that some brides should not choose strapless dresses.....

[PosieParker]

Just saw another collection of pictures with a bride getting married in a dress where humongous breasts are nearly falling out and arms are huge. Now I've seen a few curvy girls look lovely like this and so it's not a size thing, but more of a suitability thing. I am not large but my arms are not small and so I wouldn't wear this. Why do some folk not know their own shape?

I don't think any brides should wear strapless sleeveless dresses - not until the party in the evening, anyway.
It's just not classy.
And is now boring.

Do men turn up in tight shorts and racer back vests with their pecs rippling in full view?

My breasts are far too large to go strapless. It upsets me a bit because I felt a proper frump on my wedding day (I'd dieted and lost LOADS of weight but my tits won't shrink and am a 32 JJ.)

Horrible feeling being a deformed freak like me but if others are able to flaunt it confidently then good for them, I wish I could!

Anything else we "should" keep in mind when planning our wedding clothes? Do you mind me wearing red and black? I guess I need to rethink that outfit as it is strapless but can I keep the colours?

Lots of sun cream

Sorry, couldn't resist. If you like vintage then google vintage wedding dresses and maybe that'll give you some ideas. Is it possible for you to get something made as opposed to buying which may give you some leeway in the design/fabric.

BandOfMothers Something prom-dressy again, surely? Your 'pear' becomes a lovely 'hourglass', you can show off your waist and emphasise your curves, and the shorter length means you won't die of heat exhaustion

I love this one

My pp was to BandOfMothers.

I do like the one OTheHugeManatee has linked to.

Confuddled I'm single atm so obviously, not planning on getting married but I'd love to get married in red if I ever did. Your red and black sounds great to me

Damn you MN, you are all right .

I'm getting married in the autumn and sort of assumed I'd wear a strapless dress as almost all wedding dresses are. But I've read through this thread and gone back and looked through some of the dresses I'd bookmarked and it's true, it's just not a flattering look on most brides. It looks gorgeous on many of the models but when you see real-life photos you can see where it all goes wrong. I am a C-cup, so not overly norked, but my arms are quite big due to sports.

Sigh, now I'm going to have to restrict my searches to sleeved/with straps dresses and cut my pool of possible dresses by about 90%.

how about something like this Band of Mothers?
It's got a little jacket and comes in loads of different fabrics. I reckon they would make you one in any fabric.

or this?

If you want something like the Vivien of Holloway dresses that nativitywreck linked to, I would recommend Whirling Turban instead - their dresses are much much nicer quality and nicer fabrics www.whirlingturban.com

I sell 50s style wedding dresses so PM me if you want a link to my website. I have a studio at home for people to try on too.

'flapper' style dresses are v in and up and coming atm, I think - a lovely floaty straight shift 1920s style? Crepe de chine, silk or satin with light chiffon sleeves?

Some of those whirling turban frocks make me want to get married all over again!

Move away from the strapless. They all, without exception, look like you bought it at Weddingz-R-Us.

I'm a larger lady size 22, got recently engaged, not tried on any dresses but I'm avoiding strapless like the plague I'd look Horrifc.

this is the sort of dress I'd like ..

brasspaperclip.typepad.com/.a/6a00e398202d3d88330147e2138523970b-800wi

Oh, that is lovely SillyOldBear. I find a lot of sleeved dresses to be a bit matronly but the off-the-shoulder look in your link makes it less so.

Thanks balance, I thought that too

That is lovely Bear

That is a lovely dress.

Somehow off the shoulder is so much more flattering.

I think with the strapless/bodice, it´s the whole expanse of bare shoulders, arms, chest area and back-just too much flesh on show.

It's the sweetheart neckline strapless with the ribbon up back that are the worst. They feature regularly on gypsy wedding for a reason!
I remember a mum saying to her daughter when they couldnt even do the ribbons up properly that it didnt matter they would get longer ribbons and just put a piece of material in between so you couldnt see her skin. She looked awful and you could tell she wasn't happy in it. I have watched many a bride to be bullied into an unsuitable dress by friends and family.

sillyoldbear that is stunning

I don't object to others' choices of wedding dress, but I do object to the fact that strapless dresses are so the norm that rarely are other options apparent, meaning many wear strapless when they may not have done if presented with more choices!

This designer in Brighton http://www.joanneflemingdesign.com/Article.aspx?ID=127 Here does lovely bespoke vintage and retro style dresses, if I were doing it again I would have a lovely below knee, oyster silk, scoop necked number made for me.

emsij-wow, those dresses are beautiful. You can tell they are really well made.