It is never easy to be a plus sized woman, but it can be extra hard when you are in a wedding. Suddenly you are confronted with having to find a wedding gown or bridesmaid dress in which you will feel confident wearing down the aisle in front of all those people. There is nothing helpful about telling a woman who is self-conscious about her weight that she needs to start dieting for her wedding. Let these helpful tips for plus size brides and bridesmaids put the fun back into wedding planning for you.

The best thing you can do for your own sanity is turn a deaf ear to anyone who wants to critique your figure. There is nothing worse for a bride than all the suggestions from relatives that she should wait to shop for a bridal gown until she has lost some weight. It is heartless to insinuate that you are not good enough to be a bride just the way you are, so don’t let them get away with the snarky comments! And if you do intend to lose weight before the wedding, you can let them know that you already want to lose a few pounds, that you don’t need them to remind you about it all the time. Your fiance and your best friends can offer some reassurance that you are great just the way you are.

It is a fact that finding the dress of your dreams can be a little harder when you are not a size 8 or 10. However, there are still some terrific options out there for a bride of any shape or size. Being open to trying different styles is key to a successful shopping trip. The dress that you loved on the model in a bridal magazine might not end up being the most flattering for your figure, while a style you never expected to like could look incredible. A good bridal stylist will make it her mission to help you find the dress that makes you feel incredible. There are many out there who are great at helping plus sized brides feel gorgeous, but unfortunately there are some salons which are not the most friendly to girls who do not fit the sample gowns. Do not think that plus sized brides are limited to shopping in the off the rack section of a big chain store; designer bridal collections can be custom made in any size, and they offer pattern changes to get you the best possible fit.

Many voluptious women find shopping to be a terrible chore, which is only magnified when they are faced with wearing a bridesmaid dress. The biggest problem for bridesmaids is finding a dress that does not make them feel fat. So many bridesmaid dresses are made from flimsy materials that show every little bump or are cut so that they cling in all the wrong places. Have a chat with the bride and mention that you would appreciate that she keeps your figure in mind when picking out the bridesmaid dresses. Try to keep in mind that the bride is in the difficult position of trying to find one dress to please a lot of different women, so you might not love her final selection. Ideally, you will at least be able to agree on a dress that is not totally terrible.

So what can you do if the bridesmaid dress is really unflattering? Sometimes the right wedding accessories can make a world of difference. Draw attention away from a dress that is cut too low with fabulous crystal bridesmaid jewelry like chandelier earrings. For instance, if all the attendants will be wearing sleeveless dresses, you could see if the bride will let you wear a fitted shrug with yours. In addition to the right bridesmaid jewelry and outer accessories, you can work wonders with your undergarments. Slimming garments like Spanx can really make a difference if the dress is clingy over your hips or tummy. A good bra or bustier can help enhance your bustline and get everything up where it belongs. An old fashioned lingerie store is a better place to go than a busy chain in the mall. Your “suit of armor” will give you the confidence you need to feel pretty in that bridesmaid dress.

Finally, don’t be too hard on yourself. Do not let insecurities over a dress derail your enjoyment of the wedding ceremony and reception. Remember that it is your smile and great attitude that will really make you look beautiful!