If you’ve started looking for your wedding dress, you may already have discovered something rather confusing: bridal sizing doesn’t always match the size on the clothes you normally wear.
And if you haven’t discovered that yet, consider this your advance warning!
Wedding dress sizing varies between designers, different styles can fit differently, and your measurements may not sit neatly within one size on a designer’s chart. None of that means there is anything unusual about your body.
So, before you start worrying about the number on a label, here’s what you actually need to know about wedding dress sizing.
Wedding dress sizes aren't the same as high-street sizes
One of the most important things to know is that there is no universal wedding dress size chart.
Each bridal designer works to its own measurements, which means you could need one size in a dress from one designer and a different size in another.
Your bridal size may also be different from the size you usually pick up when you're shopping for everyday clothes.
That number is simply there to help us work out which size of gown to order. It isn't a judgement on your body, and it certainly isn't something worth letting spoil the experience of finding your dress.2. Your measurements matter more than the number on the label
When it’s time to order your wedding dress, we'll take your measurements and compare them with the size chart for the particular designer and gown you've chosen.
The key measurements are usually your:
bust
waist
hips
It’s completely normal for those measurements to fall into different sizes.
You might, for example, measure one size at your bust, another at your waist and another at your hips. Bodies don't arrive in standard-size proportions, even if dress charts do.
That's why we look at your individual measurements and the particular gown rather than simply asking, “What dress size are you?”
3. What happens if I'm between wedding dress sizes?
This is something I talk about with brides all the time.
Traditionally, a wedding dress may be ordered according to the measurement that needs the most room, with the gown then altered by a seamstress to create the right fit.
But that isn't the only possibility.
Some of our designers offer split sizing on selected new-to-order gowns. This can be particularly useful when your top and bottom measurements fall into different sizes, because different parts of the gown may be ordered in different sizes to give you a better starting fit.
Split sizing carries an additional cost and isn't available on every gown, so we'll always look at the dress you've chosen, your measurements and the options offered by that particular designer before deciding what makes most sense for you.
You don't need to work any of this out before your appointment. That's part of what I'm here for.
4. What wedding dress sizes can I try at Bridal Gossip?
Being able to order a gown in your size is one thing. Being able to actually try dresses on and see how different styles feel on your body is another.
At Bridal Gossip, our sample wedding dresses in the boutique currently range from size 10 to size 32.
Across our wider designer collections, new gowns can generally be ordered from size 6 to size 32, depending on the designer and individual style.
I've deliberately built a collection that gives brides across a broad range of sizes genuine options to explore.
You deserve to enjoy trying wedding dresses, experimenting with different shapes and discovering what makes you feel good — rather than feeling that you have to fit yourself into the dresses available.
5. What if the sample dress isn't exactly my size?
Don't dismiss a wedding dress simply because the sample hanging in the boutique isn't your exact size.
Samples are there to help us explore.
Depending on the gown and how the sample fits you, I can often help you get a good idea of the silhouette, neckline, fabric and overall feel even when the sample isn't the size we would eventually order for you.
It's also worth remembering that the dress you're trying is a boutique sample. Your own gown will be ordered using your measurements and then altered separately to create the final fit.
So try not to judge yourself — or a dress — purely by how a sample size fits.
6. Do I need to lose weight before shopping for my wedding dress?
No.
You don't need to reach a particular size before you're “allowed” to start wedding dress shopping.
If you know your body is likely to change significantly before your wedding, tell me. We can talk honestly about your timescale, when your dress needs to be ordered and what that might mean for sizing and alterations.
But please don't put off enjoying your bridal appointment because you think you need to become a different version of yourself first.
We'll start with the body you have now and find dresses that make you feel comfortable and confident in it.
7. The most important thing to remember about bridal sizing
The number inside your wedding dress is probably one of the least interesting things about it.
What matters is how the dress feels when you put it on.
Can you move comfortably? Do you like the silhouette? Does it feel like you? Do you feel confident wearing it?
Those are much more useful questions than worrying about whether the label says 12, 16, 22 or 30.
At Bridal Gossip, you'll have time to explore different wedding dresses with honest advice, thoughtful styling and no judgement. Whether you arrive knowing exactly what you want or with absolutely no idea where to begin, we'll work it out together.
Ready to try some dresses?
If worrying about wedding dress sizing has made you nervous about booking an appointment, I hope this has made things feel a little clearer.
Our private bridal appointments in Wadebridge are relaxed, personal and completely focused on you. Come as you are, try some dresses and let me worry about the size charts.
Book your bridal appointment →
Still have questions about sizes, prices, alterations or what happens at your appointment?
Read our bridal appointment FAQs →
Or, if you'd like to see the styles and designers waiting for you:
Images by Verity Westcott Photography
