What to wear at my wedding?

[kisaki333]

So... the wedding will be town hall only, no guests, just 2 witnesses. Never dreamed of a big wedding, not a big deal for either of us, we've been together over 10 years so married in every way except legally. We are doing it for admin purposes. Want to keep costs as low as possible.

Initially was going to just wear jeans but I am thinking it might be seen as disrespectful by the registrars. Don't want to offend anyone, i just don't care about weddings. So now I am thinking maybe i can dress a bit smarter?

Currently I am very overweight... Size 16 (with a big mum pouch that is starting to look like a beer belly!) Gained a ton during and after pregnancy and I am feeling shit about it. Got huge breasts due to breastfeeding. I won't have time to fix my body till the wedding. No way will I wear a dress. And I never wear dresses anyway. But maybe black trousers and a smart blouse? Can you give me some ideas please?

Love No 1

Hi all,

Thank you for replying! To answer slme of the questions:
I am 5'6" so average height
I would rather not wear heels as I find them uncomfortable and also DP is just a smidge taller than me so with the heels I'd be taller
I don't like jumpsuits either, I'd rather wear a dress if it came to it.
Budget is as low as possible I don't want to spend hundreds on something I'll never wear again and I look shit in (I don't think I can look good in anything size 16)
Wedding is end of Oct.

Thanks for all your suggestions! Mentally trying them on and so far, jeans are looking better and better lol. Not that the clothes are bad, I just think I'd look like a fat orca in all of them. ( maybe i should have mentioned i struggled with body image my whole life).

Any suggestions where I might get some nice jeans not too pricey? Big problem I have is body shape is now beer barrell: big bum but also big belly and huge breasts 😔 Not sure what would fit this body type...

Asda do some good jeans. The supermarkets also do some nice tops. Do you want to go quite bridal or plainer?
Are you happy with bare arms or prefer them covered? I'd definitely get something that you can wear again, then each time you put it on you'll be reminded of your wedding!

And the Xmas party stuff should be coming into stores soon, if you want something sparkly or dressy for a top.

Shein have some pretty white lace tops that would nod to bridal, but can be worn again.

I really wouldn't feel the need to buy anything new. Wear something you own that you feel comfortable in. I got married on jeans and a t shirt and it was no problem and we have no regrets. Like you, it was a legal thing just us and witnesses. Special to us but no big event.

It's fine to take a casual approach if that's what makes you comfortable but it sounds as though your struggles with body image are influencing your decision to wear jeans. Your posts read like you think size 16s don't deserve to wear nice clothes. They do. You do.
You can easily pick up a dress, jumpsuit, blouse for half the price of a pair of jeans

Have you had a look at any Asian shops?

www.andaazfashion.co.uk/salwar-kameez/trouser-suits

Maybe a kurta with black trousers or even jeans. I love this one, but it is black

www.utsavfashion.com/product/digital-printed-chanderi-cotton-peplum-style-kurti-in-black-tjw1719

posted too soon

I like this one too

www.utsavfashion.com/product/printed-cotton-flex-short-kurti-in-off-white-tvt163

I hate to say this but quite honestly, OP, you’d be better off spending any money on some counselling to work through your body issues. Because I guarantee that no one else on this thread believes that women who wear a size 16 look hideous and should only ever wear the most utilitarian garments.

If you have addressed this issue with professionals before - you need to go back. It’s incredibly sad to see you denigrating your appearance in such a frankly unreasonable manner.

Wear whatever you like for your wedding, obviously. But getting married is important - whatever you say - and it will be a shame if, after the event, you can’t look back on the day (and the photos) with joy and pride in yourself as well as your marriage.

Congratulation OP I know it's an admin wedding but you still want it to be a special day! I eloped and wore a white dress and wish I hadn't. I just wish I wore my best nicest favourite clothes.

I'm a size 16-18 5'6 too and the struggle is real!

So What do you wear day today so we can help you find you the best version of what you love. So at the moment I'm happiest in wide leg cropped summery cullotes or a skirt and a t shirt / top. Autumn/ Winter is jeans and roll neck with converse or a midi dress with this tights and boots. I'd never wear a jump suit or mini dress. Or red or Green. What are you favourite shops (or shops you want to buy from but can't -looking at you sezane)

So what do you wear day to day and if you were going out for a nice lunch or dinner what would you wear? You mention jeans but what kind and what with?

Our local register office is on Instagram and shows a range of outfits being worn by brides, from traditional white dresses to colourful dresses to suits to separates to jeans, plus some lovely accessories that really make the outfit. Perhaps it is worth having a quick look at your register office on social media for inspiration, OP?

Thanks all. Just to explain about the size issue. Yes, I know I have body-image issues. But they are compounded by the fact that I was a size 16 for a looong time and then eventually lost it all (keto+OMAD). I was back to my highschool weight, a size 10. And then kept it off for almost 2 years no problem. And I had promissed myself to never ever get that fat again. And then Covid hit, then I quit smoking, then I got pregnant and had a rough pregnancy and now have a small baby and almost no help. The weight crept back so I am where I started but with less opportunity to lose it (no chance of gym or proper calorie counting at the moment).

I am just so angry at myself for letting this happen! I completely agree people size 16 can and should feel great in their clothes etc. Just not me, or at least not now, I can't forgive myself yet...

Both myself and my dh wore jeans to get married, it was just the two of us and two whitenesses. The registrars didn't bat an eyelid about what we wore, he was lovely actually and we enjoyed the ceremony immensely. He even stopped to take some photos for us.

If the wedding isn't until october, you could drop a dress size by then easily. If your biggest problem is being a size 16 ( how i wish i was a size 16!) Then follow slimming world for a month and you could lose a stone really easily. It is safe to do while breastfeeding too.

You really need to work on your body image though. Please be kind to yourself!

A size 14 who was a 20, I get a size 16 is still fat feeling. Me I would go for black trousers definitely a d a nice top. That's what I wear to work but also when I'm going out - the top is a bit more colourful and shoes are nicer. I would want a nice picture as a reminder a d wouldn't want to wear jeans but you wear what you want.

Yikes 😳

I understand how you feel but I'd love to be a size 16. There are loads of sales on in the shops so try a few things on. As dressing for fuller figure I prefer dresses but get anything that you feel lovely in and can wear again. Do you like scamp and dude? scampanddude.com/collections/dresses
Love their dresses

Sorry - I realise that I just went to town on the jumpsuit idea but that was purely because you said you were thinking of wearing trousers.

How about these as suggestions:

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Option 4

What about a silky kimono with your jeans and a white top? it will make your outfit a little more special
onehundredstars.co.uk/collections/short-kimonos/products/marbled-green-kimono

Given it’s just for admin purposes I’d just wear jeans. It’s not disrespectful. A friends mother wore jeans to his (big fancy) wedding.

I'm your size and love wrap dresses. One I'm wearing today was £25 from Amazon. Came in 24 different fabrics. Wear with firming leggings to hold in and smooth out the lumps and bumps and a well fitting bra. Congratulations

I am a registrar. I have married people wearing jeans, big meringue dresses, flares, kilts, traditional dress, ewok and Star Wars costumes, suits, and everything in between. The registrars will not care, and they will not judge you for it. Wear what you want.

Have to say I don’t think people are posting suggestions for fear of a registrar’s disapproval! That’s not the issue at all.

It’s that the OP, driven by an urge to punish herself for a perceived failing, may condemn herself to years / decades of regret every time she looks at her wedding photos.

It’s completely fine to wear whatever you want as a bride - but the reason ought to be because that’s what makes you happy - not because you don’t feel you deserve the best.

My advice is - think about what you wear that you like and feel happy (or at least best) in, then get a fancy version of that. So what was polyester is now silk, and so on. And some fancy new DMs that make you feel great😎