If you take one thing from this guide, make it this: bridal sizing is not the same as the sizing on your high-street clothes. Bridal sizes typically run one to two sizes smaller. The dress size you wear day to day is rarely the size you'll order for your wedding.
This isn't a trick — it's a legacy of how bridal patterns were standardised decades ago, and most manufacturers still follow it. So ignore the number, measure yourself, and go by the chart.
The three measurements that matter
You need a soft measuring tape and, ideally, a second person. Measure over the underwear you plan to wear on the day, or something similar in thickness.
1. Bust
Measure around the fullest part of your bust, keeping the tape parallel to the floor and level across your back. Don't pull tight — the tape should sit snug but not compress.
2. Waist
This is your natural waist, not your trouser waistband. It's the narrowest part of your torso, usually about an inch above your belly button. Bend to one side — the crease that forms is your natural waist.
3. Hips
Measure around the fullest part of your hips and seat, generally 7-9 inches below your natural waist. Keep your feet together.
How to read a bridal size chart
Compare all three measurements to the chart. You will very likely land across two or three different sizes — almost nobody matches one size exactly.
The rule: always order the largest size indicated. If your bust says size 10, your waist says size 8 and your hips say size 12, order the 12.
A seamstress can take a dress in. Letting a dress out is far harder, and often impossible — most gowns simply don't have enough seam allowance, particularly in lace or beaded fabrics.
Budget for alterations
Nearly every wedding dress needs some alteration. This is completely normal and not a sign you ordered wrong. Typical work includes taking in the bodice, hemming the length to your shoes, and adding a bustle so you can dance in a train.
Set aside a realistic alterations budget and book a fitting six to eight weeks before the wedding.
Silhouettes that are more forgiving
If you're between sizes or buying well ahead of the day, some shapes give you more room to manoeuvre:
- A-line — skims from the waist, forgiving through the hip
- Ball gown — fitted bodice, full skirt; hip measurement matters much less
- Empire — sits under the bust and falls loose below
Fitted shapes such as mermaid, trumpet and sheath follow your body closely, so measurements need to be accurate.
Common mistakes worth avoiding
- Ordering your street size. The single most common sizing error.
- Ordering a smaller size to motivate weight loss. Order for the body you have. Taking a dress in is straightforward.
- Measuring over thick clothing. It can add a full size.
- Measuring yourself alone. Reaching around your own back tilts the tape and skews the number.
- Guessing. Five minutes with a tape measure saves a great deal of stress later.
Still unsure?
Send us your three measurements and the dress you're considering, and we'll tell you honestly which size we'd order. We would far rather spend two minutes helping you get it right than have a dress arrive that doesn't fit.