With the warm weather upon us, it won’t be long before wedding bells start ringing and the wedding planning begins. Besides having a venue, a wedding party, decorations and transportation, the main item of the event is the plus size wedding dress.

The bridal gown is the integral piece of the entire event but, for plus size women, it can be a stressful decision. Whether it’s a sweetheart, A-line, ball gown, or a classic lace dress, plus size women have the hardest time finding a dress AND the plus size bridal boutique to cater to our curves.

We have seen and even heard the unfortunate stories of women who go into starvation mode just so that they can fit into a dress that they may not be able to fit within a week. What makes matter worse is that there are only a few plus size bridal designers who cater to plus size women.

The average American women is a size 14, however the average sample sizes range between sizes 6 through 10. This clearly means that plus size women can’t even try on a sample dress if they wanted to! Thankfully we have a few resources like Bridal Stylists, like Alysia Cole of Alysia Cole Styling and Julie Sabatino of The Stylish Bride and the Sample Size Solution, to help mitigate things and platforms like Pretty Pear Bride, for representation, resources, and community!

In the past, the current options are 1) to buy a dress (without knowing if it will really work for you) and tailor the dress to fit or 2) getting a dress made which can be more expensive than buying a dress. With 2.3 million couples getting married every year in the U.S. (which breaks down to nearly 6,200 weddings a day), we just don’t understand why the bridal industry hasn’t made any significant changes.

BUT… we are here to help! Hence, Plus Bridal Week, to share the various resources that DO exist!

Here are a Few Tips to Help You Find the “Perfect” Plus Size Wedding Dress:

1. Know the theme or style of plus size wedding dress you desire. Take time to research online to locate the type of dress that catches your personality and style. Also keep your wedding venue in mind. If you are having a beach wedding, you will want something completely different than if your wedding was indoors. Remember to record the designer and the design code of any dresses that resonate with you.
2. Locate plus size bridal boutiques in your area and call to see what selections they offer and if they carry plus size samples.
3. Know your body type and what kinds of dresses your are in love with and that you feel look good on you. For example, A-line dresses are classic and they fit to your curves. Ball gown dresses add volume, so be mindful about this cut. Mermaid style dresses which will incorporate a combination of the A-line style and the ball gown style.
4. Have a realistic budget. Nothing is more discouraging than falling in love with a dress that is considerably out of range! If you are budget sensitive, there are quite a few places you can find an affordable plus size wedding dress!
5. Give yourself time. Finding the perfect plus size wedding dress is a process… so be kind to yourself and be patient. 
6. Have support, but not too much. Sometimes having your family or friends to help you find the best dress is helpful. Sometimes, it can be overwhelming. Keep this in mind when going to try on your dress and make sure that your KEY trusted circle knows YOU and YOUR desires. 
7. Bring your ideal foundation when trying on your dress. The strapless bra, the shapewear, the undergarments that you will need. Even bringing your wedding shoes along will help because it can help you visualize where the dress falls by your feet. This will help you get a better idea of HOW the dress can look on you! 

These are only a few tips to keep in mind. 

 But what about you? Do you have any tips for finding the perfect plus size wedding gown? Share in the comments below!