What it’s like navigating the wedding industry as a plus-size bride
image via @ruchipage/INSTAGRAM
as told to daisy henry
“It should be a special time filled with options but instead I felt limited.”
Finding a wedding dress can be a trying time. Sure, some brides-to-be might have that unicorn experience, where the first dress they try on ends up being the one. But as in most cases, it involves a good few months of Pinterest boards, research and trying on dozens of different designs.
However, this experience is made that much more challenging for brides who aren’t ‘straight-sized’. The vast majority of wedding marketing – whether that’s in movies, magazines or photos on social media – features conventionally thin women. Even when labels are size-inclusive, online creator (and former bride) Ruchi Page notes that their core imagery still typically features only straight-sized or petite models.
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Searching for a wedding dress shouldn’t feel like navigating a maze of limitations and compromises. For those who don’t fit the conventional mould, it’s often about settling for something that fits, rather than something that reflects who they are. But through trial and error, Ruchi Page and Susanne Stevens were both able to find their dream dresses.
Suzanne Stevens
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Fashion Journal: Hi Suzie! What was your experience like shopping for your wedding dress?
Suzie: Finding the perfect wedding dress wasn’t as straightforward as I had hoped. As a plus-size bride, I quickly realised that shopping for a dress off the rack would present challenges, especially when it came to fitting and finding something that matched my personal style.
So, I decided to go with a custom-made dress, which felt like the best way to ensure I could have exactly what I envisioned without compromising, as well as avoiding the heartbreak of a bad boutique shopping experience.
Where did you go for a custom dress?
I was absurdly lucky to have Hope and Harvest make both my hens party dress and my wedding dress. Harvest is a genius when it comes to designing and constructing gowns and the idea of working with her on my dress was something that was a dream come true.
I shared inspiration from various sources, including Miss Piggy’s wedding dress and Baroque fashion, as well as iconic designers like Galliano and Westwood. Harvest then helped me narrow down the features that would suit both my body and the wedding’s aesthetic.
Creating the dress was a truly personal experience. Harvest used traditional corset-making techniques, which meant the fit was incredibly tailored to my body. The corset lined seamlessly into the skirt, and the fabric, Duchess silk satin, gave the gown structure while still allowing it to move beautifully, especially when I danced. It was all about ensuring I could feel comfortable and confident all day long.
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What did it mean for you to be able to wear your dream dress?
As a plus-size woman, it’s easy to settle for something that fits but doesn’t reflect what you truly want. But when I finally saw myself in my dress, with the accessories, makeup and hair done just the way I had imagined, it was an emotional moment. I felt better than I had ever imagined.
Ultimately, working with Harvest gave me a dress that not only reflected my love for fashion but also made me feel at ease, confident and true to myself. It wasn’t just about a dress, it was about celebrating who I am and embracing the beauty of being me on my wedding day. I’ll always be grateful for the process and the experience that brought me my dream gown.
Can you share some other wedding dress labels that are size-inclusive or places where you had a positive experience?
I would definitely recommend Moonstruck Bridal. I had met its founders, Amelia and Martine a few years ago and they have curated a really beautiful collection of dresses. They make sure to feature brides and models of all shapes and sizes on both their social media and on their website. And having met them a few times at events, I must say I am really impressed with their dedication to making positive changes to the wedding industry.
Ruchi Page
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Fashion Journal: Hi Ruchi! Can you tell me a little bit about your experience searching for a wedding dress? How did you find the industry catered to plus-size brides?
Ruchi: The hunt for my perfect wedding dress was largely refined, thanks to the difficulty of finding stores that advertised diverse sizes. They do exist – sort of. As someone who is chronically online, I rarely came across media publications or bridal accounts I could stalk in order to create a decent list of size-inclusive labels.
If bridal houses carried inclusive sizing, the core imagery would still typically feature straight sized or petite models. Wedding dress shopping is a personal mission and it relies on trial and error. It should be a special time filled with options but instead I felt limited. I was fatigued from the repeated Google searches and dodging the ‘wed shred’ marketing targeting brides. I knew my body type was most likely not going to be celebrated at just any bridal store.
Why should someone with my body type have to look harder, be more patient and settle? Weddings aren’t reserved for straight sized people and people of all body types get married. I vented to my friend who worked in design and she offered to make my dress. As our conversation deepened and my choices became more limited, I accepted her offer.
What was the process of designing a custom dress like?
I opted to go for a custom wedding dress because I knew finding a dress off the rack with my exact dream in mind, would be near to impossible and I would need to have it altered anyway. My ‘dress’, which was made up of a corseted body suit and lehenga was heavily inspired from my Indian heritage, with a western twist. I intertwined my Australian upbringing and pinches of my family’s Greek roots, which meant each part of the design was intentional. The gold fabrics was sourced from multiple Indian markets and stores, my veil fabric from the heart of Bombay.
The experience was memorable as I got to do this with my lifelong friend. I learned so much more about my cultural roots from her, as she is Fijian Indian and has generously guided me through the cultural significance and ‘why’ behind each piece I wore.
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Can you share some other size-inclusive wedding dress labels you would recommend that are size-inclusive?
There’s Designer Bridal House, Miss Bella Bridal, Silvana Tedesco and Naidu Designs.
What do you think about the state of size-inclusivity when it comes to wedding culture?
I can confidently speak on behalf of anyone who has felt the pressure from the fashion industry to change themselves when I say that lack of size inclusion is just cringy and annoying now. Style and beauty should not be reserved for one size. So, with peace and love bridal and fashion industries – please re-evaluate how garments are made, advertised and championed.
For more on the realities of shopping as a plus-size bride, try this.
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