Wedding Dress Dilemma...Help...

Hello Everyone. I am having a serious dilemma over when I need to shop for my wedding dress (wedding is November 2, 2002). I recently had Gastric Bypass Surgery and will be losing a significant amount of weight in the next year (more significantly over the next 6 months. I have already gone down 2 dress sizes in 8 weeks. I have NO CLUE what kind of dress looks good on me now because there is nothing that fits in the shops (there are some size 24 dresses but nothing remotely that I like). Even if I could try on something now my body shape and image will be very different in several months. And my last problem is that even if I chose a dress six months before my wedding there is a good chance that I will still drop an additional 50 lbs. between the initial fitting and the wedding. Can anyone offer any suggestions? Thanks!

Wedding Dress Dilemma...Help...

Put off getting your dress for as long as possible. However, when you do get it, make sure that you go to a salon that has a reputation for good alterations. I went to Kleinfeld''s and between ordering my dress and fittings, I lost approximately 20 pounds (2 dress sizes). My alterations were superb, but fairly expensive.

Wedding Dress Dilemma...Help...

I think in your situation, its probably going to be best if you find a dress off the rack. If you just had a gastric bypass there is absolutely no point in finding a dress now or even 2 months before the wedding. You can start to look at styles now but don't buy anything until the last possible minute. Perhaps go to Davids or another boutique that sells off the rack and explain your situation.

Have one Made

You can have a dress made for about the same price you can buy one for. Find a good dress maker and talk about some designs and then she can work with you on sizing it as you lose weight. They will work probably closer to your wedding date any way. Good luck and take good care of yourself -- I think it's great that you took the step to be healthy but please take care of yourself -- enjoy your wedding no matter what size you are wearing at that time -- you will be beautiful.

Wedding Dress Dilemma...Help...

I have a question about your surgery, if you wouldn't mind. Could you e-mail me at '[email protected]' I'd love to know if your doctor prescribed it, or if it was elective surgery, and if it's covered under insurance. Again, if it's too personal to discuss, I understand. Thanks.

Wedding Dress Dilemma...Help...

I am not sure if this is true, but I read that dresses can be altered down 4 sizes (and up 2 sizes) while still maintaining the integrity of the dress. So if you wait as long as you can and then order one you might be ok.

Wedding Dress Dilemma...Help...

A friend of mine who got married recently told me that she went to Kleinfeld's 6 months before here wedding for a dress -- and the women there told her 'well I guess you wanted to wait 'til the last minute. Anyway - I'm getting married Sept 21 and started looking right away. I found my dress last month at Bridal Reflections(actually it's the front panel of one dress added to the back of another...but I digress). Anyway - I explained that I was going to be losing a lot of weight before the wedding and they spoke with the dress designer and she told them to give me until February -- then I'm going back in so they'll re-measure me and order my dress. (I haven't had a decent meal since I got engaged - but I have dropped about 25 lbs and hopefully I'll drop another 30 or 40 before the big day). Once it comes in - they'll alter it down if need be. In my opinion, you can wait until late March / early-April of next year to begin seriously looking for a dress -- and at that point you should have an idea of how much weight is coming off and at what rate. Also, like the saleswoman told me - no matter how much weight you gain or lose you still keep the same general body shape (a petite won't get tall - flat won't get chesty - pear-shaped won't get apple - shaped, etc). I know my friend's dress was absolutely huge on her when it was delivered (they got it in really late) so Kleinfeld's did some major alterations for her (she's chesty - and the dress was made for a flat-chested body - so they order the dress based on your biggest spot --> so basically she had the body of a size 6 and the chest of a size 16 --> so they ordered the 16 and altered it). Anyway - Klienfeld's ended up doing a 24-hour fitting for her --> they had a bunch of seamstresses that only worked on her dress. She came in in the morning - was measutred & the alterations were done, then she returned later the same day for a second set of measurements - and the alterations were done -- then that evening she came back for her third set.... She said it was nerve-wracking but everything came out great and her dress was amazing! Of course, I don't know what your budget is for a dress -- I know the more expensive dress designers try to bend over backwards to help you / make the sale. If you're going to spend more conservatively on your dress - I think the off-the-rack idea is a great one. Good luck!!