With so many styles, shapes, and sizes available both online and in person, shopping for plus size wedding dresses is a much easier task than it was ten years ago. Before you start looking for your own dream dress, keep in mind the following tips and suggestions.

Observe the Cardinal Rule of Plus Size Wedding Dresses

Perhaps the most tragic phrase ever uttered in bridal history is, "I'll fit into the dress on my wedding day." Wrong! The odds of your dropping serious pounds before your big day are exceptionally low if you haven't been successful with a diet in the recent past. This doesn't mean that you can't lose weight for your wedding, it just means that you shouldn't plan on it. Order your wedding dress in the size that you are now and revel in the fact that you'll have to get some serious alterations once the pounds slip off. Remember, taking a dress in is much easier than letting a dress out.

Enlist a Friend, But Not a Frenemy, to Look for Plus Size Wedding Dresses

Do not shop for plus size wedding dresses on your own, as you won't have the proper perspective on what looks good and what's just not your style. Bring a friend who is armed with a pad, pen, digital camera, and good attitude. Now is not the time to bring a friend who likes to remind you of how much better you'll look ten pounds thinner. Make sure that you bring a strapless bra with extra support to help give you a more complete vision of how your dream dress will look on your special day.

Psych Yourself Out Before Going to Look at Plus Size Wedding Dresses

One of the most frustrating parts of trying on wedding dresses is dealing with the ridiculously small sample sizes that are available at most salons. Unless you're a size six or smaller, you will generally not be able to try on samples that actually fit you. This means that your bridal salon attendant will use large clips to hold the back of the dress together. Before you let this stress you out, relax and realize that the majority of brides who visit the salon will also have to use the clips to get an idea of how they look in potential wedding dresses. No one will be looking at you or judging you for not fitting into the samples as they'll be too busy trying to fit themselves into the dresses they desire. Do a little research before you go to your appointments to find out if your salons of choice carry dresses in plus-sized samples.

Style Tips for Plus Size Wedding Dresses

Save the ultra-flared wedding dresses for stick figure girls and keep to styles that only flare slightly or not at all above the waist. Ball gowns with extremely full skirts balance out curvier shapes and can look wonderful, provided that your dress has a simple bodice with straight lines. Avoid strapless wedding gowns that tend to direct unwanted attention to the underarm area. Dresses with ruffled sleeves are also a no-no unless you have ultra-toned arms. Wrap-around styles are great for slimming the waist, as are corseted styles. As for the neckline, consider a sweetheart style, which highlights the bodice and draws the eye away from less-flattering body parts.