Why Wedding Dress Sizes Are So Different From Your Normal Clothing Size

You may usually wear a size 12, then begin trying on wedding dresses and find yourself looking at a size 14, 16 or even 18.

It can feel surprising, but bridal sizing is very different from everyday clothing sizing.

At Accapella Bridal, we focus far less on the number inside the gown and far more on finding the size that gives us the best foundation for a beautiful fit.

Why Are Wedding Dress Sizes Different?

There is no universal sizing system in bridal.

We source gowns from designers in different countries, and each label works from its own size chart and grading. This means a size 12 in one wedding dress may fit very differently from a size 12 in another.

So if you usually wear a size 10 and your wedding gown is ordered as a 14, it simply means that size best matches your measurements in that designer's chart.

We Order From Measurements, Not Clothing Labels

When we order your gown, we work from your measurements rather than your usual clothing size.

Your bust, waist and hips are compared with the designer's size chart, but very few bodies fall neatly into one size.

You may measure one size through the bust, another at the waist and another through the hips.

That is completely normal.

We also consider the cut of the gown, its construction and the designer's grading — the way measurements change between sizes.

A fitted crepe gown, a structured corset and a full ballgown all require us to look at sizing differently.

Rather than simply matching you to a number, we look at your proportions, the gown itself and what will give us the best starting point for your body.

Bigger Is Not Always Better

There is a common assumption that a wedding dress should simply be ordered to the largest measurement and then taken in.

Sometimes that is the right choice. Sometimes it is not.

Wedding gowns can often be taken in, but many can also be let out, depending on the construction of the dress and the seam allowance available.

For one bride, we may choose a size based on the hip and refine the bodice later. For another, the grading and construction of the gown may give us flexibility elsewhere.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach.

We look at what will work best for your individual body and your chosen gown.

Sample Gowns Are Just That — Samples

Bridal boutiques generally carry one sample of each gown, rather than every design in every size.

That means the dress you fall in love with may be smaller or larger than the size we would eventually order for you.

We may clip a larger sample to show the shape more clearly, or a smaller sample may not close completely at the back.

Neither is an indication of how your correctly ordered gown will fit.

When we help you try on a dress, we are looking beyond the temporary fit of the sample and considering the shape, structure, proportions and overall balance of the gown on you.

The Number Is Not the Fit

It is easy to become focused on the size written inside a wedding dress.

But that number is simply part of the designer's sizing system.

Nobody at your wedding will know what is written on the label.

They will see you in a gown that has been chosen and fitted beautifully.

Wedding Dress Alterations Are Separate

Even when we order the most appropriate size, it is completely normal for a wedding gown to require alterations.

Wedding dresses are made to standard measurements. Bodies are individual.

A gown may need to be taken in or let out. The waist may need refining, straps shortening, the neckline adjusting or the hem altered to suit your height.

This does not mean the wrong size was ordered. It is simply the process of tailoring a standard-size gown to your body.

Alterations are also a separate service from purchasing your wedding dress.

You are welcome to book your alterations with Connie, or you may choose another experienced bridal seamstress or alterations specialist.

There is no obligation to have your alterations completed through Accapella Bridal.

So What Wedding Dress Size Should You Be?

The size that gives us the best starting point for your gown.

Different designers use different charts. Grading varies. Gown construction varies. Body proportions vary.

At Accapella Bridal in Wollongong, we consider all of those things before recommending which size to order.

We are not simply matching you to a number.

We are looking at what will work best for you and your dress.

So if your everyday clothing says size 12 and your wedding dress says size 16?

It is simply a size label inside a beautiful gown.