First, begin your search six to nine months before your wedding day. This will give you plenty of time to find the perfect gown, with ample time left over for alterations to give you the perfect fit.
Second, make sure you've budgeted enough for your wedding dress, including the possible alterations and accessories you may choose to go along with it. Budgeting ensures that everything prior to your wedding day is accounted for, such that the day itself is blissful, happy, and carefree!
Choosing a Plus Size Wedding Dress
After beginning to plan and setting a budget, it's time to find the dress that's perfect for you. This is where the headaches sometimes start for more curvaceous ladies, as many smaller bridal shops do not carry larger sizes for you to try on. So that you don't have to try to imagine what that skinny slip is going to look like with you inside it, consider looking for your dress at larger retailers and department stores, or searching online for "plus size wedding dresses", both of which may lead you to extensive selections that are just your size. Designers like Emme Bridal, Mon Cheri, and Allure Bridals cater specifically to plus-size women, and may be a good resource for you, as well. Also, keep in mind that wedding dress sizes run to the small side - be prepared to choose a dress thatÂ’s a least a number larger than your normal size.
Plus Size Dress Fabrics
From what sort of fabric would you like your dress to be made? In part, this decision will be determined by the season and climate in which you're going to be married. If the weather is hot and summery, light fabrics like lace, chiffon, and silk will keep you cool and breezy throughout the day. In a cold, wintry climate, brocades, satins, and velvets may keep you warm in a drafty church.
Plus Size Dress Styling
Though each woman's body is different, plus size dresses are often designed to artfully conceal wider hips and larger arms. An A-line shape (which flares from directly beneath the bodice) skims over the hips, and gives a clean, flowing line to your shape, which is great for curvier figures. A V-line neck can also work well for larger women, emphasizing a vertical line and nicely complementing the symmetric angles of the A-line shape. Additionally, when choosing your dress, keep in mind the view from the back -- this is what many of your family and friends will be looking at during your ceremony!
Make sure you're able to breath, talk, move, and dance in the dress you choose -- it should be functional as well as beautiful. You'll be at your most radiant in a comfortable garment. Have the dress tailored specifically to the shape of your body, emphasizing the parts you'd like to emphasize, deemphasizing the parts you're not so keen on. Long-sleeve fitted arms can be particularly elegant for a plus-size bride.
Finally (and most importantly), trust your own judgment. The suggestions above are just that -- suggestions! You know your own body best; you know what makes you feel beautiful. Find the dress that draws attention to your best features, something simple and elegant that makes you glow.