[Wifey]

CONGRATS! Depending upon the designer of the dress, it could take between 3-6 months for your dress to arrive.

If you haven't picked out a style yet, I suggest you look for a dress that has a corset in the back. I wouldn't order a dress that couldn't be altered at least 1-2 sizes (if needed) but the corset would definitely come in handy!

Good luck with everything!

[Suzzyy]

I had a friend who this happened to. She lost 100 pounds before her wedding and still now 5 years later she is still maintaining !!!! YEAH Peggy !!!!!!
She went to a very expensive and posh bridal shop, just for information, about 14 months before wedding. They helped her with answering her HUNDREDS of questions. What they told her was, DO NOT GET a design in mind. WAIT until the weight comes off. They advised her NOT to go strapless because her arms may not be "toned" enough, (and they were right) they told her to come in 4 months before the wedding and they only showed her dresses that could be ordered within that time and also dresses that could easily be altered that would not change the design of the dress when finished with alterations. This salon also had all the undergarments a bride would need. So with the perfect dress, came the perfect bra, which all of us know how important that is.
She went from a size 26 down to a size 10 and the wedding dress she picked made her waist look like a size 22" and she had a long lace sleeve,(it was June) that hid her "untoned" arms (they are now toned 5 years later) She paid a bit more by going to a very expensive salon but she looked amazing and they helped her choose the perfect dress and their seamstresses were top notch.
I think if you are going to work so darn hard to lose 100 pounds you should treat yourself by getting the best advise out there.
Let me add that 5 years later, Peggy's before and after photos are still hanging in this Bridal Salon. She looked like a princess and couldn't have picked a more perfect gown to accent her small waist and hide her flaws.
GOOD LUCK !!
Suzy

[chickybird]

I picked out my dress 8 months before my wedding; I got a lace up back and talked to them about me weight loss. They didn't believe me when I said I was going to lose 40 pounds before the wedding. I went back 3 months later and was down 40 pounds! They were shocked, but had no problem taking in the dress. They did have to take in the bust so I had to get a special bra to fit the dress.
You can do it!

[BoopRN]

I'm getting married in July 2009 too and I will be getting my dress in Feb/March I have a long way to go with my weight loss but do not want to pay to get another dress if I don't like it when my body changes. I would wait until you are almost at your goal.

[HeatherMcG]

I just wanted to add my opinion. I got married on 6/7/08.
Wedding dress sizes DO NOT correlate with your pant sizes. Believe me.

I had seen a dress and tried it on in the store that I LOVED. However, it was not in my price range. I was surfing Ebay one day and found it! I ordered my dress off of Ebay. It a brand new Alfred Angelo dress that had been ordered at a boutique and the bride never came for it. I got a $900 dress for $265 including shipping. IT HAD NEVER EVEN BEEN TRIED ON!!! I was between a 20-22 the dress on the net was a 26. It came and I tried it on. It was a little big. This happened last August.

May came and I had lost 42lbs and the dress completely hung off of me. It was wayyyyy too big. So I went to the local seamstress she took a total of about 15 in out of the dress and it cost me about $60. However, I do live in a small town and I think I got a deal on the alterations.

So my advice to you is buy it to fit you now. You can always go smaller but very rarely can you go bigger. It also feels nice when they have to cut 15 inches out of a dress because of the hard work you have done!

Also, check the fashion bug and target websites. I discovered during my planning that they have GORGEOUS dresses for less than $200. Just search for "Bridal".

Hope I've helped!