Wedding Dress Size Chart

What’s the first thing many brides-to-be think of when shopping for their wedding dress? Is it style? Cost? The shopping experience?

How about size? More specifically, I’m referring to fit. Fit is arguably the most important aspect of style. After working more than a decade in the fashion retail industry, I witnessed time and time again that style took priority over fit for almost all of my customers. What surprised most of my clients was that a proper fitting garment looked so much better on them than a particular style that caught their eye (but didn’t fit very well). That’s the challenge when buying off the rack. One dress will simply fit you better than another dress in the same size. And it’s hard to know for sure until you try it on.

Alterations

Some retailers will sell you on alterations. That is, if you like a particular style but it doesn’t fit you well off the rack, then they’ll reassure you that alterations will make it fit perfectly. In reality, it all depends. Do you need to take it in, or let it out? Taking in involves removing extra fabric and that’s usually not a problem unless you have to take it in more than a few inches. Letting something out is not always an option. It depends on how much material, if any, is available. Again, anything more than an inch or so is not recommended. (That usually means you need to go up or down a size.) Ideally, you want to find a fit that requires minimal alterations. Consider yourself lucky if you actually find a style you like that fits perfectly right off the rack.

When to Go Custom

There are two common scenarios when a custom-made wedding dress makes the most sense.

1. Your body type is often hard to fit
2. You have a very specific design in mind that is not readily available.

In the first case, you will save a lot of time. Instead of taking your chances with trial and error, your dress will be made-to-measure. Choose your style, fabric, and any other customizations. The consultant or tailor will take your detailed measurements then cut the fabric specifically for you.

When a unique look is what you’re after, a bespoke dress can give you something styled more to your personal specifications.

The downside of made-to-measure involves time and money. A custom dress takes time to make. Unlike dresses that are already available in all the common sizes, custom-made wedding dresses normally take on average between 6 – 9 months. A lot can happen in that time-frame, especially if you’re planning on losing weight before the wedding. While a final fitting can address any minor alterations needed, a drastic change in weight can undo all the advantages of made-to-measure.

The other consideration is cost.  Anything custom-made can be expensive. There are no economies of scale. That said, if you’re open to shopping online, some custom dresses can start as low as $1,400. If price is not a concern, a certain dress for a royal wedding was reported to cost $135,000.