Found the wedding dress , but i still have 18months to go.........i know its exactly what i want and dont want it to slip through my fingers. HOWEVER i want to lose weight , so do i get in a dress size/s smaller as motivation, or can alterations be made at a later date HELP!!!!!

Alterations, alterations, alterations....GO GET YOUR DRESS!

You think that would be okay? it wont spoil the style ??/ Its just the type of dress i wan is hard to come by in traditional bridal shops and I can get it made to fit but not sure for how long it will be available so really want to get it as if i cant get it in say a years time ill be gutted

Get the dress in the size that fits now, the bridal shop is expert at altering dresses to fit.

ask the shop about availability and when is the latest you can order it. They probably have sort of schedule from the manufacturer. And I would ask them about what size vs. how much it can be altered, etc.

Plus, if cost is a factor, you may want to ask about that too, as the more alterations, the more the price goes up, and if you do order to fit now, but lose a lot, you could pay a LOT in alterations, although they should be able to make it work.

Can you ask the shop their opinion on what to do? 18 months gives you loads of time to lose weight AND look for other dresses.

Also, the style may still be available in 6-8 months and you can order it then in a more appropriate size. Or they may be able to tell you if it is selling out, or when it's going to be replaced by next year's style.

According to my seamstress, 10 pounds generally equals 1 dress size. I see from your ticker you are aiming to lose 86 more pounds. It may be hard to estimate which size to order this far in advance?

All that said, I bought my wedding dress in a size that didn't quite fit (it didn't zip all the way up the back). The store told me not to do it, but I did it anyway (it was off the rack on clearance so I figured it was worth the risk).

I took it to a seamstress straight away who told me she could either A) let it out or b) put in a corset back or C) I could wear it the way it was (she got it to zip, but it was super tight) or D) I could lose 10 lbs.

I lost the 10 lbs...

I think there are lots of options if you do decide to buy it in an in between size - putting in a corset back is a popular one, as it allows the dress to be as loose/tight as you need it (within reason).

Good luck!

I think you have a lot of time ahead of you before the wedding, you've been successful so far with your eating plan (ie. you know what you're doing and can continue)... so if it were me I'd order the dress I wanted in a size 3 sizes smaller than I currently am (about halfway to your goal). Then, if you do reach your goal weight before the wedding, the dress would require far less alterations than if you get it in the current size.. plus you'd have a HUGE incentive to continue with your program!

GL!

To be honest, I think you will run across many dream dresses - I'd probably wait until closer to the wedding. You'll be amazed at how much your body changes, along with your preferences for clothing styles.

I mean, capitalism will ensure that you have enough to choose from to find your next dream dress next year.

Thanks guys , im not going to rush i to anything but i really love the dress, i was thinking of getting it in maybe a 14 .......im a size 18 now so thats not to unrealistic is it, and if i ever do get to a 12 then thats only 1 alteration.

Yeah i know theres that aswell, however the dress i have found matches the dress i have had in my head for years, and ive have since found out it is at least a few years old in the bridal world and its no longer stocked. I would only be able to get it 2nd hand or one made as near as possible.

As others have said, wait if at all possible. BUT, if you gotta have it, I wouldn't go below a size 16.

In my experience, I had the same plans as you of dropping all the weight, which became nearly impossible the couple months before the wedding. My dress was a couple sizes small, and I didn't make it....ended up having to let it out a little, which was noticeable if you looked close.

It's must easier to take it in than let it out!

Now, if you actually anticipate that you'll lose 50+ more pounds, wait. As Unna said, you will look so different that another dress may be WAY more flattering.

How about taking a good few photos of it on you and noting down features that you like, and keeping that as useful information to draw on when you're actually closer to the wedding?

18 months is a lot of time - you could change 5 sizes by then! I like the suggestion of asking the shop about future availability from the manufacturer for that style. I know there are some styles that run on for years and years, others that get cancelled/pulled after one 'season'.

You have no way of knowing what SHAPE you will be, let alone what size.

Not everyone loses weight proportionately, and what looks great on one body shape doesn't necessarily flatter another.

I know its impossible to sayhow much i may lose but one thing i know is i will lose something there is NOWAY im getting married at this size , were going abroad for 2 weeks and theres noway im going to ruin my big day through my weight.

I suffer badly abroad in the heat whilst ive been over weight, we went abroad this june and was awful wearnin baggy cover ups whilst slim woman walked round in bikinis .my feet legs , arms and face retain water that i look swollen. And im not prepared to sit by the pool in a cover up whilst my bridesmaids chill out in bikinis. For me this is the greatest motivation and i know if i was to stay this weight id have the most miserable time as i couldnt cope in the heat. Id be happy to be married of course, but i want to feel magic and light on my feet .........and that wont ever happen untill i make it happen. After my holiday in june i have since lost a stone so that alone was motivation.......i want all out guests to gasp when they see me on my wedding day..not cringe lol