Advice for the curvy bride
Gown shopping tips for curvy brides
Know Your Body Shape
Curvy isn’t a body shape. We often get asked what suits a bigger bride. But just as for every bride you must know your body shape to work out which is going to be the most flattering look. Take a look at our body shape guide to work out which one you might be. But you don’t have to know this before you come – our stylists can help you find the sweet spot.
Find A Boutique With Larger Gown Sizes on the rack
Save yourself a frustrating experience and find a salon that caters to curvier body types and carries larger sample sizes. That is us in New Zealand. We have the largest range and most options to try on. You know what it is like to walk in to a new fashion store and find their XL is actually a size 14!
Shop For Your Body Now
Even if you're planning to shed some pounds before your wedding, your body type isn't going to completely change. Ready made bridal gowns are made to be altered. So it is only going to look better when you have the couture fit alterations done.
Structure Is Your Friend
There is whole article talking about gown structure. Get to know the quality of the designers stocked by the stores. Ours are chosen for their attention to fit detail and the quality of their components. The structure of the gown is the thing that gives you are great shape and has you looking and feeling your best.
Wear Spanx To Your Appointment
The do make quite a difference, so if you are going to wear them on the day, bring them along. It will open you up to looking at more gown shape options and also means you can see how the gown can look on the day.
Invest In Serious Undergarments
Set yourself up for success by investing in a good under-the-dress essentials. A long line strapless bra with extra boning in the bodice will help create a seamless look for bustier brides. We carry Dayleen intimates lingerie that goes up to a size 52 and a G cup (that is an American G so bigger than a New Zealand G).
Keep An Open Mind
Trust your bridal consultant. We know our gowns and what they can do for your body. So come and ready to have a play and be surprised by the number of options there are for you.
A specialty bridal store for every body
In mainstream fashion there are specialty stores that cater to a person that is over a size 18. If you are like me, you know them and you stick to shopping in them. No one wants that humiliation of going to a store to be told that there is nothing in your size. Or for them to let you try things on knowing it won’t fit you.
Bridal is already a Specialty store so our area for our over 18’s is a Specialty section within our Specialty store.
When you order a wedding dress you can normally try a size down and a couple of sizes up and still get a great idea of whether it suits your body shape. (That is why we put photos in our AB16+ section that we have in a size 16). Once you decide on your gown, we take your measurements and your gown is made especially for you.
Our bridal stylists are trained in all aspects of bridal for all brides. They certainly don’t prescribe to the one size one look philosophy. You may fall in love with an aline gown but it won’t be the only look you are offered to choose from!
Covering up? What are your options if you want to cover up
One of our most common requests is to have a gown with long sleeves. But if you try on a sleeved gown you will quickly find there are some problems. It is really hard to raise your arms up – so forget about putting your arms around your partners shoulders or raising the roof on the dance floor. You can also feel a bit trussed up. Bridal garments don’t have a lot of stretch so it can be quite hot! Something to think about if you are getting married in our most popular two months in New Zealand – February or March. One of our latest favourite sleeves gowns is the Bonny 1905. The inset sleeves are chiffon.
There are a number of other options which can make the world of difference to your comfort levels.
1. Cap sleeves: Cap sleeves can give you some coverage without limiting your movement.
Images: Brenda from Rebecca Ingram
2. Cold shoulder: A cold shoulder can give you coverage over the underarm – a spot most brides are concerned about – but still give you no restriction to your movement. And let's face it these are just gorgeous!
3. Jacket: A jacket worn over the gown allows you to have a sleeve but also be able to lift your arms up. There is a huge variety of jackets that can be paired with gowns.
Photos: Chesney from Maggie Sottero
4. Illusion top: An illusion top gives you the coverage, but because the tulle has some stretch in it means it gives you some movement. It also isn’t as hot as full lace or satin coverage.
Photos: 1900 by Bonny and Essence
5. Short sleeve: You have all the coverage of the upper arm, but no restricted movement. And if you look at these amazing sleeves they also become a feature of the dress
Images: Bonny 1902 By Bonny and Essence
6. Go for a strap: Once you start trying gowns on you might be surprised how much you like yourself in a gown with a small strap. Something like the Wu love gown here gives you the opportunity to wear a torsolette underneath which will give you great support.
Image: Wu Love 29332
7. Just go for it: Or maybe once you have started trying on wedding gowns you might just find that strapless is fabulous and you can look and feel confident. Make sure you try and strapless as you might just surprise yourself!
Image Wu Love 29316
Forget Size, think about shape
Yes I really mean that. Just forget about it.
After all the years in the industry and seeing thousands of brides I know that just about everyone has a part of their body they don't like. A size 2 girl might hate her arms, a size 8 her hips. So no fat shaming please! It kills us to meet girls too scared to look in the mirror. Just love the body you have and we will work with you (as we do with every bride) to get the perfect gown for the look you are trying to create on your wedding day.
I could talk here about flattering shapes for curvy girls as many websites do. But here isn't a formula - there are as many variations in body shape as size 22 as there are size 12.
I can advise you to wear a jacket to cover your arms (but that is the same advice I give a size 2 that feels self conscious about her arms).
What I can advise (again the same as everyone else) go with a great brand that has a great range, doesn't put a "plus size" charge above a size 18 and has gowns that are well constructed.
We often have discussions at work at what we should call our brides above a size 18. Are they plus size, curvy brides, larger sizes, full figured? Again the label doesn't matter, what matters is we have the gowns you can try on and the service ethic to go with it.
And I also love the fact that some of our designers are taking pictures of the gowns in both small sizes and big sizes.
I have written a number of articles in the past with advice about gown shopping for plus sized brides. And those articles still stand as worth reading, but what I truly wish is that plus size girls stop seeing themselves as something different.
Plus Size Myths
Lisa Durr - Wellington Manager
Lisa dispels a few myths for the plus size bride.
"If you are a plus size girl, you may have been told that A-Line is the best for you.
Well that’s not entirely true!
We base on our gown selection on body shape not size. If a gown suits your body shape AND your personality, then that’s the right gown for you."
Strapless Gowns and A Big Bust
Kendall-Leigh Neinaber, Auckland City Manager
Kendall-Leigh discusses the all important situation of when you want to wear a strapless gown and you have a full bust.
"Girls with a bigger bust often are worried about the idea that if they go for a strapless gown they are going to be fiddling the whole night and be what we call a “jumping bride” and that is a huge no-no for us.
The good news is that even if you are busty, a wedding dress does have a lot of support built into it. Not only when a wedding dress is altered, it is altered into your waistline, so this means that the gown sits and fits and is never hanging on your bust. This means that even if you are bustier, you will be able to wear a strapless gown.
We do ask you keep in mind is to be open minded, if you have peace of mind with the idea of a strap, then we can show you a few different options and that way at least you will be happy and comfortable and your mind will be at ease."