pregnancy bridesmaid dress - advice pls :)

[EsseKey]

Hello everyone!
I am looking for some wisdom and advice about pregnancy clothes.

I have to attend a wedding as a bridesmaid at the end of August when I will be 18 weeks pregnant (I am only 9 wk now). I assume I will have a bump by then, but obviously I don't know how big that will be?!?

I have to buy a new dress (the one I bought before the wedding was postponed due to COVID is already too tight)...I was thinking to wait a little bit to see how much my bump will grow, and maybe go shopping a couple of weeks before the wedding, but at the same time I don't like the idea of leaving it to the last minute...

The dress I will be looking for is a classical bridesmaid dress, so it should be long and relatively loose in the lower part, maybe it's ok to buy my regular size now and there will be space for the bump anyway?

if you have any tips or experience to share, I would appreciate that! :)

My friend and I are bridesmaids in a couple of months - we will both be just a few months postpartum and are wearing multi-way dresses like these - we both used them as our bridesmaids dresses as they are so flattering for different shapes and hang really nicely

Are you having to match other Bm's, or is it just you? You can get maternity BM dresses, or try an empire line dress which skims over the stomach.

I’m 21 weeks pregnant and a bridesmaid in four weeks and have to wear a dress that I bought last year!

In general empire or a line will be good choices. Would it be possible to scope out several styles a month or so before the wedding so you have good styles to choose from? I wouldn’t usually suggest this but maybe try buying from a store that has a longer return policy so you can, for example, buy two sizes/styles and return the one that doesn’t fit closer the the wedding.

Re: bump size - it’s so unpredictable it’s wild. I’m 21 weeks and only just have a tiny bump, you wouldn’t guess that I’m pregnant. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Also consider your chest size! My boobs have gone up two cup sizes which is, for my current dress, a bigger problem 😬

Thanks everyone for your advice!
I have to match the other bm but we just need to have same color and lenght of dress... So it's not too restrictive!
Empire line sounds good, the bump should have space to grow there in case... I don't think it's the best style for my body shape but I guess it is a good compromise! 😬 Also body shape per se will be gone at some point in pregnancy 😂

@TTCAbroad do you know any online store with a long return policy that I could use or check if they have a nice dress?

Ah chest size is another wild guess... I have already sized up quite a bit and seems stable for now...but you never know right?! 😥
Another potential issue is that I am not very tall (163 cm) so any bigger size will also need a little adjustment in lenght to leave to the last minute !
Thanks again everyone 😊

I’ve made a suggestion I can’t massively back up 🤦🏻‍♀️. Standard return policy I believe is 28 days. Is four weeks out enough to take a look at and buy some options? As much as ASOS is a terrible company they might fit the bill in this instance - loads of styles, usually lots of sizes available, lots of different price points.

Then maybe book an appointment with a seamstress one week out and let her know that you’ll be coming in to get a dress shorted and require it by X date. Or find a generous sewing friend 🙂

@TTCAbroad thanks 😊

If it's your first you may not have much of a bump at that stage anyway.

In my pregnancy my gcse students didn’t realise until I was 20 weeks (first baby). The a-level kids had guessed much earlier (I was green with nausea and suddenly had boobs).

So a month before would be ok. Don’t go for anything fitted at the waist as you’ll be thick round the middle for sure.

@goose1964 @Verbena87 thanks for the advice!

I will wait a few more weeks and then go dress hunting...hopefully my mum will help me with any adjustment needed before the ceremony :)