Second, if you are having a gown made for you, AND if the fabric will stand up to it (this lets out most satins), have the bodice sections finished separately and topstitched to each other. Most bodices are made thus: “fashion fabric” pieces all stitched to one another; all lining pieces stitched to one another; stitch lining to fashion fabric, wrong sides together, turn right side out, press, finish. This is the MODERN way of making and lining a gown bodice, and there’s nothing wrong with it, but it makes alterations more difficult. An older way (and one still used in some theatres) is to finish EACH SECTION SEPARATELY: you have a bunch of fully-lined little sections, and they can either be stitched to one another, wrong sides together (fine, if a little bulky), OR they can be top-stitched to one another, especially useful if there are princess seams in the bodice. This means if someone gains or loses weight, *two pieces (because changes should be made evenly) can be picked off easily, and re-stitched, without much fuss or difficulty.

*Two pieces, four pieces, six pieces – whatever makes the change symmetrical.

And as you point out, if you do manage to lose a dress size, chances are most of the people watching you get married won’t even notice. They’ll pay a lot more attention to whether your skin and eyes are glowing, and whether you look joyful or haggard.

Like Kristin’s sister so astutely remarked, no one knows the (industry inflated at any rate) size number on your gown. Chances are really very high that all of the people you’ve invited to your wedding are your friends and family who are just so incredibly happy for you!!! When I’m at a wedding I’m watching to see happiness and joy; not whether the bride fit into a size 8 gown versus a size 10 (or whatever numbers…). It just seems such a shame to add the stress of weeks of dieting or starvation to the circus events that seem to proceed the day of a wedding! Brides are usually under enough stress as it is!!!

Oh, and I have to say your honey’s shoes are rocking my socks! Way spiffy.

And dance we did!! I never felt more beautiful than I did on my wedding day, and saving myself the worry and anxiety of a weight loss attempt was a big part of it.

~Melissa

It’s a good point. Nobody but you knows what size your dress is. All other people see is whether you look happy. Additionally, the people you’re inviting are, in theory at least, people who know you–who’ve known you for a long time–who know what you look like, and will not be scrutinizing your waist. They will be muttering, “Are there snacks?” and “Where do I sit?” and “They’re such a cute couple,” not “OH MY GOD SHE’S A WHALE.”

I think I’m lucky in that I grew up with friends who had a wide range of body types–and they were all smokin’ hot. It makes it easier to understand what sexy looks like, and how many flavors it comes in.

i mean, it’s not my place to say anything to her and she’s a sweet girl, but seriously? i just don’t understand why. it’s not like she even bought it yet, it’s something right off the rack. why bother? it’s not like the one size will be incredibly noticeable in pictures.

i guess some people must enjoy the thrill of the yo yo diet and just use special occasions to bet themselves how much they can lose?

I actually had the same thing happen to me, Al. I was left with a too-big gown that couldn’t be altered any smaller, so my extremely structured bodice was filled with not only me, but also pockets of empty space on either side of my waist.

There’s nothing I can do about it now. But I recommend eating.