Do You Carry Plus Size Bridal Gowns at Your Shop?
Wondering whether or not our New Jersey bridal shop carries plus size wedding dresses? Well, we’re here to tell ‘ya that we’re size inclusive here at Hand-Me-Gowns!
One of the most frequently asked questions that we get almost every day from brides is if we carry plus size gowns at our boutique. While we're not a shop that exclusively sells these sizes, we do have a lot of plus size wedding dresses in stock, not to mention in a ton of beautiful gowns in different styles and shades.
If you're new to our biz, please note that all of the gowns sold at our boutique are preowned. They are wedding dresses sold on consignment that we acquire from other bridal shops and brides just like you! This gives our brides a more affordable wedding dress option while keeping things stylish, size-inclusive, and sustainable.
Find secondhand wedding dresses in plus sizes at Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal shop!
What is considered a plus size wedding dress?
The exact number size for what is considered a plus size wedding dress (or any dress) is not exactly set in stone. Depending on whom you ask, you might just get a different answer!
But when we put the most frequent answers to this question together, the consensus is that size 14 or above could be categorized as a 'plus size' wedding dress. Many also say that the plus size range can start from 12 to size 28 and higher.
And it's important to know that in certain cases, your ideal bridal gown size will tend to be a couple of sizes down from your normal clothing size. So, let's say you're typically a size 18, but you might go down to a size 14. While it won’t always be the case, it does happen.
This is because designers all have their own size charts, and often legacy designers will follow European sizes, since that's where the first wedding gown designers were established (think: Pronovias, Demetrios). These gown designers may also be internationally based (like Jane Hill and Made with Love), or they may follow American size charts, in which case the gowns will be closer to true to size (like BHLDN and David's Bridal styles).
Lots of boutiques carry plus size bridal gowns from size 14 to 18, and some sizes go to 32 and higher. At Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal, we carry preowned wedding dresses ranging from street size 0 to 28. We have hundreds of beautiful bridal gowns in stock, so don't let size issues or worries limit you when it comes to booking that appointment and finding your perfect wedding dress.
Image courtesy of: Kateryna Galiamova
Are plus size bridal gowns more expensive or cheaper?
We hate to be the bearer of this news, but the reality is that a number of designers do in fact charge ($) extra for larger sizes. The added costs exist because designers might charge more because additional fabric is used to create the gown.
Just like when it comes to what is considered a plus size bridal gown, the average cost difference can vary, but the ballpark range can be anywhere from $200-500 (sometimes more) for plus size wedding dresses.
So, let's say a new size 8 dress is priced at $2,000, then higher sizes of the same style and designer could be priced at $2,250. Again this is one example, sometimes the cost won't be higher at all! Which means that you still have options to find an inexpensive plus size wedding dress.
What about alterations for plus size gowns?
When it comes to your wedding dress alterations though, no need to worry! The cost of a basic hem or any other type of alteration needed won't necessarily cost you more if it's a plus size gown, because the cost has already been paid when you purchased the gown itself.
Brides more on the plus size might need some specifics for their alterations, such as additional bust support, so this is where the extra costs come in.
But, a more petite person with big boobs would have a similar issue. So, it's not really a larger size bridal gown that needs more expensive alternations.
This is one of the many nuances of the cost of getting your bridal gown altered. If you're curious to dive a little deeper, this blog post on the cost of wedding dress alterations lays it all out.
Do you have to go to a bridal shop that specializes in only plus size wedding gowns?
The simple answer is…no! Even though you might have already Googled "plus size bridal shops near me" and were directed to gowns you could either buy online or a couple of boutique plus size bridal shops across the U.S., know that you can find plus size wedding gowns at local boutique shops like ours.
Plus, you don't even need to trek out to the big city to do it! Small-town bridal shops like ours in Downtown Hammonton, New Jersey gives you a personalized wedding dress shopping experience in a fun and judgement free space.
For a little sampling at some plus size bridal gowns that we carry at our shop, check out this TikTok we made of one of our brides trying on a bunch of different size 22 dresses.
If you’re not sure about how many plus size wedding gowns a boutique might have in stock, you can always call or email the bridal shop before making your appointment to double check if they carry a variety of wedding gowns in your size range.
Still, the reality is that most traditional shops currently don’t carry enough to meet the demand for brides in the market for plus size wedding dresses. And while more designers in 2024 are becoming more size inclusive, there’s still a long way to go.
Do you sell Mother of the Bride or wedding guest plus size dresses?
This is another question that we get asked a lot. While we do carry lots of secondhand wedding dresses in plus size, Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal doesn't currently offer any Mother of the Bride or wedding guest dresses. But, we do sell preowned white gowns for your other wedding events (think engagement party to the rehearsal dinner).
If you're already prepping for engagement season or need a rehearsal dinner gown in a pinch, check out our white dresses and bridal accessories that just might be the right pick for you!
Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal
Not your rule-of-the-mill bridal shop, Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal is your go-to secondhand wedding dress boutique in the South Jersey and Philly area. We have brides coming in every week from right here in our town to a few hours away to find an affordable and stylish bridal gown that they absolutely adore.
And if you’re in the market for a wedding dress or have one (4 years or younger!) that you’d like to consign with us, head to our Contact Us page and book your appointment today.
Sustainably Yours,
Hand-Me-Gowns Bridal
xoxo