Wedding dress question.?

Question

I'm a bigger girl (Size 16-18) and I'm having trouble finding a dress that would look good without being frumpy. I'll only be 21 by the wedding so I want something that's fun and flattering but not trashy. I was thinking a light lavender with silvery undertones. Maybe velvety type fabric or something light and flowy since we'll be getting married in Arizona in May 2008.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I've googled and googled to no avail.

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Karomie/000001.jpg
^ pic of me from an anime convention last year for a better idea of what i mean by big girl.

What I meant by light lavander was basicly an off-white purple color. I don't think it would be right to wear white considering I'm not a virgin anymore.

I've looked through David's Bridal plus sized selection I liked a couple but nothing called out to me.

P.S. in the pic thats a wig my real color is http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o203/Karomie/2006_0203fun0017.jpg

Answer 1

The Bridal Shop- they have dresses from several designers, including Maggie Sottero, Alfred Angelo and others. I saw several colors, and most are available in sizes from 0-28.
http://www.thebridalshop.com/Wedding_Dresses.htm

Answer 2

I know lane bryant online has started carrying wedding dresses. You should check it out, they have some nice things that are not too expensive. Chadwicks also has nice looking things. I am a size 18 and purchased a lavender dress from them, but it was satin with an overlay of sheer fabric for not much. It was very airy though. Since you were getting married in AZ, I think it would be comfy, yet look elegant at the same time.

There sites are:
www.lanebryant.com
www.chadwicks.com

**chadwicks also puts out a magazine. You could probably get on their mailing list. It is free. That way every time a new magazine came out, you could see if they had what you are looking for.

Hope this helps. Congrats and good luck!! :)

***P.S. If you still cannot find what you are looking for, you can always search fabric stores and online for a pattern that you would like. Then you can go to the fabric store to pick out exactly the colors you want and have the dress made. I did that with my bridesmaids dresses and they were almost prettier than my own gown. Try this!!!

Answer 3

First of all you dont want velvet in Arizona in May you will swelter! There are tons of dresses out there and I never use google i search yahoo. Davids bridal has nice plus sizes. if you want non traditional (not white) you could use a prom dress instead. I like using www.bridalshoponline.com check out atianas collection the Amanda dress in any of the color choices is fabulous and CHEAP! the Eva dress is beautiful so is the Rose dress. The Amanda in lt blue is fantastic especially if you were to get a nice tan, the Erica is also a flattering cut for a fuller figure. You can also get your bridesmaids dresses there and flower girl dresses too.
edit: So I looked at the photos you put out and your edits and there is NOTHING wrong with wearing white even if you are not a virgin on your wedding day. However as white isnt always the most flattering I still hold to the www.bridalshoponline.com and going with a color

Answer 4

You're going to be a gorgeous bride! So you're a bit bigger than some.. stand tall and proud and you'll look great! But you have a long time before the wedding.. rather than obsess about finding a flattering plus sized dress, why not do like I just did? I'm much bigger than you are, and tired of it.. so I joined Curves! I'm not going to try to change my lifestyle too quickly, but once I'm used to exercising I'm going to work on my diet. I bet if you did that, in six months you'd be down to a 12/14 or smaller, and have a lot more selection :)

And as far as lavender goes... ptui! You're a BRIDE, girl! Get a WEDDING DRESS... and that's going to be white, cream, ivory.. but not LAVENDER! I thought you wanted to avoid frumpy :) The condition of your hymen is no one's business but your own :)

Don't forget eBay as a possibility for your bridal gown as well. There are LOTS of custom dressmakers, mostly in China, that sell thing very inexpensively. Normally they need professional ironing when they get here as they are shipped inexpensively, but some are outrageously inexpensive. Try on the dresses locally, then see how much it would cost to have a similar gown made in china. Even ifyou have to pay an alterationist a few dollars, big whoop :)

Congratulatons on your engagement.. I wish you love and joy in your marriage :)

Answer 5

Davids Bridal is just one of many manufactureres who make full-figured wedding gowns. Stay away from anything velvety because you will look like a whale in your photos - same with anything shiny or silvery ..the light reflects off and adds twenty pounds to you, making any nice curves look enormous. You're young so go for a nice candlelight , almost-white - stay away from shiny and bows and big sleeves. A size 16 to 18 would look svelte in a fitted gown with ruching (?) from bust to hips, then a soft flowing skirt. If you insist on adding colour (you'll be SORRY in future!) why not just add some delicate lavender beading. I just thumbed through my daughter's bridal mags this afternoon and saw at least 40 gowns on full-figured girls that looked fabulous and none was over $900. Stop googling and buy a couple of good bridal magazines, then go to the appropriate websites. Better yet, phone your local bridal shoppes and ask them if they carry larger sizes. If they say "we have a few.." - don't go there! If they say "Certainly, we have gowns in a full size ranges", then run down as they deserve your business! Good luck.

Answer 6

as a full figured girl myself i had a hell of a time finding a dress that flattered all my nice curves that little women just can pull off. i went to David's bridal and found the dress of my dreams...too bad the sales women was spawned from hell itself..the only reason i found the dress i wanted was cuz my mother basically told the lady off and went and found what i wanted. I didn't want to give this women my money, i was in luck i found the same dress on-line and for a lot cheaper. www.onlinebridalstore.com has a great selection of dresses ..some are traditional and some aren't..depends on your taste. Just because you aren't a virgin doesn't mean you still can't wear white if you wanted to. 95% of women who get married nowadays aren't virgins. but in the end always remember this is your wedding day and if you feel pretty, then you are. If you want to get married in a t-shirt and jeans its your wedding don't let anyone tell you what to wear and how something will look on you.

Answer 7

Try Alfred Angelo and Mori Lee. I'm close to your size, perhaps a bit bigger, and I had no problem finding a dress. My wedding dress was white (it's okay to wear white regardless of if you're a virgin) with pink accents. It was actually part of a line called "Blu" which you can't see unless you're in the store.

Remember, even if the store doesn't have the dress in your size does not mean that it doesn't come in that size. Except David's Bridal...all of those dresses are purchased off the rack.

Answer 8

Try ebay, they have so many different ones that were already purchased from top notch bridal stores, either they only wore them minutes or didn't at all. I found a custom made one for my daugher less than 200 dollars, at Davids Bridal the same gown went for 1800, someone's loss is your gain, just a thought, they also have tons of vintage (light linen) big and beautiful dressess on there, happy hunting!

Answer 9

Check out Davidsbridal.com....they have so many dresses...if you want a color (I'm getting married on St. Patty's Day...second wedding...47....full blooded Irish broad) and am wearing pale green. I bought it on the clearance rack for $37...they have a great website and the bridesmaids dresses are under $100 or close. I think spending thousands on a wedding dress is ridiculous...You are young...save for a house...not a dress! God bless..and I know you will be beautiful and not frumpy.

Answer 10

Try Alfred Angelo
But just wanted to warn you when you go for your gown the size may be bigger than you think. I just went along with my bridal party to order dresses and the size that I normally wear wasn't the size I had to order. My 12 year old soon to be step daughter had to order a womans size 8 and she isn't a big kid.
Here is the web site that shows all his dresses

http://www.alfredangelo.com/index.cfm