Affordable Wedding Gowns for Stylish Brides on a Budget
Dresses | August 19, 2026
Wedding Dress Size Chart: How To Measure For Your Wedding Dress
Tips and Trends | August 29, 2026
Finding the right gown starts with more than falling in love with a silhouette. Understanding how to use our wedding dress sizing chart to determine your perfect fit and taking accurate wedding dress measurements can help you and your bridal stylist start strong.
And if your bridal size doesn’t match the size you normally wear? Don’t worry. Wedding dress sizing is completely different from everyday clothing, and the number on the label says nothing about how beautiful you and your gown will look or feel.
If you’re wondering how to measure for a wedding dress, the process is simpler than you might think, and your Authorized Boutique is always there to help you get the most accurate results.
It sounds to us like you’re ready to start the search for your dream dress. Find an Authorized Boutique and book your appointment today!
How Do I Determine My Wedding Dress Size?
Unlike everyday clothing, bridal gowns are designed around specific measurement ranges, construction techniques, and alteration processes. That means your wedding dress size may not be the same number you typically purchase in other clothing. That’s completely normal.
Think of a bridal size chart as a starting point rather than a final verdict. Your measurements help your stylist determine which gown size will provide the best foundation, while professional alterations can then refine the fit to your body.
If you’d like, your Authorized Boutique will be able to take your measurements and recommend the appropriate size for your gown. But if you want to understand the process ahead of your appointment, these simple steps can help you prepare.
Measure With a Friend or Family Member
Taking your own measurements can be tricky.
Instead, ask a friend, partner, or family member to help. A second person can keep the tape measure straight and ensure that it stays in the right position as you move from one measurement to the next.
This is particularly important for your bust, waist, and hip measurements, which are key points in determining your starting bridal size.
Wear the Undergarments You Plan to Wear With Your Gown
Your wedding-day undergarments can affect the way your gown fits.
If you already know that you’ll be wearing a particular bra, shapewear, or smoothing garment, wear those pieces when taking your measurements. This gives you a more realistic starting point for your bridal sizing.
If you haven’t selected your undergarments yet, don’t worry. Your stylist can help you determine what will work best with your gown once you’ve chosen your style.
Keep the Measuring Tape Snug, Not Tight
Your measuring tape should sit smoothly against your body.
It should be snug enough to remain in place, but never so tight that it compresses your body. Likewise, don’t leave extra space between the tape and your skin.
Take Each Measurement More Than Once
It’s worth double-checking your numbers.
Measure your bust, waist, hips, and other required points at least twice. If you get different results, take the measurement again until you feel confident in the number.
A few extra minutes of measuring can make the ordering process much easier.
Compare Your Measurements With the Maggie Sottero Wedding Dress Size Chart
Once you have your measurements, compare them with the Maggie Sottero wedding dress size chart.
Your bust, waist, and hip measurements will help determine where you fall within the chart. If you’re between sizes, sizing up is generally recommended because a gown can usually be altered down more easily than it can be let out.
That said, your bridal stylist is your best resource when it comes to ordering your specific gown.
They can consider the construction of the dress, your measurements, and any customization or alteration needs before helping you select the appropriate size.
It’s also important to remember that sizing can vary based on the design of the gown. A fitted mermaid silhouette may have different considerations than an A-line gown with a fuller skirt, while a corseted bodice may offer a different fit than a soft, unstructured design.
That’s why comparing your numbers to a wedding gown size chart is only one step in the process. Your stylist can look at the complete picture and help you understand how your measurements relate to the particular gown you’re considering.
How Do I Measure for a Wedding Dress?
Think of this section as your bridal measurements guide. If you’re taking your measurements at home and comparing them to our wedding dress size chart, here are some pro tips that can make it a lot easier and more accurate.
- Bust: Measure around the fullest part of your bust. Keep the tape straight across your back and avoid pulling it too tightly.
- Waist: Measure around your natural waist, or the smallest part of your torso. Keep the tape comfortably snug.
- Hips: Measure around the widest part of your hips. Make sure the tape remains level as it travels around your body.
- Body length: This measurement begins where your neck and shoulder meet and follows the body vertically toward the floor, passing over the fullest part of the bust. Stop a couple of inches above the floor near your ankle. For the most accurate length measurement, wear your wedding shoes or a similar heel height.
Depending on your gown, taking additional wedding dress measurements may be necessary. Your Authorized Boutique can let you know exactly what is needed for the style you’re ordering. In other words, you don’t need to become a bridal sizing expert before you go shopping.
That’s what your stylist is there to help with.
Can I Customize My Wedding Dress Fit and Length?
Short answer? Yes!
Maggie Sottero offers several different personalization options, allowing brides to make certain design details work more closely with their individual vision. It has four layers:
- Gorgeous Base Styles: These are the gowns you can browse on our website and try on in our Authorized Boutiques.
- Style Collectives: If a base style isn’t exactly what you’re looking for, Style Collectives are available with a different silhouette, modified back or neckline, modified coverage, etc.
- Personalize It!: Personalized options can include lined or unlined bodices, fabric layer changes, sleeves, customized train lengths, or fun accessories.
- Special Requests: If a Style Collective or a Personalize It! Option doesn’t meet your needs, you can ask your stylist to put in a Special Request for another change.
Basically, here at Maggie Sottero, we understand that some brides want to create a dream gown that reflects their love story and individual style. Anticipating this, we offer approved personalization options that can be ordered alongside the gown with the help of your stylist.
Want a sneak peek of some personalization options available for a certain style you love? No problem.
When you visit an individual product page, look for the Personalize It! button. This is where you can see which options are available for that particular design.
The stylist at your Authorized Boutique can also walk you through these options and explain how they may affect your gown, timeline, and overall look.
For example, a bride who loves the silhouette of a gown but wants a more dramatic ceremony entrance may be able to explore an extended train. Another bride may prefer to shorten a train for easier movement at an outdoor venue or a reception centered around dancing.
This is part of what makes bridal customization so exciting.
So when you find a gown you love, don’t stop at the first photograph.
Explore its product page. Review the available personalization options. Then talk with your stylist about what can be done to bring your vision to life.
Your Wedding Dress Size is Just a Starting Point
A wedding dress size chart is a useful tool, but it’s only one part of creating your final bridal look.
Your measurements help determine the starting size. Your gown’s construction affects how it fits. Alterations refine the proportions. And personalization options can add the details that make the design feel uniquely yours.
Once you’ve found your measurements and have a sense of the silhouettes you love, it’s time for the fun part. Seeing those gowns on yourself!
Ready to explore? Browse Maggie Sottero’s wedding dress styles and discover the gown that feels unmistakably yours.
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