Wedding dress shopping should be an exciting experience whatever size you wear.
But if you're a plus-size bride, you might be wondering whether there will actually be dresses for you to try, whether you'll have a meaningful choice of styles or whether you'll be expected to squeeze into samples that are nowhere near your size and somehow imagine the finished result.
Those are completely reasonable questions to ask a bridal boutique before you visit.
At Bridal Gossip, I want every bride who walks through the door to have choices, feel comfortable and be able to enjoy trying wedding dresses.
So here's what I think you should expect from your bridal appointment.
Millie Grace Collection stocked at Bridal Gossip
You deserve a genuine choice of dresses to try
Being size-inclusive should mean more than having one larger sample in the boutique.
At Bridal Gossip, I have wedding dress samples physically available to try in sizes 10–32. That doesn't mean every individual dress is available as a sample in every size, but it does mean we can explore different silhouettes, fabrics and styles rather than expecting you to make a decision from one or two options.
New gowns can be ordered in sizes 6–32, depending on the designer and individual style.
Before visiting any bridal boutique, it's absolutely fine to ask what sample sizes they physically have available. Knowing that beforehand can make walking through the door feel much easier.
The number on the label isn't important
Wedding dress sizing can be confusing. Designer size charts don't necessarily correspond with the size you'd usually pick up on the high street, and sizing can vary between bridal designers too. Please don't let that number spoil your experience.
When it's time to order your dress, we'll take your measurements and use the relevant designer's size chart to determine the appropriate size. Some of the designers I work with also offer split sizing at an additional cost, which can be useful if your top and bottom measurements fall into different sizes.
If you'd like to understand how all of this works before you visit, read my wedding dress sizing guide.
Millie Grace collection stocked at Bridal Gossip
A sample dress doesn't have to fit perfectly
This is true for every bride. The dresses you try during a bridal appointment are samples. They haven't been made or altered to your individual measurements. One might be a little too large in one area and snugger somewhere else. Another may need clipping or adjusting to help you see the intended shape. That's normal.
During your appointment, I'll adjust samples where appropriate so that we can get a better idea of how the dress could work for you. The sample is there to help us explore the style. It isn't there to judge your body.
You don't have to choose a particular silhouette because you're plus-size
There isn't a list of wedding dresses that plus-size brides are allowed to wear. You don't automatically need an A-line dress. You don't have to cover your arms. You don't need to hide your stomach. And you certainly don't have to avoid fitted dresses because somebody once told you they weren't for your body shape.
You might feel fantastic in a structured gown, a fitted silhouette, a fuller skirt, something soft and flowing or a style you never expected to like. Let's try things and find out. The individual dress matters far more than a rule based on your clothing size.
Support and structure can make a big difference
How a wedding dress is constructed can have a huge impact on how it feels to wear. Internal support, boning, cups, straps, seams, fabric and where the waist sits can all affect the fit. This isn't exclusively a plus-size issue. Good construction matters at every size.
If support is particularly important to you, tell me. We can look at dresses with that in mind and talk about what feels secure and comfortable when you're actually wearing them. Don't assume that you'll need to cover more of your body to feel supported. A dress can provide excellent structure in lots of different ways.
Millie Grace collection stocked at Bridal Gossip
Tell me what makes you feel comfortable — and what doesn't
You never need to apologise for being self-conscious about something. If you'd prefer a sleeve, want more coverage around a neckline, feel more comfortable with a particular kind of support or simply don't like how something feels, tell me.
Equally, tell me what you love. Maybe you want to show off your waist. Perhaps you love your shoulders. Maybe you've always wanted a fitted dress.
That information helps me choose what we try next. My role isn't to tell you which parts of yourself should be hidden. It's to listen to what makes you feel confident.
Keep an open mind about style
It's useful to bring inspiration to your appointment, but photographs can only tell you so much. A dress on a model, hanger or screen can look very different once you're wearing it.
That's why I encourage brides to experiment. If you've always imagined yourself in lace, try lace. If you love clean satin, let's explore that too. But if I suggest something a little different, give it a chance if you're comfortable doing so. You don't have to like it. Sometimes trying a dress and saying “absolutely not” is useful because it helps us understand what to try next.
And sometimes the unexpected dress is the one you don't want to take off.
You don't need to change your body before you shop
You don't need to lose weight before you're entitled to enjoy wedding dress shopping. If you're planning changes to your body before your wedding, you can tell me and we can talk practically about dress ordering, measurements and alterations. But I'm not going to set weight-loss goals for you or tell you what size you should aim to be. We'll work with the body you have when you come to see me. Your wedding dress should work for you — not the other way around.
What should a plus-size bridal appointment feel like?
It should feel like wedding dress shopping. You should be able to explore different ideas, ask questions, laugh, change your mind and discover what you enjoy wearing. You should receive honest advice without being made to feel judged. And you should leave knowing more about what works for you than you did when you arrived — whether you've chosen your dress that day or not.
At Bridal Gossip in Wadebridge, my appointments are personal and centred around you. I'll guide you through the dresses, listen to what you're telling me and give you the space to work out what feels right.
If you'd like to see the collections available at the boutique, explore our wedding dresses.
And when you're ready to start trying them, you can book your bridal appointment.
Caroline Griffiths, Bridal Gossip
