What Wedding Dress Size Am I? A Guide to UK Bridal Sizing

Hi everyone!

It's Evie here from Revide. We've been discussing a lot in the Revide team office this week that Wedding dress shopping comes with its own vocabulary, traditions and, slightly confusingly, its own approach to sizing (how annoying).

You may or may not have been there, but let me tell you, you walk into a bridal store as a UK size 10. You try on a wedding dress, it fits perfectly, the label says 14.

Excuse me?

Before you start questioning every item of clothing you've bought for the last five years, don't panic. Wedding dress sizing can be a completely different world from high street sizing, and the number sewn into the dress really doesn't mean very much.

The fact is, different wedding dress designers use different size charts and bridal stores carry samples in different sizes. But when you actually order your wedding dress, the store will usually work from your measurements rather than simply asking what size you normally wear.

So, i'm here to make bridal sizing make sense.

Why is my wedding dress size bigger than my normal size?

This is probably the biggest surprise for lots of brides and when i have worked in a bridal store the most talked about thing.

You might usually buy a size 10 from Zara, a 12 somewhere else and then find yourself standing in a bridal store wearing a dress labelled 14.

Welcome to bridal sizing! Wedding dress designers generally have their own size charts based on measurements such as your bust, waist and hips. Those charts don't necessarily match the sizing you're used to seeing on the high street.

And because different designers use different charts, you might not even be the same bridal size across different brands.

Basically: the number is admin, not a judgement.

So, do wedding dresses run small?

Wait, whats "run small"? Basically, the term "run small" is used when a piece of clothing is typically a different fit to what we would usually expect. Sometimes it can definitely feel that way. But saying all wedding dresses "run small" isn't quite right. It's more that bridal sizing isn't universally standardised.

A size 12 wedding dress from one designer could fit differently from a size 12 made by another. The cut, fabric and construction of the dress can make a difference too. This is also why comparing yourself with your friend who ordered a completely different wedding dress from a completely different designer isn't particularly helpful.

Your bridal stylist will know the designers they stock and how their sizing works. Trust the measurements, not the number. I have put this last sentence in bold and underlined so we can remember the importance of it 😀

How does a bridal store actually choose my size?

So youve found the dress you want to wear on your wedding day and it's time to order it. 9/10 times your bridal store will normally take your measurements.

They'll usually measure areas including your bust, waist and hips and compare those measurements with the designer's size chart. And here's another important bit i need to put in bold your wedding dress isn't necessarily supposed to arrive fitting you perfectly.

UNLESS, your having your dress made bespoke.

Most wedding dresses will need some alterations. Your seamstress (whether in-house or a referred seamstress) might adjust the waist, bust, straps, length or other areas so that the final dress fits your body rather than expecting your body to perfectly fit a standard size chart.

That's why we've also put together our guide to Wedding Dress Alterations: Everything You Need to Know.

What size are the dresses I will try on in bridal stores?

They're usually sample dresses. And no, (this question gets asked a lot) bridal stores don't generally have every dress hanging on the rail in every possible size.

That would require an absolutely unhinged number of wedding dresses. Instead, stores buy samples of the dresses they stock for brides to try during appointments. Those samples will come in a selection of sizes, and the range will differ from store to store.

Some stores have particularly broad sample-size ranges. Others might have a smaller collection or specialise in particular designers or styles. If you're worried about sample sizing before an appointment, definately ask the store. They are so used to this question.

Seriously.

A quick message beforehand is much better than spending three days worrying about whether they'll have anything for you to try.

What if the sample dress doesn't fit me?

Also completely normal. You aren't necessarily trying on your dress. You're trying on the store's sample of the dress. It might be too big or it might be too small. It might be clipped within an inch of its life behind you.

Bridal stylists do this every day and can often use clips, panels and a bit of bridal-store wizardry to help you see how the dress would look when properly fitted. Sometimes a sample simply won't work well enough to show you the dress properly. That's okay too.

Your stylist might suggest another dress with a similar neckline, shape or fabric so you can get a better idea of how that particular style works on you.

What if I'm between wedding dress sizes?

Again, very normal. Human bodies have not, unfortunately, agreed to follow designer size charts. You might have a bust measurement that corresponds with one size, a waist that corresponds with another and hips that suggest another.

Your bridal store will look at the dress you're ordering, your measurements and the designer's guidance before recommending the most appropriate size. That's another reason not to walk into an appointment thinking: "I'm a size 12, so I need a size 12 wedding dress."

Maybe you do. Maybe you don't. Either is fine.

Should I lose weight before ordering my wedding dress?

This is a fantastic question that most bridal stylists hear. The answer is, you don't need to become a different version of yourself before you're allowed to buy a wedding dress.

And from a purely practical point of view, don't keep delaying your dress shopping because you're waiting to reach a particular size. Wedding dresses can take months to order and arrive, and you'll still need to leave time for alterations afterwards.

If you genuinely expect your measurements to change significantly before your wedding, talk to the store about it. They can explain your designer's lead times, when the dress needs to be ordered and what might be possible during alterations. You don't need to have the entire thing figured out before your appointment.

Please stop caring about the label

I love this point. Okay, easier said than done. Here at Revide we love the whole industry, the stores, the designers and the people behind it all.

But genuinely: nobody at your wedding is going to know what size your dress is.

Nobody is checking the label before you walk down the aisle. What they're going to see is the dress. And more importantly, what you're going to see in the mirror is how it makes you feel. So if you're usually a 10 and your wedding dress says 14?

Fine. If you're usually a 16 and your wedding dress says 20? Also fine. It's a manufacturing number used to get you into the right dress before alterations. That's it. (Rant over).

Find a bridal store that makes you feel comfortable

The right bridal store should make sizing feel like the least interesting part of your appointment. You should be talking about silhouettes, fabrics, necklines, designers and the dresses you can't stop looking at — not worrying about the number written on a tiny label nobody will ever see.

On Revide, you can discover bridal stores across the UK, explore different designers and styles and find somewhere that feels right for you.

Because finding your wedding dress should be about finding your dress.

Not finding your number.