Here Comes Your Pregnant Bride
The Extra Special Bridal Customer
I get a lot of negative feedback about the article I wrote discussing brides getting pregnant “by accident” on the “I’m Pregnant!!!!!!!!!!!!” page in The Bridal Studio. Here, I want to discuss what we as bridal professionals can do when we acquire a bridal client who is pregnant, however she came to be that way.
Since I started my career in the bridal industry, many things have changed both in attitude and available products catered to pregnant brides. There are now whole companies designing lovely dresses and gowns to accommodate the growing baby figure.
We, as Alteration Specialists are here to solve fitting issues. One of these is the pregnant figure. Even though they are much alike is the process, it’s more difficult than the Dieting Bride for that situation can be controlled to a small extent. A growing baby is quite different, even if the woman has been pregnant before, each baby grows at their own pace. But over my years of working with brides I have seen some items we can take charge over.

1. Because you can’t predict a baby’s growth, timing for altering a pregnant bride's gown is critical
I usually start 2 to 3 weeks before the wedding. This is very stressful for a bride, so I will meet with her as soon as her gown arrives and discuss the process and my goals. But I insist in this timeframe because there’s not much change a baby can do - well, depending on where in our bride’s gestation the wedding will be.
2. I do block out this period for only this one client
Usually, I can get all the work done in 1 week this way, but the bride has to agree to meet with me for my usual 3 fittings in this short time period to have this work well.
3. A bride’s breast will usually start growing before the baby does
This is often a surprise to our expectant mommy. In my normal alteration process, I do adjustments to the bodice of the gown first. Here is no exception. A good supportive bra is a must for proper fitting and needs to be brought to all sessions.
4. As the baby grows, the dress hem will get shorter in the front
This can also come as a surprise. And is also why it’s important to do alterations as close to the wedding as possible.
5. The rest of my process I try to do as normally as I can
Many things can happen that are not normal, but here you learn to go with the flow. Keep your bride communicating with you about how she is feeling about the fit and look and make adjustments accordingly. Be prepared for her to change her mind more than any other bride you have worked with. Yes, they are all prone to changing their minds but with the baby hormones, it can be more intense. Again, go with the flow.
Our Visitors ask Questions
We do a lot of pregnant bridesmaids
added March 2008
I am a small store owner and wrote to you several years ago. You were very helpful when bridezilla made me feel like quitting a;; those years ago/ I have helped so many achieve their dream look thanks to your reassurance that I handled her situation correctly. Thank you. We do alot of pregnant bridesmaids and never avoid them because it's a fact of life. We suggest ordering theirs last and as close to the date as possible. Of course adding the extra fabric and the dress must be an a-line otherwise it doesn't work. We add just a triangular gusset and it works well but we order several sizes larger too allowing for mother nature to take its course hormonally. A wedding is a joyful event please don't discourage the pregnant maid to sit the sideline. As you know everything and anything is possible. You sound the a magician so with you I'm sure a miracle is an everyday occurrence.
God bless. Kathy
No where on my site does it even suggest that I think a pregnant lady has to "sit on the sidelines". I list several options for dealing with this situation. I think it is mean of you to suggest that I am trying to discourage ladies just because one very legitimate option is to give the pregnant lady a different place in the wedding plans than being a maid. There are many wonderful things she can do to be involved with the wedding without being a maid.
I will not be taking this option off my site just because some people think it awful. I have helped many pregnant maids and brides fit into their dresses over the years and I have one large page of advice and suggestion of how to fit dresses when a maid is pregnant. My message to brides is that this situation adds stress and cost to her wedding and she does have the choice to avoid it and still have her loved one in her plans by simply making a different place for her. I am not evil or uncaring or mean for making this suggestion. I just have the guts to do so when no one else will let a bride know that it is OK to look at other options for her wedding plans.
~Lea
Maternity size way too big
added June 2007
I do alterations in my home and it seems that I almost every dress I work on has been ordered at least 2 or more sizes too big by the bridal salon. Even if the customer specifically states that the dress IS NOT her normal size, she is ignored and than not allowed to return it for a smaller size when she picks it up, tries it on (in the store) and it is obvious it is way too big! This week I had to take in 8 inches off of the top of a strapless, beaded gown! The girl wears a size 14 and was going to be 7 months pregnant when she wore the gown. The store insisted on ordering her a maternity size 26W!!!!!! When she tried it on in the store and cried because it was so hugely oversized for her bust-the sales lady said 'Oh we can alter it for you.’ Is this normal procedure?
Thank you, Linda
Your situation is a little more drastic than I've heard of, but yes, this is normal. It's not the way I think it should be but the bridal industry has not figured out a better way yet. There is a good reason for this ordering of things too big. It's because the store often can't fix a too small problem. Too big can always be altered. For a pregnant situation they just can't predict how large the customer will grow between the time the dress is ordered and the wedding. So, for them, it's safer to order too big. What stinks the most is that the store won't take responsibility for either problem and will charge you for the alterations. It really sucks, but I have yet to find a way to change it.
~Lea
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