Shopping tips for the pregnant bride

Pregnancy is a unique state. It comes with exhaustion, cravings, and body and hormonal changes. 

In this state, a bride-to-be has peculiar fashion needs, compared to her non-pregnant counterparts.

Leticia Babirye, the manager of Sister’s Bridal says that when selecting a gown for pregnant brides, they sort them by size. 

“The pregnant bride-to-be might be size 6 then shoots up to size 8 by the date of their wedding, so we always get the gown a size bigger to give allowance for that change,” she says.

Joyce Namutebi, a Bridal consultant at Bridal World says that a pregnant bride-to-be ought to start looking for her gown about two months before the wedding. 

“We schedule her fittings closer to the date because her body changes fast,” Namutebi says. 

The main attention is on the bodice, which needs to be fastened for comfort. 

The neckline should be easy and open to allow for aeration since pregnant women feel hot often. Whereas the empire waist style is ideal, it accentuates the bump and shifts the attention from the bride to the bump.

To help with the heat the gown should be made from a light material like tulle. If it requires any enhancement, it can be done with pearls because they are lightweight.

“Pearls are a girl’s best friend, and they work wonderfully with gowns. Some stones do not weigh down the fabric and make it easy to carry. The pregnant bride does not need additional weight from the gown,” Namutebi guides. 

 Pregnant brides get easily flustered so avoid sleeves that are too tight, or extremely fitting styles like trumpet or mermaid because this bride has to sit down at some point.

Her gown should be able to accommodate the position bearing in mind that the bump also competes for space around the thighs.

Namutebi recommends visiting a bridal shop with conversant stylists.  

Thankfully the 12th Bride and Groom expo features fashion shows to give the attendees a visual idea of different types of gowns. 

Scheduled for the 29th to 31st of July at the UMA exhibition hall, Lugogo, the event promises to be an explosion of the latest in bridal style and fashion. 

There will be other exhibitors so that an intending couple can find everything required for their wedding under one roof.

Along with fashion shows, there will be workshops featuring expert marital advice from Pr. Robert & Jessica Kayanja, fertility workshops, cake tasting, and a lot more.

Gates open at 8 am and the entrance fee is sh10,000. This year’s Bride and Groom Expo is sponsored by Bridal World, Pepsi Bella Wine, Queen Ma, and Uganda Airlines.