Curvaceous brides

Good news, bad news

The good news is that, when it comes to wedding dresses, a wider variety of larger sizes is available than you'd get in other clothes. Manufacturers seem to feel (mistakenly) that curvier women can do without a pair of jeans or a sparkly top, but that girls of all shapes and sizes need wedding dresses.

The bad news is that, due to a lack of space, bridal shops don't have a full range of stock in every size. They carry samples on which orders are based and these come in a limited range of sizes – sometimes stopping at size 12! This means that, even though you can order a dress in a larger size, if you can't fit into the sample in stock, it's impossible to tell exactly what different styles will look like.

The dress of your dreams

Being curvaceous doesn't mean you can't get the dress of your dreams – and look fantastic in it too. The key, as with all clothes, is to find a style that suits you and to make sure it fits you perfectly. Many shops keep a variety of sample sizes, and some offer dresses up to size 28. The alternative is to have a made-to-measure dress which is a treat in itself. Just be sure to leave plenty of time to organise this as made to measure dresses take months.

Lingerie

It’s important to find a well-fitting bra that will support you properly and also enhance your shape. It’s well worth getting measured at a lingerie specialist who will be able to advise on the correct back measurement, cup fitting and style of bra and straps for your bust. You may want to invest in something special for your wedding day (and indeed wedding night!) so a sexy basque or pretty lacy matching bra and knickers set is a must. Oh and don’t forget your garter!

Fitting rooms

The best thing about trying on wedding gowns in a bridal boutique is that you won't have to negotiate communal changing rooms and most provide a more personal style of service which should help you feel more confident. So what are you waiting for – arrange a date, try on a dress, open the curtains and step out in style!