The Stunning Plus Size Summer Bride

Editor's note: Below you'll find another blog post from Poplin contributor and plus size fashion guru, Jordan Richardson. Jordan's research on Sizeism was just featured in an article in the Everett Herald. Check it out!Love her and you will, too. Enjoy!

Dear Reader,

This month one of my dear friends got engaged, and it got me thinking about bridal gowns and weddings. She is a magnificent woman and I caught a bit of the wedding bug! So, curled up with a morning cup of tea I lazily scrolled through the wedding tag on Pinterest and Tumblr and got little butterflies of happiness for her. Though talking with a good friend later the same day I reflected that I hadn't seen any plus size brides on the main tag of Pinterest, and very few on Tumblr. I know these brides are out there, so I was confused and sort of hurt. I reached out to one of my friends who is a fierce plus size woman who was married two years ago and asked her about her gown search.

She regaled stories of frustration, excitement, hope, and annoyance as she tried on upwards of 40 gowns at various shops in hopes of finding "the one". After three months of searching through racks of dumpy, frumpy and "boring" dresses, and being shoved and squished into too small sample sizes she finally found one on etsy. Through a family friend who was able to custom make her the gown of her dreams pink rhinestones and all, she ended up with a truly stunning gown that was just so her.

The point of this tale is not to scare or discourage. I understand that trying to find a beautiful and stylish plus size dress that fits one's own style is a very difficult challenge. As is wedding dress shopping for many people. This is to inspire and prove that it is possible. And, as plus size fashion expands and becomes more present we see more and more styles available. As follows, are some great choices for the modern bride, with a bit of assistance with what looks might accentuate all the good in certain body shapes.

A Summer Bride

1. Inverted Triangle

A fuller skirt helps to balance out wider shoulders and the beautiful crystal detailing at the waist visually pulls the eye in. This dress is one of my favorites; it's light and airy for a whimsical or even vintage bride with a wicked sense of style. With the gorgeous v-neck, the line of the neck will be elongated, and the detailing on the dress pulls the eye up to the brides face. This is a beautiful option for a romantic event.

2. Triangle

Balancing a wider hip can be hard, but with the beautiful cut circle skirt on this vintage inspired dress, hips can be balanced to create an hourglass look. With a slight shine, nipped waist and a bit of sleeve, this dress is a vintage dream for the lady looking to show off her gams and jitterbug all night.

3. Hourglass

Honestly I am a huge fan of wedding dresses with a hint of color, or are even a totally different color other than the white neutral palette. But this one for me is the best of both worlds, a bit of color and a bit of the traditional with a whole lot of heat. This is one gorgeously seductive number for the confident and sultry bride. An hourglass figure is enhanced and exaggerated with the wide v neck line and the banded waist.

4. Diamond

This dress is not only affordable but definitely falls under the 'able to wear again' category. With a soft and attractive feel with the layers of lace, this cut is ideal for concealing a fuller stomach. This to me, is such a perfect little summer wedding dress for a bride unafraid of a bit of skin. However it would be equally adorable with a colored or matching shrug or wrap. Also if you really want to re purpose the dress, the fabric of this is dye-able and can easily be converted to the color of your choice.

5. Rectangle

For the bride looking for a dramatic entrance and exit this gown does the trick. The extra volume on bottom with a sweetheart neckline adds curves in all the right places to a more straight figure. This to me is a fun dress, and anyone wearing it is up for a great time at their wedding! Ruffles add a flirty flair and the bling feels modern princess without going overboard.

So, these are just a few of the options out there for the plus size bride. Every day new styles are being added as the demand for stylish gowns for a multitude of styles rises in volume.

Some great resources are the annual Bride issue at Plus Model Magazine, or the wonderful website and magazine over at Pretty Pear Bride. There are more resources than even a few months ago, and it may take a bit of patience and research but your perfect dress is out there!

Happy Shopping,

Jordan

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