Finding a gown that fits, as an expectant bride.

BUYING A “REGULAR” WEDDING GOWN

Please please please do not buy a regular “standard” sized gown if you are expecting. I beg you. Have one custom made, buy one online, work with a designer in your area. But do not buy a wedding dress that fits you at three months along and expect it to fit you at 6 or 7 months.  Because it won’t. How do I know? Because everyday I get a call going something like this “Hi Jessica? I have this situation… I bought a dress several months ago and now it doesn’t fit, and I’m getting married in two weeks, can you help me?!” Yes. I can help you- but you’d have more options and less stress if you wouldn’t have bought that gown! 

BUT IT HAS AN EMPIRE WAIST? IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL FIT?

Yes it certainly does.  When we decided to get married (before I was a maternity designer), I had three weeks to find a dress. I found an empire waist gown “off the rack” that was several sizes too big- literally falling off my top- and seemed to have enough space through the belly area. I had it fitted in the bust, and after nearly $400 of alterations it seemed as though it would fit. But I barely squeezed into that gown on the morning of the wedding. I put it on and was so thankful that the zipper went up because if we would have gotten married even a week later, the dress would not have fit. Looks can be deceiving. Some of these styles look so spacious but the fact is they are not built for an expectant bride’s growing figure, and so there is a lining underneath that is fitted for a slim figure! Or boning, etc. You’ll be much happier if you buy something knowing that when you put it on it will zip! Or lace, or button…

OK, SO I’M CHOOSING MATERNITY BRIDE, HOW DO I KNOW WHAT SIZE TO ORDER? 

The BEST way is to tell me the dresses you’re interested in, what the wedding date is, how far along you are into your pregnancy now and if you’re carrying twins, and send all that over to me with your current measurements. 

We also have a size chart that you can view on the website… you can find your size by the bust measurement- if you fall between two sizes, order up. If you are a perfect 36″ bust you are a perfect size small- however if the wedding is two months away order a medium and then have it fitted a couple weeks before the wedding.  It is easier to have a gown taken in than let out. 

The gowns will fit you through the belly, as they are designed for growing bellies!

The easiest thing to do if you have any concerns is contact me.  

WHAT IF I ORDER A MATERNITY DRESS AND IT STILL DOESN’T FIT?

In the highly unlikely circumstance we would grant you an exchange for a stocked dress which would arrive in 3 days.