Trying to find your size for REGULAR clothes is hard enough, let alone trying to find your wedding dress size! And being able to find the proper wedding dress size for you is especially important if you’re buying a dress online. While it seems complicated, there are a few tricks that will help you find the perfect wedding dress size for your body. So grab a cloth tape measurer (this kind is always good) and get started. But first, you’ll want to know WHERE you’ll be measuring, and what these terms mean:
SEE MORE: 12 Things Nobody Tells You About Wedding Dress Shopping
BUST:
You’ll want to wear an unpadded bra and measure across the fullest part of your bust. You can’t just use your bra size equivalent, so remember that!
NATURAL WAIST:
This is the slimmest part of your waist and is located about 1 inch up from your belly button.
HIPS:
Standing with your feet together, measure across the fullest part of your hips and bum (about 9 inches down from your natural waist). Some places refer to this as your low hip. If you are asked for your “high hip” measurement, this would be the very top of your hip bones.
There are several length measurements you might need as well.
Once you have your measurements you might be surprised to learn that wedding dress sizes run small. So while you might be an 8 in other clothes, some wedding dress designers might have you in a 12 instead. And on top of that, some designers might consider your dress a plus size if it’s over 12, 14, or 16. It can be downright frustrating to figure out exactly what size you are!
Special Note: If you find yourself between sizes ALWAYS ORDER UP. No matter if you order your wedding dress online or in the store, chances are you will have to get it altered to fit you like a glove, so it’s always better to have to take a dress in than out.
Wondering if your size falls into a special category? Read our guide to plus-size wedding dresses here!
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