I spent weeks scrolling for a black wedding dress in my size and honestly I was so over it. Every cheap fabric, every sketchy sizing chart, every review that sounded fake. I was this close to giving up.

Then I stumbled on this off the shoulder black ballgown while I was actually looking for bridesmaid dresses. Total accident. I clicked on it and my jaw dropped. It had everything I wanted but I was terrified. Buying a dress online without seeing it in person? With my measurements? I almost closed the tab.

But the price was way too good and the reviews kept saying it was amazing so I measured myself like five times, sent everything to the seller, crossed my fingers and hit order.

Fast forward to delivery day. I ripped open that package and let me tell you, this is the best thing I have ever bought online. Period.

The fabric surprised me. It feels strong but not heavy. I wore it around the house for an hour and my shoulders didn't hurt. The tulle skirt has this nice bounce even without a petticoat underneath. I grabbed a ruffled hoop skirt from Amazon later and that made it explode into full princess mode but honestly it works fine on its own too. In my mirror selfie I didn't use the petticoat and the back lacing was crooked because I was trying to tie it by myself. Big mistake. Have someone help you with that corset back.

Now here is the part that shocked me. I wear a 40 DDD or F and this bodice actually holds me in. The boning runs all the way through and it cinches my waist and shapes my curves better than any formal dress I have tried. There are no sewn in cups but my regular bra fits underneath perfectly. No gaping, no slipping. I felt so confident.

There are a few annoyances though. I am only five foot one and the hem drags on the floor like crazy. I tripped over it at least ten times. If you are short like me, budget for a quick hem job.

The shoulder straps are a little loose too. They slide down my arms all the time. I am going to safety pin them to my bra straps or take them to a tailor. Honestly I would rather have them too big than too tight so it is fine.

A couple of the 3D roses on the bodice arrived squished from shipping. I just fluffed them with my fingers and they popped right back. No big deal.

The seller included a cape but I thought it looked boring. I messaged them and asked if they could make it detachable. They did it for free. I probably won't even wear it at my wedding. If you are unsure about the cape, just ask them to change it before they ship. They are super nice about custom requests.

I tried the dress on in my living room with a vintage beaded choker, a silver tiara, and this big colorful bouquet with oranges and yellows and deep blues. It looked so striking against the black. My dad put on his dark purple brocade jacket and we took a picture together. That moment made me so happy.

This is exactly the dark romantic vibe I wanted for my fall wedding. No boring white for me. The full skirt, the lace sleeves, the black floral bodice, everything matches my goth theme perfectly.

So if you are a plus size bride who wants a black dress for a fall or Halloween or alternative wedding, do not let fear stop you. This dress is affordable, beautiful, well made, and it flatters curvy bodies like crazy. I worried about cheap quality and bad fit for nothing. It blew my expectations out of the water. My October wedding is going to be unforgettable and this dress is the reason.