Tips and Ideas for Plus Size Brides

Recently, a reader of our blog (Lovely28) wrote the following:

Hi Randy, I watch the show regularly. I am a plus size bride and i am having trouble finding the right dress. I've been trying to get ideas from the show but i just haven't seen any of the brides that seem to have the curves i do. What looks good on us bottom heavy babes. Hopefully something new is coming out for us!!!

Thank you so much for your email!There are thousands of plus-size brides out there that share your concern and feel challenged when trying to select a wedding gown. I'm sure that one of the most frustrating obstacles you are facing is the fact that most gowns carried in a bridal salon are sampled in a size 10.

The first piece of advice I have to give you is to be careful of taking too much advice. Remember that most advice you will get are simply "guidelines" to use when searching for a dress, but you will never be 100% sure of how a gown looks on you until you try it on your body!

Being plus-size shouldn't be the only factor you consider when choosing a gown.
I think that silhouette is more important than size!
Are you tall or petite?
Are you busty? Do you have large hips? Do you have a thick mid-section?
You also need to consider the type of wedding you are having. Is it formal or informal? Is your ceremony or reception indoor or outdoor?

Here are a few of my guidelines, suggestions, and some of my favorite gowns for fuller figures:

I feel that heavy fabrics can sometimes make the person look even heavier, so I generally prefer to choose gowns that are made of lighter fabrics.

Here is a Christos gown in a silk organza with beautiful lace overlay:

It has a soft sweetheart neckline and a pretty A-line silhouette, which is flattering to most body types. Because it's light and has lace, I think it would look perfect in a garden setting.

These 2 gowns by Augusta Jones have rouching which can be very forgiving when trying to conceal a thick waistline, and an A-line silhouette which is good for accommodating fuller hips. Both are made of silk taffeta, which is a very lightweight fabric.


This next dress by Romona Keveza, also a rouched silk taffeta, rests at the tip of the shoulder, which can give the appearance of broader shoulders and in turn can balance out fuller hips.



This strapless A-line Lazaro gown has a beaded tulle overlay which can be nice if you prefer a bit of sparkle.



And this silk satin Lazaro is trimmed with lace, if you prefer a more traditional look.



One of the most exciting things to happen in bridal recently is the launch of the Red Label Collection by Kirstie Kelly for Disney. She designed this entire collection with a plus-size bride as her "muse", and the dresses go up to a size 32W.



I am proud to say that Kleinfeld has one of the largest selections of plus-size gowns of any salon in the world. However, we may not have a plus-size sample of every gown I've featured here.

But don't be overwhelmed by your size; Remember, every bride has the same challenge of finding the perfect dress, and if you ever wish to come into Kleinfeld, I would be more than happy to help you choose a gown that you will LOVE, and that will look GORGEOUS on you!

Kindest regards,

Randy