Worried I won’t feel beautiful in my wedding dress

[babypanther]

I ordered my wedding dress 6 months ago and haven’t been able to try it on since as the bridal shop doesn’t have a sample anymore. When I tried it, I loved it, was over the moon and so excited about wearing it. Recently I looked back at a photo my mum took of me wearing it and my heart sank. I still think it’s a beautiful dress but I don’t think I like the way I look in it. I’m worried my shoulders look really broad in it, as it’s a deep V neckline. I have quite small boobs and I just think I look scrawny and bony with broad shoulders in the photo.

I’ve been sat in tears as I don’t know what to do. My mum and dad have very kindly paid for the dress for me so there’s no way I can cancel the order. My mum told me I looked lovely in it but I feel like that’s a mum’s job to say that? No one else has seen me in the dress so I can’t get anyone else’s opinion.

Has anyone else had doubts like this about their dress? Did you like it on the day?

You can cover the shoulders with some delicate fabric that shouldn't be a problem.

I'm sure you look beautiful in it and don't forget you'll be moving about not standing still like in the photo.

A veil will cover the shoulders too

You've over-analysed that one photo. If you study any photo at length you are always going to start picking out flaws. Your first impression of yourself in the dress is the impression everyone at your wedding will have - that you look lovely. They won't be staring at it for long periods assessing how your shoulders look in it - they will just see a vision of 'the bride' as a whole.

You perhaps have some pre-wedding nerves that have attached themselves to this one issue. Try to relax - I'm sure when you come to try it on again you'll see it differently.

Plus broad shoulders are more flattering than you think and will balance the whole dress much better as a whole

Breathe. You tried on a sample that likely didn't fit that well.

When yours comes in, you can have it fitted to you and you'll look stunning.

Also your DM isn't a professional photographer so the photo won't be a perfect likeness of how you look in the dress with the lighting and everything

Can you show the photo without giving too much away crop out your face and most of the dress just show from waist to shoulders ?

You won’t be two dimensional on the day. People are beautiful when they’re happy and enjoying themselves, letting their personality come through.

I did. When I looked at the picture, I was terrified. My boobs looked very vulgar, squished etc. like in some sort of stupid outfit for red carpet. And I made stupid face, my mum didn't bother retaking the picture and sent it like this to family! After alterations it fitted perfectly and 2 years after wedding I am very pleased with my choice.

Your first impression of yourself in the dress is the impression everyone at your wedding will have - that you look lovely.

This is a good way to think about it, no one will. be studying you looking for flaws, and the professional photographs will be selected to be the most flattering.

at a photo my mum took of me wearing it
Taken on a phone, with an unflattering short focal length and bad lighting? Don't worry about it. If someone set out to design a camera to make people look bad it would end up built like a phone camera. The eye doesn't see the way a phone camera sees, you'll look fantastic!

Thank you very much everyone for your replies and kind comments! Hopefully you’re right and it’s just a combination of bad photo and overthinking it. Thank you lovely people x

I have never ever seen a bride look bad on her wedding day!

I was very blasé about my dress as this^^ was my mantra 😌

Honestly, I bet you look amazing anyway, but even if it wasn't "the perfect dress", then I bet you'll still feel and look stunning as it's such a happy occasion with lots of well wishers around.

Not to be that poster either, but this could just be general anxiety (normal for big life events) which you are projecting on to your dress 🤓