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How Wedding Dress Sizes Work

How Wedding Dress Sizes Work


Izzy Turner-Hicks
Izzy Turner-Hicks Updated:
8th of March 2023

As one of the most important outfits of your life, you want to come out of your dress purchase feeling confident as a Kardashian, knowing your partner will be crying when they see you coming down the aisle of yourdream venue. So why do we get hung up on the sizing so much? 

wedding dress fitting

The most important thing people forget when shopping for wedding dresses is that the sizes are VERY different to high-street brands. Typically they run one or two sizes smaller, so when you normally wear a 10 you might end up with a dress that's a 14. That doesn't mean you should go out and start starving yourself on the next diet.

DO NOT GET HUNG UP ON THE NUMBERS! 

It's actually all about how your measurements compare to that specific designers size chart. It's not because they just want you to pay for alterations - and what's so wrong with having your dress tailored to you? They follow a traditional European sizing spanning back 50 years. Though body types, trends and styles have changed, the sizing has not. It would be such a big undertaking to change wedding dress size charts around the world, as well as being very costly for designers and boutiques, large and small.

measuring fitting

The best advice we can give is:

  1. Take your measurements.
  2. Order your dress based on the largest measurement you have.
  3. Budget for alterations.

It's always possible to take a dress in, but you can't always let them out. SeamsRite Alterations & Repairs are the perfect choice for alterations, an established and trustworthy seamstress based in Cheltenham.

So remember, don't freak out about the numbers. Trust your consultant. You are beautiful no matter what. 

Start the hunt for your wedding dress online!

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Izzy Turner-Hicks

About the author


Izzy Turner-Hicks

Izzy has been writing about weddings for nearly 10 years. Recently married, she's been able to add her own experience of the planning process to her articles. In-house editor at Guides for Brides and previously editor of top wedding magazines; Wedding Ideas and Love Our Wedding. Her specialism is bridal fashion.

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