plus size wedding gowns aren’t available at all shops and you can waste much time by simply visiting bridal boutiques.

Determine the Budget

Plus size bridal gown

One more important thing, which you must do before starting the search of the dress, is to determine the budget. When you know how much money you can allow spending, try on the gowns, which you can afford.

Be ready that plus size gowns cost more than the ones of standard sizes. It doesn’t matter if you look for luxurious ball gowns or simple plus size beach wedding dresses, the price will be higher. The explanation to that is quite simple: the manufacturers need more fabrics, lace, beading and other materials while creating the wedding dress of plus size.

Don’t Pay Attention to Numbers

Plus size fit-and-flare wedding dress

Take into account that the size of wedding dress can differ from your usual one. That’s why, you can try on dresses of other sizes to find the gown, which fits you. Very often, the size of the wedding dress is bigger and that’s why, we recommend looking at how the dress looks at you and not what numbers are written on it.

Consider the Dress Alteration

Plus size wedding dress with bateau neckline

As wedding dresses plus size are less widespread than the gowns of ordinary sizes, it’s possible that you’ll find the dress, which fits you perfectly but looks not exactly as you have dreamt about. Of course, you can continue the search and, it’s possible that you will find the dress of your dream.

However, if you have visited all the shops and all the dresses, which look good at you, aren’t your “dream dresses”, don’t get upset. Opt to the gown you like the most or which is closer to your “ideal” and turn it in your dream dress. Many wedding boutiques offer such an option or you are free to turn to your local seamstress to make the necessary changes.

For instance, the sleeves can be added to the gowns without sleeves and turned into plus size wedding dresses with sleeves. Or, you can change the neckline from strapless to high neck. Also, if the dress is too simple, there are dozens of ways of making it more luxurious. The simplest way is to add a beautiful waistband, decorated with rhinestones or beads. Also, you are free to add lace appliques as well as beaded embellishments or rhinestones.

As a result, your dress will hardly be one of cheap plus size wedding dresses, but it will meet all your requirements. If you want to save money, you can leave the dress as it is but complement the look with accessories.

Go Custom

Plus size wedding dress with V-neck

Fortunately, even if you fail to find the proper dress, you always have a way out. You are free to have the dress, which will be sewn, taking into account all the peculiarities of your body. The dress won’t be just made exactly of your size, but you will also be able to choose the most flattering silhouette and fabrics.

An experienced seamstress will not only sew the dress, but will also provide you with consultations about how to highlight your merits and hide demerits. That’s why, before turning to a certain seamstress, it’s necessary to read or hear reviews about her work.

Though many brides think that it’s very expensive to have a dress, sewn specifically for you, the things are absolutely different. If you order a dress from your local seamstress, it may be a good way to save money and get plus size wedding dresses cheap. But the dress may cost more if you have it sewn by a well-known designer.

Keep an Open Mind

Plus size wedding dress with sleeves

Of course, every girl has the image of her perfect gown in mind. However, in reality, the dresses you like may fail to fit you. For instance, you may dream about a strapless princess wedding gown. And you may even find a couple of nice variants in your size.

But, to tell the truth, plus size ball gown wedding dresses without straps are one of the worst solutions for curvy brides. First of all, the dress has much volume and can make you look bigger than you are. Secondly, the strapless corsets may accentuate the demerits of your arms and armpits. And thirdly, you may feel uncomfortable in this dress and will have to lift it up throughout the whole wedding.

So, our recommendation is to keep your mind open and pay attention to what really suits you and helps to accentuate those parts of body, which you are proud of.

Find the Proper Undergarment

Wedding shapewear

Basically, your comfort at the wedding day depends not only on the plus size wedding gown but also on the properly chosen undergarments. Even the perfect gown needs some additional support. If you have a big bust, you won’t do without the supportive bra.

Moreover, you can seek for the shapewear, which will help you to look slimmer. The choice is pretty large: from high-waist shorts, which will help to hide the tummy and make the waist and hips slimmer, to forming dresses, which will take care of your whole body and are ideal if you are going to wear a mermaid or sheath wedding dress.

Look for Ruching

Plus size wedding dress with ruches

The ruches may help you a lot. They provide support to the dress and add more structure to it. It’s advisable to have the dress with ruches in symmetrical pattern as it creates the vertical shape of the gown and helps in making you visually slimmer.

Some girls think that ruching draws more attention to the problem places. But, in reality, it create such an optical illusion that it helps to mask those places. Ruching is a great option if you want to have a mermaid wedding gown or the one with dropped waist.

Don’t Forget about Comfort

Tea-length plus size wedding dress

No matter if you buy a luxurious wedding dress for $7000 or choose among cheap plus size wedding dresses under 100 dollars, remember that comfort must be on the first place for you. Even if you want to look slimmer, don’t buy a dress, which is too tight on you.

Remember that you will spend the whole day in your wedding dress and so, it’s crucial that you comfortably move and sit in it.

The Most Flattering Silhouettes and Fabrics for Plus Size Wedding Dresses

A-Line Wedding Dresses

A-line plus size wedding dress

A-line wedding dresses are universally flattering and are the most popular among brides with various types of bodies. Such gowns have the narrow top and flaring skirt and are liked for their smooth transition from top to bottom.

A-line wedding dresses are very versatile. It’s the wedding dress silhouette, which has the biggest number of possible variations. These wedding gowns for plus size brides can be made of light fabrics like chiffon if you want to have a light flowing dress. Or, if you seek for a smooth, crisp silhouette, organza or taffeta are suitable.

Empire Waist Wedding Dresses

Empire waist plus size wedding dress

The high-waisted empire wedding dress is ideal if you are an apple-shaped bride. It will hide the tummy as the bodice ends right under the bust. The empire waist dresses are usually made of light flowing fabrics like charmeuse or chiffon.

The wedding gowns of this silhouette are known for their help in accentuating or de-emphasizing the bust. If you opt for a sweetheart neckline or the plunging one, you will be able to demonstrate your beautiful breast. But if you don’t want to draw attention to the breast line, opt for high neck and square necklines.

Sheath Wedding Gowns

Sheath plus size wedding dress

At first sight, it may seem that sheath gowns aren’t suitable for plus size brides. However, there can be exceptions from this rule. Sheath gowns fit tightly from the top to bottom and can look gorgeous on a bride with proportional body curves, even if the dress is of plus size.

The sheath wedding gowns plus size look best if they are made of thick fabrics, for instance blended silk. Also, they look better if the shaping underwear is beneath.

Mermaid Wedding Dresses

Mermaid plus size wedding dress

You are probably surprised to see a mermaid gown on this list. Of course, we all know that wedding dresses of this silhouette don’t fit every bride and plump girls aren’t recommended to wear them. However, if you have an hourglass body type and are of normal height, it’s possible that the mermaid dress will suit you.

However, if you are short or are of rectangle, pear or apple body type, it’s better to avoid such gowns. The mermaid wedding dress plus size must be made of a thick fabric, which won’t lose its form. For example, shantung can be used.

Don’t Be Afraid of Experiments

Short plus size wedding dress

Very often, plus size brides are afraid of experiments. However, the non-traditional wedding dress may be your magic stick, especially if you don’t like how the classic wedding dresses fit you. For instance, you can make a thematic wedding and choose a dress, depending on the chosen theme.

Or, you can go simple and buy not a wedding dress, but an evening gown. And it’s not obligatory to stick to a white or ivory color. Also, if you don’t feel well in a long dress, you are free to opt for plus size short wedding dresses or the ones of tea length. If you have slim legs, it’s a great way to make an accent on them.

Now, you are ready for finding your perfect plus size wedding dress. We hope that our pieces of advice will be really helpful for you and will make the hard process, at least, a bit easier and enjoyable.