Petite Wedding Dresses
If you are smaller than the average citizen, especially in North America, you may find it somewhat challenging to find wedding dresses in your size. Petite wedding dresses are not commonly stocked, but we have – of course! – some tips to help you in your quest.
Petite wedding dresses can either be found or created, and we’ll address both.
You will first need to consider what styles will suit your small frame. You do not want to overwhelm your small self with reams of tulle, lace or big puffy sleeves; simple and elegant is best when you’re petite. By narrowing down your choices to something that is simple, you’ll find your search easier and faster.
CREATING A PETITE WEDDING DRESS
As with any item of clothing, wedding dresses can be altered to fit. Certain styles are easier to alter, especially for a petite bride. The simpler the better, and the less detailing the better. That being said, your best bet would be to speak with a tailor or seamstress, either at a local dressmaker’s or at a bridal boutique. Ask around for someone with experience in mending or altering wedding dresses, and ask for tips. He or she will have some good advice about what is possible and practical, to help you narrow down your search even further. Find a dress you love, and be sure it’s alterable to your size for purchasing it.
More bridal salons are offering alterations or custom sizes for petite women. CLICK HERE for a chart from David’s Bridal, one of these forward-thinking providers.
FINDING A PETITE WEDDING DRESS
Of course you should ask around at your local bridal salons for petite wedding dress options as a first step. As a second step, you may wish to visit some culture-specific stores or sections of town. For instance, stores catering to Chinese or Phillipina women tend to stock smaller sizes, as their clientele are often petite.
Take a look online as well, and search for petite wedding dresses; since the internet is global, you may have great luck with ebay, online stores and other petite wedding dress sources. You could potentially get a dress shipped to you and have a seamstress perform any final alterations as necessary.
There you have it! A few starter tips to help in your quest to find a petite wedding dress. Remember to make the most of the wealth of tips found in our recommended Wedding Guides – see the sidebar for details. Happy wedding planning!
