Stressful dress shopping

Girl I feel you!!! Try David's Bridal. I know it has a bad reputation, and some of their dresses aren't great. But the samples they had all fit me or were even too big for me. Idk why they decided to mostly have smaller samples. You can also call ahead to other salons and make sure they have samples in your size. You deserve a good experience and will look amazing no matter your size!

View Quoted Comment Thank you! I have actually been to David’s bridal had a mixed experience, but just didn't find my dress. I was just feeling good again about my appearance and in other places they have had dresses in my size but this place they bungee cord the back of the dress instead of clips, like no that’s not holding anything up, and I could feel the top slipping as I’m standing there surrounded by people it was not nice.

Find a bellas bridesmaid shop. I wanted simple, so no big beaded fluffy dress. I got a two birds convertible ballgown. They come in love and tulle too. It was the only dress I didnt feel self conscience in

Hi Brittany,
Don't stress, many of us feel that way when we start trying on dresses, I looked online first at all the different styles from many designers to see what styles might look good on me and to see what sizes the dresses came in! I'm not tiny, but I have small boobs and the bust on many dresses was way to big for me, so I had to eliminate many dresses I really liked. My dress is from Stella York, style 6979, if you care to see it, I would recommend looking at her line, as well as Casablanca, they were available in many sizes! You will find your dream dress, we all do, don't get down on yourself, dress shopping is FUN! I tried on about 30 before I fell in love with Stella York, you got this girl👍

View Quoted Comment I looked up the designer and funny thing is the only 2 dresses I’ve liked so far are both by Stella York! Your dress is beautiful btw! This actually made me feel much better I’m gonna shoot the first dress shop I went to an email and ask to see some more by them!

View Quoted Comment Yikes! Nope, not a fan lol. I found my dress at David's Bridal - I have a large chest too and was having a hard time finding what I wanted. But their designer gowns are actually decent. Mine is covered in beading and just gorgeous.

I hated dress shopping for this reason! You are definitely not alone in this. As hard and frustrating as it is, be patient. Your dress is definitely out there. Once I found the shape of dress I liked and stopped trying to force something I thought I wanted, I found my dress and am obsessed with it. Look up stores that carry Allure too. My dress is Allure Couture C531.

View Quoted Comment This is a concern that literally dawned on me today I have been rushing to decide on a dress and now I’m worried if I’m picking a style based on hiding my insecurities and not because it’s the dress. So, now I feel like I have to start from scratch.

Go in and try on a little of everything! You may surprise yourself. Also trust the consultants and their processes as well, since they tend to know what will look good on brides.

I felt this way before I tried on dresses. I was worried I wouldn't look good in anything. However I think it depends on the bridal shop. The first one I went to had their dresses separated by size. So I tried on dresses that fit my body. I went shopping elsewhere later where dresses were only separated by price; therefore nothing actually fit and it was hard to picture what the dress would look like on me in my size. I went back to the first store and purchased the dress of my dreams.

View Quoted Comment I really wanted a fit and flare. It took me trying on about 5 dresses in that style to realize I’m short and it just was not going to look good on me. The dresses I loved on other people just weren’t going to be for me. Once I started to have a more open mind and trying on a variety of styles I found what one looked best on me. Once I narrowed the style down I was able to find my dress. I don’t know what your budget is like, but I increased my budget a little after not being able to find anything. That opened up more options and designers. Just take a deep breath and know your dress is out there. You’re going to find one and you’re going to look gorgeous in it! You got this girl!

View Quoted Comment Thank you Brittany, everything will work out, keep looking at Stella York, and check out Casablanca too!

You are not alone! lol I've been a 2 or 4 for most of my adult life so I was shocked when I picked my dress and they told me to order a size 10. I did feel REAL bad about myself when I tried on some completely crepe dresses too. They showed every single line on my body and made me feel (and look in my opinion) like a whale. Don't stress! You'll put one on and feel absolutely beautiful in it!

The David's Bridal website has a tool you can use, to find which dress silhouette looks best on your body type. I think it's called Wedding Dress 101 or something like that. It doesn't mean you have to choose that silhouette, but it does help narrow down the options. Also, I find that having a good consultant makes all the difference in the world. I almost always feel fat and dumpy when trying on clothes, and this was my biggest fear about wedding dress shopping. But my consultant at DB was awesome!! I told him I don't really like trying things on because everything makes me feel fat. He proceeded to pamper me through my appointment, making me feel beautiful in all of the dresses! Not every consultant is that good, but if you tell the store your concerns up front, they may try to pair you with someone good like this.

But try that tool before you go back to any shop (DB or some other place), as it will help you not waste time trying a bunch that don't look right on your body shape.

View Quoted Comment I think I’m gonna do the same the first place I went listened, didn’t make me feel pressured and the girl was like ok that what they think what do you think and it felt so much better then the last 2 places I went to. I think the last place I was at made me feel so bad about myself that the whole process felt a million times worse.

View Quoted Comment I went from a 3 to a 7/8 in the last few years but in wedding dresses it was like ok great you’re a 12! And I’m like.. what!? I already don’t feel great about the weight gain, I’m working on it but that size increase was not something I needed

Girl, don't worry, I went to at least like 10 stores before I found mine. I also really liked one of the dress I found at one of the stores; however, I just didn't feel like it was my dress. I took my MOH with me the first time, I thought I really liked the dress so I brought my mom and the rest of the bridal party. I ended up getting another dress that I feel beautiful in at another store. To be honest, by that point, I was so overwhelmed with all the dress shopping and getting all the girls together that I couldn't tell if I really did love the dress I bought. However, once in a while I would look at the pictures of the dress I bought (hasn't arrived yet), and I absolutely sure that I chose the right dress. I can't wait for it to arrive. Be patient, girl. I am sure you will find your dress. Don't be afraid to go by yourself. Good luck!

Buy a dress wherever you feel comfortable. Don't worry about whether or not the shop is fancy or not - as long as the service is good and selection and prices work for you that is what matters.

Also, bridal sizes don't run small, designer sizing just hasn't changed the way ready-to-wear sizing has. Blame the Gap and all the brands that made vanity sizing a thing. Today's size 6 was a size 12 from decades ago, and that's why when you try on bridal gown its usually several sizes larger than what you are used to. The size doesn't matter at all, just that the dress fits. Do NOT get fixated on the size on the label at all. I'm a typically a street size 6, and most of the dresses I tried on at the bridal shop I went to were a size 8 or 10, but the dress I ended up buying is a size 12. If I had steered away from it because I had to size up 3 sizes, I would probably still be searching. I couldn't care less what the tag says!

Women come in all shapes and sizes, which is why you probably have a favorite brand of jeans and someone else you know has a completely different favorite brand. Just because one dress doesn't have the right proportions for you doesn't mean there is anything wrong with your body, just that that dress wasn't designed to fit you. Most brides get their dresses altered to fit their body and every single runway model you ever see wearing couture fashion has had that dress custom fitted to their shape. It's totally normal for an off-the-rack dress to not fit well, especially a bridal gown that may have materials, silhouettes, or structural elements far less forgiving than what you are used to with street wear. Hang in there!