Wedding dress sizes and fit

Sizes from 34 to 74, measurements, underwear and everything about the dress fitting correctly.

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Why are wedding dress sizes smaller than the clothes I normally buy?

Bridal sizes are based on old European measurements and come up one to two sizes smaller than ordinary clothes. If you normally wear a size 40, you may well end up in a 42 or 44 in a wedding dress. Nobody sees the number in the dress on the day, and it says nothing about you. When you come for a fitting, we measure your bust, waist and hips, so you try the right size from the start. See more in our size guide.

Which measurements should I take to find my wedding dress size?

You need three measurements: bust over the fullest point, waist at the narrowest point and hips over the widest. Add the height from shoulder to floor in the shoes you expect to wear. Measure with a soft tape measure over close-fitting clothes, not over a jumper, and don't pull your tummy in. If you come into the shop to try on wedding dresses, we measure you so you don't have to guess. Compare your measurements with our size guide.

I am between two sizes – which wedding dress should I choose?

Choose the larger size and let the seamstress take it in. You can always remove fabric, but there are limits to how much can be let out. If the wedding dress has a corset back, it often covers the whole difference without a single seam. Feel free to try both sizes with us if we have them, because it is often the shoulders and bust that decide which one feels right. Read about alterations with our seamstress.

Should I choose a size up and have the wedding dress taken in?

No, not as a rule. With us you do not order a dress in, so you choose the wedding dress that actually fits best now. If you are between two sizes, take the larger one, because taking in is simpler than letting out. Do not go two sizes up hoping to save something, because then the whole dress has to be rebuilt, and that costs more than the difference. Read about our tailoring and alterations.

Should I buy a smaller wedding dress if I expect to lose weight?

No, buy the wedding dress for the body you have now. A dress that fits can always be taken in further, but a dress that is too small can rarely be saved. If you lose weight before the day, it costs a trip to the tailor. If the dress has a lace-up back, it follows you down a couple of sizes without any seam work at all. Read more about alterations in our sewing and alterations FAQ.

What do I do if I gain weight after buying my wedding dress?

Contact the tailor as soon as you notice the wedding dress has become tight, because there is almost always a solution. A lace-up back gives a couple of sizes, and most dresses have a few centimetres of seam allowance that can be let out. Do not wait until the week before the wedding, because the earlier you come, the more options the tailor has. It happens to many brides. See what our tailor can help with.

Which sizes do you have wedding dresses in when I come for a fitting?

We have wedding dresses from about size 34 to size 74, and they hang mixed together instead of being split into a small and a large section. That means you can browse the whole shop and not just one corner of it. Write your size when you book, and we will pull out models in it before you arrive in Hvidovre. Find your measurements in our size guide.

Do you have wedding dresses in larger sizes that I can try in my own size?

Yes, we have wedding dresses up to size 74, and we count plus size from size 46. It is not two rails at the back of the shop: you try dresses in your own size instead of standing in a size 38 held together with clips at the back. Write your size when you book, and the dresses will be hanging ready when you arrive. See our plus size wedding dresses.

From which size do you count a wedding dress as plus size?

We count a wedding dress as plus size from size 46, which corresponds to 3XL. Size 44 and XXL we still count as regular sizes, because there is plenty of choice in them. We say this clearly because the term plus size is used very differently, and you should not make a wasted trip. If you are looking for size 46 and up, write to us, and we will tell you how many we have right now. See our plus size wedding dresses.

Which wedding dress silhouettes suit me best as a plus-size bride?

A-line and empire are the safe silhouettes for a plus size bride, because they define the waist and let the rest fall freely. But mermaid also suits many, and it is a shame to skip it if you are drawn to it. Look for built-in support in the bodice and a fabric with some weight. Try two completely different cuts side by side, and you will see for yourself what works. See our plus size wedding dresses.

Do the wedding dresses have built-in support and cups, or do I need to sort that myself?

Many of our wedding dresses have built-in support, especially in the larger sizes, where there are often bones in the bodice and cups in the top. If your dress does not, our tailor can sew cups in, and it does not cost much. Feel the bodice when you try it on: if you can press the fabric together without resistance, there is no support, and then you know what needs doing. Read about our tailoring and alterations.

Does a wedding dress in a large size cost extra with you?

No, the same model costs the same with us, whether it is a size 38 or a size 62. We do not add a surcharge for extra fabric, and we do not have a more expensive rail for large sizes. Some shops and factories do, which is why we are often asked. The prices are on the dresses in the showroom, so you can see them for yourself. See our plus size wedding dresses.

How large a wedding dress size can you order in?

We do not order dresses in, but we have wedding dresses up to size 74 in the shop, which is larger than most bridal shops can offer. If you need more room in a single measurement, the tailor can often let it out or add a panel to a lace-up back. Send us your measurements, and we will tell you what we have right now. You can contact us here.

Do you also have dresses for bridesmaids and little children that go with the wedding dress?

Now and then, yes: we have short and small dresses, including confirmation dresses, which many people use for bridesmaids. Because we buy in single pieces, the selection changes all the time. Bring a photo of your wedding dress, as it makes it easier to see which colours go with it. Write and ask what we have in the size you are looking for before you drive to Hvidovre, so you save the trip if we have nothing right now. See our confirmation dresses.

Do I need a special bra under my wedding dress?

It depends on the wedding dress. If it has built-in cups and boning, you do not need a bra, and that applies to many of our models. If the back is open or the neckline deep, you will need a strapless bra, one with detachable straps or adhesive cups. Try the solution under the dress in the shop while the dress is still here, not the day before the wedding. Read more in our accessories FAQ.

Do I need shapewear under my wedding dress?

Only if you want to. Smooth shapewear removes seams and edges under a close-fitting fabric such as crepe or satin, and that is the best reason to wear it. Choose a piece you can bear to wear for twelve hours, and buy it before the wedding dress is altered, so the seamstress measures with it on. Try it under the dress in the shop. Read about the fitting with our seamstress.

Do I need an underskirt or petticoat under my wedding dress?

Only if the wedding dress needs more volume than it has on its own. A ball gown or a full tulle skirt becomes rounder with a petticoat underneath, while an A-line or slip dress should be allowed to fall as it does. Try the dress with and without, and you will see the difference at once. We have underskirts in the shop that you can borrow for the fitting. See our bridal accessories and veils.

Should I wear tights under my wedding dress, or go without?

In summer most brides go without, and in winter thin, light tights are nice when you go outside for photos. If you have new shoes or tend to get blisters, a pair of thin stockings makes a difference on a long day. Choose them without a pattern so they don't show through a wedding dress in a light fabric. Put a spare pair in your bag, as they ladder easily. Find the shoes to match in our FAQ about bridal shoes.

How do I stop my strapless wedding dress from slipping down?

A strapless wedding dress should fit so snugly that you can slide two fingers into the top edge and no more. If there is room for a whole hand, it will slip. Silicone tape inside the edge helps, and our tailor can sew it in together with a small take-in over the bust. Raise your arms and bend forward when you try the dress in the shop, and you will know whether it stays put. Read about our tailoring and alterations.

How do I avoid getting too hot in my wedding dress at a summer wedding?

Choose a breathable fabric and keep the number of layers down, because it is the layers and not the colour that make you warm. An extra layer of shapewear makes a hot day hotter. Make sure you have water and a few breaks in the shade, and bring tissues for sweat along the edges of the dress. Try the wedding gown last in the fitting, when you have already warmed up, so you feel how it really is. More about hot days in our FAQ about season and weather.

How do I go to the toilet in my wedding dress on the day itself?

The easiest way is to get help: take a friend or your mum in with you, turn your back to the toilet, and let her hold the skirt up in front of you like a curtain. With a big skirt this works better than trying to gather the fabric yourself. A two-piece or a slim wedding dress is easiest to manage alone. Practise it once during the fitting, so you don't have to think about it. More practical advice in our FAQ about emergencies on the day.

I am still breastfeeding – are there wedding dresses you can breastfeed in?

Yes, there are wedding dresses you can breastfeed in. A two-piece is the easiest, because you simply lift the top, and a dress with a front zip, a wrap bodice or a low, stretchy neckline also works. A strapless dress with a corset causes the most trouble. Mention that you are breastfeeding when you book, and we will put out the models that work for it. Read more in our special situations FAQ.