Ordering a bridesmaid dress

TinaL99

(I already vented about this over on the Nest so I won't do that here!)

I have no idea what to do.  My friend is getting married June 19th 2010.  I will be about 10 weeks post-baby.  We are probably going to be ordering them this weekend.  She is using the same dress that I had in my wedding so I might try on the one that my sister wore so I can get an idea about size.  I just have no idea what my body is going to do!  I know I should order big since it's easier for alterations.  Any other tips?  TIA!

jnk062602

Even with all my issues post-partum, the good thing is I felt really good at 10 weeks.  Honestly, at about 7/8 weeks I felt good and if it weren't for the mastitis it would have been at 6 weeks.  So at least you should be feeling good for it.

What is the style of it - is it tight?  It stinks because you will need last minute alterations.  I would have needed 1 size up from my pre- preg size.  But it is tough bc you just don't know for sure until you are at that point

jnk062602

Actually, you could try on the dress now.  Because I remember telling DH right after I had the baby that I looked like I was 20 weeks.  So at least by 10 weeks pp you wouldn't be any bigger than you are now.  But I am still guessing 1 size up from pre-preg should be good.

NikCole

I remember your vent! Only advice I have is to order bigger. I was 7 weeks PP for my brothers wedding, and I wish I would have ordered a size bigger than I did. The dress fit ok, but I just wish I would have had some extra room. It all depends on the style too... they were kind of fitted, so I felt like it was tight on my belly.

Oh, and invest in some Spanx!!!

wendyj

Definitely keep in mind your bust size. Have you grown much so far? You're bound to be even bigger at 10wks pp because of your milk. Definitely try on the dress now. It can give you a good indication. I think the post c/s bloat was almost gone by then, and I was fitting into my clothes a bit better.

day194

I would suggest ordering at least 2 sizes bigger than what you would have worn pre-pregnancy (and keep in mind a lot of time bridal is a size bigger than your street clothes to begin with) and have alterations done at the last possible moment. 

I was able to fit into a pant size 1 size bigger than my pre-pregnancy size pretty quickly after giving birth, but with breastfeeding my shirts need to be a lot bigger (and longer) that what I used to wear.

BelhurstBride

I was in the same predicament; SIL's wedding is about 10 weeks after the baby is due. I went up two dress sizes. They're JCrew dresses that are traditionally tighter in the chest, I plan on breast feeding and assume I'm going to need the extra room. I figure two dress sizes ought to be huge on me and I can easily get it taken in if needed.

Kathzoo

I am in a wedding 8 weeks after my due date and ordered the dress 2 sizes larger than my pp size.  More worried about my chest than anything else.  Good luck!

MelissaSue81

Well.. I can tell you two things.. 1.. I was actually smaller at 10 weeks post baby than I was pre-pg, and than I am now

2. My friend WAY WAY over-estimated her size and how big she was going to be at my wedding, which was about 3 months after she had twins.. She was able to have the dress altered, but she probably ordered about 5 sizes too big..  She also ended up weighing less after the twins were born than she did before.

I guess its better to go too big, since it CAN be altered down.. but don't go overboard. 

jnk062602

MelissaSue81:

Well.. I can tell you two things.. 1.. I was actually smaller at 10 weeks post baby than I was pre-pg, and than I am now

2. My friend WAY WAY over-estimated her size and how big she was going to be at my wedding, which was about 3 months after she had twins.. She was able to have the dress altered, but she probably ordered about 5 sizes too big..  She also ended up weighing less after the twins were born than she did before.

I guess its better to go too big, since it CAN be altered down.. but don't go overboard. 

I weigh less than I did pre-pregnancy right now too.  But my waist and chest are bigger.