Wedding dress size?

[JDLane 140]

Anyone get married while still in the weight loss time frame and purchase a wedding dress? I'm getting married in May of next year, almost exactly one year after my sleeve surgery. I need to choose and order my dress as soon as possible and I'm not sure what to do about the size. I'm currently a standard size 12/14 and so far in the dress I like best a bridal size 18 fit almost perfectly. However, I have no idea how much more weight I may lose in the next six months. I know dresses are easier to size down than up in alterations so I'm afraid to order even a size down in the case that I don't lose any more weight. Anyone been through this? Or in general have thoughts or words of wisdom? I'm already on a tight timeline with a short planning phase and worried if I need serious alterations it's going to be impossible or incredibly expensive. ugh.

[Tony B - NJ 642]

7 minutes ago, JDLane said:

Anyone get married while still in the weight loss time frame and purchase a wedding dress? I'm getting married in May of next year, almost exactly one year after my sleeve surgery. I need to choose and order my dress as soon as possible and I'm not sure what to do about the size. I'm currently a standard size 12/14 and so far in the dress I like best a bridal size 18 fit almost perfectly. However, I have no idea how much more weight I may lose in the next six months. I know dresses are easier to size down than up in alterations so I'm afraid to order even a size down in the case that I don't lose any more weight. Anyone been through this? Or in general have thoughts or words of wisdom? I'm already on a tight timeline with a short planning phase and worried if I need serious alterations it's going to be impossible or incredibly expensive. ugh.

That is a good question that I do not think many people if any can answer. The simple answer would be to estimate your current rate of weight loss and make a close guess as to what you expect to weigh at that point, knowing of course the rate of loss will slow as you get further out from surgery. Chances are you are going to need some alterations as you get closer because you cannot guess that precisely, so if anything, err on the side of caution. You can always make it smaller but pretty tough to add material if you do not lose as fast as you may expect. I know for one, I am changing sizes very rapidly. I am down 60 pounds and 3 pants sizes and 2 shirt sizes in the past 6 weeks. Even if I do not lose a lot of weight, the pants are getting looser because I am redistributing inches somehow. It is a tough call for you. Good luck

[ShoppGirl 4,740]

It may be cheaper to order the dress In a couple sizes than to alter it too much. Then at least you can sell the unaltered dress afterwards to get some of the money back.

[GreenTealael 25,277]

2 hours ago, JDLane said:

Anyone get married while still in the weight loss time frame and purchase a wedding dress? I'm getting married in May of next year, almost exactly one year after my sleeve surgery. I need to choose and order my dress as soon as possible and I'm not sure what to do about the size. I'm currently a standard size 12/14 and so far in the dress I like best a bridal size 18 fit almost perfectly. However, I have no idea how much more weight I may lose in the next six months. I know dresses are easier to size down than up in alterations so I'm afraid to order even a size down in the case that I don't lose any more weight. Anyone been through this? Or in general have thoughts or words of wisdom? I'm already on a tight timeline with a short planning phase and worried if I need serious alterations it's going to be impossible or incredibly expensive. ugh.

You could try to estimate based on your goal weight

https://www.kleinfeldbridal.com/2020/02/24/wedding-dress-sizes-101/

my best guess/estimation for this dress:

Are you losing rapidly? 8

Are you losing slowly? 12

my best overall advice:

1. Ask the consultant/tailor for the exact measurements of the dress in every size from 18 to the smallest and ask them choose based on your goal weight.

2. Pick a size in the middle range size and ask how hard/easy it would be for the tailor to alter it up one size or down a few sizes.

3. Find out the exchange & refund policy. Keep close track of your progress throughout the year and change your dress plans accordingly.

4. Altering something to be smaller is *almost* always easier than sizing up

5. Congratulations in advance

[JDLane 140]

16 hours ago, GreenTealael said:

You could try to estimate based on your goal weight

https://www.kleinfeldbridal.com/2020/02/24/wedding-dress-sizes-101/

my best guess/estimation for this dress:

Are you losing rapidly? 8

Are you losing slowly? 12

my best overall advice:

1. Ask the consultant/tailor for the exact measurements of the dress in every size from 18 to the smallest and ask them choose based on your goal weight.

2. Pick a size in the middle range size and ask how hard/easy it would be for the tailor to alter it up one size or down a few sizes.

3. Find out the exchange & refund policy. Keep close track of your progress throughout the year and change your dress plans accordingly.

4. Altering something to be smaller is *almost* always easier than sizing up

5. Congratulations in advance

Thank you! I have an appointment with my surgeon next week so I think I'll ask for his best estimate on what my continued loss will look like. And you're right a conversation with the tailor would probably be my best bet on how to order. Hopefully between the two of them I can make a good decision.