Crystal Baby Lovebirds

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Everyone wants to be a princess on their wedding day and plus sized women are no exception. I have been frustrated with the lack of information, or at least good information, available for those of us who are plus sized, so I have put together some information to try and help you out.

The first and most important piece of advice I can give is this: MAKE SURE YOU CHOOSE A GOWN YOU LIKE! You will not feel beautiful in any gown that you know in your heart not to be right. Just because someone else says it's what you should be wearing won't make you feel better on your wedding day. Make sure YOU like what you decide to wear!

The second is this: SHOW OFF! Being plus sized does not mean you are not feminine and beautiful. Don't be ashamed to show off what God gave you. The tips below are just guidelines to help you figure out how to SHOW OFF your best features.

Tip Number One: Styles

Try an A-line! An A-line style is fitted through the bodice with a slightly flared skirt. This is a popular style because it flatters most figures and can help hide full hips and/or large thighs.

Be Careful With Ball Gowns. A ball gown style is similar to the A-line but with a very full skirt. This style is also good for hiding hips and thighs, but if you carry your weight in your chest and arms, a full skirt will create an overwhelm sense of roundness.

Avoid Sheaths and Mermaid/Trumpet styles. A mermaid/trumpet style is fitted until just at or below the knee. These will emphasize a larger rear, hips and thighs. A sheath is fitted from top to bottom, like an all over tube top idea. This style shows everything with extreme detail.

Tip Number Two: Waistlines

Try a dropped or natural waistline. A natural waistline is at your natural waist, obviously. With a full skirt, this waist line can make a waist look smaller. A dropped waistline falls just a few inches below the waist. This is awesome for making the waist appear smaller and for lengthening the torso.

Be careful with Basque and Empire waistlines. A Basque waistline looks like a V or U shape in the front. This is good for making the waist appear slim and hiding full hips, but can emphasize a protruding tummy as well. Empire waistlines are higher, usually just below the bust line. This is great for drawing attention away from thicker waists and lengthening but will overemphasize a large bust.

Avoid Princess Waists. These are gowns without a defined waist line and they draw attention towards your middle.

Tip Number Three: Necklines

Strapless gowns and spaghetti straps are not the best choices for the plus size bride. Thicker straps and/or sleeves will help create a look of balance. A square bust line is a good choice if you want to show off your bust line without revealing too much. A traditional scooped, or U shaped neckline will work for just about anyone. A sweetheart neckline, which forms a sort of heart shape over the bust, is also good for emphasizing a great bust line. If you carry most of your weight in your upper half, you may want to avoid V-Necks and halters, as they draw attention upward. A halter style in particular, is great for de-emphasizing broad shoulders and showing off your back. Off-the shoulder straps, on the other hand, will emphasize broad shoulders but can be a good choice if you want to show off your upper body.

Tip Number Four: Finding a gown in your size

The most important thing is to shop early! Before you go, stop in and have a seamstress take your measurements. Wedding gown sizes run different than regular clothes, so getting accurate measurements will give you a better idea of what size you really need. Then get to the store!

Don't just look at dresses in stock. Ask the store owner to show you gowns that can be ordered in your size. This will widen your selection.

Make sure you give yourself enough time to shop around, don't forget to check out the online bridal salons for a great selection. It can take 2 months or so to receive a dress if you order one, and keep in mind that you will need to leave a few weeks to schedule fitting and alterations as needed. So again SHOP EARLY!

When your dress is in and you take it to get altered, wear the undergarments you plan on wearing on your wedding day to help give the seamstress an accurate idea of what you need done.

And Last But Not Least: Accessorize with Care!

The biggest regret of my wedding day was my veil. I had a gorgeous full skirted wedding gown and I choose a very large veil with a big pouf behind my head. The pouf distracted from everything else because of its size.

Another lesson I've learned: balance with your hair! I wore a ball gown for my graduation and had my hair all pulled back into a tight updo. My gown looked great, my head looked like a balloon sitting on top!

Moral: avoid overdoing it with accessories. Simple, complimentary headpieces and jewelry that don't distract from you or the dress are best. And get your hair done before and take a few pictures with the gown on. What looks great when you are wearing jeans and a t-shirt might disappear behind a huge gown and veil.

Article written by Crystal Unrau. Crystal is a graphic & website designer and the owner of The Invitation Atelier, specializing in wedding invitations, baby announcements and photo greeting cards. She is also the founder of Chrysanthemoms, a resource site for moms which includes recipes, contests, parenting advice and business tips for moms.