Ordering a bridesmaid dress

ndtrojan · February 2014

Pretty sure my friend just forgot that I am days or weeks away from giving birth, but I totally got an email this afternoon with the dress she picked out, telling all the bridesmaids we needed to go try it on and order it asap as the wedding is 6 months away and it looks like it'll take 4 months to get here.

The question is, how optimistic should I be for my size? At least the dress is cute and not form-fitting!

BILL LEVKOFF BRIDESMAIDS: BILL LEVKOFF 565

BILL LEVKOFF BRIDESMAIDS: BILL LEVKOFF 565

MamaAllison · February 2014

Cute dress! I'd order a size bigger than you normally do. I was in a wedding 6 months after DD1, same situation in that I had to order shortly after she was born. I was between a 12-14 then and opted for the 14. I felt more comfortable not trying to force it, you can always have it taken in

shellbell3845 · February 2014

Let me start with a vent: I have no effing clue why it takes four months to get these things in. They're not made by hand. The last bridesmaid's dress I had to order also said four months. It was the cheapest thing made from the nastiest fabric (for $350). Ugh.

Maybe the people at the bridal shop can help you with a size. After they measure you, ask to look at the size chart with them. That way you can see the measurements for each size and make a more educated decision. Also, it's better to have the dress too big because it can be fitted to you.

ndtrojan · February 2014

anji1820 said:

Oh, I feel for you! I had to order a tight, satin bridesmaid dress when I was about 20 weeks to wear when I was 28 weeks! I ended up ordering 2 sizes up and getting it altered a few days before. The dress you are wearing looks nice and flowing, so maybe a size up? It is easier to alter something that is too big than too small. Good luck!

Ahh! I am impressed you were a tight satin bridesmaid dress while pregnant.

nebraska84 · February 2014

I had to be in a wedding after DS, about 4 months later. I ordered my pre-baby size and needed to get the chest area taken out a little b/c I was much bigger in the bust postbaby due to nursing. So even if I went up a dress size I would of had to have the hip area taken in. To be safe, I would go up one size.

eg214 · February 2014

I used to work at a bridal boutique and owned a wedding and event planning company so...professional opinion here...

Because that dress has an empire waist of sorts...you will go off your bust measurement. HOWEVER...since your tatas will be presumably much bigger, you will want to ask to review the size chart and check out the busts in 1-3 sizes up. Like others say, you can always have it taken in but if say you are normally a 6 and order a 14 based on bust...sometimes the dress can lose its entire shape because so much has to be taken in elsewhere. Depending on the store, they can push you to order huge since they make $$$ off of the alterations. More alterations to do = more cost to you.

So in a nutshell...go off what you presume your bust will be and that's it.

Oh and the whole four month turnaround time...I will agree its pretty much crap. Depending on the designer, most the time they do have them "in stock." Sometimes though they don't and the dresses do have to be cut and many times they want them coming from the same dye lot so there aren't variations for the bride. In that case...they all have to be ordered at the same time. A lot of times though its a sham for the boutique to just get the sale and get the money.

eg214 · February 2014

Oh and don't forget to leave room for your bra or room for one if you plan on having one sewn in.

Akrani · February 2014

Agree with pp's who said to order a size up based off your largest measurement (excluding the bump of course) & get alterations to take it in if needed. Just ordered my b-maid dress for a friend's wedding in Sept. Again, why is this necessary 7 months in advance?

When I called the bridal store, the saleswoman had an endless list of questions in addition to asking for my current measurements. Will you be breastfeeding? How many cup sizes have you gone up? How much weight have you gained? What was your pre-pregnancy dress size? And my personal favorite - How realistic do you think it'll be to get back into that size?

ndtrojan · February 2014

Akrani said:

When I called the bridal store, the saleswoman had an endless list of questions in addition to asking for my current measurements. Will you be breastfeeding? How many cup sizes have you gone up? How much weight have you gained? What was your pre-pregnancy dress size? And my personal favorite - How realistic do you think it'll be to get back into that size?

I have three scenarios running through my mind: 1) this lady doesn't deal with pregnant women much; 2) She was feeling extra brave as this conversation took place over the phone and not in person; or 3) she's a twit.

shellbell3845 · February 2014

ndcarney said:

Akrani said:

When I called the bridal store, the saleswoman had an endless list of questions in addition to asking for my current measurements. Will you be breastfeeding? How many cup sizes have you gone up? How much weight have you gained? What was your pre-pregnancy dress size? And my personal favorite - How realistic do you think it'll be to get back into that size?

I have three scenarios running through my mind: 1) this lady doesn't deal with pregnant women much; 2) She was feeling extra brave as this conversation took place over the phone and not in person; or 3) she's a twit.

Can we get a 4) All of the above?

The only time I've ever lost my cool in a retail setting was when I was picking up a bridesmaid dress. The "consultant" said I looked "radiant," but the size was so wrong that the strapless dress kept falling to my knees. Ugh.

Magnolia+Mama · February 2014

I'm in a wedding at the beginning of July and ordered the dress a size up from my normal size. I figure I have 4 months to get my body back and sizing up gives me extra room in case I don't quite get there. And yes, you can always have it altered!

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