just started trying things on and already frustrated

[kyethra]

So I went home for xmass and drove down the quad cities one day to try on wedding dresses with my mom. And I'm already frustrated. First of all, I was really disapointed at the lack of different things that I could try on in my size (wedding dress size is about 22-24). I don't want poufy. I don't even want a train. I tried on strapless and there was one I liked, but after I tried it on i was talking to my mom about how if we did go with a strapless then we need to have at the least wide straps made to combat the wide expanse of flesh that just was not a good look.

I wanted to try on a simpler style- empire waist, more like a sheath, no crinoline. I went to three stores. Not one had one in my size. One had one close but the proportions were way off on it- I would have needed the straps to be about eight inches longer to get an idea.

And of course none of the dresses were even close to quite what I wanted. I really like clarie pettibone, not that I can afford those dresses and I haven't seen a knock off yet. I like elizabeth fillmore who doesn't even go up close to my size.

http://a1000.g.akamaitech.net/f/1000/806/12h/images.theknot.com/GownDesigners/clairepettibonekleinfeld/knpetts06julil.jpg

that is my favorite dress so far, at least as far as pictures go.

One dress I tired on everyone really liked but me. I mean Liked it well enough. But I didn't want it as a wedding dress or anything. I am thinking of just throwing in the towel with the tryons and going to get a custom, but I did discover that I hate the wrap style, so i guess that is something.

And I didn't like the whole david's bridal vibe that I got. They were high pressure about making me make an apointment- I knew I would have to cancel it.

Ugh. any ideas?

[Marsha]

ok first things first. YOU DO NOT HAVE to make an appointment at davids. If they want your busisness they will let you walk in and shop on your own. If your mom is with you then you dont need a darn sales rep. That goes with any bridal store. If you are spending lots of money do what YOU want.
#2 im also the same size, and i discovered that those sheath dresses dont flatter like they would a size 8. I loved them but not on me. (and yes i know that is just me) But my opinion (and it probably dosent count) is try on lots of dresses. David's is a great place because they go into size 30.
#3 strapless, when your top heavy is not a wonderful thing. you shoudlnt have ****age pouring out the top. not saying strapless is bad.. but sometimes you need a strap or something to pull the eye up. ALso Your breasts should not look like they are being bound down and or pulling down into your stomach(you know what i mean)

#4 being a plus size model, (how do i say this?) dont enhance your love handles. lol sorry but what i mean is, dont wear a dress that is to tight. or one that dosent lay nice on the body. remember you will be in pics and sitting some times so do all those things when trying on dresses. buying a dress in a size larger and having it taken in, in a few spots, is better then being stuffed into a dress that looks like you couldnt afford something more flattering.

other then that have fun this is supposta be fun! dont get exhausted looking at dresses and getting annoyed. You will know the one when you put it on. And most likely it wont be the one you had in mind.

hope i dont sound to harsh, I just want you to look even more beautiful then you already are!

[Jersey82]

im really sorry you are having such a hard time, but it was only your first time out so try to stay positive and relax. im sure you will find the perfect gown for you. have you tried davids bridal?? for what you were describing that you wanted, i would think they would have a lot for you to choose from. good luck

[SAbride]

Ok this isn't helping much on the issue but I read:

for larger breasted women who would like the bare back effect it's better to go with a halter top style dress.

for the healthy tummy a dress that scrunches up at an angle conceals our lil package.

Again I read this in one of the bridal magazines, could be true and could not just my 2 cents, since I fall in both categories I picked this dress.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v208/agaona/weddingdress1.jpg

[alley06]

Everytime I went to David's they made me have an appointment. Most stores like for you to have an appointment so they know that someone can help you. Find a time when you can and make an appointment with them. They have a large variety of dresses in all sizes. Some bridal stores only carry sample sizes which can be a pain if you cannot find something that is close to your size.

[Cashy98]

Did you try on any Maggies? Sorry... you can tell that I love her dresses. Now I'm not a plus size, but I have seen several pictures of bigger gals in Maggie dresses and they looked great! The secret? That corset back! It will make your body look... well, smoother. She makes a variety of styles, so I'm sure you can find something with straps or sleeves. Good luck!

[milnes06]

Did you try on any Maggies? Sorry... you can tell that I love her dresses. Now I'm not a plus size, but I have seen several pictures of bigger gals in Maggie dresses and they looked great! The secret? That corset back! It will make your body look... well, smoother. She makes a variety of styles, so I'm sure you can find something with straps or sleeves. Good luck!
I would have to agree - when I went to davids I was trying dresses in size 16-20 and the looked alright but something was missing. As soon as I tried on my first Maggie I knew it was for me. The corset backs make it so easy to get a good fit, you just pull it tighter where you need it and let it out where you need it. I look 10 times better in my maggie than anything I tried on at davids. Don't get discouraged!!! Trying on dresses is the best part of planning.

Oh and one more thing - do they have like a dress superstore near you. I'm in California and in some of the larger cities they have like dress wearhouses where all they have are dresses and dresses and dresses. Most of the time you can just go in and wander around and they have soooooo many dresses I'm sure you would be able to find plenty to try on.

[Cashy98]

Here are some Maggies! Check them out!
http://www.bridesave.com/images/gowns/mgj863m.jpg
http://www.bridesave.com/images/gowns/mgj8901m.jpg
http://www.bridesave.com/images/gowns/mga438m.jpg
http://www.bridesave.com/images/gowns/mgj955m.jpg

[Marsha]

yeayyy those are pretty dresses! everyone has the right idea here.

Hey alley, just because they want you to have an apointment doesnt mean you HAVE to have one. Ive never made one and ive probably been much happier. but anyway each store is its own.

[alley06]

yeayyy those are pretty dresses! everyone has the right idea here.

Hey alley, just because they want you to have an apointment doesnt mean you HAVE to have one. Ive never made one and ive probably been much happier. but anyway each store is its own.

I know. I just know that we tried to go to the one with my best friend without an appointment and they were so snotty with us saying that she couldn't try dresses on without an appointment that we left.

[jimnkaren]

I started looking for my gown nearly two years prior to my wedding. For me this was a very good. I had time on my side, and could find what I wanted. What I did learn through this entire process is what you my have in mind is not neccessary what you will end up loving. I wanted a gown with cap sleeves, and that did not show off many curves. At the time I was a street size 14-16. I fell in love with a Ashley Jordan for Impressions strapless, that is A-line with a cathedral train. I went gown shopping alone, and ***e back with pictures for my fiance to see. So in many ways my fiance helped pick out my gown. What convinced me on this gown was I had that "Wow factor" happen. I had this size 10 sample gown on my size 18 body and felt great. I have since looked at other places including trying on some Maggies after I bought my gown. In the end I ***e home to what I have and still love it. I gonna wear this gown 7 months from today. I did try on 40 or more gowns and went to 8 or more salons including Davids. I will have to have my gown altered to a smaller size, but finding it was soo worth it, and is one less thing to worry about. Sorry about the long story, hope this helps...

Good Luck
Karen :)

[carmela]

I am also a plus size. When trying on dresses I realized that empire and
A-line looked best for me. I wanted to get something strapless or with straps and this is what I ended up getting...

http://www.ginza.com/signatureplus/index.asp?page=2
Style number 3310

if you click on the larger pic it will show you how the back looks. It's semi-catherdral train. The train is beautiful.


here is the main page. They have beautiful plus size dresses.
http://www.ginza.com/signature/

Where are you from? I can try and look up some stores in your area that may carry plus size dresses. Just be patient and it will come. Like others have said what you may thik what you want may not be what you end up with.

[kg4eoh]

I, too, was a plus sized bride. Normal street clothes 22-24. Keep in mind that most wedding dresses run small, so don't get discouraged if you have to have a larger size. Also, you may want to try on dresses or find stores that carry dresses by designers who only do plus sized dresses. I found that their dresses fit me better because they were originally designed with me in mind. I had an Aurora D'Paradiso and loved it...it looked great, fit great. Heck, the only alterations I had to my dress was to let the sleeve out about 1/4 of an inch and have the bustle done. It was awesome.

Here is a link to the website Aurora D'Paradiso Gowns (http://www.formalsource.com/pages/aurora_dparadiso/main_frameset/adp.html)

[kg4eoh]

here are a couple of the Aurora D'Paradiso gowns I think might be close to the general style you said you were looking for. Where are you located? I might be able to help you find somewhere to find these dresses.

[milnes06]

**** Patty - you are too good - too bad I already have my dress in order :p

[GandD]

Hello
Have you tried ebay
I know you can't try the dresses on but they have great ones
its where i got my dress
a maggie knockoff for a 1/4 of the price and it looks just like the real thing
no-one short of maggie and her associates would be able to tell
also the measurements the provided were great and accurate
and you can email them to give them more specific measurements
and they allow for a whole size up or down if you need alterations
I got a size 24 dress and it actually fits perfectly
levichy bridals
i think is who i bought off of

[kg4eoh]

**** Patty - you are too good - too bad I already have my dress in order :p

I love to help!! Especially with dresses...if I could have had 15 I would have because I love so many of them.

[DNM1010]

i understand ur frustration.. ive been wanting to try this one dress on and havent had a chance to drive 4 hours north to the only store in florida who has it- and at the same time i dont like any other dress i tried on- it was more frustrating!

[kyethra]

thats true

that why I want to try on more stuff- because I am afraid that the things I like won't look good on me!

I know the wrap thing over the stomach looks nice but I just really don't like it!

And I'm so picky! I want ivory because that looks better on me color wise. And I also want color in it, embriodary and details. And no poufy skirts.

I guess will make an apointment at davids sometime... and look into the warehouse thing.

And I agree about going for a bigger size. That was one thing i thought was odd. I was trying on this one dress- that I actually rather liked, it was empire waiste, had cap sleeves and embiodary and so forth, but the problem was that the sleeves didn't fit quite well enough. I have broad shoulders and so forth. And the sales lady was saying that instead of getting a bigger size they would just want to let the seams out. I thought that was odd.

What about corsets/girldes as undergarments? My fiance was looking at this one corset and suggested that and I said sure, as long he remembered he was the one who had to unlace it :)

Right now I am looking in the Quad City Area- Davenport Iowa, Moline Illinois. Also looking at Champaign IL, where I Live and I suppose at some point I will go up to chicago.

Other than davids, is there anywhere or anyway to know what the store will have in stock before I go in?

From what I have tried on, the things that look nice on me are either princess line or the empire and the v neck.

lol. I like my bust, so I guess I want those to look nice in the dress and not just be squased away. :p

Thanks.

[kyethra]

here are a couple of the Aurora D'Paradiso gowns I think might be close to the general style you said you were looking for. Where are you located? I might be able to help you find somewhere to find these dresses.

I think the second picture is sort of like some of the ones I liked, and maybe the last one.

Of course, there are the other more etherial styles, for lack of a better word that I need to try on yet. There is one at davids, an oleg cassini that I do want to try on.

[kg4eoh]

I think the second picture is sort of like some of the ones I liked, and maybe the last one.

Of course, there are the other more etherial styles, for lack of a better word that I need to try on yet. There is one at davids, an oleg cassini that I do want to try on.

You can't tell but the one right before the last one actually has embroidrey on it and you can get the embroidrey in different colors. Just thought I would throw that in there since you said in the previous post you liked that.

I looked up stores you could find these dresses in (which would guarantee they would have plus sizes since these are only made in those sizes)

Champaign
Bridals By Ducky
134 E University Avenue
Champaign IL 61820
217-356-5822

Davenport
Celebration Bridal
4007 East 53rd. Street
Davenport IA 52807
563-359-3948

Hope those help.

Also, you mentioned the sleeves...I don't even have particularily large shoulders and I had to take out the sleeves on my dress. From what my alterations folks said, it was fairly easy and that most dresses are made to let out the sleeves a bit...so no worries there.

I wish you were down in this area because I could direct you to a store that had literally hundreds of plus size dresses in stock.

[kyethra]

You can't tell but the one right before the last one actually has embroidrey on it and you can get the embroidrey in different colors. Just thought I would throw that in there since you said in the previous post you liked that.

I looked up stores you could find these dresses in (which would guarantee they would have plus sizes since these are only made in those sizes)

Champaign
Bridals By Ducky
134 E University Avenue
Champaign IL 61820
217-356-5822

Davenport
Celebration Bridal
4007 East 53rd. Street
Davenport IA 52807
563-359-3948

Hope those help.

Also, you mentioned the sleeves...I don't even have particularily large shoulders and I had to take out the sleeves on my dress. From what my alterations folks said, it was fairly easy and that most dresses are made to let out the sleeves a bit...so no worries there.

I wish you were down in this area because I could direct you to a store that had literally hundreds of plus size dresses in stock.

celebration had two dresses in my size in the whole store. I guess I will see what champaign has at duckys. They also have a david's and a michelle's bridal. And maybe somewhere I can find a maggie to try on...

I'll probablly end up going custom unless I see a dress I really love when trying things on, but first I just want to really see what choices there are and how things fit me and compare and so forth... At least I have time yet, and I am not going to listen to the sales people who say I should order something right away. How can I order something if I don't even get to try stuff on?

Thanks!