Everything related to your wedding is stressful enough, let alone shopping for your wedding gown!! And if that wasn’t hectic enough, the stress taken by a plus size bride is even worse! The horror stories faced by these brides by judgmental shop girls and extremely small accessories that leave brides-to-be shaking. Written below we’ve laid out some of the five best tips to go shopping if you’re a plus-sized bride so sit back, relax, and above all, have fun!

1. Plan ahead

Most bridal boutiques keep a stock sample of dresses for the “average” bride, which is generally all-around a size 10. Hence, a smart move would first be to read reviews and call and check on the availability of dresses in larger sizes. So make sure you call ahead of your visit to be sure they have a variety of plus-size bridal dres's sample styles for you to try.

1. Find an expert

Request for an expert specialist who’s well versed in plus size dressing to make the most of your visit. Find someone who’s not only knowledgeable but is also excited to work with you. Keep in mind, you’re not just paying for your couture bridal gown, but for expert knowledge as well. So take full advantage of the situation and ask plenty of questions. Follow their advice to the T – they’re the professionals, after all!

1. Ignore numbers

Most of the bridal brands often use size tags that are significantly higher than what you would wear in your normal, everyday life. So your best bet is to ignore the number entirely and focus on the overall feel and fit. If you find a bridal gown in Melbourne that helps bring out your inner Beyoncé, then who cares about the number?

4. Don’t stick to your comfort zone.

Just because you are in love with A-line, doesn’t mean you have to try only that sort of dress. Try to have a little open mind and follow whatever your stylist recommends to you. Even if they recommend a fit and flare that they swear would look gorgeous on you, then giving it a shot would not be the worst idea ever. Since they are professionals in their field, keep an open mind and listen to their advice. After all, what would be the worst-case scenario? You just won’t like it. But the best case scenario? You suddenly find the dress of your dreams!

5. Take tips from other brides.

Opt for the gown that you feel most beautiful in, leaving behind all stereotypes. That being said, there are always a few tried and true to the heart styles that’ll help you start your journey to finding the perfect dress, even if you’re not sure where to start.  For example, a body fitting dress always helps mask any perceived imperfections, for skinny as well as curvy girls. 

Wedding veils, unlike the other wedding accessories that pair with a wedding gown, have a history that goes way beyond a simple fashion statement. They are the oldest part of a bridal ensemble. Its history dates back to ancient Rome when brides were wrapped head-to-toe, representing the delivery of a modest and untouched maiden to her husband-to-be. Another reason for the flawless veil was meant to hide the bride from any evil spirits who might want to thwart her happiness. In arranged marriages, veils also signified the desire to hide the bride’s face from the groom. 

As we evolved in terms of modern fashion and human era, the types and lengths of a bridal veil has seen a lot of changes. There are more than one way in which you can choose your wedding veil, by matching it to your gown or the venue you’re getting married in. Following are a few tips to help you choose better. 

Start With the Veil Length

Begin with considering the length of your veil to match your wedding style. Try out different options when selecting your gown, or even wait until you go for your first dress fitting to find out what suits you best. Fixate on a style that complements your overall silhouette and not just your gown and ideas—afterall, you don't want your veil to interrupt the flow of your look. Let your couture bridal gown designer help you in deciding your veil look as they often make veils keeping in mind the look of the dress on the bride. 

Find the correct balance
Whether the perfect veil for your wedding day will be a heavily embellished piece, or a minimal but sophisticated piece, will solely depend on your designer wedding gown Melbourne. Try and pair a simple and clean veil with a heavy worked up gown. Vice versa, be a bit more adventurous if you decide on a simple gown. In the case of the latter scenario, play with unexpected shapes, accents and textures, like a classic floral-embellished cathedral veil, or a couture-inspired bubble veil with over-the-top volume. Balance out all the types of embellishments. What we mean is that while you don’t have to match the ones on your dress exactly, they should at least complement them in color, size and style. 

Match your wedding hairstyle

Just as you should wait for your wedding gown design, don’t forget your hairstyle before you choose the perfect veil for your wedding day. The bridal hairstyle you choose may affect your final veil decision. For example, a bridal cathedral veil will work best when your hair is tied down or in lower updos, while blushers and birdcages are much more versatile and can be worn with any bridal hairstyle. Your hairstyle might also affect where you place the veil and how you fasten it. If you're wearing your hair up, you can wear the veil above or below your bun. Pinning it above gives it more volume and achieves a more classy look, while placing it below feels more modern and keeps the focus on your stylish updo. 

Every little girl dreams of walking down the aisle in the perfect wedding dress. Finding the perfect dress can literally make or break your wedding. It’s not an easy project. You spend a lot of days, and even months; Rambling through racks, pictures and designers until you find “The One”. But what should you do with it until your wedding, which is months away? How will you be sure that your dress will be kept safe? (And we mean safe from damage, not safe from your finance's curious eyes!) Here are some easy steps you can take to make sure your bridal gowns in Melbourne make it to your wedding day without damage.

Remove the plastic

The first rule of thumb any preservationist will suggest is to remove the dress from plastic if it will be stored for longer than a few days. Plastic typically does not allow fabrics to breathe and has the potential for staining, as chemicals break down and gasses are emitted. It is best to use a cloth garment bag or plain cotton sheets to wrap your gown.

Out of sight, out of mind

Once your gown is properly stored away, try to resist the temptation to try it on or remove it from the bag (unless you need alterations). Your chances of staining and potential oil marks increase with each time your dress is handled. Sweat marks and makeup stains are your major dangers to look out for when trying on your dress. 

After the wedding, have your dress cleaned

Before you jet off for your honeymoon, ask a bridesmaid or family member to drop off your dress at your local dry cleaners to have your dress professionally cleaned, before stains set in. In order to best preserve your wedding dress, purchasing a conservation-grade and acid-free box or container wouldn’t be too bad an investment.  It is best to avoid long-term storage on a hanger, because this can lead to stretching the fabric over time. Once again, storing the dress under your bed or in a spare closet is the safest method to help preserve the life of the dress.

Don’t Wait Too Long

The longer you delay in cleaning the gown, the more stubborn the stains. The longer a stain sits on any fabric, the more it sinks into the fibers of the fabric itself, and bridal fashion fabrics are the worst! Never mind delicate silk—even that stunning polyester blend will grab onto dirt, spills, and moisture and not want to let go.

2Ps - Pass or Preserve

Preserving and storing your wedding dress is mandatory if you plan to pass it on to future generations or if you think you might give it away or sell it. Some brides take some time to treasure their dress at home—perhaps a few months—then donate it to a nonprofit resale shop or sell it either online or on consignment in an upscale boutique. Others keep their dress just to look at and reminisce along with cards and photos and other wedding day treasures.

Whatever your choice, please do take the time to treat your designer wedding dresses in Melbourne like the princess it made you feel when you wore it on what was, most likely, the most important day of your life!