When the fashion world insists that a size 6 woman is the only beautiful woman, you don’t get to see a wide range of sizes brought to life in clothing shops and boutiques. Women who exceed these smaller sizes, which many women do, are seriously limited in what they can and cannot buy, and every guide and beauty tip sort of excludes them.

It really is a horrible reality we live in, and while things are slowly changing, it’s just not changing fast enough. Our favourite babe, Rihanna had her NYFW lingerie line worn by a wide range of different sized models, and it was truly inspiring. We want to see more of that, and we know you do too.

Because the world has decided not to cater for curvier girls, we’ve decided to do our own part. We know there are plenty of Fairies out there who consider themselves curvy and don’t know where to start when it comes to finding their perfect wedding dress, so we thought we’d get that sorted for you!

Here is the curvy bride’s ultimate guide to wedding dress shopping.

1. Know Where To Look

If you need larger sizes and you’re at a boutique that only stocks up to a size 12, then you’re going to find yourself in a difficult place. If everything you’re trying on doesn’t fit you right then it’s more than likely that you won’t be happy with what you see, and it’ll be a struggle trying to imagine what it would look like. Find the designers who will cater to your body type and stick to them. They’ll provide you with a wider range of options and you’ll leave feeling seriously good about yourself.

To find the perfect dress for you, take a look at our 9 wedding dress designers for curvier brides.

2. Don’t Limit Yourself

Often the go-to style for curvy brides is an A-line gown, but don’t set off searching for that and only that. There’s no need to limit yourself. Explore all the different options available to you and see what suits you best.

Even if you try on a hundred different dresses and still find the A-line is the one for you, at least you’ll have eliminated the ‘what if’ thought.

3. Come Prepared

Although many dresses have built-in bras or will sit on you in just the right way that you won’t even need one, it’s good to come prepared when starting out. Go and find that bra that makes you look really good, and if you feel like you need it or you want that extra control, bring along a pair of spanks too.

4. Avoid The Shine

Shiny materials, like satin or anything with an overload of sequins and crystals, will reflect the light and make you look larger than you are. Assuming that isn’t at all what you’re after, we say avoid this at all costs.

5. Get In Early

A beautiful gown that fits like a glove will take time to get to the state you want it to be. Don’t leave your wedding dress shopping to the very last minute, because it won’t be just your stress that’ll be soaring through the roof; that price tag will be too.

Get started on wedding dress shopping as soon as you can, but not too early. We know we’re making it sound like a fine line, but if you get too ahead of yourself, there’s more room for doubts. Give yourself a good six months to find your dream wedding gown.

Cover photo by: @maggiesotterodesigns