Wedding dresses you can breastfeed in: nursing mothers rejoice, we have a gigantic round-up just for YOU #Fashion Advice#bridesmaid dress#maternity dress#omg dresses Updated Jan 5 2017 (Posted Dec 6 2012) Stephanie Kaloi Photo from Kate & Glen's geeky, atheist, breastfeeding wedding. Have you thought about doing a roundup of dresses that might be suitable for breastfeeding? I'm sure there are brides to whom it might be relevant, and also bridesmaids! There are plenty of casual dresses out there that would work, but what about the bride or bridesmaid who wants a more formal/evening look? — Rachel So here's what I learned in my 15 months of breastfeeding: all kinds of tops and dresses can are breastfeeding-friendly, especially once you get the hang of it. While I didn't don a wedding dress or bridesmaid gown during my stint as a nursing mother, I did experiment with a variety of necklines to find out what was the easiest to manuever my son around. You also want to wear something that can be folded back/pushed to the side pretty quickly — hungry babies are demanding! Anything that's cut low is an obvious good match — and with gowns, I've found that sweetheart necklines and V-necks are the easiest. It might seem like it makes sense to go strapless, as strapless would = easier boob access, but you're also going to want a neckline that's offering SOME kind of support (especially if your milk decides to come in during the middle of the ceremony: ouch). With all of this in mind, here's a collection of wedding gowns and bridesmaids dresses that could work for a breastfeeding mother (or even breastfeeding trans-dad!): Unless noted, all gowns are plus-size friendly, and most of these choices are white gowns. Sizes are indicated in parentheses after each gown name — click on the photos to find the gown online! Vintage-inspired and romantic gowns Evelyn: 1341-51 Model: BRD22810P To me, the Evelyn (2-28) gown from Ruche calls to mind the Guineveres of the world as well as all things ethereal: I can simultaneously see this worn in a sunset ceremony in the mountains and a Renaissance-themed wedding. Gwen in Ivory: 1079-80 Model: BRD22061P, Gwen in Pink: 1093-4 Model: BRD22058P. While it's only available in sizes Small-XLarge, the Gwen in Ivory and Gwen in Pink gowns are to diiiiie for. I'm obsessed with the tulle skirt, and the sweetheart neckline and lack of bust boning make this an ideal dress for quick breastfeeding. Modern and quirky dresses This dress is actually designed for maternity and nursing — so you could wear it while pregnant, while breastfeeding, or while pregnant and breastfeeding a toddler. It's budget-friendly ($99) and could also double as a good fit for a nursing bridesmaid, or a wedding guest. This is another maternity and nursing combo dress — the top is elastic, so it stretches easily. WIN. Plus Size-friendly Spaghetti Strap Ruched Empire in Burnout Chiffon: Style 9T9391. HELLO, easy A-line breastfeeding wedding gown (available in sizes 14W-26W)! This is kind of perfect for anyone still carrying baby weight — the top is supportive, the empire waist is flattering, and the dress is just gorgeous. V Neck Soft A Line Gown with Hand Appliqued Lace: Style VW351021 Despite the A-line design, I was a little unsure about this gown (currently available in sizes 6, 12, and 14) until I saw the zip-up back — assuming someone can help with the unzipping, it could easily be breastfeeding-friendly. Divine Wedding Dress: D722 This off-the-shoulder dress (sizes 4-28) would be so easy to nurse in it almost makes me cry happy tears. Look at that sweetheart neckline! A simple popping out of your boob and you're set. Divine Wedding Dress: D737 Ditto this gown (sizes 4-28) — the V-neck neckline doesn't look super rigid at all. Divine Collection Wedding Dress: D080 Halter gowns like this one (sizes 4-28) are SUCH a score if you're nursing — it buttons at the neck, so all you need to do is unbutton at the top and you're set! Allure 8634 Wedding Dress. This gown comes in sizes 2-32 and looks like it'd be extra easy — I'm pretty sure you could just fold back the top of the V-shaped neckline — no removing of straps required. Allure 8751 Wedding Dress. This is another option (sizes 2-32) that seems like it's a cinch to breastfeed in — boobs are totally available all the time thanks to the V-neck on this one! Budget-friendly: under $300 JS Collections Embellished Waist Chiffon Gown: #597936 This dress has an Empire waistline! Spaghetti straps! V-neck! A breastfeeder's dream dress, and for $268. Y'ALL. JS Boutique Pearl Trim Crisscross Matte Jersey Gown: #314432 Just when you might have been thinking the budget-friendly couldn't get better (that first one seriously set the bar pretty high), you find this dress for $178. The wide straps will lend extra support, and it's available in sizes 2-16. Alex Evenings Ruched Mesh Gown with Shawl: #553435 I LOVE this plus-size option (available in 16W) for many reasons, and one of them is its $78 price tag. For Bridesmaids I swear, nearly every gown in this collection of Bridesmaids dresses is breastfeeding-friendly — and all of them run in sizes 4 to 28! Here are three of my favorites: Divine Bridesmaid Gown: DM131 Divine Bridesmaid Gown: DM126 Divine Bridesmaid Gown: DM125 This last one is especially great — the wrap can double as a breastfeeding shield! And before you ask: someone totally makes sexy nursing lingerie: Sexy strapless options are harder to come by, but you could always don something like this and change whenever the… mood strikes. And don't forget: when you're ready to wean, we've talked all about it on Offbeat Families. You can use cabbage! It sounds gross, but y'all: it totally works. Reporter Name * Reporter Email * Original text Enter the original text here. Edited text* Enter your suggested copyedit here. Notes You can add a note for the editor here. * Required information. Fix Typo Stephanie Kaloi I was the editor of the now-defunct Offbeat Families, and owner/photographer at Stephanie Kaloi Photography in Portland, OR. PREVIOUS A leaf-peeping couple weds during fall foliage season NEXT A braided faux hawk wedding look for a wild night Show/Hide comments [ 14 ] This post is SO pertinent! my son was still breastfeeding at the time of my wedding and the dress made for a very difficult day in that respect. thanks for thinking of nursing moms! *nursing mom tip – tuck in a handkerchief or washcloth over the edge of the dress so it doesn't get damp some of those gowns are gorgeous! Reply I was nursing during my wedding and I had a strapless sweetheart purple prom dress, super easy to nurse from even with a great fitting corset on. The problem was, it wasn't supportive of my large boobs (36DDD). I wish I would have taken my time with the dress, but trying on dresses with a newborn (literally went shopping when she was 4 weeks old!) I felt rushed. Reply This takes me back to my wedding nearly 17 years ago. My daughter was 5 months old and a frequent nurser. I did not have a breastfeeding friendly dress so I had to go to the country club locker room to nurse her. You should have seen the look on those women golfers faces when they saw me with my dress down to my waist and a nursing baby at my breast! I was a sight! Reply Our daughter was 3 months old at our wedding & I made my own infinity dress (make it: http://sewlikemymom.com/little-red-infinity-dress-tutorial/ or buy it on etsy or other sites). It worked perfectly & had plenty of ways to be worn that were gorgeous, but still provided great coverage for my large breastfeeding boobs. Reply I actually bought my wedding dress pre-baby, and wore it when my daughter was 5 months old and still breastfeeding. I bought a flamenco style Mori Lee Dress with a strapless sweetheart neckline. The back was a lace up corset and the bodice was boned, ultimately i had no problems whatsoever breastfeeding. Though normally I don't use a cover breastfeeding I did at my wedding because the strapless dress did leave me a lot more exposed than what I'm used to while feeding. Also a quick note for the ceremony. If you can't breastfeed right before (or are too nervous and totally forgot…like I did), make sure to have a bottle with either formula or pumped breast milk. My daughter got hungry and tired right after she walked down the aisle with her dad, so it was easy for the grandparents to settle her. Reply I'm gonna be a bridesmaid next August (first time yay:) with a two and half month old baby, so this post is giving me lots of food for thought. Thanks! Reply I asked this Q, thanks for the feedback! Great ideas 🙂 Reply the first plus size lace dress is my wedding dress and there is no elastic in the top it would definatley not be suitable, you would have to unzip the back to get your boob out, plus it has spaghetti straps so you wouldn't be able to wear a nursing bra Reply My daughter was four months old when I got married. I breastfed for a lot of the night and was very thankful to have a dress that was easy to get the top down. A friend of my dad's made it for me, so she took into account breastfeeding. It had a corset with velcro so I could rip it off to feed. I probably could have had the seamstress cut out boob holes and it would have been even easier, and the corset would have covered them, but I didn't think of that until after! Reply This is a great post. It's so important to have options like this for new moms who are also new brides! 🙂 Reply I need this article and any advice for my matron of honor who will most likely be breastfeeding? any other colors and dress styles for her to wear (besides bride dress) while breastfeeding? She is also on a VERY tight budget. Thank You! Reply This advice was badly needed! Thank you for posting! Reply veryy good job Reply So many interesting articles on a single platform. Glad to be a part of this wonderful forum. Reply Leave a Reply to J XD Cancel Reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Sign me up for your offbeat awesomeness newsletter! No-drama comment policy Part of what makes the Offbeat Empire different is our commitment to civil, constructive commenting. Make sure you're familiar with our no-drama comment policy. 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This post is SO pertinent! my son was still breastfeeding at the time of my wedding and the dress made for a very difficult day in that respect. thanks for thinking of nursing moms! *nursing mom tip – tuck in a handkerchief or washcloth over the edge of the dress so it doesn't get damp some of those gowns are gorgeous! Reply
I was nursing during my wedding and I had a strapless sweetheart purple prom dress, super easy to nurse from even with a great fitting corset on. The problem was, it wasn't supportive of my large boobs (36DDD). I wish I would have taken my time with the dress, but trying on dresses with a newborn (literally went shopping when she was 4 weeks old!) I felt rushed. Reply
This takes me back to my wedding nearly 17 years ago. My daughter was 5 months old and a frequent nurser. I did not have a breastfeeding friendly dress so I had to go to the country club locker room to nurse her. You should have seen the look on those women golfers faces when they saw me with my dress down to my waist and a nursing baby at my breast! I was a sight! Reply
Our daughter was 3 months old at our wedding & I made my own infinity dress (make it: http://sewlikemymom.com/little-red-infinity-dress-tutorial/ or buy it on etsy or other sites). It worked perfectly & had plenty of ways to be worn that were gorgeous, but still provided great coverage for my large breastfeeding boobs. Reply
I actually bought my wedding dress pre-baby, and wore it when my daughter was 5 months old and still breastfeeding. I bought a flamenco style Mori Lee Dress with a strapless sweetheart neckline. The back was a lace up corset and the bodice was boned, ultimately i had no problems whatsoever breastfeeding. Though normally I don't use a cover breastfeeding I did at my wedding because the strapless dress did leave me a lot more exposed than what I'm used to while feeding. Also a quick note for the ceremony. If you can't breastfeed right before (or are too nervous and totally forgot…like I did), make sure to have a bottle with either formula or pumped breast milk. My daughter got hungry and tired right after she walked down the aisle with her dad, so it was easy for the grandparents to settle her. Reply
I'm gonna be a bridesmaid next August (first time yay:) with a two and half month old baby, so this post is giving me lots of food for thought. Thanks! Reply
the first plus size lace dress is my wedding dress and there is no elastic in the top it would definatley not be suitable, you would have to unzip the back to get your boob out, plus it has spaghetti straps so you wouldn't be able to wear a nursing bra Reply
My daughter was four months old when I got married. I breastfed for a lot of the night and was very thankful to have a dress that was easy to get the top down. A friend of my dad's made it for me, so she took into account breastfeeding. It had a corset with velcro so I could rip it off to feed. I probably could have had the seamstress cut out boob holes and it would have been even easier, and the corset would have covered them, but I didn't think of that until after! Reply
This is a great post. It's so important to have options like this for new moms who are also new brides! 🙂 Reply
I need this article and any advice for my matron of honor who will most likely be breastfeeding? any other colors and dress styles for her to wear (besides bride dress) while breastfeeding? She is also on a VERY tight budget. Thank You! Reply