How to Measure Yourself for a Wedding Dress at Home

Taking your own measurements is straightforward — but five specific errors consistently produce a dress that needs major work before it fits. This guide documents exactly how we walk every Lutien Bridal client through the process before production begins.

At our atelier, no dress is cut from a standard block. Every pattern is drafted to your body. The measurements you send us become the foundation of that pattern — which means getting them right the first time matters.

Read our complete guide to the custom ordering process →

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Before You Start

You need four things before you take a single measurement. Missing any one of them will compromise your numbers.

• A soft measuring tape — fabric or flexible plastic, at least 60 inches long. A metal tape measure cannot contour to body curves. Do not use one.
• A full-length mirror — so you can verify the tape is level at the back.
• The undergarments you'll wear on your wedding day — bra, shapewear, anything between your body and the dress. Every extra layer adds to the number.
• A helper — this is a two-person job. Repositioning the tape while reading it shifts your number by 1–2 inches.

For hollow-to-hem only: your wedding shoes, or any shoe with the same heel height.

Stand naturally. Don't hold your breath, pull in your stomach, or tense your muscles.

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Step 1: Bust

Accurate bust measurement determines bodice fit. Wrap the tape around the fullest part of your chest — approximately at nipple level. The tape runs parallel to the floor all the way around your body.

Stand straight, arms relaxed at your sides. Your helper holds the tape level at the back. One finger should fit comfortably between the tape and your chest.

Common error: pulling the tape too tight. The dress will feel constricting when it arrives.

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Step 2: Waist

Your natural waist is the narrowest point of your torso — typically 1–2 inches above your belly button.

How to find it: stand straight and bend slowly to one side. The crease that forms is your natural waist. Mark it, straighten up, and measure at that point.

Common error: measuring at the waistband of your pants. On a fitted bodice, this shifts the seaming placement.

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Step 3: Hips

Hip measurement controls whether the skirt passes over your body. Wrap the tape around the fullest point of your hips and seat — typically 7 to 9 inches below your natural waist. Feet together, tape parallel to the floor.

Common error: measuring around the hip bones rather than the fullest point of the seat.

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Step 4: Hollow-to-Hem

Hollow-to-hem determines the length of your dress. Find the hollow at the base of your throat — where your collarbones meet. The tape runs straight down the center of your body to the floor.

Stand in your wedding shoes. Your helper places the tape end at the hollow and lets it fall to the floor.

Why shoes are required: three inches of heel is three inches of length. If you measure barefoot and your heels are 3 inches, the hem will arrive 3 inches too short.

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Step 5: Custom Fit Points for a Made-to-Order Dress

When we draft a pattern from scratch, we ask for three additional measurements that a size chart can't capture.

High Bust

Wrap the tape around your chest just above the fullest point of your bust. The difference between bust and high bust tells us how to proportion the upper bodice, independently of cup size.

Arm Circumference

For any dress with sleeves — fitted, puff, or sheer — we measure the fullest point of your upper arm.

Shoulder Width

Measured across the back from shoulder point to shoulder point. Controls the width of the back panel and seam placement relative to your natural shoulder line.

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Lutien Bridal Size Chart

Find your size by measurement, not by the number. Bridal sizing conventions mean most brides will size up 2–4 numbers compared to their regular US clothing.

US Size	EUR Size	Bust	Waist	Hips
US 0-0	EUR 30	29.9" / 76 cm	22.8" / 58 cm	33.8" / 86 cm
US 0	EUR 32	31.4" / 80 cm	24.4" / 62 cm	35.4" / 90 cm
US 2	EUR 34	33" / 84 cm	25.9" / 66 cm	37" / 94 cm
US 4	EUR 36	34.6" / 88 cm	27.5" / 70 cm	38.5" / 98 cm
US 6	EUR 38	36.2" / 92 cm	29.1" / 74 cm	40.1" / 102 cm
US 8	EUR 40	37.7" / 96 cm	30.7" / 78 cm	41.7" / 106 cm
US 10	EUR 42	39.4" / 100 cm	32.2" / 82 cm	43.3" / 110 cm
US 12	EUR 44	40.9" / 104 cm	33.8" / 86 cm	44.8" / 114 cm
US 14	EUR 46	42.5" / 108 cm	35.4" / 90 cm	46.4" / 118 cm
US 16	EUR 48	44" / 112 cm	37" / 94 cm	48" / 122 cm
US 18	EUR 50	45.6" / 116 cm	38.5" / 98 cm	49.6" / 126 cm
US 20	EUR 52	47.2" / 120 cm	40.1" / 102 cm	51.5" / 130 cm

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5 Mistakes That Cause a Poor Fit

1. Measuring alone. Back measurements and hollow-to-hem require a second person.

2. Using a metal tape measure. It reads the gap, not the circumference.

3. Measuring over clothing. Measure in only the undergarments you'll wear under the dress.

4. Forgetting your shoes for hollow-to-hem. Every inch of heel is an inch of length.

5. Ordering to your goal measurements. Order for the body you have today.

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What to Do With Your Measurements

Once you have bust, waist, hips, and hollow-to-hem, you're ready to start an order inquiry. Include all four measurements when you write to us.

Learn what happens after you send your measurements → The Complete Guide to Ordering a Custom Wedding Dress Online

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FAQ

What measurements do I need to order a custom wedding dress?

Four measurements cover most styles: bust, waist, hips, and hollow-to-hem. For sleeved styles, add arm circumference. For a fully custom gown, we also request high bust and shoulder width.

Do I need help to measure myself?

Yes. Back measurements and hollow-to-hem cannot be read correctly by one person. The repositioning required shifts your number by 1–2 inches.

What if my measurements fall between two sizes?

Size up. At Lutien Bridal, we account for this in the initial pattern draft — no alteration needed.

Should I measure before or after losing weight?

Measure now. Order based on the body you have today. Letting a dress out is complex and expensive.