Being petite is great but finding clothes can be challenging, especially finding a petite wedding dress. Like all brides, you are looking for something that will fit perfectly and make you shine on your wedding day. However, sometimes just altering a gown that isn’t geared towards petite bodies can really change the look, especially any intricate work on the bodice or cutting off beautiful details off hems.
Things to consider when shopping, if you can find a designer that has petite sizing that would be the best place to start. If not, remember to think about the alterations when you are trying on pieces. You don’t want to fall in a love with a piece and realize the things you adore about the gown will be gone after you take up the hem or you shorten the torso. Also think about how much fabric is involved. Petite girls can definitely wear a ball gown, but you don’t want the bottom half to be so large you are drowning. In this case, less is more.
For more inspiration and tips, here is a round up of gowns from popular designers that are sure to look beautiful on a petite bride. We want to help inspire you in finding your perfect petite wedding dress.
David’s Bridal
David’s Bridal has a fairly large selection of gowns that come in petite sizing. Their gowns are reasonably priced, so this could be a great place to find your dress.
Tip: Things to look out for are the same patterns or details throughout the torso. If you have to alter the length or the sides you aren’t worried about cutting off the pattern because it covers the entire piece.
Demetrios
They don’t have specific petite sizing, but they do have some amazing gowns that can be altered for a petite frame.
Tip: Try an over coat or an over skirt to help create some volume if you can’t find a ball gown that fits just right. You shouldn’t shy away from trying on a ball gown, but remember they could be overwhelming and choosing an a-line may have a similar effect for a petite frame.
Galia Lahav
Popular designers will design for a traditional height and length, but it shouldn’t deter you from trying on their gowns. Just go for the silhouettes that are lengthening.
Tip: If you have a wide budget getting most gowns custom tailored or even custom made with a designer is possible. If you’re on a budget remember the more things to alter, the higher the extra costs. Boning (the hard pieces within a corset top), are one of the most difficult things to alter. Keep that in mind if keeping within a certain budget is your priority!
Galvan London
There’s never been a better time to keep things simple. If you’ve never dreamed about a big wedding gown (or a gown at all), a simple dress that fits and hugs you in all the right places is perfect.
Peter Langner
Don’t be afraid to go short. Just because you’re petite doesn’t mean you don’t have great body features. Going short will help balance out your frame, but you can also highlight your assets in a different way. This could be something to consider if you’re not tied to a traditional concept of a wedding dress.
Revolve
Look for gowns from regular retailers. White has always been a staple color for fashion. And with the increase of courthouse and micro weddings, many brides are not looking for a traditional gown. If you’re one of those, then looking at regular retailers that sell dresses in general may be the way for you to find your hidden gem. It also widens the scope for you to find more petite sizing.
Eva Lendel
Try on shapes you’ve never thought of. Even with all the tips and tricks, no petite body is the same. If you’re curvier, a wrap dress might be perfect so it hugs you in all the right places. If you’re on the slimmer side, a more form fitting dress could be the way to go.
Tip: At the end of the day it’s your wedding and you should feel your absolute best. Do not stop yourself from trying on something just because someone told you it might not look good. Just try the dress on and decide for yourself! It it doesn’t work, don’t dwell on it and just think you are one step closer in finding your dress.
Lace and Liberty
If you really cannot find what you need, getting a gown custom made might be for you. Lace and Liberty have gowns you can choose from that are made to measure. They also have the service of completely customizing your gown so you are getting exactly what you want.
Final Thoughts
No matter how many tips and tricks you find, the best way to find out if something works is to try it on. Don’t be afraid to try on different shapes and silhouettes if you’ve had your eye on something. The worst that can happen is it’s not the right dress for you, the best thing, it can be the gown of your dreams!
