Wedding Dresses for Full Figures

Commercials for bridal wear tend to make us larger ladies cringe. A size 6 model with no arm flab or back fat slowly turning around in a stunning backless gown - her veil blowing gently in the breeze. Give me a break! The harsh reality is that the average woman is a size 12 in the United States. The lady on the commercial is a paid model whose whole income depends on her keeping a flat belly, tiny waist, and toned arms. I almost feel sorry for her because she cannot enjoy a Ho-Ho without fear - almost!

There are many styles of dresses larger brides can look for that will give the slimming effects, without crash dieting and gym-mania. The last thing a bride needs while planning her wedding is to feel self-conscious about her size and imperfections like love handles or arm flab. Wedding gowns have come a long way since the days of big poof sleeves and hoop skirts. Those unflattering styles only made larger brides look like linebackers for the Rams, and options were limited if the bride was larger than a size 8.

For the appearance of a smaller torso, look for a dress that has a dropped waist or a corseted bodice. A-line dresses can slim you down, too. Try finding boutiques that cater to larger sizes, to save money. Some bridal boutiques charge extra for a plus sized dress, but shops that specialize in plus sizes do not. Tall brides that are plus sized would want to go for a V shaped waist, which will give her body an hourglass appearance, without a corset. Petite brides should not go with a V-shaped waisted dress; since it will only make her look shorter and shorter isn't better with extra pounds.

Try to find a dress that has beading or detail around the neckline, which will draw the eye upward. Pick a neckline that is flattering to your figure, and then choose the style of detail you want. Avoid styles that hug the body and are form-fitting. That will only draw attention to areas you are trying to camouflage. Also, avoid the empire style dress. While it's a beautiful style on waifs, it makes larger frames appear pregnant.

Stay away from bustles or ruffles on the skirt of the dress. Bustles and ruffles are designed for thin figures, and visually add pounds. Make sure you purchase your dress in plenty of time to get it professionally altered. While it seems to "fit" to your untrained eye, there may be places the dress needs to be taken in or let out to keep it from bunching, bulging, or hanging. Keep in mind most wedding gowns are made while hanging on a mannequin, and our bodies are all unique. No two people are exactly the same, even if they both wear the same size dress.

Go with a bouquet of long stemmed flowers and a simple long ribbon just tied around the stems. It will create another visual focal point that adds interest. Calla lilies and irises are just a couple of examples of interesting long stemmed flowers that are also elegant.

Figure out what are your best features and play those up. For example, if your bustline is amazing, then spend time playing that feature up, and less time focusing on hiding the unflattering. If your best features are emphasized, the rest falls into place.