Bridesmaid Dress - What Size?

calimama88 · April 2012

Hi Ladies!

I'm typically a lurker here and just found out we're pregnant last week!

It's still very, very early (5 weeks from last period) and we've yet to tell anyone, but I need to buy a dress for my sister's wedding! It's in September and I should be close to the end of 2nd Trimester. Good thing is she is letting everyone pick and buy their own dresses. My problem is trying to decide what size to order? The dress shops have a 3-4 month order time before I would even get the dress to alter, meaning, I have to order my dress ASAP!

I've had friends that have been teeny tiny up till the time they delivered, and others that seem to balloon up as soon as they get the positive test, and of course, those that seem "normal". But what is normal?

I typically wear a size 4, maybe 6 in wedding dresses size. How much bigger should I order for month 5-6?

THANKS for any advice/suggestions!

P.S. The dress shop lady told me she once ordered a dress size about 8 sizes too big when she was preggers and it was definitely not easy to alter it.

NicoleWI · April 2012

Man, I don't know. Can the dress shop lady help you at all with this by looking at measurements and estimating what your belly size might be and what size would be needed by that point? I have been huge right away every time. I was absolutely well into maternity clothes by the end of second tri, but there are also people who are barely showing. I am normally a sz 6 or so (in regular clothes) and I think I would order a MUCH larger size. Figure that's probably a 10 at least already in a bridesmaid dress NOT pregnant...I probably would order like a 16 or something.

lmossali · April 2012

Alfred Angelo has maternity dresses that are only measured by bust size. I'm in a wedding around the end of my 2nd tri also and that is the dress that she picked out for me. The are relatively form fitting on the top then right under bust line it just flows down...might be something to look at.

gplove94 · April 2012

8 sizes too big can't be altered down, but 2 or 3 sizes can. I'd probably do something like that.

shootingstars00 · April 2012

Just go big and take it in.

0231654 · April 2012

I'd probably do something like that.

JessParmesan79 · April 2012

annarussell05:
I have the EXACT same problem... my SIL is getting married in Sept and we just found out we are pregnant as well (6 weeks). Unfortunately for me, I already have a dress because we had to order them super early as they are being discontinued. The dress is a size 8 and fits me perfectly now... looks like I'll be exchanging it (hopefully) rather than having to buy a whole new dress. Good luck to you!

I have the exact same issue. I'm hoping that I can exchange it for a size up. I need to look at their return / exchange policy. It's already been about 2 months since I bought it. Yikes!

mrsz2008 · April 2012

I ordered my dress 2 1/2 sizes too big, but I'll be 36 weeks along at my brother's weeding in December. Honestly, at 27 weeks, I doubt you'll be *huge* especially since you're tiny now (I'm a big girl). 2 dress sizes should be fine and allow for plenty of wiggle room for alterations, unless you go the maternity route or a high waisted flowy dress, then I'd go with closer to your normal size, maaaaybe 1 size bigger to allow for boobage.

CMor1 · April 2012

This is very informative and helpful....I jsut found out I am pregnant and I am a bridesmaid in my brother's wedding at the end of October. It's my first child, so I have no idea how big I will be. I'll be 30ish weeks at that point. Thankfully, my future SIL hasn't picked out a dress yet, so hopefully she won't mind that I will be wearing a different style dress than the other two.

lmossali · April 2012

MandJS:
lmossali:
Alfred Angelo has maternity dresses that are only measured by bust size. I'm in a wedding around the end of my 2nd tri also and that is the dress that she picked out for me. The are relatively form fitting on the top then right under bust line it just flows down...might be something to look at.
The problem is your bust can also change during pregnancy. I would probably go at least one bust size bigger than where I was at 5 weeks....

I agree...I was between dress sizes so I went for the higher one and she said that I could gain a few inches and be fine...but I don't think that will happen.

But if you do go for a maternity dress consider a bust size higher and it can be brought in if need be.

calimama88 · April 2012

THANK YOU ALL LADIES for all your input!

I definitely don't feel comfortable just going up one or two dress sizes. I already feel like my boobs are getting fuller!

FYI - for the other girls in the same boat: I saw a question similar question online while I was looking this up last night and saw one answer from a girl who works at a bridal salon. She answered for 5-6 months, she suggests going up 4 dress sizes (i.e. if you're normally a 6, get an 10). I think I am going to go this route and hope for the best. Yeah, the two dress shops I went to, the ladies weren't very helpful about what size to go up to. Her point was that she totally overestimated herself.

Also - Thanks to those who posted the maternity dress options! The problem for me is my sister wants a specific shade of dusty lavender/lilac, crinkle chiffon, and floor length. It's so specific that adding "maternity" to the mix makes a tough find even harder!

akem1984 · April 2012

I am a Bridesmaid in two upcoming weddings and the wedding consultant suggested to go up 2 sizes from my regular formal wear size.

orangecrush32 · April 2012

Size 6 to size 10 isn't four dress sizes. It's two. I had my dress for my best friends wedding in September in size 8 which fits me perfectly now. I went in and exchanged it last week. They had me put on a little belly pillow and try on a new dress. I ended up ordering a size 16. Which is four dress sizes bigger. So I think four dress sizes is probably right, but remember dress sizes go by two. Meaning if you're currently a size 4 you'll probably wanna get a size 12. Four sizes bigger.

calimama88 · April 2012

orangecrush32:
Size 6 to size 10 isn't four dress sizes. It's two. I had my dress for my best friends wedding in September in size 8 which fits me perfectly now. I went in and exchanged it last week. They had me put on a little belly pillow and try on a new dress. I ended up ordering a size 16. Which is four dress sizes bigger. So I think four dress sizes is probably right, but remember dress sizes go by two. Meaning if you're currently a size 4 you'll probably wanna get a size 12. Four sizes bigger.

Yes, I know, I would consider a 6 to a 10 - 2 sizes up as well. I literally just copied how the lady that works in the dress store stated it.

Update: I found a dress off the rack on sale! Only size they had was a 14 which is plenty big! But it was such a great deal, I figure the alterations will be worth it!

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