Weddingbee Blog

You know what I’m talking about, my wedding dress.  My wedding dress fits and she fits well.

This is a big.deal.  Last time I tried on my dress I had a meltdown.  Needless to say, I had some nerves going into this appointment.  Fortunately, the whole atmosphere of this appointment was different.  We have a family friend doing the alterations (we’ll call her L) and she takes appointments in her home.  A home I used to play in as a kid.  It was relaxed, casual, and took place in the late evening.  My other appointment was fast, impersonal, and took place at the end of a Friday when everyone (understandably) just wants to go home.

Plus, I had a new bra.  The main reason my dress didn’t fit the first time was due to the bra they sold me when I purchased my gown.  I really did LOVE my consultant from the Wedding Shoppe, Inc. but she didn’t know bras at all, and I was sorely misguided.

So this time I went to a bra specialist at a store called {intimacy} in Chicago.  This place was amazing!  I scheduled an appointment and explained to the girl exactly what I was searching for and she brought me two options, one of which was perfect.  Going this route was a bit pricier than buying from a department store or even a bridal salon, but I’ll be able to wear the strapless bra again, and it’s worth the price to avoid pulling up the top of my dress all night.  Plus, because it fits tight to my body instead of adding unnecessary bulk, it makes my dress fit even better and that’s priceless to me.

My modesty left me long ago so for those interested, here is my miracle bra.

But a good bra wasn’t the only reason my dress fit better. Below is the face of relief.  It’s not a pretty face, but it’s a real face.

Hive, it’s amazing what five pounds can do.  Do not underestimate the five pound weight loss.  Things shift, your face is less swollen, and overall you just feel better.

I know I’m never going to be a size two, I know I’ll always be curvy (thankyouverymuch), and I have zero delusions about drastically losing a ton of weight for just one day.  But you can eat less, eat better, and feel better for your wedding if you so desire.  We all want to look our best on our wedding day, we want to love our photos, and we want to feel amazing, and in my opinion that’s worth some lifestyle changes.

For me, it’s not about exercise.  My back doesn’t allow me to do the things that most people do to lose weight.  My most recent weight lose was done by portion control, lots of fruit and veg, and tons of walking.

I am also trying to focus on working out my arms and getting rid of my arch nemesis, upper back fat, but I do this by way of resistance bands and planks in my own living room.  I don’t go to the gym anymore, I was advised to avoid running at all costs, and even my workout DVD’s stay on the shelf these days because they aren’t worth the nerve pain they shoot down my legs.  For me, it’s more important to be able to walk down the aisle pain-free than to look skinny.

That said, it is possible!  (And no one eats as many desserts as me, trust me, no one.)  Due to a stomach bug post-Christmas, I’ve managed to lose almost another five pounds, much to the chagrin of family friend L.  :)  We’ll see if I can keep it off now that I’m eating normally again.

(all photos personal)

Anyone else lose a small amount of weight but notice a big difference in how their wedding dress fits?  Evie and I are buddies once again.  I’m getting so excited for March!  How are your fittings going?