Edit: I just wanted to say thank you for all your support and beautiful words. And obligatory “Good Gravy! This blew up!!” I wasn’t expecting this at all, but I truly appreciate it and am humbled by it.

I wanted to add an edit to give the biggest shout out and well deserved credit to our photographer Ashley Biltz who is based in NOLA (@ashleybiltzphoto) She honestly made our day a thousand times more magical. Not only is she incredibly talented, she is also exactly the person you want next to you if you are getting married. . She’s warm, thoughtful, has great ideas and suggestions, reliable, and is the ultra hype-woman who is by your side gassing you up and scream-shouting compliments to you the entire time. She is a gem of a person and I adore her. I cannot recommend her enough.

I also wanted to give a [link to the dress](https://missjophiel.com/products/straps-v-neck-floral-embroidery-long-dress-mj2023287?_pos=10&_sid=3949b460e&_ss=r&variant=44767820021913) I bought from Miss Jophiel. Her designs are beautiful, affordable, high quality, and very customizable. I needed a couple small alterations, but nothing major and I have never felt more beautiful than in that dress. And yes, I do wear it around the house because I am still obsessed with it.
I also HIGHLY recommend getting your measurements taken professionally, though. It’s well worth it to have someone with experience rather than doing it yourself.

Original Post:

I posted this in a couple wedding subs, and someone suggested that I post here as well. These are photos from our elopement in New Orleans last year. It couldn’t have been more perfect. And I apologize in advance for the lengthy post.

I am 42yrs old, and a street size 18 on top and 24 on bottom. I knew I was going to have a tough time, but I tired on soooooooo many dresses and had an abjectly miserable time. I am pear shaped so nothing fit my shoulders and my hips at the same time. Everything made me look like I either got caught in a ship’s main sail, or like a bedazzled sausage. Half the dresses I liked didn’t come in my size or were crazy expensive because it had to be customized. I went alone to most of my try-ons, because I didn’t want to feel embarrassed or feel like I “had” to pick something I didn’t like. I cried in a lot of dressing rooms and went on many feminist rants about the wedding industry to my (now) husband.

I found my dress through MissJophiel, after searching for dresses similar to The Whispering Forest dress which was way out of my budget. I had it custom made to my measurements, and it is high quality, comfortable, and extremely affordable. ($650.) I was so nervous ordering a custom dress that I couldn’t see or try, but it was more than I could have hoped for. I had to have minor alterations, but it was really close to perfect and very well made. When I had my final alterations appointment, I felt “it.” That feeling they talk about when brides find their dress. I cried joyful tears, and felt more at home in my body than I had in a long time.

If I can give any advice to someone who may find themselves in a similar situation, please listen to yourself and what YOU want and what makes your heart sing. Even after getting my dress, I second guessed myself because my mother’s voice in my head kept telling me it was “too young for a middle aged bride” or that “it isn’t white.” (Needless to say, we eloped for a reason. )
You should feel gorgeous every single, breathing moment of your life, and extra spectacular on your wedding day. Not because you “have such a pretty face for a big girl” or because you need to “lose x amount of lbs before the wedding” or even because you “deserve “ it. “Deserves”implies that you had to do extra work or make sacrifices to obtain it. It makes it easier for others to allow you to claim your own power and beauty. That’s some fucking bullshit. That should be your baseline, and not something anyone else needs to give you permission to do. Take the risk and claim the prize, it’s worth it.

Yesterday was so amazing and beautiful. 🤩 was everything i could of dreamed of

I fell in love with this dress from JessaKae when I started wedding planning. I’ve lost about 60lbs and was really unsure on the sizing, and had to have it altered down a size in the waist and chest, and this pic is from when I picked it up from the seamstress last weekend. I get married this Saturday and am suddenly wondering if I should have gone more traditional! 😆

Hi all! I had posted last week and there was a TON of discourse about the tulle sleeves/straps that originally were going to be worn off the shoulder. I went back and forth on whether to remove them or wear them higher up on my shoulders, and there were so many helpful and wonderfully supportive comments so I felt like an update was necessary! My wedding day was beautiful and I felt beautiful in my dress. Thank you to everyone that commented on that original post! ❤️

Had so much anxiety about how I would look in photos but it all melted away the moment my husband and I were together for our ceremony.

Edit: Everyone! Thank you for your warm words and congratulations! My heart was already so full from getting married and seeing the photos, and now it's overflowing with happiness from your kindness. Thank you thank you thank you!

i couldn’t be happier about my dress! i think it’s so romantic and chic :,) tysm curve bridal collection in jacksonville florida for this beaut!!! xx

My husband and I got married in Chicago last weekend on a boat surrounded by 70 loved ones. The weather was better than expected. The river views were stunning and the fireworks at the end of the night made it magical! Things were not executed exactly as planned, but my coordinator made sure all was handled without my knowledge. It was a great night, but I am so happy it is over and we just have great memories and no more planning!

Azazie came through! I was nervous but I went to a bridal store and everything was so expensive. I tried a few for size and bought online!!

I have never felt more beautiful and it was an incredible day with so much help and participation from our amazing friends and family. We had a handmade cake topper, Lego flowers on every table and overall just turned out incredible. I did my own makeup, my friends helped with my hair and my dress is from Avery Austin. I’m probably going to sell it so if you’re interested, DM me!

Most of these were taken in the amazing Bizzell Library at the University of Oklahoma ♥️

Im so excited that I had to share. My dress has come back. Its the Milla Nova Minora gown. I ordered custom sizing and its perfect. Other than the hem line, I dont need any alterations. I was stressed leading up to this. Now the pressure is on to not lose or gain a pound/inch. Im in awe. I havent wanted much of the wedding except my dress. I just needed to share🥰🥰🥰.

I found my dress! I was so nervous about it fitting and being slightly out of budget but I know I will feel confident day of. I can't wait to bring it home in 4 months. I feel like I am going to try it on all of the time between now and next September.

Edit: thank you for all the advice on the bust area. Many wedding dress studios will have you try on dresses without a bra, to better see what you will need in regard to undergarments. This is me without any support besides the dress. The bust area will look different for the wedding.

I was honestly losing hope after trying so many wedding dresses that just were not me. I took a chance on this Shein dress and I am actually obsessed with it. I can finally say I found the one! Now I am just stuck on the veil length. Should I go with a long dramatic one or a short one that hits just above my waist? I am a July bride so I really need to decide soon. What do you think would look better?

Hi brides to be! I have started my wedding dress search, I guess I am looking for some reassurance. Long story short, a few health issues have made me gain significant weight in the past few years, and it is something I am trying to make peace with. I also had a big surgery a few months ago and had big complications with healing which has also impacted my body shape, so yeah I am going through it 😅

I started my dress search and in the country I am in, it is hard to find plus size wedding dresses that don’t look like they are designed for a more “mature” woman. I found one dress that I like, but I didn’t feel that magic “this is the one” feeling that some people have. Honestly I think I have issues just seeing my current body which is something I am working on, I am just finding it hard looking at all these dresses modelled on bridal websites in bodies that look nothing like mine, and going to a shop full of hundreds of dresses, but being told I can only try on the 5 plus size ones they have.

Anyway, I am looking for kind and honest feedback, and thank you for reading through my rant 😂

The first of our wedding photos came out and I just wanted to share that I felt like a princess ☺️💕

Did my first try on and fell in love with this 😍

Getting married in a gardens abroad so love the floral

But should I keep looking?

Update EDIT: THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. I've not felt this much love online ever 💞 you'll be pleased to know I've booked in for my measurements 😀

Picked something different and it went down a storm. From reactions from guests it had the wow factor. It does have a big underskirt otherwise it would’ve been flat. My point is be brave, take a leap of faith, but most importantly enjoy xx

It was the best day and I loved my dress!

I went to a sample sale in June 2025, about a year before my spring 2026 wedding, and bought my dream dress final sale. Regularly $6k, I got it for $500. The only thing was it wouldn't close. The salesperson said it was 1-2 inches from closing, which was honestly perfect because I'm on GLP1s and my wedding was a year away. But when I got home I had my friend help me put it on and it was actually 4.5 inches from closing (and she was really pulling it).

I'm now 6 months into this journey and what I've learned is it was a mistake. I've been dieting harder, going to the gym, and it's just a large layer of added stress that I realize now I didn't need to submit to. I've always liked how I looked and felt, so it just feels so arbitrary and unnecessary.

After 6 months of work, the dress is now 2 inches from closing, which is good progress, but it means I have to spend the next 4 months working just as hard. It means I have to diet on my bachelorette. I love the back of the dress, and really don't want to turn it into a corset, and there isn't much seam allowance to take it out. I wish I had just bought a dress that fits.

And of course no shade to anyone losing weight for their wedding, this has just been my personal experience.

We tied the knot! Happy with how it all came together and our guests leaned into the '20s & '30s theme. So many great memories from our day 💞

I told my (now) husband two months before our 8th anniversary that I wanted to marry him. He accepted the next day. It wasn’t anything we expected to do, but I love being married! We had three people there, and didn’t tell anyone until it was done. It was delicious having a secret!

Hi! I just wanted to share some exciting news…

I found THE dress! I can’t wait to see it altered to me.