My sister got married a little over five years ago, but I still vividly remember the experience of shopping for . The options that came in plus size were very limited and I had to pay more for everything related to my dress. Even with the expensive alterations, my dress didn’t fit right in my bust. My sister did her best to pick a dress that we all felt comfortable and confident wearing but it was a challenge to find a plus size bridesmaid dress to fit that bill. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, I have set out to be very conscious of giving my bridesmaids a pleasant shopping experience. I teamed up with Bombshell Bridal Boutique in Michigan to ensure that I could find a bridesmaid dress that would be available for all body types.
Let me tell you – it so nice to have a plus size bridal boutique located in the Midwest! Bombshell Bridal Boutique is just outside of Detroit. I brought my mom, my sister and my best friend with me on the journey from Cleveland. It was about a three hour drive for me. My mom, sister and best friend were there to lend their moral support as I searched for my wedding gown on the first day of our trip. On the second day, it was time for them to get in the dressing room to try on and mother of bride gowns.
My sister is a straight size meaning that she wears under a size 12 while my best friend is plus size (a size 14+). I was nervous that it would be hard to find a wedding boutique that offering something to fit both of them. And while Bombshell Bridal Boutique carries only plus size wedding dresses, they carry bridesmaid dresses in sizes 2-36 in store and you can order dresses in a size 0. They recognize that brides want all of their bridesmaids to be able to shop together so they purposely carry dresses that can be made in an inclusive range. Shopping for plus size bridesmaid dresses was SO easy at Bombshell Bridal because they have so many dresses that come in a variety of styles and colors. Here’s a sampling of everything that they tried.
Bridesmaid Dress 1
This bridesmaid dress is a mix of sequin and chiffon. The top features a sweetheart neckline and there’s a bow you can tie in the front or the back. This dress is also convertible in that you can wrap the straps around the neck to create a halter or one-shoulder style.
Bridesmaid Dress 2
This is actually a Mother of the Bride dress but since it fit my vision of sequins, I had my bridesmaids try it on. Unlike the sequin bridesmaid dresses, the color options on this one were a bit more limited which took this one mostly out of the running as a bridesmaid even though it’s gorgeous.
Bridesmaid Dress 3
During the actual process of shopping for plus size bridesmaid dresses, I put a lot of them on my Instagram story. I was shocked that this sequin high-low dress was one of the favorites. It’s cute but I definitely wanted a floor length option.
Bridesmaid Dress 4
I picked this dress because I wanted to see a one-shoulder style. It has a very Grecian vibe. We added the rhinestone belts for a bit more pizazz.
Bridesmaid Dress 5
This dress is very VA-VA-voom and when both my sister and best friend put it on, they felt great in it. I love the side ruching and the way that it flows over to the bust area as well.
Bridesmaid Dress 6
Bombshell Bridal has most of their bridesmaid dresses in a sample size for straight size and for plus sizes. This red sequin bridesmaid dress was one that they only had in plus sizes at the moment so we paired it with another red dress that had the same red sequin accent. It’s similar to Bridesmaid Dress 5 except it’s not fitted from the bust down.
Bridesmaid Dress 7
If there’s anything Kristen asked of the bridesmaid dresses, it was that she wanted to be able to wear a regular bra and not a strapless bra. The thick straps on this sequin bridesmaid dress make it perfect for all day comfort!
Bridesmaid Dress 8
I picked this bridesmaid dress because it has a sheer neckline. Although the neckline wasn’t as sheer on the body as it was on the hanger, I loved this color on the bridesmaids.
My mom is plus size and although Bombshell Bridal doesn’t have a huge amount of Mother of the Bride dresses in general, they a stellar selection in plus size. The Mother of the Bride plus sizes dresses that Bombshell Bridal had were exactly the level of glitz and glam that Mama Stare wanted. Seeing her eyes light up when she saw herself was a priceless moment.
Mother of the Bride Dress 1
If this dress looks familiar, it’s because it’s the same dress the bridesmaids tried on! My mom loved it and I loved it on her.
Mother of the Bride Dress 1
This beaded gown gave me total Gatsby Vibes. It wasn’t my Mom’s favorite but it was a great option!
Mother of the Bride Dress 3
The beaded on this dress really sold me on it. It has so much detail that creates a really eye-catching pattern.
Bombshell Bridal Boutique’s bridesmaids and Mother of the Bride dresses don’t have names like their wedding dresses but you can reach out to them if you see something you like here and they will definitely be able to help. They also work with so you don’t need to worry about being long distance!
What are you looking for in a plus size bridesmaid dress? Let me know in the comments below!