Three great plus size bridal stores and other plus size wedding dresses for the full figured bride. (Including Ruben Bridal, The Room at Belladonna Bridal & The Bridal Emporium) By Karen Birney
Main image from David's Bridal, USA
Left: Callista 4144 | Right: Callista 4146
A while ago, we published an article called The Dress for your Body Type. The article's aim was to give a little guidance to brides-to-be who felt a bit lost when it came to the mad bad world of wedding dresses. One reader commented that we had "used size 4-6 models to illustrate the dress styles you are talking about" and thus had rendered the piece obsolete. And she was correct and right to bring up this observation.
Unfortunately, as in mainstream fashion, it is difficult to find images of plus size or full figured models wearing wedding dresses that are not only generally accessible locally, but are also generally accessible financially. Even researching this article on plus size wedding dresses in Ireland, I spent nearly an entire day finding images of stunning dresses on curvy brides. While there are many bridal shops that stock dresses available in a size 16-32, the girls in these dresses on their websites are usually size 10 or 12.
Plus size brides-to-be not only have to tolerate this predicament online, but also in real life when they begin shopping for the dress to wear on the most special day of their lives. Often girls are handed a size 12 dress and told to ‘imagine’ what it will be like on them. Of course it will look great when it’s fitted, because the girls in the bridal stores on WeddingsOnline.ie know what they’re doing, but that’s not the point.
So today we have featured designers and stores in Ireland who provide an exceptionally good service for the fuller figured bride. We guarantee you will come away from any of the below shops feeling inspired and excited about your wedding and completely in love with you curves.
Left: Julietta by Mori Lee 3104 at The Bridal Emporium | Right: Julietta by Mori Lee 3095 at The Bridal Emporium
Julietta by Mori Lee at The Bridal Emporium, Clare
For 50 years Mori Lee has been a prominent fashion fixture in the wedding industry and the appointment of designer Madeline Gardner 17 years ago has made the U.S line go from strength to strength. Their recent venture into Julietta, a range designed specifically with the ‘full figured’ bride in mind, cements the brand as a design favourite all across the western world.
In Julietta, Mori Lee has taken elements from their most popular gowns and reworked them to give more support for the curvaceous bride. The same high quality fabrics and methods utilised in Mori Lee's main line are used on the Julietta line, and each dress is shaped to enhance the figure and to provide elegant, smooth curves. All of the styles in the range combine tradition with trend -classic silhouettes with modern embellishments are the style of choice for the Julietta range. Madeline’s inspiration behind her creations? “I love doing it,” she says, “...I love making girls look pretty and feel good.” And that’s exactly what she does.
Stockist of Julietta, The Bridal Emporium, has a large selection of plus size dresses in their Clare store. Like Madeline at Mori Lee, Anne at The Bridal Emporium’s main aim is to make sure her brides feel good. She operates a policy of appointments only, where you have two hours to yourself to try on as many styles as you wish. This one-to-one appointment guarantees the personal assistance of the girls at The Bridal Emporium as you enjoy yourself in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
To make an appointment at The Bridal Emporium, or to enquire about their ranges click here
Left: Callista 4105 at The Room at Belladonna Bridal | Right: Callista 4097 at The Room at Belladonna Bridal
Callista at Belladonna Bridal, Galway
Callista’s ultra modern dresses in their ‘full figures’ range are a very welcome break for an industry who’s response to a demand for plus size gowns was for years to just provide their styles in a larger range of sizes. Looking at these dresses you can tell they are specifically made to flatter and enhance curves and to inspire confidence and sensuality in women. In fact the idea of this line is the entire opposite of dressing to disguise ‘problem areas’.
Callista designers have been creating gowns specifically for the fuller figured bride for years. Sizes range from 16-32, and the soft lightweight fabrics include chiffons, organza, embroidered tulle and floaty satins. Their attention to detail is evident, with detachable halter necks and wide straps and eye-catching adornments.
This year, Belladonna Bridal reflected Callista’s bespoke quality and exciting outlook, by creating a fabulous exclusive service for curvy brides in Ireland. The Room is Belladonna Bridal’s answer to their brides’ instructions for a unique experience while looking for their perfect dress. “We know that some of these brides put off shopping for their wedding gown for a variety of reasons,” Tina, Sue and Carmel agree, “[perhaps] they’re scared they won’t find anything flattering in their size. More often they don’t know where to go to find their size. Our curvy brides want to turn what often is a difficult and frustrating shopping experience into an easy, rewarding one. After much listening to our brides and much research we have found that there certainly isn’t a lot of choice out there for the curvy bride. With this in mind “The Room at Belladonna” has been born.”
The Room seeks to create a perfectly relaxed and luxurious ambience for brides to feel excited and comfortable as they search for their perfect wedding gown. The Room stocks sizes from 18-32 and the girls have carefully selected particular dresses from an array of lines from Canada, Spain, UK and USA. There’s no doubt the room are dedicated to making the wedding dress shop an experience that brides will want to do all over again.
To make an appointment at Belladonna Bridal, or to enquire about their ranges click here
Both gowns from Ruben Bridal
Bonny at Ruben Bridal - The Plus Size Bridal Shop, Kildare
Bonny originates in the U.S in 1983 and specialises in creating beautifully romantic wedding gowns. Very much a family business, the company now provide their hand-made, hand-sewn designer dresses to reputable bridal stores in countries all over the world. In 2005 they introduced their Unforgettable collection after consulting with ‘fuller figured’ brides across the USA and the UK for their individual needs in a wedding gown. Their Unforgettable collection is specifically for plus size brides with their needs in the design and fit.
A stand-out favourite among the brides on WeddingsOnline, Ruben Bridal is Ireland’s leading exclusive plus-size bridal store. A name that comes up time and time again when it comes to full figure wedding dresses, this store is a must visit if you’re looking for ‘the one’ in a super friendly, super fun atmosphere. Ruben’s own Janet and Catherine are name checked way too often to keep account of for their excellent service and professional yet open manner, and their range of dresses are hard to beat. Ruben only carries dresses in 16-32, and their aim is to make bridal dress shopping a pleasurable experience, and to make sure you find a dress that makes you feel amazing. The only problem will be making excuses to get back there for another great day!
To make an appointment at Ruben Bridal, or to enquire about their ranges click here
Left: Feerie by Cymbeline | Right: Frivole by Cymbeline
Left: Julietta by Mori Lee 3103 | Right: Julietta by Mori Lee 3103
Latest related content on the WeddingsOnline.ie forums:
> Any plus size brides??
> Plus size girls...
Related Content
Like this?
Comments
Have something to say about this article? Leave a comment!
Submitted by Ruth McHale on Tuesday 24 April 2022