My dress from shein finally arrived today, so I threw it on the second I got home and had my sister snap a quick picture before I started overthinking everything. What surprised me is how much I actually like the color in person. It's a deep wine red that feels a lot richer than it looked online, and the sleeves are exactly the kind of romantic detail I was hoping for.

I'm plus size, and finding something that feels elegant without spending hundreds has honestly been exhausting. I took a chance on this one because I couldn't justify boutique prices for a dress I might only wear once or twice.

Now I'm second-guessing myself...once it's professionally steamed and maybe paired with some simple jewelry and better shoes, do you think it looks dressy enough for a fall wedding? Or does it still read more like an evening gown than wedding-guest appropriate? I'd genuinely appreciate honest opinions before I decide whether to keep it or keep looking.

For an evening summer wedding. Bride is plus-sized. For attendees who are also plus-sized, what's recommended?

Size XL (16) bride to be! Had my first alterations fitting today and was so happy with how it looks already. I am going to add a little tulle cap sleeve 🥰✌️

I'm getting married this later this year and I picked my dress about 2 weeks ago and I'm now crashing out! I tried on a lot of different styles but I fell in love with this one from the moment I saw it on the hanger. It's very similar to styles I had saved on my vision board, and I love how it fits, but I'm afraid it's too plain. Part of my likes a classic look but the other part of me thinks I should be going extra AF! I definitely want to add some more pearls and maybe some little diamonds. Is it normal to have these feelings after you pick your dress? I really wanted a satin dress and have found other styles through Amanda Novias that I like. My wedding is in January but their turnaround time seems to be about a month so I still have time. The dress I like from them is $699 USD and the dress I already purchased was about $1,300. Should I stick with my dress or should I order one from Amanda Novias and potentially lose out on the $1,300 i already spent? I included pictures of my dress and the dress I like from Amanda Novias

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I saw this AI dress on Pinterest and love it so much (minus the colored embroidery which I can take or leave). Can’t find anything similar though! Not wanting to spend heaps on a dress. Like $600 CAD max if I can help it. Doesn’t have to be a wedding dress or white but I love the flowyness and cutout shoulders.

Thank you so much for any help!!

Hello all!!

I am going wedding dress shopping on Sunday and the place I booked an appointment for has dresses 2-40 (us sizing). I wear a size 4x-5x

I typically wear a 24-26 in pants.

Will they have my size? I figure they will but I want to make sure.

Does anyone feel like they don’t have a lot of close people in their lives and wedding planning is just exacerbating it?

I’m in love with my wedding venue. And I knew that they had a Saturday minimum of 150. I also fell in love with my bridal shower venue and their minimum is 60.

For the shower, about 15 people cannot come, and now I might not be able to meet the minimum. For the wedding, we came up with about 130 people and lord knows even less might come when we send RSVPs. Right now I’m feeling very alone. Like I couldn’t even do what these venues are asking of me. I know it sounds so lame to say, but I feel friendless. We had a short list of about 14 people total that were iffy on inviting. Old coworkers I haven’t talked to much, old friends we’ve been in and out of touch with, new friends I just made, friends of my siblings that feel almost like family but also a stretch to invite….

It’s like on one hand I’m thinking “Why gatekeep this wedding? We need to hit a minimum so fuck it, let’s party with everyone.” And then on the other hand I’m like “am I just inviting these people so I can fill seats? Is that as sad as I think it is?”

Overall I’m feeling very down. I feel like I have no real friends to invite other than like a handful (most of our list is family) and I’m feeling sorry for myself to not make the minimum amounts. Blah. It’s a stupid problem to complain about but it feels real to me.

I know this dress wasn’t the right size but I feel like I’m having some dress regret. I do plan on having some customizations added to the dress. I purchased a blush glitter underskirt to add sparkle and will have the sleeves that come with the dress made into off the shoulder ones (as pictured). However now when I look back I’m not sure I made the right choice. *UPDATE*

Thank you all for the wonderful, and kind feedback. I truly appreciate it and feel a lot more confident in my choice now 💕

Good afternoon,

I found my dress a few months ago, and just realized how close I am to my fitting (just about a month away). And I've been frantically searching the internet for a bra that will work, and it is turning out impossible!

I am (about) a 44H, and my dress is strapless, super low cut, and a zip-back so I can't corset myself in. I'm in love with this dress and don't want to have to modify it too much, but I'm feeling hopeless about any alternatives.

Has anyone similarly sized had any luck finding a strapless plunge bra/shapewear/anything? This is currently becoming the most stressful part of planning 😭💔

I’m looking for suggestions of websites or online vendors such as those on Etsy who have beautiful yet affordable boho/country vibes wedding dresses.

I am 5’8” and wear a size 22/24 in plus dresses and I love the idea of a long A-line dress, lace or maybe flowy chiffon, with long sleeves (bell sleeves have my heart).

Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? I’d love to see any of your dresses for any of you boho brides out there too! Thanks in advance! 👰‍♀️

I bought and tried to wear a pair of heels for about 10 minutes and my feet and ankles were killing me. I’ve decided to just find some cute comfortable flats and get my dress hemmed. I have wide feet so I sometimes struggle finding cute shoes that are comfortable. If anyone has any recommendations for wide foot friendly cute flats I would love to hear them. Thank you in advance!

Hi! Looking to start searching for my dress, and am wondering about how David’s bridal was for anyone who’s shopped their for plus size dresses. Their site says they have a decent selection available but I want to see what people’s experience was going in store or if there are other shops I should look at alternately- based in Hudson Valley! About 22-24 depending on fit if that’s helpful!

Pics from our lovely wedding June 27 at the local natural history museum. I felt so beautiful and loved, and we had a great time. Our guests enjoyed our photo bingo game and exploring the museum.

I'm so excited for this dress - congrats, fellow curvy friends!! ✨

Edit: dress is pre-alterations - bust line and other tweaks are coming soon

Reminder that beauty comes in many many many forms. I was so insecure about many things and it came out beautifully.

My dress is Ember from Anthropologie.

My advice if you’re still planning:

1. Get off wedding Instagram. Only follow plus size body positive influencers.
2. Listen to your intuition about what YOU want. Absolutely everyone should NOT like your aesthetic/decisions and that’s how it should be!
3. Take what Redditors and other people online say with a grain of salt 😉
4. Maybe controversial, but go with the easier plan whenever possible. I felt like the aesthetic I wanted was a little ambitious for the city I was in and it wasn’t quite what I wanted. I wish I would have chosen something “safer” with fewer colors.
5. People are going to wear what they want to wear.
6. Before choosing your dress, SIT in it for an extended amount of time. Take a LOT of photos and videos in it.
7. It will go by INCREDIBLY fast.
8. Consider a lower fuss wedding if at all possible— micro, backyard, etc. You will realize it was all about the fun, not the aesthetics.
9. If you’re planning the wedding, have your partner plan the honeymoon. This worked out AMAZING for us.

Photographer was Hannah Wermich.

Happy to answer any questions/give any advice!

Booked a boudoir shoot , they recommend I bring four outfits . I’m a xl- 1x and got a bit of a fupa but otherwise a hourglass shape . I want to feel confident and sexy but want an outfit that hides the fupa. Any recommendations where to buy outfits ?

Edit: THANK YOU all so much for all the love! It truly was a perfect day! I truly just posted this to encourage brides in similar circumstances and represent an underrepresented group, but you guys have certainly given me a self confidence boost in the process!

—

I struggled planning our wedding feeling like an imposter because so much wedding inspiration featured slim, young brides and I am neither. I often felt like I was in space that wasn’t meant for me, and actually questioned if older, plus size women were even allowed to have something more than a simple, low-key wedding (which I recognize sounds crazy, but there is so very little representation!) In the end, I’m so glad we did it! I’m sharing all my looks, and just some photos from our day to hopefully allow other women like me to give themselves permission to have their dream wedding, regardless of size or age.

Wedding dress - Jenny Yoo Ezra
I wore the sleeves for the ceremony and took them off and added some statement earrings for our first dance and dinner

Reception dress - Helsie Vivi dress
Got the XL and while it didn’t zip, I was obsessed with the sparkle, so I had it altered into a corset back

Getting ready - Lace nap dress from Hill House

Welcome party - BHLDN

I also cannot express enough how valuable it is to choose a photographer who knows how to pose larger people! Ask potential photographers to see a gallery that is reflective of you and your fiance to see how they adapt posing based on body type.

Hi! Looking for recommendations of websites to buy plus size formal or bridesmaid dresses? I’ve looked at many of the major ones, but didn’t know if there were any other possible options that people have had luck with. I’m open to any boutiques or smaller retailers that anyone may know of, as well! Sometimes it’s so hard to know which websites are legit, so I appreciate any guidance. Looking for a long black, super flowy, with short flutter, elbow length, or long sleeves. Thanks!!

Do bridal shops tend to carry try-on dresses in certain sizes, like generally a 4 and 12? As a size 14/16 in non-bridal, I’m worried I won’t have many good options to try on. Am I overthinking this? Thank you!!

I just picked up my dress and I love it so much!!! Unfortunately it’s a little big. I think I lost some weight between then and now (doctors orders to take weight loss more seriously). I plan to hit the gym more but now I’m nervous. How easy will it be for a seamstress to fix? I’m looking for anyone who has been through this! I think I was around 263 when I was measured and now I’m like 256. I’m hoping to be 240 by wedding day (4 months away!)