Plus-Sized Gowns on a Broke-Ass Budget
Reader Request:
Hello! I loooove your website! I’m definitely a bride on a broke-ass budget. I’m also a plus-size bride and really wanted to know if you had any good recommendations on less expensive plus-size gowns? Lots of ladies are curvier nowadays but the price tag seems to go up along with the pounds unless you want to look like a shiny satin tent. Please help me if you can! If I could find something for $500-ish, I would be over the moon! Thank you so much!
These gowns all go up to size 24-26, and definitely not tent-like. They’re all within your budget, and I hope you’ll love at least one!
From David’s Bridal, clockwise from top left: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7
Alfred Angelo, priced under $599:
Target, $70 (!)
Etsy is another good place to look. Many Etsy sellers will make custom dresses in plus sizes. Here are a few of my favorites:
Etsy seller Elbling, $250:
Etsy seller Rosemortem $199
Etsy seller AtelierTami, $430
THE PERFECT DRESS in Anderson, SC is going out of business. I love this bridal shop & the owner, Stephanie. It makes me sad that they must close. The GOOD news (for you) is that EVERYTHING in the store stock is 50% off! – Bridal Gowns, Bridesmaid Dresses, Formal-wear & all Accessories: Veils, Head-dresses, Fascinators, after 5 Headbands & Tierras, Jewlery & much more… they plan to close their doors at the end of this month so if you have a wedding coming up this year or next, or know someone that does, share this info & go by to take advantage of the HUGE savings!! –
2500 N Main St Anderson, SC 29621
(864) 261-8119
Dear Reader (person who submitted the resquest),
I am also a plus-sized bride and ended up purchasing my dress from David's Bridal. The second dress (clockwise from top left) is GORGEOUS on a girl with more curves to love…I tried it on but wanted a different look to go with the theme of my wedding. I am also short–I recommend going with a dress that fits a little closer to the body. It sounds weird, but having too much fabric on the bottom of the dress will make you look bigger than you truly are. I didn't believe the consultant until I actually tried on a few different styles of dresses. You also might want to try cap sleeves if you like a little coverage. There are plenty of dresses at David's Bridal in your price range, and they also have an outlet online. Happy shopping! You also might check out preownedweddingdresses.com if you find a dress you love that is too expensive for your budget.
I am a dress size 22. Big boobs to boot. May I just say that David’s Bridal was a nightmare? I’ve never felt so bad about myself. Please do yourself a favor and find a bridal shop that specializes in plus sizes, makes such a huge difference when you can fit into a dress and have it zip up all the way! In case you’re curious, I ended up with a Liz Fields 9115. OMG it’s my dream dress!
I meant to say that I got my dress on sale, but the original price was around $750. The Glass Slipper Bridal Salon in Andover, Minnesota was the best ever!!!
These are amazing, amazing gowns which can fit a plus-size!
I'm in love with Dolly Couture and Whirling Turban, both of which have lower-cost 50s-style dresses. However, I'm extremely pear-shaped, so the "bigger on bottom" thing is going to happen to me regardless of the amount of fabric!
Dessy makes wedding dresses, as well as bridesmaid dresses that are available in white and ivory tones, and sizes go up to 30W. And they have a try-on program. I think Aria Dress also does the try-on program, but I believe their price point's over $1k now.
Venus, Mori Lee, and Sincerity have plus-sized sections, but I don't know their price point.
Good luck, and share pictures when you find your dress!
beautiful brides in beautiful dresses and what bargains!
My problem with plus size wedding gowns is that they're just regular sized dresses made wider…they don't really feel like they're designed FOR a larger body. Also, weight goes in such different places on the body. I can't seem to find dresses that fit my 36H chest. At David's Bridal, the woman helping asked me my bra size and looked so perplexed when I told her. She asked "Is that a DD or DDD?"
I don't have the budget to have a custom made dress. I currently have a Filene's Basement "Running of the Brides" dress that's gorgeous and almost fits….but my chest is 3 times too big for the wire cups in the bodice. It's my back up dress, but I really don't know where else to look. New York has a lot of options for skinny rich people, and I'm not either of those things.
I love how the Target dress was completely transformed by just a gold ribbon belt! Just goes to show that embellishing a simple dress can make make it stunning. Thanks for putting this list together.
I love the plus size dresses. But am not sure how will they look like with my sister.
I always think that plus size wedding gowns are great!
A light organza dress available in plus sizes at DB is PK3226. It feels like you're wearing almost nothing. I might have chosen it but its skirt was a lot like the dress a relative chose for her 2010 wedding.
Oh, oh! Can I play? Here's my tip, look for a CHARITY bridal shop in your area. Other shops donate their samples, or canceled orders and brides donate their dresses as well all for a good cause. The prices are great, and what I've found is Plus size is never in short supply. In fact, most dresses I found there were Plus, and gorgeous.
Lastly, since the "consultants" are volunteers, they're not so…money-grabby as certain high-pressure stores(from my experience) if you don't need a brand-spankin'-new dress, I'd check there.
i agree with having a bad experience with davids bridal for my wedding gown but you can find plus sizes at reduced prices on recycledbride but if your looking for the in store experience a plus size specialty store is the way to go better service better experience is what every bride deserves.
I have to concur with Dear. I'm a size 10 Australian (size 6ish US?), and I thought I'd look at the dresses that brides had ordered but cancelled for whatever reason – they were mainly size 14 Aus (10 US) and up! It might be worth trawling those racks at a few stores – the markdowns on those dresses are huge!
I totally agree. I hover between the "normal" sizes and plus size (16-18) depending on the style of the dress. Even though I did end up buying my dress from David's, the fitting experience wasn't the greatest. Most of the dresses I tried on were too small, and they would reassure me that if I went just one size up it would fit perfectly… they can't guarantee that without actually having the dress there to try. But…they will guarantee that if you spend a ton more money on alterations that it will fit. I ended up taking the risk and order the dress one size up (it was a discontinued dress and was heavily discounted, otherwise I would have walked away). It did have to be taken in on the top ( I'm heavy on bottom, I'm not exactly top-heavy if you catch my drift) but I honestly anticipated that alteration no matter where I bought my dress.
Some designers can actually make the cup size bigger on the dress. I feel ya sister, I'm an H as well. We ended up having them add a couple inches for more coverage. I can't say it enough though, when you actually start trying on dresses that fit or may be even too big, it will change your entire perspective. Before I found The Glass Slipper, I just about lost hope on ever having a dress that I would be in love with.
What I want to know is why these plus size dresses rarely come with sleeves to cover my flabtastic arms?
Liz Fiels makes sleeves and has some gorgeous dresses in plus sizes AND are under $1k!