Wedding Dress Size Chart & Measuring Guide

Standard Size Chart

Please use the size chart below as a general guide when choosing your dress size.

Our size chart is based on body measurements, not the finished garment measurements. As wedding dresses are structured garments, the final dress measurements may vary depending on the design, fabric, inner construction, and fit of each style.

For the best fit, we usually recommend having your measurements taken by a professional tailor. This can help minimise alterations later, especially for made-to-measure or custom gowns.

Please note:
If your measurements fall between two sizes, we usually recommend choosing the size based on the largest measurement, especially for structured or fitted gowns. A dress can usually be taken in locally, but it is much harder to let out if it is too small.

Minimalist Satin Corset Basque Waist Wedding Ballgown with Handmade Flowers and Detachable Bow | Abigail

Measuring Guide For Custom Size

For custom-size orders, please follow our Measurement Guide below, then fill in your measurements in the measurement form provided.

Download the Measurement Form here.

We recommend having your measurements taken by a professional tailor to help ensure they are as accurate as possible. Please note that even made-to-measure dresses may still require minor local alterations for the best fit, but accurate measurements can help minimise the risk of major adjustments later.

Before measuring:

  • Please use a soft measuring tape.
  • Stand naturally and keep your posture straight.
  • Measure 2–3 times to make sure the measurements are consistent.
  • For bridal gowns, we usually recommend measuring without a bra. 
  • Please avoid sports bras, padded bras, shapewear, yoga pants, or other tight/compressive clothing, as they may affect the accuracy of your measurements.
  • Please do not wear shoes when taking body measurements.
  • When taking your measurements, please keep the measuring tape close to your body without leaving extra room. The measuring tape should sit flat and smoothly against the body, but should not be pulled too tight, squeeze, or dig into the skin.

Full Bust

This is the measurement around the fullest part of your bust.

Wrap the measuring tape around the fullest part of your bust, making sure the tape is level across your back.

Tips:

  • This is not your bra size.
  • Keep your arms relaxed by your sides.
  • For made-to-measure gowns, we usually recommend measuring without a bra.

Upper Bust

This is the measurement around the upper part of your chest, above the fullest part of your bust.

Wrap the tape around your upper chest, keeping it level all the way around.

Tips:

  • Keep your shoulders relaxed.
  • This measurement helps us check the bodice and neckline fit more accurately.

Under Bust

This is the measurement around your ribcage, directly under your bust.

Wrap the tape around your ribcage, just below the bust. Make sure the tape is level around your body.

Tips:

  • Keep your arms relaxed.
  • This measurement is especially important for structured bodices, corset-style gowns, and dresses with internal support.

Front Width

Measure across the front of your chest from one arm crease to the other, above the fullest part of the bust.

Tips:

  • Keep your arms relaxed at your sides.
  • Measure straight across the front chest, not around the body.

Back Width

Measure across your upper back from one arm crease to the other, keeping the tape straight across the shoulder blade area.

Tips:

  • Keep your shoulders relaxed.
  • Measure straight across the back, not around the body.

Nipple to Nipple (Bust point)

Measure horizontally from one bust point to the other bust point across the fullest part of the bust.

Tips:

  • Keep the tape straight and level.
  • This helps us position the cups and bodice shaping correctly.

Shoulder to Bust Point

Measure from the highest point of your shoulder down to the bust point.

Tips:

  • Measure over the front of the body with your shoulders relaxed.
  • This helps us check cup placement and bodice proportion.

Waist

This is the measurement around the narrowest part of your waist.

Wrap the measuring tape around your natural waistline. This is usually the smallest part of your torso.

Tips:

  • Keep the tape parallel to the floor.
  • Do not suck in your stomach.
  • If you are unsure where your natural waist is, gently bend to one side — the crease is usually your natural waistline.

Hips

This is the measurement around the fullest part of your hips and bottom.

Wrap the tape around the widest part of your hips, keeping it level all the way around.

Tips:

  • Stand with your feet together.
  • Make sure the tape goes around the fullest part, not just the hip bones.
  • This measurement is especially important for fitted, mermaid gowns.

Shoulder to Shoulder

This is the measurement across the back, from the edge of one shoulder to the edge of the other shoulder.

Place the tape across the back of your shoulders, following the natural shoulder line.

Tips:

  • Keep your shoulders relaxed.
  • Do not measure too high around the neck.
  • This measurement helps us check the bodice width, straps, sleeves, and off-shoulder designs.

Full Body Height Without Shoes

This is your full body height measured without shoes.

Stand straight with your bare feet together and measure from the top of your head to the floor.

Tips:

  • Please do not include heel height in this measurement.
  • Stand naturally and avoid looking down while measuring.

Hollow to Floor

This is the measurement from the hollow point at the base of your front neck to the floor.

The hollow point is the small dip between your collarbones. Measure straight down from this point to the floor while standing straight without shoes.

Tips:

  • Please stand barefoot.
  • Keep the tape straight down the front of your body.
  • This measurement helps us check the overall dress length.

Shoulder to Floor Over Bust

This measurement is taken from the top of your shoulder, over the fullest part of the bust down to the floor.

This is especially helpful when we need to double-check the front length of a dress.

Tips:

  • Please measure over the bust, not beside it.
  • Stand straight without shoes unless we ask you to include your heels.

Shoulder to Waist

Measure from the highest point of your shoulder, where your bra strap would normally sit, down over the fullest part of the bust to your natural waist.

Tips:

  • Stand straight with your shoulders relaxed and arms down by your sides.
  • Make sure the tape passes over the bust point and ends at the narrowest part of your waist.

Waist to Floor

This is the measurement from the centre front of your natural waistline straight down to the floor.

Tips:

  • Stand barefoot with your feet together.
  • Keep the tape straight and vertical.
  • This measurement helps us check the skirt length from the waist.

Heel Height

Please provide the heel height you plan to wear on your wedding day.

If you have not decided on your shoes yet, please provide the maximum heel height you are likely to wear.

Tips:

  • Heel height affects the finished dress length.
  • If you would like the dress to cover your shoes fully, please let us know.
  • If you prefer the hem to sit slightly above the floor, please also mention this when providing your measurements.

Sleeve Measurements

For gowns with sleeves, please also provide the following measurements.

Biceps Circumference

This is the measurement around the fullest part of your upper arm.

Wrap the tape around the widest part of your upper arm while keeping your arm relaxed.

Tips:

  • Do not flex your arm.
  • Keep the tape comfortable, not tight.
  • This helps us make sure the sleeve is not too tight.

Sleeve Length

This is the measurement from your shoulder point to where you would like the sleeve to end.

Measure from the edge of your shoulder down along your arm to your preferred sleeve length.

Tips:

  • Keep your arm naturally relaxed.
  • If you would like full-length sleeves, measure to the wrist or your preferred end point.

Elbow

Measure around your elbow at the fullest part, with your arm slightly bent.

Tips:

  • Keep your arm relaxed and slightly bent when measuring.
  • This measurement is important for fitted sleeves to ensure comfort and ease of movement.

Wrist Circumference

This is the measurement around your wrist.

Wrap the tape around the fullest part of your wrist.

Tips:

  • This is only needed for fitted long sleeves.
  • Keep the tape comfortable, not tight.

Armscye

This is the measurement around your armhole.

Wrap the tape from the top of your shoulder, around under your armpit, and back to the shoulder point.

Tips:

  • Keep your arm relaxed.
  • Do not pull the tape too tightly.
  • This measurement helps us check sleeve comfort and arm movement.

For High-neck Wedding Dresses

Neck Circumference

Measure around the base of your neck, where the collar of the dress would naturally sit. Keep the measuring tape level all the way around and comfortably fitted, without pulling it too tightly.

Tip:
Please make sure the tape feels comfortable around your neck. A measurement that is too tight may make the finished collar feel restrictive when worn.

Collar Height

Measure vertically from the base of your neck up to the height you would like the collar to reach. This measurement is based on your personal preference, as the height of a high neckline is not fixed and can be adjusted depending on how high you would like it to sit.

Tip:
If you are unsure, you can test a few different heights with a soft measuring tape and choose the one that feels the most comfortable and looks best on you. Please let us know your preferred collar height clearly when sending your measurements.

Basque Waist Measurements

For gowns with Basque waist, please also provide the following measurements.

Hollow to Basque Point

Measure from the hollow point at the base of your front neck, between the collarbones, straight down to the lowest point of the basque waist at the front, which is the bottom of the V-shape or U-shape.

Tip:
Please make sure the tape follows the centre front of your body and stops at the lowest point of the front basque waist.

Side Body Length

Measure from just below your armpit, where the side bodice begins, straight down to the lowest point of the side waist.

Tip:
This measurement helps us understand how low you would like the side waist to sit. Please keep the tape straight and measure along the side of your body.

Important Notes

Please note bridal gowns often require alterations after your first fitting, even with a made-to-measure dress, to achieve the best possible fit. Any alteration costs after the dress has left our atelier will be the customer’s responsibility, so we recommend allowing time and budget for possible local adjustments.

If you would like more flexibility with the fit, we recommend choosing a lace-up back, as this allows the bodice to be adjusted within a certain range.