I'm A Bridal Stylist (Dresses) AMA!

[LittleBlonde27]

Just that really! I'm a bridal stylist/bridal consultant.. I work in a wedding dress store. Our dresses range from around £1000-£5000, with the majority around the £2200-£2600 mark. Ask me anything!

What’s the most bridezilla moment you’ve ever experienced?

Oooh what's your favourite style of wedding dress?

Would you tell a bride a dress didn’t suit her - because it didn’t , if she really loved it?

@ShirleyPhallus Haha thankfully the bridezilla moments are few and far between for me! I wouldn't actually say I've had anyone act really ridiculously but I have had a bride demand we loan 12 dresses from a designer (designer we stock but dresses we didn't have). Designers charge for this which means the bride has to pay to loan them - she ended up paying about £100 only to hate them all and want to try on another 7/8 dresses! Our appointments are for 90 minutes and she took up almost 4 hours. It was a midweek appointment so we weren't full but it was a looong appointment!!

@EyeDrops I genuinely don't have one favourite!! I'm getting married myself next year and have found choosing a dress verrrry difficult - purely because of shape. I love a ballgown but I'm not a fan of traditional ballgowns (Sassi Holford ballgowns are my favourite). I still love mermaid/fishtail dresses although they are definitely declining in popularity. I also love fit and flare (Pronovias in particular - Google Pronovias Hispalis to see what I'm talking about)

@TheFaerieQueene That's a tough one. If a bride really loves herself in a dress then who am I (a stranger!!) to tell her different? I'm not the one wearing the dress and it is not my day so I try to remember that but also really want my brides to look as good as they can on their wedding day so will often suggest alternatives and I'll be very honest about which of the dresses they have tried on is my favourite on them.

What happens if a bride insists she’ll lose loads of weight for her big day then doesn’t? Has anyone ever had to rebuy another dress in a bigger size?

What style would you suggest for an older bride (over 50 size 10 5ft 2)
Thanks

@ShirleyPhallus I measure my brides at the size they are on the day they choose their dress. I then consult that specific designer's size chart and tell her what size she is falling into. I've had plenty brides tell me they're going to lose 3st in the next year so I usually ask them how long they've been engaged and how much they have lost so far. If they have lost a few stone already then I am happy to discuss going down a size, if they haven't then I remind them they look fantastic in the dress as is, to not put more pressure on themselves and to order the dress in the size I have recommended - it is better to take a dress in than to let a dress out!

I haven't personally even had a bride have to buy another dress but a colleague has - it was down to a surprise pregnancy though!

Do you stock dresses in multiple sizes or are they all a 10 or something? How would a size 16 woman go about trying on dresses? Do designer dresses even come in big sizes?

Have you had brides that pick their dress, have alterations and then decide at the last minute they’ve changed their minds?

@Sundaychiller It depends on your normal style. Do you like to show off your figure? At size 10 and 5ft 2 I would definitely be wanting to put you in something figure hugging - but maybe you want a ballgown? Also depends on your venue etc. Typically, I'd probably like to see you in a fully beaded Eliza Jane Howell, Drabea by Pronovias or Monroe or Montreal by Stephanie Allin. I'll attach links...

www.google.co.uk/search?biw=1829&bih=917&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=L6HSXNODLdKOasnRsPAI&q=eliza+jane+howell&oq=eliza+jane+howell&gs_l=img.3..35i39l2j0l8.146700.151088..151856...2.0..2.137.3016.21j11......2....1..gws-wiz-img.....0..0i67.ubeJiyI5aDM#imgrc=W_3s07qcuJi0KM:

www.google.co.uk/search?q=drabea+pronovias&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=Zt1mkt_4ViuInM%253A%252CBmgfZ6YkMBCOOM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kQTA-UwgWZTpDgDqbBs5gOmmvc9-A&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjslKuU0IviAhXhRhUIHb1aCygQ9QEwAHoECAgQBA#imgrc=Zt1mkt_4ViuInM:&vet=1

www.stephanieallin.net/bridalwear/love-stories-2019/#dress-modal-1

www.stephanieallin.net/bridalwear/love-stories-2019/#dress-modal-8

@DerelictWreck No, not at all. The store I work in stocks sample dresses in sizes 6-18. Unfortunately, we obviously cannot stock each dress in every size so often a dress you choose will be too big or too small. All our stylists are trained in pinning the dresses - if a dress is too small for you, as long as we can get it on and up, we will insert a modesty panel at the back and ribbon & pin the back together so you can get the best idea of how it would look when in your size. A bit of imagination is sometimes required but nothing major just "the cups will be bigger in your size so more boob coverage" etc.
Designer dresses definitely come in "big" sizes (I wouldn't refer to a size 16 as big!!). Most size charts I can recall go to around 24.
Our store is, this year, introducing a "plus size" range so that all our brides feel fantastic when finding their gown.

Oh this could be a very interesting thread 😊
Can I ask maybe a hard question..I would love to get married, but would do it abroad (not into traditional big British weddings! Too much pressure, money and some guests still complain about something!) I would like a very quiet beach wedding, just my partner and two children.
My issue is I am an amputee (extremely self conscious) but due to my injuries my shape is horrific! My bum and hip on the left hand side is completely flat, compared to my right hand side. I'm 5 ft 6 and a size 8..what sort of style would you go for?

@TyrionsNextWife Honestly, no. We do sometimes have brides who have a wobble when their dress arrives (before alterations) but we just try to remind them why they chose it in the first place. Usually once alterations are done and it fits like a glove they are over the moon again!

I have had a couple of brides come and buy a dress from me after buying one elsewhere though!!

I would so love your job! Always wanted to design Wedding Gowns, but went into something completely different.

Have you ever lied to a customer about how she looks in her dream dress, even if it looked awful on her?

@HappinessIsKey Just as your username suggests, wear whatever makes you feel most comfortable!! This is YOUR wedding and everything should be about you and your partner only!
Can I ask what limb you have missing?
If you do not want your difference in shape to be obvious then wear something floaty from the waist down. As you are a size 8 I would still be inclined to put you in something nice and fitted at the top though!
I would avoid typical ballgowns as that's never going to be very practical on the beach but would encourage you to look at Willowby by Watters dresses.. I'll attach a couple of my personal favourites

www.watters.com/willowby/products/galatea

www.watters.com/willowby/products/lainie

@FireflyEden Haha lots of people say that! I don't think they instantly think of lifting heavy gowns and being on your feet for 9 hours a day when they think of the job but I do love it!!

I can honestly say I haven't. Typically, we are our own biggest critic so I am usually the one telling a bride she looks amazing while she is picking out all the lumps and bump she doesn't like. Although I do let my brides choose a few dresses themselves, I usually ask them a few questions like necklines they like, shapes they like, whether they like lace/sparkle etc, how they want to be remembered on their day and I choose most of their dresses for them.

@LittleBlonde27 @HappinessIsKey wow that dress is stunning!

What do you recommend I do with my £7000 unworn Berta I have in my garage that I never got round to wearing ? Should I just say goodbye to it (although it's my fave thing in the world ) and sell it (for a fraction of the price) or just keep it and hope one day we will have a party I can wear it to? are there any sites I could sell it to that would get me a decent price do you know?
We eloped in the end btw, still married!

@WokenUp Ummm, you could give it to me!? I'll take reallllly good care of it Honestly, trying to re-sell a wedding dress (worn or not) is murder! You would be selling it for a fraction of what you paid, which you know, and that's if you actually managed to sell it.
I'd seriously consider a vow renewal or 5/10 year anniversary party just so I could wear it!! If not, there are some wonderful framing companies that will frame the whole dress - makes for a really stunning piece of "art" if you have the space!!

I would love a very minimalist, structured dress with sleeves or a coat dress type thing like the ones in the pictures. Sadly they're all from past seasons and very much out of my price range (Valentino, Giambattista Valli, Stuart Parvin) anyways. Can you think of any non high-fashion brands / dresses with a similar aesthetic and slightly less shocking prices?

Argh, sorry, pic upload fail, I'll try again.....

@WokenUp not to hijack the thread but thought I could offer a suggestion. I had a very similar issue and found there is so little money in reselling wedding dresses BUT I then came across this site.

www.bridesdogood.com/

They have a designer wedding boutique for exactly this sort of dress and it's for charity to help prevent child marriages. For me it felt exactly the thing my dress should help support and they were so lovely to deal with and I know that my dress has gone on to make someone very happy and support a worthy cause. I can't recommend them enough.

Sorry, me again... Sorry OP @TaxiPlease have you seen Bombshell HQ?

www.bombshellhq.com/products/gold-and-cream-brocade-bombshell-coat
it's not exactly the same and not cheap, but might fit your plan? They have a pale pink one too and I think I have a discount voucher if you want it...