When Should You Buy Your Mother of the Bride Dress If You're Losing Weight? A Guide to GLP-1s, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Changing Body Shapes

Losing weight before a wedding? Gaining weight unexpectedly? Navigating menopause, HRT or a changing body shape? Here's my honest advice on when to buy your mother-of-the-bride, mother-of-the-groom or special occasion dress, and how to feel fabulous whatever your size.

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If you're the mother of the bride, mother of the groom, the bride herself or a guest at a very special occasion, you might be wondering when on earth you should buy your dress if your weight is changing.

Perhaps you're taking Mounjaro, Wegovy or another GLP-1 medication and losing weight. Perhaps you're following a traditional diet and exercise plan, or you're simply so busy organising a wedding, looking after grandchildren and juggling life that you've lost weight without really trying.

Or perhaps the opposite has happened. You might have gained weight following an injury, while taking steroids, through hormonal changes, during menopause or while taking HRT. You may have looked in the mirror and thought, When did my body change so much?

And then there are the changes that have nothing to do with the number on the scales. Perhaps you've always had a small bust, but since menopause your breasts have become much fuller. Suddenly, dresses gape in the wrong places, the waist doesn't sit where you expect it to, and finding something flattering feels like an impossible task.

If any of this sounds familiar, please take a breath. After more than 20 years of designing dresses and dressing women for their most important occasions, I've seen just about every change in body shape you can imagine.

My advice is simple: you don't need to have reached your final weight to find a dress that makes you look and feel wonderful. But you do need to plan the timing carefully.

When should you buy your dress if you're losing weight on Mounjaro, Wegovy or other GLP-1s?

This is a question I hear increasingly often from women coming into my showroom.

If you're taking Mounjaro, Wegovy or another GLP-1 medication, you may be losing weight steadily. You might feel healthier, happier and more comfortable in yourself, but there's one important date looming: the wedding.

Should you wait until you've lost all the weight you want to lose before buying your dress?

In most cases, I wouldn't recommend leaving it until the last minute.

A made-to-order dress needs time to be created, and you also need time to try it on, make any necessary adjustments and feel completely comfortable in it. The last thing I want is for you to be worrying about your dress in the final few weeks before the wedding.

My advice is to work backwards from the wedding date and allow enough time for the dress to be made, fitted and ready well in advance.

How far in advance should you order a made-to-order occasion dress?

For my made-to-order dresses, I generally recommend allowing around eight weeks for the ordering and making process, depending on fabric availability and the particular design.

I also want you to have your finished dress at least six weeks before the wedding. Why? Because the final weeks before a wedding can be wonderfully exciting, but they can also be stressful. You have enough to think about without worrying whether your dress will arrive on time or fit properly.

Let's say your wedding is on 1 March.

Ideally, I would want your dress ready by the beginning of January, giving you those six weeks of breathing space. Working backwards, you should aim to visit my showroom and begin the made-to-order process around the end of October or the beginning of November.

That gives us time to discuss your options, choose your fabric, arrange your order and allow the factory time to make your dress.

Of course, every order is different, so it's always worth speaking to me early about your particular wedding date and the style you're considering.

The golden rule? Plan your dress around the wedding date, not around the date you hope to reach your goal weight.

What if I'm losing half a stone a month?

This is where choosing the right style becomes especially important.

If you're losing weight steadily, I would look for a dress that gives you a little flexibility rather than one that relies on an absolutely precise fit.

For example, my signature dress and my Suzannah dress feature a cinching belt, which allows you to adjust the waist as your shape changes. A defined waist can be wonderfully flattering, and having the option to nip it in a little more can give you valuable flexibility.

As a general rule of thumb, I often tell customers to think in terms of approximately one dress size per stone lost. However, everybody's body is different. Weight loss doesn't happen evenly across the body, and a stone lost by one woman may affect her bust, waist and hips very differently from another woman's.

The shoulders and overall structure of a dress can remain relatively similar even as the waist changes, but the fit still needs to be checked.

There are limits to what alterations can achieve, too. In my experience, a dress can generally be altered by around one size, although this depends on the cut, construction, fabric and available seam allowance. Shirt dresses can be particularly tricky to resize significantly because of their sleeve heads, armholes and overall proportions.

That's why I wouldn't recommend buying a dress that you expect to need to take down by several sizes.

If you're anticipating substantial weight loss, let's talk about the styles that will work best for you now and give you the most flexibility later.

And if you've already ordered your dress, you may find it helpful to discuss any significant changes in your measurements with me before making further decisions about alterations.

Should you slow down your weight loss before the wedding?

I know that some women choose to make adjustments to their routines as the wedding approaches, particularly once they've ordered their dress.

However, your health must always come first. If you're taking prescribed weight-loss medication, don't change your dose or treatment plan simply to fit into a dress. Speak to your prescribing clinician about any concerns.

From a dress-buying perspective, the important thing is to be realistic about your likely measurements and communicate with me if your body shape changes significantly.

We can then work out whether your dress needs adjusting and when those alterations should take place.

What if I'm gaining weight rather than losing it?

This is just as important, and it's something we need to talk about without judgement.

Perhaps you've been less active because of an injury. Perhaps medication, steroids, menopause or other hormonal changes have affected your weight. Maybe life has simply been overwhelming, and looking after yourself has slipped down the priority list.

Whatever the reason, please don't feel that you have to wait until you've lost weight before buying a beautiful dress.

If you're expecting your weight or measurements to increase, I would ideally want you to start looking around three months before the wedding. That gives us more time to discuss the best style and fit for you.

If you're buying a dress off the peg, my biggest piece of advice is this: don't buy it too tight.

If you've been trying to lose weight for six months and it hasn't happened as you hoped, it may not be realistic to assume that everything will suddenly change in the few weeks before the wedding.

Instead, choose a dress that fits the body you have now, feels comfortable and gives you room to enjoy the occasion.

You can always discuss alterations if your measurements subsequently change, but it's much harder to enjoy yourself in something that feels uncomfortably tight.

Why a slightly looser dress can actually make you look slimmer

This is one of the most important things I tell women in my showroom.

Many women assume that a tighter dress will make them look smaller. In reality, the opposite can be true.

When a dress is skin-tight, it can emphasise bra lines, underwear lines and areas where the fabric pulls across the body. You may find yourself constantly adjusting it, worrying about how you look when you sit down, or wondering whether you should have chosen something else.

A dress that skims your figure rather than clings to it can look much more elegant and streamlined.

The fabric falls more beautifully, the silhouette looks smoother, and you can move, sit, laugh and enjoy yourself without constantly thinking about what you're wearing.

This is particularly important if your weight is changing or you're experiencing bloating and other fluctuations.

I always want my customers to feel that their dress is working with their body, not fighting against it.

Why wearing one colour can be so flattering

A single colour, or a closely coordinated tonal look, can create a lovely uninterrupted line through the body. This can help you look longer and more streamlined.

Prints can be equally flattering, but scale matters. I design my prints with great consideration for how they sit on the body, their proportions and the overall effect of the finished dress.

Fabric matters, too.

I'm very conscious of the way light reflects off different materials. I tend to avoid high-shine fabrics because I prefer softer finishes that give a beautiful, gentle glow rather than an overly reflective surface.

The aim is to create something that feels elegant, considered and flattering, while bringing attention to your face.

What if menopause has changed your bust?

Let's talk about breasts, because this is an area that can cause women an enormous amount of frustration when shopping for occasionwear.

Perhaps you've always been small-busted, and suddenly, following menopause or hormonal changes, your breasts are much fuller. Or perhaps your bust has changed shape, and dresses that used to fit beautifully now gape at the neckline or pull across the chest.

You might find that if a dress fits your bust, it's too big around your waist. If it fits your waist, it's too tight across your chest.

It's incredibly frustrating, particularly when you're shopping for an occasion when you want to look and feel your absolute best.

This is where cut and construction make a huge difference.

One of my particular strengths is designing dresses that lift and support the bust beautifully. The way I cut my dresses is intended to create a flattering shape, with careful consideration of the bust, waist and overall proportions.

And this isn't just about one age group or one body size. Good design can make a difference to women of all ages and shapes.

You shouldn't have to spend the whole day pulling up your neckline, worrying about gaping fabric or feeling that your dress doesn't fit properly just because your body has changed.

The right cut can help you feel supported, comfortable and beautifully dressed.

Dresses that flatter your waist and skim your tummy

At Katya Wildman, I'm always thinking about how a dress will work on a real woman's body.

I design my dresses to flatter the waist and skim over the tummy, rather than clinging uncomfortably to areas where you might prefer a little more coverage.

That doesn't mean hiding your body. It means understanding how fabric, shape, proportion and construction can work together to create a silhouette that makes you feel fantastic.

When you're experiencing weight fluctuations, this becomes even more important.

You want a dress that gives you shape without feeling restrictive, that moves with you and that doesn't become uncomfortable after a few hours.

Because a special occasion isn't just about how you look when you first stand in front of the mirror. It's about how you feel throughout the day.

What are dual-sizing dresses, and why are they useful if your weight is changing?

One of the options I particularly love for women whose measurements may fluctuate is my collection of dual-sizing dresses.

These dresses are designed with a little more flexibility in their sizing, making them a useful option if you're losing weight, gaining weight or simply want a dress that offers a more forgiving fit.

My dual-sizing range works as follows:

• Size 1: UK sizes 10–12

• Size 2: UK sizes 14–16

• Size 3: UK sizes 18–20

• Size 4: UK sizes 22–24

The idea is that the dress can accommodate a range of measurements within its designated size band, rather than being designed around just one specific size.

Of course, the amount of flexibility will depend on the individual design and how your bust, waist and hips change. Dual sizing isn't a guarantee that a dress will fit every body shape within a size range, so I would always recommend trying on the style and discussing your measurements with me.

But if you're concerned that your weight may change between ordering your dress and the wedding, it's certainly worth exploring.

What size should you buy for the mother of the bride or mother of the groom?

At Katya Wildman, my most popular size is a UK 16.

I think that's worth celebrating, because women come in all shapes and sizes, and beautiful occasionwear should reflect that reality.

I want women to feel that they can walk into my showroom and find something designed with their body in mind, rather than feeling that they need to change themselves to fit into a particular dress.

My designs are created with flattering proportions, thoughtful prints, carefully considered fabrics and cuts that celebrate the bust and define the waist.

Whether you're a UK size 10, 16, 20 or 24, the principle is the same: the dress should work for you.

When should you buy a dress if your weight is unpredictable?

If your weight is going up and down, the answer is to give yourself enough time and choose your dress strategically.

Here's my general advice:

If you're losing weight: Start planning early. Consider styles with adjustable waists, flexible fits or dual sizing, and allow time for any necessary alterations.

If you're gaining weight: Don't wait until the last minute. Ideally, start looking around three months before the wedding and choose something that fits comfortably now.

If your bust or body shape has changed: Prioritise cut and construction. A dress designed to support your bust and flatter your waist can make a tremendous difference.

If you're ordering a made-to-order dress: Contact me as early as possible. Allow around eight weeks for the making process and aim to have your finished dress six weeks before the wedding.

If you're unsure what will happen to your weight: Don't try to predict your exact future size. Instead, let's find a style that gives you the best possible fit now, with flexibility where the design allows.

Every woman is different, so these are guidelines rather than hard-and-fast rules. The right timing also depends on the dress, the fabric, the factory schedule and the amount of alteration required.

My experience of dressing women whose bodies change

Every day, I speak to or dress women who are on some kind of weight-loss journey. Over the past 20 years, I've seen customers gain weight, lose weight, fluctuate between sizes and experience changes in their bodies that they never expected.

I've dressed women going through menopause, women taking medication, women recovering from injuries and women whose lives have changed dramatically since they last bought a special occasion dress.

And what I've learnt is that confidence doesn't belong to one particular size.

I've seen women feel absolutely wonderful in my dresses at many different stages of their lives and bodies. That's what matters to me.

I want you to walk into your special occasion feeling comfortable, supported and confident, without worrying about whether your dress is too tight, whether your bust is properly supported or whether you've chosen the wrong size.

You have enough to think about when a wedding is approaching.

Let me help you find a dress that makes you feel like yourself — only perhaps a little more dressed up!

Need help choosing your dress?

If you're the mother of the bride, mother of the groom, a bride or a guest with a special occasion coming up, and your weight or body shape is changing, I'd love to help.

Whether you're taking Mounjaro, Wegovy or another GLP-1 medication, following a traditional weight-loss plan, experiencing menopause-related changes or simply finding that your body no longer fits the way it used to, there are options.

We can talk about the styles that will flatter your figure, the cuts that offer the best support, whether a dual-sizing dress might work for you, and the right timing for a made-to-order dress.

My aim is always to take the worry out of getting dressed.

Because feeling comfortable makes you feel confident. And when you feel confident, you shine.

Explore the Katya Wildman collection or get in touch to discuss your special occasion and find the dress that's right for you.

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