One of the most regular questions I get asked is “Do you do Plus-size wedding dresses?”. My answer is “Of course we do”, but it really annoys me that brides feel that they have to even ask that question.
Why would shops in this day and age not have a plus size range? It’s ridiculous. The horror stories I have heard from brides coming through my door are awful. Brides being looked up and down and advised that they have nothing to fit them and some not even being allowed through the door. Disgraceful.
Well to those boutiques, I’d like them to know what they’re missing. I love dressing brides and I know that I’m so lucky to be able to do this job. But what is so obvious is how
much more nervous a curvy bride is when entering my bridal shop wanting to try on wedding dresses. It’s usually because they are convinced that nothing is going to fit them, even though I know I have plenty that will. The way their eyes light up when they stand on the podium and see themselves in the mirror and realise that they look fantastic! It gives me goosebumps every time.
Don’t get me wrong, this may not be THE dress, but to watch a bride’s confidence grow with the more dresses she tries on, is amazing. Then I may bring out a dreaded fishtail or a fit and flare and you can see the panic in their eyes. Sometimes it takes a little coaxing to convince them to try on but when they do, wow! To see their beautiful silhouette in a fitted wedding dress, with all the right curves in all the right places. Fabulous! Again, this may not be their perfect dress, but they can suddenly have that realisation that their shape in amazing, so embrace trying on dresses a little more.
I'll never be able to have the perfect wedding dress for every bride that walks through my door, it's impossible. But what I can do is make sure that every single bride has a lovely experience and send them out oozing with confidence, ready to try on at their next appointment.
One thing I have realised over the years, is that every bride, whether a size 6 or size 26, has their own hang ups about their bodies. There's always something we're not happy with. It's sad to see but that's women for you.
The one piece of advice I can give to my brides is don't wait to go wedding dress shopping "until you've lost sone weight". I hear it all the time and very often brides end up not giving themselves enough time to find their perfect dress as the weight is not coming off. Just go for it! Book some wedding dress boutiques as soon as possible and get trying on. I'm proud of my brides who intended losing weight, but once they have seen how amazing they look in their wedding dress. they simply embraced their beautiful curves.
Enjoy the wedding dress shopping journey x