When to Buy Wedding Dress if Losing Weight

Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, and brides especially want it to be perfect. It is natural for brides to want to look their best selves on the wedding day, so weight loss is a common goal.

This goal raises a crucial question in the wedding planning process: when should you buy your wedding dress if you want to lose weight? The timing of this purchase can significantly affect how you feel in your dress on your big day.

This guide shares tips on aligning your dress purchase with your weight loss journey.

When to Buy a Wedding Dress if You’re Losing Weight

When planning a wedding, timing is everything, especially for brides aiming to lose weight before their big day. You deserve to feel confident and beautiful in a dress that fits perfectly, but achieving this means carefully timing your purchase. Here's how to approach buying your wedding dress based on different weight loss goals.

5-20 Pounds to Go

You're in a relatively flexible position if you want to lose 5-20 pounds. Ideally, start looking at dresses when you get engaged to familiarize yourself with styles and what you feel best in. You can view online wedding dress galleries to start narrowing down your ideal styles before you start browsing in-person.

However, you should order the wedding dresses six to eight months before your wedding. This timeline gives you a cushion for weight loss and enough time for necessary alterations without rushing. If you hit your weight loss goal earlier, most dresses can be taken in up to two sizes without altering the design integrity.

20-40 Pounds to Go

Losing 20-40 pounds is a significant amount and will significantly affect the wedding dress fitting. In this case, start your dress search early, but consider waiting to purchase until you're closer to your goal weight, ideally eight to ten months before your wedding.

This approach gives you time to lose the bulk of the weight while leaving ample time for alterations. Look for dresses that can be easily adjusted. Discuss your goals with the designer; they can guide you on the best time to order based on your weight loss progress.

40+ Pounds to Go

For brides aiming to lose more than 40 pounds, it's important to start the dress shopping process early to understand what styles you prefer. However, delay the actual purchase until you are 10-12 months out from your wedding day.

Significant weight loss can drastically alter your dress size and shape preference. At this stage, consider choosing a dress with lacing or a corset back, which offers more flexibility in sizing. Once you're within 20 pounds of your goal weight, it's safe to order your dress, keeping in mind that the design can be significantly altered if needed.

Starting Your Dress Search Early

The earlier you start looking for your wedding dress, the better. Start your search with plenty of time before your wedding, ideally a year or more, if you're planning significant weight changes. An early start means you can wait to make your final choice until you're closer to your target weight, ensuring the dress you fall in love with is the one you get married in.

Choosing a Flexible Dress Design

When losing weight for your wedding, selecting the right design makes a lot of difference in allowing it to suit you on your big day. Dresses with lace-up backs or adjustable elements are perfect for this. They can shrink or expand, making sure your dress is a perfect fit no matter how your weight fluctuates.

Also, consider the silhouette. Some styles, like A-line, work well with various body shapes and sizes, giving you a flattering fit at every phase of your weight loss journey.

Scheduling Alterations and Fittings

The final stretch of your wedding and weight loss journey includes scheduling fittings and alterations. Aim for the last fitting to be close to the wedding, about two to four weeks before the day.

Start with an initial fitting once you buy your dress, then follow up with another two months before your wedding. If your body has changed a lot, you might need a third fitting to get everything right.

Perfect Dress for the Perfect Bride

Besides being your outfit of the day, your wedding dress symbolizes the love, commitment, and the path you’ve walked to get to the big stage. It’s only fitting that you look the best to complement the hard work you put through your weight loss journey.

By starting early, choosing wisely, and planning your alterations, you can ensure your wedding dress fits beautifully on your special day.