Aibu - wedding dress shopping. Busty experts desperately needed

[Workyticket]

i need serious help! I'm due to get married this July and still have no dress.

Went shopping today and left empty handed and really knocked confidence wise.

I'm a high street size 16 and a 34j

Literally everything I tried on i was hanging out of. They only had sweet heart necklines but honestly - unless you're REALLY busty it's impossible to explain. It really was awful. She kept trying bolero cover ups but they still showed acres of boobs.

I had a little cry when I got home but really need to get sorted. I also have a big saggy tummy which I thought would have been my major hurdle - corsets dresses are amazing for that area.

Can anyone recommend a dress I can buy maybe from a high street store? I just don't feel bridal shop dresses are for me.

Have you only tried the one shop? I'm similar size to you, and went to loads of bridal shops - and found The Dress! I found shops tender to go for quite different styles, so it's worth trying out different places to find a style that suits.
I'm 34GG and ended up with a strapless dress with a bolero. It's the one I liked the most, but in hindsight I probably should have chosen something with at least straps, as the dress (and boobs) sagged a bit by the end of the day!

I stupidly though I'd have no bother. I've left it so late after having to cancel last year- I work full time so I'm going to struggle getting round lots of shops. I'm so upset

Do you have a picture in your head what you would like? Get one made if you do. Saves trailing round shops and it'll be made to fit you.

Not really - a bin bag at the moment.

I'm so worried about time and don't think I'd be able to find a seamstress and fit in everything that comes with that.

Awwww, bless you. I was a 36H when I got married (18 years ago) - went for something very simple that allowed a corset to be worn underneath but still quite delicate. I’ll see if I can find you a pic.

Whistles have bridal dresses that go up to 16 or 18: www.whistles.com/wedding/dresses/

Stick to your guns I say, acres of boob is not a good look. I would suggest s more modern dress with shapewear underneath if that would make you feel better.

I only bought it 2 weeks before the wedding too because my mother said I couldn’t get wed in PJs!

Are you near a john Lewis? You can book a personal stylist appointment. I've done this, its very good and no pressure to buy.

Where are you roughly?

I'm fairly busty (EE) and went for a sweetheart neckline but with an illusion thing to make it short sleeve - basically some pretty, sparkly lace. So I got a nice neckline but everything was held up by the top part going over my shoulders!

Mine was vaguely like the photo. Monsoon and John Lewis do fairly good selections.

Would a top and skirt help instead of a dress? Mine was a corset top with arms and a separate skirt which allowed for more variation in size

@KatherineOfGaunt

I'm fairly busty (EE) and went for a sweetheart neckline but with an illusion thing to make it short sleeve - basically some pretty, sparkly lace. So I got a nice neckline but everything was held up by the top part going over my shoulders!

Mine was vaguely like the photo. Monsoon and John Lewis do fairly good selections.

That's lovely. I'm 7 cup sizes up from an ee though and honestly - it's like dressing bowling balls. I'm not normally bothered but today has left me so upset.

@HugeAckmansWife

Would a top and skirt help instead of a dress? Mine was a corset top with arms and a separate skirt which allowed for more variation in size

Yes, maybe. They didn't have anything like that though. She said they get very few dresses in with higher necklines and that they get snapped straight up when they do 😭

The issue you have is you’ve left it too late. I had a 36HH when I got married. The dresses I tried on were all obviously too small but a skilled fitter can get you into a dress with masking panels and pins etc and I got a good feel for the dress. Then you order big and have it taken in.

You need to buy a bigger dress and have it altered.

Could you post a pic or a link to a normal dress you’ve felt good in?

I'm a G cup, and bought my dress off the rack at Wed2B. I had the bust let out slightly by a seamstress (didn't lose as much weight as I wanted to!).

Highly recommend that shop, I had a soul destroying experience at a regular bridal shop where not a single dress went round me. I've never felt so dreadful as I did that evening.

@Merryoldgoat

The issue you have is you’ve left it too late. I had a 36HH when I got married. The dresses I tried on were all obviously too small but a skilled fitter can get you into a dress with masking panels and pins etc and I got a good feel for the dress. Then you order big and have it taken in.

You need to buy a bigger dress and have it altered.

I know. Lockdown / a cancelled wedding etc... not much chance of dress shopping

@SoddingWeddings

I'm a G cup, and bought my dress off the rack at Wed2B. I had the bust let out slightly by a seamstress (didn't lose as much weight as I wanted to!).

Highly recommend that shop, I had a soul destroying experience at a regular bridal shop where not a single dress went round me. I've never felt so dreadful as I did that evening.

it was wed2be 🙈

Something like this ?

Something simple and cheap, but maybe too simple: www.bravissimo.com/products/gabby-sheer-stripe-dress-pd738/#white-pd738wht

Love the short one but I also have lymphedema which means I have swollen feet and legs to hide. I'm a right catch 😔

Wed2Be is no good for anyone non standard sized- it’s a train wreck of a shop in my opinion.

You need to get either a non-wedding dress or a 2nd hand one you can have altered.

I had mine made to measure many years ago. Found a design I liked and had a dress maker make it for me.

Or bhldn do a gorgeous plus size range. Plus size is designed with boobs in mind, whereas sizing up regular ones won’t have enough bust room. I’d get a plus size one and a seamstress to take it in everywhere else.

How about buying from a non wedding shop OP, I've just had a quick Google and these two popped up?