Summary
- Wedding dress shopping while losing weight is possible
- Be open with your stylist regarding your progress and goals
- The best time to shop for your wedding gown is 9 months out, try on different styles
- Consider a corset lace up back that allows for multiple sizes
- Do a remeasure if possible, closer to ordering
- Find a trusted bridal alterations professional
Wedding Dress Shopping While Losing Weight
Shopping for your dream dress is one of the best parts of wedding planning. If you are on a weight-loss journey, it can also bring up a lot of uncertainty. Should you wait until you’ve reached your ideal weight goal? What if the dress doesn’t fit later? How do alterations work if your body changes?
The good news is: you don’t have to wait. You can find your dream dress while still working towards your goals and feel confident and beautiful doing it. Here are some pointers on when and how to shop for your wedding dress shopping while you’re losing weight:
Bridal Sizing
You must know before going to a bridal shop that wedding dress sizes are not like regular clothing sizes. Bridal runs small. If your normal dress size is a 12, your wedding dress will be a 14 or even a 16 depending on the bridal designer and the dress styles you try (there are no standard size wedding dresses because each designer has their own size chart). Do not let this number upset you!
Start Shopping Around 9 Months Out (Even If You Are Not At Goal Weight)
Your wedding gown will take 4 to 6 months to arrive after order. Knowing this, you will want to wait as long as possible to place the order with the measurements closer to your wedding size. If you begin shopping earlier, make a return visit approximately 6 to 7 months prior to your wedding and retry your favorite gowns, and maybe a few new ones to see how they flatter your new shape.
Just starting your weight loss program? You don’t know where you will lose the weight. It could be all over, or more in the bust, or abdomen, or hips. Your DD cup could become a B. You could lose inches off your hips while keeping the DD cup. This is why we suggest waiting to see how your current body is responding and start shopping 9 months out. The right time to order is 6-7 months out.
Pro tip: many bridal stores will tell you it is longer than that, but unless you are having a full custom dress made, this is simply a high-pressure sales tactic to make you purchase. Dresses take 4 to 6 months maximum. Some designers even keep dresses in stock for immediate ship! Ordering anywhere from 6-9 months out is plenty of time for delivery and alterations.
Tell Your Stylist
The most important thing is to be honest and upfront with your stylist regarding your weight loss journey and goals. She will help you by suggesting styles that can be easily altered, or show new styles you would not have considered for your body type. This is also important if you say yes to the dress and need to determine a size.
Many of our brides are on a weight loss journey, whether it is Weygovy or Ozempic, gym training, other new exercise routine, changing eating habits, or combination of these. It is imperative that you are upfront about this to make a plan when ordering.
Pro tip: if time allows, your bridal consultant may recommend a remeasure. This is when you come back closer to the wedding date, have your measurements retaken to see where you fall on the size chart, and use those measurements to order the gown. This must be discussed with the stylist in order to ensure your timeline allows for this. If it does, a remeasure will determine a smaller size for an easier alterations process!
What You Love Now vs. Later?
Depending on where you are in your journey, if you find a dress that you love, one that makes you feel like the bride you’ve always dreamed you would be, say yes! Alterations will be able to make your perfect dress fit your body. Then stop looking. You don’t want dress regret.
For instance, a plus size bride who is just starting her weight loss regimen may fall in love with a mermaid silhouette, and how it hugs her curves perfectly. When she loses weight, her curves may look different and possibly not what she envisioned. She may decide on a completely different shape, such as a ball gown or even a sleek column dress that shows off her new figure. This is again where you will discuss with your stylist the timing and your goals.
Pro tip: DO NOT order a dress in a smaller size as a “motivator” for your weight loss plan. This simply becomes an additional source of stress and may cause you to need to purchase another gown.
Wedding Dress Alterations
Your seamstress is your secret weapon. Bridal gowns are designed with structure and seam allowances that can accommodate body changes. As long as your timeline allows, multiple fittings can help your dress evolve with you and ensure the perfect fit right before the big day. A good seamstress will be knowledgeable in bridal gown construction and have many options to best fit your needs. Usually, your necessary alterations will be a hem and bustle, if you have straps they are often adjusted to fit your shoulders. From there, they will look at other areas to tweak to fit your current size.
Pro tip: some bridal salons have in-house seamstresses, which can give you peace of mind, however, they work for the salon and make a lot of money from alterations. Other bridal boutiques have recommended seamstresses whose best interest is you – the bride. Something to consider when choosing your dress size and alterations professional.
Gown Shapes & Options For A New Body Shape
Let’s say you start shopping 12 months before your wedding day. Your plan is to lose a significant amount of weight prior to your wedding day. At your first time shopping appointment, you should try on all the silhouettes. Discuss with your stylist alterations that can be made, or dress features that would be beneficial. One of those features is a lace up back!
The corset back allows for a number of sizes and can be pulled tightly for a custom fit, providing a very flattering bodice and waist. This corset feature is an especially good pick when you are losing weight right up to the wedding day, or if you are not losing as much as expected. You can make a lace up back fit your bodice exactly.
A-line dresses are flattering on every body size. Mermaid and fit & flare will have a sexier fit and show curves top to bottom. Column and sheath silhouettes are great for shorter brides to give a straight line of more height. Ball gowns and princess are voluminous in the skirt, a dropped or basque waist is very flattering fitting tightly in the waist and hips.
Some designers offer made-to-measure bridal dresses which can go one of two ways:
- Pay for your personal measurements and have it fit beautifully, or
- Pay for your personal measurements and not remain those sizes (so you pay again for alterations)
When losing weight, we advise not to do a made to order dress because you will most likely still need a final fitting with a seamstress and minor alterations.
Timing of Alterations
As a general rule, our seamstresses want to see brides 4-6 weeks out for their first fitting – whether losing weight or not. A return fitting 2-3 weeks allows for your perfect wedding dress to be absolutely spot-on! This is ample time for any last minute adjustments can be made right then to make sure the dress fits perfectly. Congratulations to you on all your hard work! Cue the happy tears!
Additional Advice
When it comes to a weight loss program, you need to set realistic goals. How much weight to lose in what amount of time needs to be considered. If you have any health concerns you should meet with your physician to ensure this is done in a healthy way. This could include a personal trainer, a regular exercise plan, a balanced diet, etc..
Crash diets are not a good idea. While you are busy planning a wedding, you need to feel healthy and in control without too much pressure added to lose a lot of weight quickly. Your weight loss goals must be realistically achievable. Remember, this is not about a number on a scale or a size on a dress tag. Your fiancé is marrying you for you, not for a size! Going into this with a healthy mindset will go a long way toward living a healthier lifestyle.
Why Darianna® Bridal & Tuxedo
Shopping for your dream wedding dress while losing weight is absolutely possible and does not have to be stressful. The right place to go for bridal appointments is Darianna® Bridal & Tuxedo! Our store offers:
- caring and kind stylists that help you find the best dress
- a pressure free environment to be 100% sure when you say YES to the dress
- a professional team behind you with texting access to the owners
- one stop shop providing tuxedos and suits along with Mother of the Bride and Groom gowns
Read more expert advice in our Ultimate Guide To Wedding Planning with top tips and guidance for brides, grooms, mothers, and fathers! On your special day, you will be surrounded by friends and family members who will celebrate you, and we will celebrate, too!