How do i shop for a dress when I'm planning massive weight loss?

Well, the weight loss plan I'm going on is one I did before about 2 years ago. I lost 45 pounds in about 5 months.

If the weight loss doesn't work out, though: are size 20 dresses available off the rack?

Another consideration is that I'm going to have to get heavy alterations anyway because of my height. I was looking, and it seems that the standard length is 63" from the middle of your collarbone to the hem. I'm only 61" tall, so probably a foot of material will have to come off.

Great goals!!! 1-2 lbs a week is totally do-able, especially at first.

Consider: you may not loose weight the way you think you will. Your body may look completely different than you think at -30, -40, etc!

Also, as someone who did take off 40lbs...don't deny yourself the joy of shopping with your new body!! You'll be so overjoyed to see what looks good on your new figure!

Wait for a few months, then shop

Yes plus sizes are available! Just call ahead of time! I'm the same height as you. Taking a dress up is pretty standard.

Purple, where do you live? My friend owns Koda Bridals and she specializes in plus sizes with loads of gowns to try on!

Celia: I live in Chicago.

Too far from pittsburgh, where she is. I've been wailing on her to franchise!!!

I HATE that bridal gowns run so small; i know a number is just a number, but ick!!!! who wants to be three sizes up!

Shop for your body now, it's easier to get a gown taken in then letting one out. Or order from David's Bridal which tends to take less time than other retailers. My gown took 9 months to come in, I was a size four and due to a car accident I was involved in, medications and lack of exercise I went to a size 14 and it's taking much more time than expected to loose the 50 pound weight gain.

I kept saying I was going to lose 30 pounds or so before my wedding....turns out I ended up gaining 15 from stress. Definitely shop for your current size, it's easy to take it in and you don't know where you will lose weight from.

I would begin by seeing your doctor. Ask him what a reasonable and healthy expectation would be. There are many ways to lose weight, and with some of them, you lose your health, as well. I would then go to a bridal salon, not David's Bridal, but a salon run by an individual who has been selling and altereing bridal gowns for years. Share you plan with her. She will have good insight for you.

Beyond that, realize that extreme commitment is what is needed to lose 100 pounds in nine months. If you average 2 pounds a week (sometimes you'll lose three pounds a week, sometimes you'll lose nothing), you probably won't lose more that 70 pounds by September if you are truly committed. I'm all for positive changes, including weight loss. However, be very careful. If you lose it the wrong way, you'll gain it back -- plus more. Start something reasonable. Weight Watchers is probably the best. It's healthy eating. In reality, a committed diet will probably give a 50 - 60 pound weight loss by September.

As far as pushing the wedding date back -- don't do that.

When you try on dresses ask how much they can be altered. When I picked my dress they told me I should get as close a size as possible because they won't be able to alter my dress too much.

My DB rep told me they could take my dress in by 2 sizes. So I would recommend you shop for the size you are or push your wedding up to 2016.

I say your fiancee loves you the way you are, he asked you to marry you now with the weight on! We all want to be our fittest prettiest best on our wedding day, I too struggled with this. I was 30 lbs over weight according to medical guidelines when I got engaged. I told myself over and over I was going to diet exercise make changes, before I even tried on a dress. Guess what? 6 months went by, I didn't lose weight, now I start trying on dresses. I get very down, discouraged, mad at myself for not using the time wisely. Actually, trying on a few dresses and hating my overweight figure in them was the kick in the behind I needed. So I got serious and accountable with myself. I started using myfitnesspal.com and recorded everything I ate, set it to lose 1 1/2 lbs a week, exercise 4-5 days a week. I lost 10 lbs within 1st couple of months (obviously I cheated here and there). Once I lost my 1st 10 lbs I went back to try on dresses again. While I wasn't at my goal weight, I just decided to find a dress that flatters me NOW, then any more weight loss will be an added benefit all around, health wise and to look beautiful and fit on wedding day. The alteration people at the bridal shop told me the particular dress I chose couldn't be altered more than 2 sizes, or else it will compromise some of the details of the dress. They told me 2 sizes is about 15-20 lbs at least in my case. I would start your diet and fitness routine, stay with it, use all resources to stay successful, give yourself about. Month of concentrating on your health and fitness, you will lose some weight and it will give you that boost you need. Find a dress that flatters you now, if possible find a dress that can be altered more than a couple of sizes without compromising any details in the dress, I'm sure the bridal shops can offer their opinions on this, they were very helpful in this area when I went with the intention of losing the weight. Don't wait too much longer, buy the dress that flatters you now and make it even better with weight loss along the way with some alterations. Good Luck!

I'm sure you will be fine to wait. My bigger concern is your description of "Massive weight loss"!? Please don't do that to your body. I think a lot of people have posted to just stick to a healthy 1-2pounds a week, but I think that it would be better to just focus on being healthy and living a healthy active lifestyle. Find an activity that you love and that motivates you to get your running shoes on. AND start with an awesome workout outfit and some good tunes. Good luck! Remember that you FH thinks you're super awesome just the way you are

I have to second MAltese on this, shop for the body you have. I was about 15lbs heavier than I am now when I went dress shopping & I figured if I hadn't lost it by now, I needed to plan on not loosing any more. I did loose more, but It worked out anyway.

Jacquelyn: Don't worry! I don't plan to lose 100 pounds by the wedding! I plan to lose 100 pounds by.... well, the time I lose 100 pounds! But even sticking to a healthy 1 to 2 pounds a week, that could be 40 to 70 pounds by October... which is pretty massive! :-)

I'm glad to hear that purple kitten. Best of luck to you. My gaol is to lose 10lbs although last night we decided to have all you can eat seafood and I even learned how to make clarified butter. Lol, oh well that was last year!

Shop for the body you have now, and then get it altered. easy peasy.