Hi, I thought it best to ask you girls.
Im only 6 weeks right now... and I have to order a bridesmaid dress for when I am 29 weeks. The dresss is kind of empire waisted...
Im a size 2 now...can anyone give me any estimate of how many sizes I should go up to be at 29 weeks?
Im also terrifed to order big and MC.... so do you think I should try to hold her off a little? she wants to order this week?
Please let me know any advice would be great.
Re: How big will I be at 29 Weeks? Need help to order dress
Honestly, everyone is different. I am 26 weeks and have a small bump. Some women were already showing much more than I even am now at 17 weeks! You really never know. I was very tiny to begin with so I thought it could go either way...
If you order too big there is always alterations to make it smaller...it will just cost more.
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I agree w/ this poster. Everyone is different. Very different.
It's so early ... any way that you can talk to your friend and see if you can wait 6 to 8 weeks more to order the dress (usually even if a boutique says "order your dress 6 months in advance" ... you REALLY don't need to. If you talk to the boutique, they may say you only need to order 2-3 months in advance, do rush delivery, etc.)? I planned my wedding last year, and had a bridesmaid in the same situation and honestly told her that she could WAIT, there was no rush. It was very unfortunate though, she ended up getting excited, said it was fine, and just ordered a size 12 (she was a size 4 to start, and figured she'd just get it altered) -- and then she miscarried (this is NOT to freak you out, and goodness, I am definitely NOT saying this is going to happen to you!!). She ended up being in the wedding and altering it anyway, but it was very sad about her baby. I'd say, see if you can talk to your friend/bridesmaid dress store and wait ... and if you absolutely cannot, get a large size and alter (because everyone gains weight differently in pregancy ... I was a size 2 as a bride, but as a pregnant girl I'm gaining it ALL in my stomach -- I'm just shy of 26 weeks and I have a huge 25 lb stomach!!) ... or see if your friend would be ok with you getting a maternity dress in the same fabric/color for a better fit?
when is the wedding? it usually only takes 4 months for a bridesmaid gown to arrive. i would not worry too much about different dye lots etc. if you were to wait and not order with the other bridesmaids.
i would say if you are going to order now and are typically a street size 2 you should order a size 12 or 14. bridesmaid gown sizes are smaller than street size- if you are a size 2 you might be a size 4 or 6 in bridesmaid. also keep in mind it is easier to take in the dress than to let it out!
i own a bridal shoppe. good luck!
Since everyone is different in terms of growth, the best bet might be to try to look up some progressive baby bump photos online. Like when someone takes pictures every week of their belly to show progress. Maybe if you find someone who looks a lot like you do at the same point in pregnancy it might be a good indication of how big you will be. Maybe, maybe not ... but might be a decent reference point. Of course you won't know the size, but you might be able to guess.
My sister was 7 months pregnant when we ordered the bridesmaid dresses for my wedding - during which she would have already given birth a couple months before. So since she had no idea how much weight she'd retain, she just ordered on the high side and figured she could get it altered. It was HUGE on her (I guess she lost more weight than she thought she would), but we purposely picked out a dress that was very easily altered, and it fit her perfectly afterward. If you have a choice of dress style, try to pick one that has a straight seam up both sides and without a lot of detail on the sides that would be taken away to avoid expensive alterations and order larger than you assume you will need. Easier to take it in than let it out. Hope that helps! Good luck!
At 29 weeks 6 days, I've gone up a cup size and have a rather prominent belly. I've gained a little weight in the butt, but I haven't gained weight elsewhere. But I do know women who had very tiny bumps at 29 weeks, or who gained weight all over. There's no way for anyone to know how big you'll be, or what your weight distribution will be.
If you absolutely have to order the dress now, I suppose you could order a bigger size and expect to have it altered. When my bridesmaids were ordering dresses, they were told to order up if they had any doubt because sizing down is much easier than letting out the dress (which, in some cases, isn't possible).
BFP #1 9/7/10, EDD 5/14/11, Violet born 5/27/11.
BFP #2 4/9/12, EDD 12/16/12, M/C Rory 4/24/12.
BFP #3 10/6/12, EDD 6/16/12., Matilda born 6/17/13.
As a data point, they can sort of add material into a dress...
I'll be a bridesmaid 8 days before my due date. I'm normally a street size 16/18, but they ordered a size 28 for me because they think I'll be THAT big when it comes time for the wedding. In addition, they ordered 7 yards of fabric (three different types) to add a maternity panel into the front of the dress. I get the feeling that it will be huge on me, since I'm still fitting in normal pants... but ya know, the seamstress' at the bridal shop probably do know what they're talking about.
(I'm exactly 20 weeks today.)