You’re right, you’ll need to try them on. And, if possible, you should go to a shop that carries dresses in all sizes so you can get a feel for how the dresses will feel when they FIT you. Many shops carry dresses only in sizes 8-12 and then you order your size after you’ve decided. That can be hard.

As for strapless, they actually stay up better on girls with smaller busts than on large-chested girls. The alterations will make the dress quite tight around the top to keep it up, but you are likely to have to adjust a few times. If you’re worried about that, you could always have a seamstress add spaghetti straps when they do your alterations. You can also try some bra inserts if you’d like to amp up your chest for the big day. Just make sure you have them in when you go to your second fitting and they can make sure everything fits wonderfully and flatters your body.

Two words…double-sided tape. Or does that count as three?

Anyway, as long as the alterations are done properly and you tape the top there is no reason why it should fall. However, make sure you try them on. If you have such a small bust I don’t know that strapless would be the best look since it will only make you look even smaller.

you know whats so funny?? i have a full chest (34C) and i hate it!! i guess the grass is always greener on the other side….lol. but as someone mentioned in one of my wedding dress questions, most strapless dresses have corsets that are pulled tight so that they dress will stay on when you dance and move around. they also push your bust up, like a push-up bra.
whatever dress style you go with, i hope you have a wonderful wedding!!

you can get someone to sew padding into the top so you can have the look of bigger breasts. My sister had it done when I got married she had it put in her briadsmaid dress.

They can alter it to be tighter on top to fit your body, you can also use the double faced tape stuff that will keep the dress up! congrats on your upcoming marriage! : )

I have the opposite problem with my bust. lol However, it translates into the same problem when involving strapless dresses. My best friend had me wear a strapless bridesmaid dress at her wedding. I was AMAZED with what a little altering can do. It fit perfectly! They even added a little bit of that no-slip, tacky lining around the top seam to help keep it from budging. You’ll be fine. Just try EVERYTHING on and talk to a good seamstress!

Ask the people at the bridal shop; they have fit tons of brides and would really know how it all works. Get a gown that you feel fabulous in, and makes you look amazing. Try a few styles on. Just because so many gowns are strapless, doesn’t mean it’s the best look for you, and you won’t know until you try some on. Best Wishes!

It depends on the look you are going for. If you don’t mind looking completely flat, then the strapless will be altered to fit you. it will be very tight.

Personally, I would stick with the halter style. They do make small girls look more feminine. I’m not that big myself and went with halter. I loved it. And I had so many compliments on how nice it was to see a bride in something other than strapless.

I knew that halter was the most flattering on me and didn’t want to go any other way.

Definitely try them on and see how it feels for you. You shouldn’t have a problem. Generally they have a little sticky bit at the top so they don’t slide down. I’m also quite small on the top and strapless dresses don’t fit but with altering to your body it shouldn’t be a problem.

My friend wore a strapless dress for her wedding a few months ago and she’s TOTALLY flat (like 6-year-old girl flat) in the bust. It was altered and stayed up just fine. She said she didn’t feel awkward or uncomfortable at all.

have a dress fitted over a well padded bra

There are a lot of spaghetti strap and halter styles joining the strapless dresses on the rack this season. You CAN have straps added to a strapless dress, but structurally, the dress is still a strapless dress and kind of smooshes your chest.

I personally don’t like the way strapless dresses photograph and no matter how the bride is endowed, it always seems like they cut into your armpits and/or make your bust look odd.

That said, there seem to be two basic types of strapless dress I encountered when trying on dresses. One fits like a bustier, with a curvy neckline, and those definitely slip, slide, squish and (in my opinion) aren’t flattering on any body type. See the first link below for that type of bodice.

Other strapless dresses come up a little higher and cut straight across. Those seemed to stay put and allow a more natural looking decolletage. See the 2nd link for that type of bodice.

No matter where you intend to get your gown, I highly suggest getting yourself into one of those giant bridal barn type places (David’s Bridal, Alfred Angelo’s etc). Try on something representative of every type of dress and let the associate choose a couple for you. You will be surprised what you like – and heck, when else can you try on a ridiculous cupcakey dress with a 5 foot train!

Funny thing is I tried on my mom’s dress from the 70s (also icky and not my style) before I went to buy my dress. I’m small on top (a B cup) and I’m getting a strapless. First off, they can sew in cups (like a molded bra) that will give you some ***** if you want that and help fill out the dress. My cousin is also an “A” cup and she had a strapless for her wedding. It looked beautiful. You should get whatever you feel beautiful in. I stressed about buying a wedding dress before I found mine because I always have a hard time with dress shopping and usually get frustrated, but instead I had a great time! Plus, I ended up with a very different style than what I thought I wanted from magazines. You should go try on with an open mind and see what you love and what looks great on you when you try it on.

Also, the strapless won’t fall down when you sit! Don’t worry about it!

I am very thin and have no chest either. I would NOT get a strapless dress no matter what anyone tells you about putting cups in it, getting a padded bra etc. It will never look great and will never fit as perfect as other styles. Trust me!!! You should go with something that flatters. There are so many styles that flatter a small bust. Go for one of them. You don’t want to look like a walking ironing board on your wedding day.