Wedding Dress Help

andreaheileman
andreaheileman Posts: 48 Member
in Motivation and Support
So I am getting married October 4th, 2014 and I haven't started looking at wedding dresses yet. People have been telling me that I should get one soon, because I want to be able to have time to alter it. What is your opinion on this? How soon should I get a dress? I just don't feel ready to start looking yet because I'm not that close to my goal weight. My goal is to be down 47lbs by my wedding day... and so far I'm only down 17lbs.
Does anyone know how much they can take in a dress? When should I get a dress by? Any advice would be helpful! I just want to look amazing on my wedding dress and have a dress that fits me perfectly!
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Replies

  • asianmonkie
    asianmonkie Posts: 264
    That's a long ways away. Wait to get a dress. See how far you can push yourself. You might surprise yourself and lose more than you want. Besides, if you buy it now, it might go out of fashion in 3 months :P
  • LishieFruit89
    LishieFruit89 Posts: 1,956 Member
    Never looked at wedding dresses so I could be off here.

    But the ones that lace up should be more forgiving to alter.

    But you also have 10 months...
    Thats a lot of time...
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    I think it depends on how complicated the dress is. If it's simple, it shouldn't take more than a week for alterations.
  • _Calypso_
    _Calypso_ Posts: 1,074 Member
    that is 10 months away. You have time.

    I does depend on the dress and how busy the bridal store is, but you can usually get a dress and have it altered within 6 months. I'd probably get one by the beginning of March at whatever size you are at that time. Its easier to take in the dress if you contine to lose than to buy a size small and have it let out if you don't lose anymore weight.
  • JojoInTheForks
    JojoInTheForks Posts: 134 Member
    But watch deadlines for designers...I know in NS Canada, it's a 3 month minimum for bridesmaid dresses from most designers. I already had my wedding dress, but left the bridesmaids kind of late. So I would imagine that a wedding gown would take even longer...
  • hotfitmomma2b
    hotfitmomma2b Posts: 15 Member
    I bought my dress about 3 months before my wedding and they had lots of time to do alterations !! you have time :)
  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
    I would wait if I were you. If you lose a significant amount of weight, you may find certain styles look better on you. You wouldn't want to buy a dress that looks good on your now, that you won't be as happy with later.
  • feelin_gr_8
    feelin_gr_8 Posts: 308 Member
    I was engaged for less than 3 months...and I didn't have any problems finding something I loved in my size and have plenty of time for alterations that I wanted done. Might depend on how picky you are though.
  • RicaJamie
    RicaJamie Posts: 46
    I would browse for awhile and find a style you really like. Then comparison shop different designers and shops. Also - talk to whomever will be doing your alterations and ask their opinion? Some dresses can be heavily altered for a dramatic weight loss - others cannot.

    Of course the first dress I tried on "was the one" despite trying on many others. So it didn't take me too long to pick mine out and they were able to alter it no problem!
  • laserturkey
    laserturkey Posts: 1,680 Member
    You can certainly start trying gowns on now, but I think you still have 4-6 months before you actually need to order one. Try on all kinds of styles-- even ones you think look awful on the hanger! I started out with an idea in my head of exactly what I wanted, then ended up going with something completely different because it looked better on me.
  • missomgitsica
    missomgitsica Posts: 496 Member
    I would wait. I think the most I've ever known anyone to leave for alteration time was 6 months so you should be good for awhile. It also depends on where you're buying your dress. If you're going to a less expensive/not designer place, like David's Bridal or similar, the alterations will probably be easier/faster because the fabric isn't as high end. But if you're going to an actual designer place, it'll take longer. Either way you're good to wait, I think.
  • onecatleadstoanother
    onecatleadstoanother Posts: 70 Member
    Typically, a dress can be taken in 2 sizes, but some dresses with corsets are adjustable just because of that. It doesn't take that long to alter a dress. Try them on, but I would hold off buying until you're closer to your goal because you just can't predict where you will lose the weight from. This is personal experience speaking.
  • klynnshuck
    klynnshuck Posts: 33 Member
    I would wait. Have somewhere other than the bridal shop alter the dress. I bought mine in February and was getting married in September. The bridal shop wanted to start doing fittings in July. I took it somewhere else and she did it in 2 weeks or less.
  • TheGymGypsy
    TheGymGypsy Posts: 1,023 Member
    I think the best time to get a dress is 6 months before the wedding. That way there is plenty of time to have it altered. Anything shorter then that may be a tight squeeze depending on the kind of bridal shop you buy from.
  • kmbweber2014
    kmbweber2014 Posts: 680 Member
    I'm getting married next August, I bought my dress 3 months ago. I knew what I wanted and I knew that it was hand made in Australia (I live in the US), so I knew it would take 5 months to get here. I also know I am going to be making alterations to it. I still could have waited longer, I wasn't sure that with my weight loss if that would be the dress I wanted. I tried it on though and realized it the perfect dress and that was that. There is nothing wrong with checking things out and getting an idea but do it at your own pace. If you don't want to look yet then go ahead and wait.
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    I think you could start looking, just to get an idea of available styles, etc and ask questions of each store's staff to see what the estimated time on alterations would be so you have a better idea of what your local folks can do. Some shops also carry accessories, favors, etc so you can start compiling your ideas on those as well.

    As someone else pointed out, something that looks good on you now may not look good on you once you lose the remaining 30 pounds because your shape will be different. I'd still wait at least a few more months before doing serious looking, maybe longer depending on what you get for answers on the alteration time limits.

    Somewhat related experience - I bought a shirt that I thought was cute but a bit too snug at the time. By the time I fit into it, I didn't like the way it looked on me anymore You just never know.
  • wildirishrose162
    wildirishrose162 Posts: 12 Member
    They say that around six months before the wedding is a good time to look. Plenty of time for alterations but not so much time that you'll see a picture of another dress and fall in love.

    Just a word to the wise... research who you have alter your dress as well. My sister went to a place based on the advice of one friend. While the dress wasn't ruined there were lots of mistakes that my sister was very upset about when she picked up the dress. I ended up not having my maid of honor dress taken in and I just bought some padding to pad the chest area where my weight loss showed.

    Enjoy the experience though, it can be lots of fun!
  • michaelsontag
    michaelsontag Posts: 12
    Here is a man's opinion. When I asked my wife (now married almost 14 years) to marry me we looked at all that was needed to do it the traditional way. After we talked it over, we decided to elope, but in style. Yes we did get married in las Vegas, no we did not get married by Elvis, yes we did have a real (not drive-thru) chapel with flowers, pews, and a real minister.

    We were able to go to David's Bridal, find a beautiful dress and get it altered within a week.

    If you want to go to a fancy shmancy storybook location to buy your dress (like on TV), 10 months is running low on time, but still have a room for margin. If you plan on going to one of the more traditional places (aka David's or something like it), you have plenty of time.

    Regardless, I would advise you to figure out now where you want to get your dress from. Go there, and start building a rapport with the team there. Tell them your timeline and your concerns. If you want to wait until as close as posible so you can get the finest dress, tell them. If financing is your concern, be honest with them. It is better to have them as your friend. The sooner they understand that you are a solid sales lead, but that you have conerns, the better.

    They will not respect you showing up too late, and then crying for help.
  • elainecroft
    elainecroft Posts: 595 Member
    Talk to whoever you might want to do your alterations and get their opinion. They can also help you with knowing what kind of styles may be more/less easily altered.
  • skinnybearlyndsay
    skinnybearlyndsay Posts: 798 Member
    I was recently married (10/13/2013) and bought my dress at the end of January (it came in at the end of May). Granted, I did a lot of looking around and went to two try-ons before settling on it. I actually would have liked to wait longer to get it, but they were discontinuing the style and I didn't want to risk it.

    It really is what you're comfortable with. Don't leave it too late, though. 6 months is pushing it. The alterations alone took a month.
  • mapenguinkeeper
    mapenguinkeeper Posts: 191
    also keep in mind that many designers create unreasonably small sizes. I've had size 4 friends have to buy a size 10 dress and have it altered very little.

    agree with others that the level of effort and time to alter will be based on the details of the dress.
  • Laur005
    Laur005 Posts: 15 Member
    I've heard that dresses can be taken in up to 2 sizes - beyond that, it gets tricky.

    Standard to order wedding dresses is in the 6-8 month timeframe and that should still give you time for alterations. My wedding is mid-July and I just started looking at dresses two weeks ago - the dress shop told me I should order by mid-December to make sure I have enough time (and that's 7 months), so you have plenty of time before October! If you're worried, talk to some of the bridal stores in your area and they will be able to help you.

    Good luck!
  • misskerouac
    misskerouac Posts: 2,242 Member
    You could start looking to see what kind of dress you like, if you find something you do like ask the store how long of a lead time they need to order it and how long they would need for alterations. You definitely don't want to wait TOO long, but as you are right now you have plenty of time.
  • bf43005
    bf43005 Posts: 287
    First of all, Congratulations.
    Second, I think a lot of that would depend on you and what you want to get. If you are getting something that will lace up the back you have more room to play around with the size. If you are getting something that must be sized to your body then I think two sizes is the max. And if you are planning to lose weight don't get a size smaller thinking you will lose it only to find out on the day or a week before you didn't drop the weight and now the dress won't fit.
    Third, if you are getting something that is over the top then you should really start now because some of the dresses can take a year. But if you are getting something from like David's Bridal you have about another two months.
    I got a dress from a designer's store and it laced up the back. Everything fit perfect so I bought shoes to match the length and didn't need any alterations.
  • rllewell
    rllewell Posts: 234
    They say that around six months before the wedding is a good time to look. Plenty of time for alterations but not so much time that you'll see a picture of another dress and fall in love.
    I was recently married (10/13/2013) and bought my dress at the end of January (it came in at the end of May).
    Standard to order wedding dresses is in the 6-8 month timeframe and that should still give you time for alterations. My wedding is mid-July and I just started looking at dresses two weeks ago - the dress shop told me I should order by mid-December to make sure I have enough time (and that's 7 months), so you have plenty of time before October! If you're worried, talk to some of the bridal stores in your area and they will be able to help you.

    Both my daughters are getting married next summer and the above is what I have heard, order at least 6 months before wedding day and expect 3-4 alteration sessions. One daughter doesn't have weight loss goals and has already ordered her dress. My other daughter wants to wait a few months so she can lose some weight before selecting a dress and her wedding is in May. If not ordered in time it just means your choices will be off the rack at the boutique then altered.
  • laserturkey
    laserturkey Posts: 1,680 Member
    also keep in mind that many designers create unreasonably small sizes. I've had size 4 friends have to buy a size 10 dress and have it altered very little.

    agree with others that the level of effort and time to alter will be based on the details of the dress.

    So true! There is no vanity sizing in wedding dresses. They run small.
  • lillivewire87
    lillivewire87 Posts: 103 Member
    They can take in a dress up to 2 sizes sometimes 3 without it altering the way the dress "looks" or running into issues. And it is always less expensive for them to size down than it is to size up. Bridal sizes are also notorious for being small...say if you are a size 10 normally expect to buy a dress in a size 12 or 14.

    I am getting married in July and I already have my dress, but my fittings won't start until April. The only reason I bought my dress so soon was I found THE ONE...and it was being discontinued. I had been trying on for quite some time for fun...and it was the only dress that made me and my mom cry. If I had waited it would no longer have been available.
  • Sarahr73
    Sarahr73 Posts: 454 Member
    Congratulations! Wedding planning is such an exciting time. I would wait to get your dress. I got mine just over a year before my wedding. I bought a size just barely too small to get me to work out more and then it was too big because I lost too much weight, then it was too small because I was trying to gain some weight back, and then it was a tad too big come the wedding day. Generally, they say it takes about 2-3 months after you pick out your dress for it to arrive (mine arrived at the store almost exactly two months after I bought it). Then plan on another 2-3 weeks for each alteration. I would plan on two alterations just to be safe. So about 4-5 months before the wedding, 6 months before if you want to account for any possible issues, and you should be good to go. And do make sure to wear any undergarments when you try on dresses that you will be wearing on the big day as that will make a difference. Good luck when you finally do go dress shopping!
  • sjp_511
    sjp_511 Posts: 476 Member
    David's Bridal is one of few shops that is pretty good about letting you exchange your dress for a different size.

    If you want designer (from smaller boutique shops), they require a fair amount of lead time so you need to start searching.

    I gambled and ordered down a size (probably closer to 1.5 sizes down). I lost 30 lbs after ordering and the dress fit pretty well except for around the ribcage. My alterations lady convinced me that I didn't need to get it let out. With the stress and celebrations right before the wedding, I put on a few pounds and couldn't get my dress to zip all the way up a couple days before the wedding and had to get in for emergency alterations. That lady (different from the first) got a huge tip!
  • einzweidrei
    einzweidrei Posts: 381 Member
    If you go to a place like David's Bridal, which I did because I'm cheap, then you don't need to go that far in advance.

    I want to say that I MIGHT have went three months before the wedding---maybe two.

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