Here comes the Bride...

[Kimberly]

I'm starting to think about looking for a wedding dress. I live over on the island, in Victoria, and none of the shops here ever have sample dresses above a size 8. I'm about a size 24, and I can't think of anything more ego destroying than trying to find a wedding dress in this city. I want to arrive on my wedding day feeling beautiful, not sow-like. are there any shops in Vancouver that are a little more size friendly, or will I have to go to Seattle?

[Dee]

There is a plus size bridal shop on Hastings, between boundary and Whatever that street is that you take across the bridge. If I can remember the name of it, i'll let you know.

[Kimberly]

thanks. ) I have a whole lot of time before I need to start worrying about it, but the more options I can come up with, the more fun it will be.

[Emily]

I called Bryan's Bridal at Brentwood Mall today, and they say they have dressed up to size 30 in stock to try on. (over a 1000 dresses in total). I am going to go on Thursday to check it. I will update then if I get a chance.

[Emily]

Ok, here is the dish on bridal gown shopping for plus sizes in the lower mainland. I feel like I have been driving in circles around Vancouver (which I have), but I have also had a lot of success. The best place I suggest is Tiffany NY Bridal on 3526 E. Hastings, www.tiffanybridal.ca 604 291 7171. The original store has been there 10 years, and they opened up a plus store 2 doors down 2 years ago. They have a wide selection in stock to try on and can order in for you as well. They also have a limited selection of consignment dresses. The manager David was VERY nice and VERY helpful. He also didn't use any pressure tactics. He is actually going to order in a dress I prefered from a different store and give me a better price.

Bryan's bridal at Brentwood mall has a good number of dresses in plus sizes, so it is nice to go in and try on several dresses there, but they are high pressure sales people, so be strong.

Other places have large dresses, but very few in stock esp bigger than size 18. I really didn't know how to get a sense of a dress when it didn't fit at all. Don't be surprised if you take a larger size than normal...the dresses fit small. I am ordering a 24, when I normally wear a 20.

Good luck and congrats!!!

[Kim]

wow, thank you Emily. ) I'll definitely check that out when I head over to Vancouver! Cheers and congratulations!

[Emily]

Any luck with your search? Tell David I sent you when you go to Tiffany Bridal. Can't wait to hear what you found.

[Kim]

I haven't had a chance to get over to the mainland yet, but our wedding isn't until autumn 2007, so I'm not in a huge rush. But I will remember to tell him when I do go. I have found some of the links to designers on their website helpful, there's a dress I'm trying very hard not to get my heart set on until I see if I can find it, if it looks good on me, and if I can afford it. ;o)

[dearheart]

I agree with the PP about Tiffany NY Plus. It's where I bought my dress from! I really appreciated that there was somewhere in the Lower Mainland where I could actually try on the dresses.

Some of the designers are now wising up and making samples that have multiple zippers in them to adjust up to a size 24.

[Anon]

There are some great places on the Mainland, including many bridal shops on Columbia Street in New Westminster (Try the Bridal Gallery as they have a nice variety of sizes). You can try Bryan's Bride as well at Brentwood Town Centre, but don't stop there. Here's my review of the place:

I visited them on the with my bridesmaids on the weekend and all I can say is that they have a great selection of bridal gowns that are worth looking at, but a lousy selection of bridesmaids and prom dresses.

Also, the service we received was really poor - you have to register to try a dress on and the wait time was an hour. Our so-called "bridal consultant" was pushy and wouldn't listen to us and when we found a dress we liked, we were told that it was discontinued. They wouldn't even offer us options for other similar styles that may be available. They had a very old-fashioned, pretentious attitude and they made it very clear to us that they weren't interested in our business.
I would recommend them only for their selection of bridal dresses as they are worth a look, but if you're made to feel unwelcome, then just leave the store. There are so many other bridal salons that offer better service and selection that is just as good, if not better.

[jo]

Hi There, I just wanted to let you know that Lane Bryant is starting to sell wedding dresses online ( simple but nice ) Prices are great ( search ;anebryant coupons to get further discounts before you purchase )

[absynth]

I am a plus size, around a 20 and I had a dress made for me in a little store in Kitsilano called Gallery House Bridal. The lady there specializes in romeo and juliet styles/medieval/corset etc and has some premade stuff but also does custom fitted styles. I had a 2 piece corset and skirt in burgundy printed silk and cream silk and it cost me less then if I had bought it premade and everyone said that it was the most beautiful dress they had ever seen. My only warning is to say, make sure that if you do go there and have a dress made to fit, that if it has a corset that you make sure she measures you and doesn't use someone elses corset to measure you. I had some issues with fit and she fixed it once, still didn't measure me properly and then had a fit when I asked her to redo it again. You pay 20% more for a custom sized corset so make sure that she measures you properly. Other then that, the dress was amazing