How to purchase future bridesmaid dress while losing weight?

My best friend is getting married in the middle of October and she picked out the dresses she wants us to wear, so we need to order them relatively soon. But the problem is that I'm in the process of losing weight, so how am I supposed to know what size to order? I'm scared I will order one that fits now but will be too big then, or ordering one too small now in hopes of being skinnier then, but that I will still be too big to fit into it! What to do?

Replies

  • sunfastrose
    sunfastrose Posts: 543 Member
    My best friend is getting married in the middle of October and she picked out the dresses she wants us to wear, so we need to order them relatively soon. But the problem is that I'm in the process of losing weight, so how am I supposed to know what size to order? I'm scared I will order one that fits now but will be too big then, or ordering one too small now in hopes of being skinnier then, but that I will still be too big to fit into it! What to do?

    Too large can be brought in by a seamstress; too small cannot. Order the size you are now.
  • iLoveMyPitbull1225
    iLoveMyPitbull1225 Posts: 1,690 Member
    If it ends up being too big, take it somewhere to have it altered. Id rather it be a bit too big and be able to be brought down, than choose a size too small and be uncomfortable.
  • yogacat13
    yogacat13 Posts: 124 Member
    I'm getting married in October, and two of my bridesmaids haven't yet given me their measurements for their bespoke dresses yet for this reason. The dressmaker can wait a little while, until early August, but that's it or they risk not having a dress and not being a bridesmaid. Both the woman making my dress and the one making the bridesmaids dresses have said the same thing, it's infinitely easier to take in a dress that is too big at the last minute than to let one out because they were provided with "aspirational" measurements. Order a size that will fit, and if you need to take it in when it arrives, that will be awesome. But putting it off just stresses the bride out - please have mercy on the poor girl.
  • summer92008
    summer92008 Posts: 202
    That's what I was thinking, but is it possible that it could be TOO big to bring in?
    I plan on losing at least 10 more pounds, but I honestly don't know how many pounds I need to lose to look the way I want. And I don't want to put my weight loss journey on hold for a wedding 3 months away, I'm just afraid that it will be too big to bring in.
  • scraver2003
    scraver2003 Posts: 526 Member
    I've played this game many times. Order the size you ARE NOW. They can take in a dress A LOT before it would even become a problem. Believe me... You don't want to be sitting at the wedding in a dress that is too tight (been there, done that). :blushing: Never ever never never ever ever buy one for the size you *hope to be* at the wedding. :flowerforyou:
  • yogacat13
    yogacat13 Posts: 124 Member
    10 pounds is just one dress size usually, not much to take in.
  • summer92008
    summer92008 Posts: 202
    I'm getting married in October, and two of my bridesmaids haven't yet given me their measurements for their bespoke dresses yet for this reason. The dressmaker can wait a little while, until early August, but that's it or they risk not having a dress and not being a bridesmaid. Both the woman making my dress and the one making the bridesmaids dresses have said the same thing, it's infinitely easier to take in a dress that is too big at the last minute than to let one out because they were provided with "aspirational" measurements. Order a size that will fit, and if you need to take it in when it arrives, that will be awesome. But putting it off just stresses the bride out - please have mercy on the poor girl.

    Yes, I'm definitley ordering it now - within the next week or so. Like I said, I'm just afraid it will be too big to bring in, but I doubt I will lose that much weight. I appreciate all of your answers. I like reassurance and that makes me feel better.
  • summer92008
    summer92008 Posts: 202
    Thanks everyone!!! :happy:
  • yogacat13
    yogacat13 Posts: 124 Member
    :smile:
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    you only want to lose 10lbs, which isnt loads, so i would just order the size you are and it shouldnt be a problem to take it in a bit.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    I'm getting married in October, and two of my bridesmaids haven't yet given me their measurements for their bespoke dresses yet for this reason. The dressmaker can wait a little while, until early August, but that's it or they risk not having a dress and not being a bridesmaid. Both the woman making my dress and the one making the bridesmaids dresses have said the same thing, it's infinitely easier to take in a dress that is too big at the last minute than to let one out because they were provided with "aspirational" measurements. Order a size that will fit, and if you need to take it in when it arrives, that will be awesome. But putting it off just stresses the bride out - please have mercy on the poor girl.

    Yes, I'm definitley ordering it now - within the next week or so. Like I said, I'm just afraid it will be too big to bring in, but I doubt I will lose that much weight. I appreciate all of your answers. I like reassurance and that makes me feel better.

    Talk to the people at the dress shop. Most dresses can easily be taken in 2 sizes with no issue, however, with some detailing, it may be a problem. 10lbs shouldn't be too much to take in.
    But like others have said, it is best to order what fits now, it is far easier to take in a dress than it is to let out.
  • judypriv
    judypriv Posts: 206 Member
    Buy your size now. When I got married I was losing weight steadily during my engagement. I lost 40 lbs from the time I bought my dress as a size 12 until i got married in a size 6! I went in every month for a fitting and between my last fitting 3 days before my wedding and my wedding morning I lost 5 lbs and thankfully the seamstress lived by my house and came over and literally SEWED me into my dress so it fit. A good seamstress can even take your dress in at the last minute but they can't let it out unless there is extra fabric and unless your dress is being custom made and you ask for extra material you can't let it out too much. Besides, thnk how good it will feel to be able to have your dress taken in as you lose weight! :-)
  • mlt2908
    mlt2908 Posts: 123 Member
    I would get the size you are now and have them take it in if necessary. Many years ago at my wedding, the day before wedding, the out of town bridesmaid tried her dress on for the first time - she had sent proper measurements, and I think the shop messed up. The dress couldn't even come close to being zipped (and the bridesmaid was not overweight). They had to do a rush job and luckily were able to match the color (royal blue) to insert gusset things in the sides to make it wider. MUCH MUCH harder than just having to take it in.
  • JustFindingMe
    JustFindingMe Posts: 390 Member
    Im going to be a bridesmaid in my sisters wedding in 2 months as well and wrestle with this too! she is making us wear ...ready for this?...clingy, spandex, shin, grey stretchy gowns. OMG. They are custom made and Im hoping they can be cinched or whatever, if needed.

    . Im just dreading the dress. LOL Can you imagine? Im guessing, at least yours is pretty :smile:

    My point being, Im sure you can do a few little alterations a week or so before.
  • summer92008
    summer92008 Posts: 202
    Im going to be a bridesmaid in my sisters wedding in 2 months as well and wrestle with this too! she is making us wear ...ready for this?...clingy, spandex, shin, grey stretchy gowns. OMG. They are custom made and Im hoping they can be cinched or whatever, if needed.

    . Im just dreading the dress. LOL Can you imagine? Im guessing, at least yours is pretty :smile:

    My point being, Im sure you can do a few little alterations a week or so before.

    Oh wow. That dress seems interesting lol, but as long as it is what she wants! The bridesmaid dress is quite simple, I would insert a pic if I knew how lol. But her mom can sew and take in the dress, so at least I know that if I need it done last minute, she will always be there to do it!
  • JustFindingMe
    JustFindingMe Posts: 390 Member
    Not to hijack your post but I just thought I'd add, for someone so self-conscious ( me ) to be wearing a spandex gown is a nitemare, regardless if Im this weight or 25 lbs lighter...sigh

    Ive ordered spanx in xtra firm :laugh:
  • thavoice
    thavoice Posts: 1,326 Member
    My best friend is getting married in the middle of October and she picked out the dresses she wants us to wear, so we need to order them relatively soon. But the problem is that I'm in the process of losing weight, so how am I supposed to know what size to order? I'm scared I will order one that fits now but will be too big then, or ordering one too small now in hopes of being skinnier then, but that I will still be too big to fit into it! What to do?
    Um.
    Not trying to be a jerk here but I would say 98.7589% of women in a wedding party are "trying to lose weight" (including the bride) before the wedding so the are pretty much used to altering the dresses closer to the wedding.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    My best friend is getting married in the middle of October and she picked out the dresses she wants us to wear, so we need to order them relatively soon. But the problem is that I'm in the process of losing weight, so how am I supposed to know what size to order? I'm scared I will order one that fits now but will be too big then, or ordering one too small now in hopes of being skinnier then, but that I will still be too big to fit into it! What to do?
    Um.
    Not trying to be a jerk here but I would say 98.7589% of women in a wedding party are "trying to lose weight" (including the bride) before the wedding so the are pretty much used to altering the dresses closer to the wedding.

    Even those who aren't trying to lose weight still often need the dress altered. I know mine was when I was a bridesmaid last year.
  • summer92008
    summer92008 Posts: 202
    Not to hijack your post but I just thought I'd add, for someone so self-conscious ( me ) to be wearing a spandex gown is a nitemare, regardless if Im this weight or 25 lbs lighter...sigh

    Ive ordered spanx in xtra firm :laugh:

    Lol, just remember you won't be the only person standing up there in a spandex gown! ( :
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    Not being female I admit I could be completely wrong about this but can't you get them tailored if they are too large but not if they are too small?

    I'd just order it the size you are now and if you shrink then just get it tailored right?
  • 126siany
    126siany Posts: 1,386 Member
    That's what I was thinking, but is it possible that it could be TOO big to bring in?
    I plan on losing at least 10 more pounds, but I honestly don't know how many pounds I need to lose to look the way I want. And I don't want to put my weight loss journey on hold for a wedding 3 months away, I'm just afraid that it will be too big to bring in.

    Nope--especially when you only want to lose 14 lbs.

    When I was a bridesmaid, the bride insisted on ordering our dresses. We all sent her our measurements, the dresses were then sent to us. They sent me a 14, I was a 6 at the time. I had to basically pay the cost of the dress again in tailoring fees, as they essentially had to make new dress out my original.
  • AllOutof_Bubblegum
    AllOutof_Bubblegum Posts: 3,646 Member
    I'd err on the side of caution and lean toward a larger size. You can have a dress taken in no trouble, and for not very much, but letting a dress out is a pain at best, and downright impossible at worst.
  • ShibaEars
    ShibaEars Posts: 3,928 Member
    My best friend is getting married in the middle of October and she picked out the dresses she wants us to wear, so we need to order them relatively soon. But the problem is that I'm in the process of losing weight, so how am I supposed to know what size to order? I'm scared I will order one that fits now but will be too big then, or ordering one too small now in hopes of being skinnier then, but that I will still be too big to fit into it! What to do?

    Too large can be brought in by a seamstress; too small cannot. Order the size you are now.

    yes! For my friend's wedding a few years ago, I had the brilliant idea of getting a smaller size because it would "motivate" me. It didn't. At all. And the dress was *surprise!* too small :blushing: Thankfully I wasn't the only one (the dresses were also a small fit), and we had to have them all altered so they were lace up dresses.

    Get the size that fits your current measurements! Extra fabric can be taken out :smile: