Why Bridal Sizes Run Smaller Than the High Street
Most wedding dresses are built on sample blocks designed years ago, often based on a UK 10-12 frame, then graded up. There's also far less stretch in bridal fabrics. Structured boning, lace overlays, and fitted bodices don't forgive the way a jersey dress does. In our boutique near Ashford, it's common for a bride who wears a 14-16 on the high street to need a bridal 18-20, sometimes higher depending on the style and where she carries her shape. Knowing this in advance saves a lot of confusion (and tears) in the fitting room.
It's About the Cut, Not Just the Number
A "plus size" label on a rail doesn't tell you much on its own. A boned, fitted bodice in a 22 will fit completely differently to a soft, flowing A-line in the same size, because the two are constructed differently. This is where having a background in dress construction makes the real difference. It's not about pulling a bigger size off the rail; it's about understanding how a pattern behaves on a curvier figure and adjusting from there.
If you're trying to work out your own bridal size before you even start shopping, the honest answer is: don't guess from your everyday size. Come and try dresses on. Visit our homepage to see the collections we carry in sizes 18-34 and book a private appointment where we can talk you through it properly.
Why So Many Brides Feel Let Down by "Plus Size" Ranges
A lot of bridal shops stock plus size as an afterthought: one rail, a handful of styles, sizes that stop at 20 or 22. That's exactly why we built our boutique the way we have: sizes 18-34 are available to try on across our entire collection, not held back as a separate category. Every bride should get the same choice, the same fabrics, and the same attention, regardless of size.
So, what is considered plus size in bridal? Technically, 18 and up. In practice, it depends entirely on the dress, the designer, and your own shape, which is exactly why an in-person fitting beats a size chart every time.
