There is no need to sacrifice your wedding glam just because you are expecting. A pregnant bride has all the right to be proud and be gorgeous at her wedding just like anyone else. You just need to pay a bit more attention to details when you shop for your wedding dress. As long as you have a good plan to match your wedding date with your pregnancy timeline and make appropriate choices for your wedding outfit, you will still be able to shine on your wedding day. Here are some tips to pick the perfect maternity wedding dress. 

Choose a suitable silhouette

A big decision that you will have to make before searching for your perfect wedding dress is whether you want to highlight or conceal your baby bump. It is interesting that most Asian brides opt to hide her news at the wedding due to the old tradition. However, you can also make your little one a highlight of your wedding. Each decision can lead to a different choice of wedding dress silhouette. A-line or empire waist dresses are among the most popular choices for brides who don’t want to draw attention to her waistline due to their flowy and comfortability. In contrast, mermaid and sheath are the curve-hugging wedding dress styles that can put your bundle of joy into the spotlight. Having a wedding dress style in mind will reduce your trial effort and save lots of your energy.

Inform the bridal salon ahead of time

It will be helpful for you to do research beforehand and make appointments with salons that are more accommodating for pregnant brides. Try to figure out whether the salon you like carries maternity wedding dress collections or not. Some of them might focus on the tightly fit dress and non-stretchable materials that might not be the best fit for pregnant brides. Instead of jumping into multiple visits to salons, pick ones that can provide the service you need first to save your effort. Before you head to a bridal salon, you can talk to their sales reps and let them know your needs ahead of time. The wedding dress consultants normally have experience in suggesting different shapes and styles based on brides’ body type so that they can give you a lot of valuable recommendations. If they know your special needs prior to your visit, they can pre-select the suitable ones for you. This applies to not only the bridal salon but also your makeup artist or spa treatments on your beauty schedule. Be sure to inform them ahead of time so that they can have suitable options for you.  

Find a maternity-friendly material

When you try your wedding dress, pay attention to the touch and feel of the materials. It is advisable that pregnant brides should consider more stretchy or flowy materials for their wedding outfits. They should give enough room to breathe and accommodate all your wedding day activities. Chiffon, organza, or even jersey are more favorable options. You might want to avoid satin and silk as they are more likely to hug your body curve and show your waistline. In addition, a sequin might not be the best bet either as it is not only tight but also adds some visual weight to your body. If you want to have a lacy dress, choose the pattern carefully to make sure your look is not too chunky.

Go with comfy shoes

Good shoes take you to good places. This important part of your outfit will be your best friend for a long wedding day. As you are carrying the weight of two people, you should invest in a comfortable pair. Low kitten heels and wedge sandals are the styles that you can think about. A pair of flats will also be worth considering. Make sure you try the shoes and break into it before your wedding day. In case you buy your wedding shoes ahead of time, you should consider adding some extra space since your feet might expand when the wedding date comes closer. Try to stay away from high heels. They are uncomfortable and can be dangerous for your little baby. It is important to remember you will be in that pair for up to 12 hours on your wedding day.

Schedule your fitting dates

Expecting brides should shop for the wedding dress close to your wedding date, especially if you are renting your outfit. The main reason for this is your body will go through a lot of changes during your pregnancy. While your baby bump might not show clearly in the first trimester, pregnant brides in the second and third one will experience drastic differences. Shopping closer to the date will help you be aware of these changes and find a dress fitting those needs. In case your expected delivery date is before the wedding date, you can have time to shop for the dress for your after-birth body. The best option is to get a custom made the dress for your wedding day since it gives you more room to adjust and retouch if needed. If you have your own dress tailored, you should schedule the last fitting date as close to your wedding as possible to get the correct measurements. That will be your last checkpoint for the wedding outfit and help determine if any adjustment is needed.

Add extra room

It is good to always add some extra inches to your wedding dress. This is very important to keep in mind, especially if you have to order your dress months before the wedding. Instead of sticking with your normal size, you should go up one or two sizes to make sure the dress will still fit when you receive it. Don’t forget to take advantage of the sales representative at the bridal salon. They can give you some tips on increasing the size if you need it. Remember, it is always easier to adjust a slightly big wedding dress than one that was too small. Besides your tummy, pay attention to your neckline and sleeves as well. You might need a slightly bigger bra than your current size and your wedding dress should be able to accommodate it. 

Keep your accessories simple

Wedding accessories will help you complete your wedding outfit. In the case of a pregnant bride, you should keep your wedding dress and accessories simple. First, it will be much easier for you to move. Long cathedral veil, heavy necklace, and clingy hair accessories will add more weight to your outfit and are likely to get in your way. Instead of those options, you can go with more classy and minimal jewelry that highlights your wedding dress but not too cumbersome. In case you still want to follow a maximalist style, but all that effort on your upper body to distract people from below your waistline. Second, if you want to hide your baby, too many accessories will actually draw more attention to your wedding dress and reveal your little secret. Rather than that, you can invest more in your hand bouquet as you can use that to decorate your wedding dress and cover your lower body at the same time. You can discuss with your florist and pick a bigger bouquet option to serve this purpose.