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How The Curvy Bride Came To Be

Oct 21, 2022

When we opened our plus size wedding dress boutique in August 2013, The Curvy Bride was New Jersey’s first bridal shop that catered exclusively to plus size brides. We have since been the recipient of various accolades and awards, including Monmouth County’s Best of the Best Bridal Shop, the knot Best of Weddings, and the 2020 Patch Business of the Year. Over the last 9 years, we have consistently done everything we can to provide the best service and the most beautiful plus size wedding gowns to every bride who walks through our doors. But how did we get here? Let’s back up to August 2011, when our founder Michelle was planning her own wedding. 


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When shopping for the perfect dress to wear on her special day, Michelle was struck with the sudden realization that most bridal shops in NJ didn’t have anything for her to try on. Since bridal dresses run about 2-3 sizes smaller than a street size, her size 16 self didn’t have many options. The local bridal boutiques in NJ didn’t carry anything over a few size 16s, and while the chain bridal shops did have more of a plus size selection, there wasn’t the same quality found as with the designer dresses. Michelle’s options were slim, and if she wanted to order her size, she wouldn’t be able to see what it looked like on her body until it was already paid for and shipped (not ideal for a day as big as your wedding!). Another bump in the road with these other bridal shops was that all of the brides were out in the open together, meaning Michelle had to watch as other brides got to try on the dress of their dreams while she scrounged around for something that fit. After much heartache, Michelle did end up finding a beautiful dress to get married in, but the lack of options for plus size brides really stuck with her.



Fast forward to Michelle as a savvy business woman putting her Business Administration degree and MBA to good use in New York City. While she liked the job she was doing, her ever-present entrepreneurial spirit was growing, so she reached out to the owner of the nearest plus size wedding dress boutique (which was in Cincinnati) to pick her brain. The two became fast friends, and Michelle learned everything from dressing a bride to meeting representatives from the top bridal designers. Not long after, Michelle spotted the perfect retail location right near her house and she knew this was her moment. She saw a gap in the market and saw how she could fill it. With some help and confidence from her new friend and mentor, The Curvy Bride was born!

The Curvy Bride Welcome Board



When Michelle opened The Curvy Bride, she wanted the experience to be the complete opposite of the wedding dress shops in NJ that she had visited when she was dress shopping, first starting with the size range offered. The Curvy Bride offers wedding dresses for curvy plus size ranging from size 14 to 34. Plus size brides can be certain that when they step into our boutique they can find something to try on from our selections of over 200 designer gowns. We offer a private appointment setting with an experienced consultant, so brides are guaranteed an intimate and personal experience for their dress shopping event. Since many plus size styles can often be out-of-date or unflattering, we make sure to only have the latest styles and designers and the highest quality of dresses so no bride will feel like they’re compromising style for size. We also offer dresses with competitive pricing, as well as in-house alterations with expert seamstresses.

Wedding Dresses



Accessorizing is a huge part of making brides feel spectacular as well, so we also carry a variety of veils, jewelry, and headpieces to complete the look. Another personal touch we extend to brides that purchase their dress from us is a beautiful bridal tote bag that includes their paperwork and various resources, including references for seamstresses outside of the local area and shops for undergarments. Everything we do is to make a memorable experience for every bride.

Jewellery Design



Plus size brides are so often overlooked, and Michelle wanted to make sure that never happened at The Curvy Bride. Each part of the experience is thought out to make sure every bride feels beautiful and special - and based on the feedback from our brides, we think we accomplish just that! Our plus size wedding dress boutique has something for everyone - so we hope you will let us help you find your dream dress!

Dream Dress


If you are searching for your dream dress, you can get more information by perusing through our website www.curvybrides.com, and feel free to call us at 732-536-6100 with any questions!



We can’t wait to meet you!


07 Sept, 2023
There are so many options when it comes to your wedding, one of the most important ones being where to hold your wedding! Do you do something lowkey and local, or something vibrant and exotic? The decision can be daunting, and that’s why we’re here. We had the opportunity to ask one of our lovely brides, Danielle, about her destination wedding and we are happy to share her feedback with you! -- Danielle and Michael were married on February 11, 2023 at the Half Moon Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Danielle wore a stunning dress from the Allure Romance collection. This dazzling dress features a sweetheart neckline, delicate lace, and off the shoulder straps.
15 Jun, 2023
Hello everyone and welcome to The Curvy Bride blog! We are a bridal boutique in New Jersey specializing exclusively in plus size bridal gowns. We LOVE to showcase all of our beautiful brides here on the blog. Today we are featuring the beautiful Priscilla! -- Priscilla and her husband Jonathan were married on January 22, 2022. Priscilla wore a stunning dress from Allure Bridals. The elegant silhouette is adorned with delicate lace and a simple off-the-shoulder sleeve. The classic and romantic feel of the dress is perfectly complemented by all the captivating locations that the couple took their photos.
13 May, 2023
At The Curvy Bride we absolutely love showcasing all of the beautiful brides that come visit us at our plus size wedding boutique in New Jersey. It’s such a privilege to be able to help brides find the dress of their dreams. Today on the blog we are featuring the wonderful Leanne. -- Leanne and her husband Devin were married on November 12th, 2022 at the beautiful Rockfield Manor in Bel Air, Maryland. This incredible and sprawling landscape was the perfect backdrop for this amazing couple to start their married life.
04 May, 2023
Dress shopping can be one of the most overwhelming things that a bride has to do. There are so many styles and colors to choose from and at every turn there is a choice to make. You want your wedding dress to be unique to you and show your personality, but also be on trend. This is hard to find in any dress, but especially for plus size bridal gowns. Thankfully your friends at The Curvy Bride are here to show you five current dress trends that can spice up any bridal look. _ _ _ Bishop Sleeves The first trend we’ve been seeing are bishop sleeves. If you’re not sure what those are, let us explain. Bishop sleeves are a long sleeve that is narrow at the top and fuller on the bottom, they are also gathered into a cuff at the wrist to create a puffed look. If you’re looking for a little bit of extra coverage but aren’t a fan of lace or don’t want a tight fit, these flowy light sleeves are perfect for you. This style would work for a bride that is looking for something a little more whimsical than a classic sleeve, something to blend romantic and bohemian styles. They are perfect for a fall or winter wedding.
05 Apr, 2023
Clothing size is a point of contention for a lot of women, especially if you are plus size. It’s hard enough to find regular plus size clothes in stores, let alone plus size bridal gowns. There are very few dedicated plus size bridal shops which makes it even harder. There are so many decisions to be made, from style, color, size, and even price. The whole process can be very overwhelming. But have no fear, because at The Curvy Bride we are here to help and give you all of the knowledge you need to pick the perfect dress for you! Today we are going to talk about bridal gown sizing. Something that is distressing to a lot of brides is the label size of wedding dresses. If you have never done research on this topic before, it can be very intense when it’s finally time to try on a dress. Something that is important to keep in mind through the whole dress buying process is that wedding dress sizing is very different from street-wear sizing. Wedding dresses tend to run small because most designers base their sizes on a European size chart, even if they are an American brand. This means that, depending on the style, your dress size could be between 2-4 sizes larger than your standard clothing size. For example, if you are a size 20 in pants, your bridal gown may be a size 24. But we always say not to worry about the number! Our goal is to help you find a gown that you feel beautiful in, regardless of the size on the tag! -- Below, we have answered some questions regarding sizing that we often get asked: "What if I end up losing weight before my wedding?"  If you think your weight might fluctuate before your wedding, bridal shops will always suggest that you buy for the size that you are today, as it is typically much easier for a dress to be taken in than it is to be let out. It is not recommended to order a smaller size dress, because if it is too snug when it arrives, you may have some trouble on your hands. You could risk the integrity of the dress just to make it fit. This could lead to a whole other host of problems, like having to find another dress last minute or having to find  "What if I am planning on getting weight loss surgery?"  If you plan on losing a significant amount of weight with a weight loss surgery, for example, then it is in your best interest to wait a little bit longer to get your dress and then do alterations as close as possible to the wedding date. This way, you can choose a size accordingly and not have to "guess" on sizing.  -- Ladies, please note - there is no need to try to get yourself into a smaller size dress for your wedding! The size is only a number. You just want to feel beautiful and comfortable on your wedding day, and having dress stress is certainly not going to get you there. You don't need to change your body to fit into a gown; you want the gown to fit your body and feel comfortable on you! That's why we are here at The Curvy Bride in Manalapan, NJ - to help you find a dream dress that you love and feel good in! If you are in the market for a plus size wedding dress and want to shop at the first and finest plus size bridal shop in New Jersey, visit us online at www.CurvyBrides.com for more information or to book a private appointment. We can't wait to meet you!
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