Shopping for bridesmaid dresses is not an easy task, you need to take many factors in consideration. The difficulty will be up a level if you have plus size girl in your bridal party. The dress should compliment the wedding theme, fit your vision, and flatter your bridesmaids. Plus size girls often face to the problem that it's very hard for them to find a dress that is beautiful and flattering on them, the dress should make them look slimmer, show their curves better, and bring out their inner beauty. Luckily, we've got you covered in this blog, we'll discuss 5 tips for shopping for ideal modest bridesmaid dresses for plus size girls, read on and we are more than sure this article can help you!
1) Shop Early
Due to limited availability of plus sized bridesmaid dresses, the earlier you start your shopping, the more possible you will find the ideal dress. Finding the perfect plus size bridesmaid dresses often take longer than for standard sizes, plan early enough will allow yourself plenty of time. Starting your journey by browsing in online stores like eDresstore, or visiting bridal boutiques at least 6 to 7 months before the wedding, so you can have enough time see, and feel and try what kind of styles are best for your plus size maids. This can also help you avoid any last-minute stress or problems that may arise if the dresses arrive too late or don't fit correctly.
2) Get Your Girls' Input
It is essential to get your maids' input for their dresses, your girls are likely to feel more comfy and confident in the dress they have picked up themselves. After your decision on the color palette of bridesmaid gowns, make sure to give them enough time for choosing their favourite style that are suitable for their body shapes, personal taste and the budget. If possible, have your maids bring you several of their loved dresses to review, in this way, it's better to make sure the dresses chosen by your girls will be cohesive when putting together. And some of your squad may have the dress custom-made, or need some personal alterations or changes on some styles and details, help them with measuring and give them your opinions on that.
3) These specific styles look better on plus size girls
What styles look best on plus size girls? Let's talk about it from top to bottom. When it comes to neckline, wide and deep neck look best for plus size, for it will give an illusion of narrower shoulders help you look thinner and smaller than you are actually, deep and wide necklines include scoop neck, O neck and V neck, although square neck is also one of them, it's not that recommended, for this shape of neckline doesn't flatter all faces. Go for styles with sleeves will help you cover strong shoulders and biceps. When it comes to sleeves, the most flattering sleeves are flaring sleeves like flutter sleeves, bishop sleeves, cap sleeves, bell sleeves, and caped sleeves, these drape down naturally and will help you look better. Remember to avoid any fitted shapes, your weakness will show clearly in fitted sleeves. As for the skirt, flowy or A line skirt look best on plus size girls.
Further more, some styles like empire waist and wrap dresses look good on nearly all body shapes, which are perfect for plus size maids.
4) Consider to have your dress custom made to your exact measurements
In formal wear industry, the proportion of the sizing may be not so friendly for some figures, custom-made dresses give you the flexibility to pick any style or fabric, and they are tailored to fit your bridesmaid's individual figure.
When having the dress custom-made, it is important to take accurate measurements. You can either take measurements for your bridesmaids yourself, or have them measured by a professional tailor. The key measurements that must be taken are: around bust, measure around the fullest part of the bust; around waist, the narrowest part around waist, usually one and a half inches above the belly button; around bottom, the fullest part of the hip, your height from top of the head to toe, and shoes height. If you are opting for modest styles, shoulder width and arm circumstances are a must too.
5) Stick To Your Budget
When shopping for plus size bridesmaid dresses, it's important to remember to stick to your budget. No matter how much you want to splurge on the perfect dress for each of your bridesmaids, it is important to consider their budgets and yours when making any purchase.
If your budget is limited, there are plenty of options for finding inexpensive dresses that still look great. You can shop at stores like eDresstore that have affordable lines, or even find second-hand stores with good deals.
If you are set on a certain designer dress, look for sample sales or off-season dresses. Many bridal boutiques will also offer discounts if you buy multiple dresses in one order, so take advantage of that when possible.
It's also important to factor in alterations when considering the total cost of each dress. Most plus size bridesmaid dresses need some form of alteration or customization, so make sure to allocate a portion of your budget for this.
Finally, be sure to ask about discounts if you are buying several dresses from the same store. Most bridal boutiques and retailers offer discounts for bulk orders, so make sure to ask about any discounts before you commit.
Following these tips will help ensure you find the perfect plus size bridesmaid dress that fits your budget.
When in doubt, remember that it's all about finding something that she loves and feels comfortable in. Don't forget to also factor in practicality; if it's an outdoor wedding make sure that your bridesmaid won't be too hot or uncomfortable in the material. Also, choose a colour that matches both your wedding theme and her skin tone. Lastly, have fun with it – shopping for bridesmaid dresses is a bonding experience that is just as special as the wedding itself. With all of this in mind, you're sure to find the perfect bridesmaid dress that both flatters her figure and fits into the budget. Good luck and happy shopping!