Weight Loss, Weight Goals and When to Shop for Wedding Dresses
I want every bride who books a bridal appointment with me to love her reflection. And that is why I pay such close attention to a personal one-to-one appointment and guarantee that the boutique is for exclusive use during a Bridal Gossip appointmen. There is no ‘one size fits all’ and no perfect template of what a bride should look like - and I completely understand how daunting shopping for The Dress can be which is why there are so many size-inclusive designs here at the boutique. That being said, I’ve met a lot of women over the recent weeks who are hoping to lose weight or tone up before their wedding days. It can be tough navigating wedding dress shopping if your figure is likely to change over the next few months. So read on for the perfect guide to navigating wedding dress shopping when you have weight loss goals in mind.
Whether you’ve gained a few pounds, or you've just had a gorgeous new baby, every body shape is beautiful! However, It's totally natural wanting to be the best, healthiest version of you, whatever that may look like. So how do you choose a wedding dress now when it may look different once it arrives and on your wedding day? Weight loss and wedding dresses are a common combination of words when it comes to wedding dress shopping in Cornwall.
I always encourage brides to start looking at wedding dresses as soon as possible, even if they’re planning on losing a significant amount of weight. If you wait to lose weight, this could leave you with very little time to find a dress, or maybe life takes over and you don't manage to lose as much as you had first hoped. This can make wedding dress shopping in Cornwall a pressurising and stressful experience instead of the enjoyable one it should be!
If you are thinking of losing weight after you buy your wedding dress, then there is no need to worry, your wedding dress can still be altered. You might be considering a new exercise regime ahead of your big day. You could be so busy planning that you’ve lost a few pounds without even noticing. Regardless, you can still have your dream dress in time for your wedding even if you change dress sizes between purchasing your wedding dress and walking down the aisle.
I see a lot of brides every week and every single one of them have questions to ask about the dreaded W! Read on for some useful tips and FAQ on weight loss and wedding Dresses. Goals and wedding dress shopping.
Weight Loss and Wedding Dresses. How to shop for your wedding dress in Cornwall?
What size wedding dress should I order when I am hoping to lose weight?
Your bridal boutique in Cornwall should be able to guide you through this process. Any professional bridal consultant will chat through with you how much weight you intend to lose and how much is a realistic goal. It can make a huge difference if you are buying an off the peg or having a bespoke gown made so it's worth deciding on this beforehand. I always encourage my brides to find a style and size that they feel comfortable in right now. If you lose the weight then thats a bonus but if you are standing in a dress right now and you feel amazing and comfortable enough to walk down the aisle you've found the right one. Yay!
2. How much weight can I lose after buying my wedding dress?
There is no right answer when it comes to how much weight you should or should not lose in the run up to your wedding. Every bride wants to look their best when they say I do, even if that’s simply a matter of toning up your muscles. It’s important to bear in mind that any new workout routine will change your body shape, even if you don’t necessarily feel any weight drop off. When it comes to weight loss, it’s important to discuss any plans you have with your wedding dress consultant.
3. When should I buy my wedding dress if I’m losing weight?
If you’re thinking about trying to lose some weight before you say ‘I do’, wedding dress shopping can feel like a hopeless endeavour if you’re not currently at your ideal weight. But that doesn’t mean you should leave it to the last minute. Each bridal shop and bridal boutique in Cornwall will approach fittings differently. But as a guide, I advise soon-to-be brides to try and choose their bridal dress around 8-12 months before the wedding. This gives you plenty of time to find the best dress for you, schedule in the various fittings and have enough time at the end for any needed alterations.
4. Tips for trying on wedding dresses
Another thing to bear in mind is that there are various stages of the wedding dress process. The first appointment is all about discussing what wedding dress styles you like and trying on various dresses that take your fancy. I will adjust and clip the samples to your shape, so there is no reason to worry about dresses not fitting you exactly. Moving forward, if I know that a bride is planning on losing weight, I would agree with them on a date to begin taking measurements. This gives the bride a clear timeframe and goal to work towards. It also helps to factor weight loss into the wedding dress creation so that brides do not have to worry about having a dress that’s too big for them. Another important thing to consider with weight loss is the type of service for your wedding dress you’ve chosen to go with – whether you’ve selected a made to measure, ready-to-wear or fully bespoke dress design.
5. Standard size dresses
When it comes to standard size wedding dresses, things are done a little differently. Standard size wedding dresses (also called ready-to-wear wedding dresses) are bridal gowns made to standard dress sizes. This type of wedding dress can offer better flexibility with shorter timescales, less tailored dresses and working to a set dress budget. Because ready-to-wear wedding dresses require, by nature, less adjusting. A professional seamstress will need roughly 6-12 weeks to carry out any adjustments that are required, so it’s worth factoring this in when considering how much weight you want to lose and over what timeframe. If you lose weight after this point, a seamstress will be able to adjust the size of your wedding dress so that it fits your shape more accurately.
6. Made to measure dresses
If you are wanting a dress you can really tailor around your weight loss, made-to-measure bridal dresses involve adjusting to an individual bride’s shape and size, I would ask that you aim to reach your desired weight by the measurement appointment. However, if a bride needs a little more time or loses weight afterwards without planning to, your seamstress can also adjust the dress at the fitting. However, this appointment is the absolute latest point I would recommend to brides aiming for any drastic weight change.
7. Bespoke dresses
A bespoke dress is a wedding dress that is created as a completely unique design for the individual bride. Therefore, it will be specific to your requirements and measurements from the outset. A bespoke design has a very similar fitting schedule for a made to measure dress. As with made to measure gowns, it’s important to be realistic about the amount of weight you may lose in the given timeframe between your first consultation and your measurement appointment.
I hope this gives you some idea and guidance on choosing your wedding dress and looking your best on your special day. Remember that your partner loved you before just the way you were so don't put too much pressure on yourself to become something other than you! Love your reflection!
For more advice on wedding dress shopping take a read of my blog on how to choose your wedding dress for more top tips. https://www.bridalgossip.co.uk/blog/wedding-dresses-in-cornwall-5-top-tips-on-how-to-choose-your-wedding-dress
