Don’t Let Maternity Clothes Pause Your Personal Style
We’re making an educated guess that, according to your calendar, 2022 is the summer, autumn and winter of love. In fact, the UK Weddings Task Force forecasts that there will be a whopping 350,000 weddings this year. That’s nearly 200,000 more weddings than in pre-pandemic years. And while this is super exciting – let’s face it, getting dressed for a wedding is tricky at the best of times, let alone when you’re pregnant. Luckily, maternity wedding guest dresses are a thing, but finding the right one might not be as easy as you think.
The good news is that it does present the perfect excuse to go shopping an activity anyone can get on board with. Since youll probably have less stamina for browsing while youre pregnant, it pays to do a bit of research in advance and consider your options before you set out. That way, you dont waste time marching around stores that dont stock maternity wedding guest dresses or trying on items that just wont work with a bump.
Here are a few things to bear in mind before you splash the cash
How Can I Hide My Belly In A Wedding Dress
Start with an empire waistline. This hugs just under the bust and immediately transitions into flowing fabric, which is a classic look. Next, consider some camouflage. A belt, accessories or well-placed texture will go a long way in reducing the roundness and directing the eye in the right direction. Finally, modern shapewear can move things around in the right way.
Constantly Evaluate Your Size
For every month of pregnancy, you should add one inch to your measurement. There are exceptions to that rule, of course. The truth is that everyone has their own quirks! Dresses may be made smaller more easily than larger ones.
It can take four to six months for a wedding dress to arrive from the time it is ordered, during which time your stomach will have grown significantly. In order to make an online dress purchase without worrying about whether or not it will fit, it is a good idea to check the provided size chart. For every month until the wedding, add one inch to each measurement. After figuring out your size using the designer’s size chart, “order a size larger in the dress.” This will give you plenty of time to alter your dress to fit your changing body before the big day.
You May Like: How Much Does Food Cost For A Wedding
The Best Maternity Wedding Dress Styles
Planning a wedding with a bun in the oven is tricky enough with pregnancy hormones thrown into the mix, but coupled with the stress of finding a dream dress that can accommodate your baby bump, emotions can go into overdrive. To help alleviate some of the pressure that comes with wedding dress shopping, we are sharing the best styles to disguise or display, depending on your preference, your baby-to-be.
How To Enjoy Your Wedding Day
- Sip plenty of water and allow yourself a little sit-down break for every 20 minutes you’re on your feet. Use this time to sit and chat to your guests.
- Let your bridesmaids/new husband/relatives do all the fussing around and step back as much as you possibly can.
- Make sure you’ve pregnancy-friendly food and drinks for you to enjoy.
- Try and keep as cool as possible. Perhaps change into something more comfortable after the wedding ceremony. If you can’t bear to take off your beloved dress, remove anything that could cause aches and pains, like heeled shoes, heavy tiara or veil.
You May Like: How Much Does A Church Wedding Cost
Don’t Be Afraid Of Bodycon
There’s nothing more beautiful than a bump so don’t feel conditioned to hide away in layers of tulle if that’s not your style.
And finally, why not consider renting? Not only is this better for your purse, but its kinder on the environment, too – plus you can borrow a dress from around £20, in any size required for you whatever stage of pregnancy you’re at – win-win.
When Two Become Three
First up, if you’re reading this, and you’re pregnant – congratulations – what an exciting time! Of course, finding out you’re pregnant while in the throes of wedding planning can be overwhelming. Confetti and table plans probably start to seem frivolous when you’ve buggies and baby grows on the horizon. But that doesn’t mean you have to ditch your plans for your dream day if it’s important to you. So today, we’ve rounded up your options with tips on how to hit pause, or how to press on with your plans, whatever you decide.
Photo by Justine Milton via 100 Layer Cakelet
Recommended Reading: What Does A Ordained Minister Say At A Wedding
Where To Buy A Maternity Wedding Dress
Searching for fashion-forward maternity wedding dresses? Your first stop for expert advice and style tips should always be your local bridal salonbut your options dont end there. Online shopping can provide pregnant brides-to-be with a wider selection. Here are our top four online stores to shop for stylish maternity wedding dresses.
-
Tiffany Rose: This UK-based brand has a wonderful selection of maternity wedding dresses. The collection boasts gorgeous gowns and short styles made from luxe lace and premium jersey materiala winning combination for pregnant brides. Better yet, the brand caters to plus-size women too.
-
Seraphine: Loved by celebrities and royals alike, Seraphine creates bridal looks that are perfect for your celebration. From tailored midi dresses to ethereal Grecian maternity wedding gowns, this site appeals to all kinds of brides.
-
The Dessy Group: Technically, this site specializes in bridesmaid dresses, butwhen it comes to maternity bridal attiresometimes you have to think a little outside of the box. Trust us, you wont be disappointed with this brands offerings. The site has a curated selection of full-length ivory and white maternity dresses.
-
Sexy Mama Maternity: This mom-owned brand creates made-to-order bridal gowns and reception dresses. There are plenty of affordable options on offerplus, the first round of in-house alterations is free.
Contact The Bridal Shop First
The best-laid plans often go awry, so before setting out on a shopping expedition for a new dress, give the store a call to make sure they have your size in stock. Inquire if the shoes can be held for you and schedule a time to stop by and try them on. The salesperson helping you will likely treat you more like a close friend if you buy your dress online rather than in the store because you won’t have to worry about the weather or whether or not it will fit.
Read Also: Unique Wedding Venues In Ohio
When To Tell The Bride That Youre Expecting
You find out you’re pregnant. A few weeks later, before youve even told anyone, your best friend asks you to be a bridesmaid on her big day.
So should you say yes?
Many women choose not to announce their baby news until the end of their first trimester, which is about 12 weeks into their pregnancy. But this is not a rule. You can tell people whenever it feels right!
If you feel comfortable doing so, you can choose to let the bride know that you are pregnant when she asks you to be in her bridal party. But many people wait until after the first trimester, too. Choose what is best for you!
Before accepting the invitation to be a bridesmaid, you might want to consider how pregnant you will be on the wedding date.
If your due date is several weeks or months after the wedding, say yes! Be a bridesmaid!
If that wedding date coincides closely with your due date, you may want to decline the invitation just in case you go into labor a bit early or a bit late.
In this scenario, let the bride know that it might be best if you attend her festivities as a wedding guest. You can still plan the bridal shower and help her make preparations for her big day!
Shop our full collection of maternity bridesmaids dresses!
How To Alter A Bridesmaid Dress For Pregnancy
So, what do you do when youve already ordered your bridesmaid dress and end up being pregnant?
Depending on the bridesmaid dress style and how far along you will be, will determine what can be done. A fuller skirt can typically be altered, but extra fabric may need to be ordered! Just a reminder: you will need to allow up to 2 to 4 months for fabric.
Even if you think youve ordered the correct size, your body still may change in unexpected ways. Baby bumps are unique to every person! To make sure your bridesmaid dress will fit, plan to have alterations done 2 weeks before the wedding. Just make sure to contact your seamstress and make the appointment well in advance.
Also Check: Unique Matching Wedding Bands His And Hers
Pregnant Brides Share Wedding Day Stories And Fashion Tips
MFM users reveal how they found pregnancy-friendly wedding dresses and share their bridal maternity fashion dilemmas. Plus find out how to make your bump work for you with our clever styling tips.
If, like Lily Allen, you know you’ll be pregnant at your wedding, how do you prepare for the big day? Or perhaps you’ve had everything perfectly planned up until now, and surprise, surprise, you’re pregnant! Whatever the circumstances are, rest assured you can be a gorgeous pregnant bride.
We asked MFM users how they coped with being pregnant when they married and how they found a bump-accommodating wedding dress, plus got the lowdown from a maternity dress designer.
Finding A Wedding Dress
“I was six months when I got married, but only found out that my eBay wedding dress didn’t fit 10 days before the wedding,” MFM user Susan Lowther reveals. “I then had a mad rush to get a new one for my big day!”
“I got married three weeks before my due date, resulting in a huge dress panic. I ended up wearing a beautiful, non-maternity dress and I just bought it one size bigger. I didn’t go up lots of sizes because it only needed to be bigger around the tummy area,” MFM user Rhonda tells us.
MFM user Natalie Luckett was also pregnant on her big day, and found it an expensive extra! “I was six months gone on my wedding day and had to sadly return my initial wedding dress and spent an extra £700 on a flowy one that would go over my bump!”
However, having a growing baby bump doesn’t mean you have to spend lots of money having your wedding dress altered, as maternity dress designer Tiffany Rose reveals.
“Whatever you do, don’t panic!” advises Tiffany. “Don’t feel pushed into buying a larger, standard ‘non maternity’ gown with the promise of expensive alterations leading up the wedding. This rarely works out and can cause a lot of stress and disappointment.”
Also Check: How To Sell Wedding Ring
Show Off Your Baby Bump:
When faced with an ever-changing body, its tempting to ditch everything you know in favour of something more appropriate. Pre-pregnancy, you might flaunt your figure in a tight, tailored, pencil dress. A common mistake is to compromise on your style. You can still wear your dream dress whether youre pregnant or not. Everyone assumes that as a pregnant bride you should dress in a huge, shapeless dress. Straight up, and down. Theres no need to make the sudden switch to something out of your comfort zone. Opt for a longer top and extended neckline to enhance your womanly curves.
Make your wedding day a celebration of new beginnings with your partner and baby. How about using coloured balloons to reveal the gender of your baby? Or perhaps the bouquet or centrepieces could be a subtle hint to this? Of course, if you dont want to announce it on the day, you can hire a wedding photographer to take thank you card photos. This could show your hands together in a heart shape next to your baby bump – just dont forget to address them from the three of you!
Top Tips For Choosing The Perfect Pregnancy Wedding Gown
- Avoid stiff material with no stretch as this will be uncomfortable. Opt for breathable fabrics to help you keep cool throughout the day.
- If you go for a bandeau, strapless style, make sure the bust area has built-in support to accommodate your growing bustline.
- Steer clear of fussy styles or complicated cuts, hemlines, necklines and scratchy underskirts.
- Stick to classic styles such as the empire line – this is the most flattering shape as it skims baby bumps, rather than clinging to them.
- For gorgeous maternity gowns, check out Tiffany Rose, Crave maternity, Seraphine maternity and Amelia Classics.
You May Like: What To Wear For Wedding Dress Shopping
Find The Right Cut For Hiding That Baby Bump
Is it a priority to you that your wedding dress not give away the fact that you’re expecting? If you are pregnant and would prefer not to show off your belly, a strapless, empire-waisted dress with a lace and tulle overlay is a beautiful option. In order to deflect attention from the bride’s hips and thighs, an empire-waisted gown is recommended because “not only does the empire waist showcase the smallest area of your body, but the essence of the fabric would then give a light impression of the lace as just a beautiful design.”
If you want to conceal your stomach, an A-line or empire-waist dress will do the trick. The emphasis of this shape is on the upper body at the expense of the lower.
How To Deal With A Changing Bump Size
What should you do if you’re in the early stages of pregnancy and don’t know how big your baby bump is going to blossom? Or how quick?
MFM user George Everett had this exact dilemma when she wed. “I got married when I was 19 weeks pregnant. The trickiest thing was that I didn’t know whether I would have a bump or not at that stage. I had to do lots of improvising on the big day with flowers and clever picture posing!”
More like this
So, when is the best time to purchase a wedding gown if you’ve just found out you’re pregnant and your wedding is on the horizon? “If you can, try and leave your purchase between eight to 12 weeks before your big day. As you grow, you may change your initial ideas about what you’re looking for,” recommends Tiffany Rose.
Another tip when purchasing your maternity wedding dress is to ask your dressmaker in advance if they can allow a little extra room around the tummy area to accommodate your growing bump. “Well designed maternity, and non-maternity, dresses not only offer specific tailoring for pregnancy, but include hidden stretch and fastenings to accommodate any last minute growth spurt,” explains Tiffany. Ask your dressmaker for advice on this, or simply take it to your nearest dry cleaners, who should be able to do the alterations for you.
Read Also: Wedding Chapel In Los Angeles
Extra Panels And Corsets Are Welcome
Don’t freak out if you find out the dress is still too small on the day of the final fitting. Fixing problems with panels and corsets is simple. In preparation for your professional seamstress’s magic, you can order a yard of the same cloth from your dress designer. ” By using a corset to fasten the dress rather than a zipper or buttons, you can leave room for expansion while cinching in your tiniest waist area. It’s the best way to make last-minute alterations to the dress’s fit before the big day.
Our Favorite Maternity Wedding Dresses
On the hunt for your dream wedding dress online? Whether youre looking for a boho beach-ready look, a casual elopement outfit or a floor-sweeping gown, weve got outfits to suit every bride. See our favorite maternity wedding dresses below.
Planning a laid-back affair? This casual maternity wedding dress may be the one for you. This lace overlay dress is simply gorgeous. We love the sexy V-neckline thats offset by the pretty scalloped sleeves and hem. This dress is available in sizes small to 3X. All that for under $100? What a bargain.
Buy it: PinkBlush Maternity White Lace Mesh Overlay Plus Maternity Maxi Dress, $98, PinkBlushMaternity.com
Check out this flexible maternity wedding dress, perfect for both the mom-to-be and the mom who just gave birth. The bow-tie neckline makes it easy to nurse, while also keeping things formal for a special occasion. Plus, it has a discreet stretch panel at the back to ensure a comfortable fit.
Buy it: Seraphine Ivory Maternity & Nursing Dress with Neckline Tie, $449, Seraphine.com
This caftan-style maxi dress is casual but still totally bride-worthy, all thanks to its gathered waist and V-neckline. Made from a jersey-spandex mix, the relaxed-fit dress leaves plenty of room for your baby bump. We think this sleeveless maternity wedding dress is just the thing for a summertime beach wedding. Pro tip: Rachel Pally has a whole range of maternity-friendly dresses laid-back brides will love.
Plus, more from The Bump:
Read Also: Mens Diamond Yellow Gold Wedding Bands
What Fabrics Suit Pregnant Brides And Why
“If the design is done well and the fabric is good quality, any type of fabric can be used,” says Tiffany. “Its best to avoid anything overly stiff – look for floating silks, soft satin jerseys and elegant lace fabrics, all of which are breathable and tailored to enhance growing curves.”
Ann agrees that comfort is key: “Soft fabrics like chiffon and tulle for heavily pregnant brides as they are more comfortable and flow over the bump. For earlier stages of pregnancy, lace or lace appliqué is good, as the pattern distracts from the bump.”
