Here is a question that came to me a few days ago:

Hi Terrica!
I just wanted to thank you for your blog. A lot of your ideas have been inspiration for me and my wedding board buddies. I love that you are doing storyboards now. Well the real reason I am writing you is completely self serving. See, I’m a big girl. That being said, I know my choices are limited when it comes to wedding gowns. However, I am not going to let that stop me from feeling and looking like a queen on my wedding day. Some of the designs I like are halters, but I hate my big arms. My mom says I should avoid a halter because of my size and will run into the inevitable “Back Fat” problem. You seem like you shoot straight from the hip. What do you think?

A happy blog reader

Aawww! You like me, you really like me! It’s great to get notes from readers. It makes me feel like someone is listening LOL! First of all, congratulations on being part of the feminine species who refuses to starve herself to fit into a size 0. But girlfriend, you do have options! Of course, this just has to be said…don’t crash diet or buy a dress smaller than what you are in the hopes of squeezing into it for your wedding day. That’s just stupid. Keep it real with yourself, and work with what your Mama gave ya.

If you are also top heavy, try to avoid a lot of the ridiculous ornamentation that we see on the bodice. This draw your eyes STRAIGHT to your cleavage. Try to create balance with U or V shaped necklines or throw in some color. I love that Alfred Angelo does this, as their designs have really taken off in recent years for full-figured ladies. White can make you look bigger than what you are, so throw in a nice red, champagne, espresso, etc. to add contrast and break up all of the white. Shoot for a nice A-Line skirt as well.

Also rest assured that back fat happens to ALL of us. I have brides who are tiny and we have to squeeze it into their dresses. It happens, especially with dresses with corsets. We want to accentuate your figure and keep you secure…but we also don’t want you looking like you’re in a vice grip. This may call for a tuck here and there, but remember, comfort is the goal, as well as beauty. If your arms are a worry for you, look for designer boleros or shawls to complement your dress in color and texture.

I hope this helps, and thanks for reading!