Wedding dress heaven for plus sized beauties! (The Big Day)

Member Name: roversjenny

Product:	The Big Day
Date:	03/06/09 (203 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Plus size heaven, vast knowledge, lovely ladies

Disadvantages: None whatsoever

The Big Day is a wedding boutique situated in Castleford in West Yorkshire. Unlike many wedding boutiques, it not only stocks a few plus size gowns, it specialises in them meaning that it is wedding dress heaven for plus size ladies.

The Big Day is owned by two wonderful ladies, Lucy and Paula, who decided to set up a plus sized boutique after having bad experiences when trying to find the wedding dress of their dreams, the full story can be found on the following page of their website:

http://www.thebigdayuk.com/about.htm

The boutique stocks wedding dresses from a size 16 to a size 34 and has over 50 dresses in stock at any one time so there are a vast range of styles and sizes to try on. Plenty of designers supply the boutique, they include:

- Justin Alexandra
- Venus Women
- Sincerity Plus
- Ronald Joyce
- Romance by Carl M
- Alexia designs

As well as wedding dresses, they also stock bridesmaid dresses from a size 6 to 34 along with lingerie, tiara's, veils and shoes.

They advise that you book an appointment before visiting the shop to ensure that you are not disappointed once you arive, the appointments last approximately 2 hours and in that time you have exclusive use of the boutique and Lucy and Paula's attention.

I visited for the first time last September, being on the larger side I wanted to be able to try on dresses that fit rather than squeezing into smaller sizes or having them pinned against me. I was a bit apprehensive at first, I didn't know what to expect, it was the first time I had been wedding dress shopping and was scared that nothing would suit me and I would look awful, but as soon as I walked through the door Lucy put me at ease.

We chatted for a while before Lucy asked me to pick out dresses that I liked, both myself, my mum and my mother in law to be all looked through the wonderful dresses and Lucy put them on a rail for me to try on. Once she had seen the styles I liked, she also picked some out herself which she thought may suit me.

It was then time to try them on, I was fitted with underwear (a basque) and a petticote and shoes before trying the dresses on. I felt like a princess in every single one of the many dresses I tried on, Lucy was on hand to give advice on whether they suited, and she picked even more dresses based on the bits I liked and disliked about the dresses I had tried on. It was none stop, poor Lucy must have been exhausted as the dresses are really heavy to carry and lift over peoples heads!

I found 'the one' at The Big Day, and ordered my dress there and then, along with my shoes and tiara. You have to pay 50% deposit on ordering and the rest is payable once you start having alterations done.

I went back around 4 months later to try my dress one once it had been delivered, I could only get late on a Saturday evening, Paula and Lucy were very accomodating and opened the shop late so I could try it on.

A month or so after the initial try on, I went for my first fitting, it wasn't very glamerous as I had lost weight so my dress was too big, however, Lucy pinned it so I could have an idea of what it may look like on the day and took my measurements so they could get to work on the dress. I go again on Friday for another fitting and I am looking forward to seeing the progress.

They have also been very useful in terms of my bridesmaids. One of my bridesmaids fell pregnant so her original dress had to be returned, the design of the dress was quite unique, however, Lucy and Paula have managed to find a dress that is pretty similar in colour and style to suit my pregnant bridesmaid and they promise to work wonders to get it fitting well for the big day!

I cannot speak highly enough of the experience I have had at The Big Day. Lucy and Paula are absolutely fantastic and they have really added to my wedding planning experience. Their knowledge is second to none, they really know what suits brides and their site has many testimonials on it from others who are just as happy with the experience as I have been thus far.

They have provided a very unique service for plus sized women, and I cannot thank them enough for that.

Summary: Absolutely fantastic