Upper Bust
Wrap the tape around your upper chest, under your armpits and above the fullest part of your bust. Keep it level and lower your arms before reading.
Do not let the tape slip down across your bust points.
Measurement Guide
Your Measurements, Step by Step
Measurement Guide
Only take the measurements your designer requests. Find each item by its number and follow the instructions below.
Before You Begin
A Little Preparation
- Ask a friend or family member to help.
- Use a soft measuring tape and record everything in centimetres (cm).
- Wear fitted clothing and your usual everyday bra, not a push-up bra.
- Stand naturally. Keep the tape flat, without pulling it tight.
- Measure twice. If the results differ, check again.
Send your measurements exactly as taken. Please do not add or subtract any allowance; our team will account for your gown’s fabric and structure.
Your shared starting point
Find & mark your natural waist
- Ask your helper to place a narrow elastic band around your torso, between your lower ribs and the top of your hip bones. It should sit comfortably without squeezing.
- Gently bend from side to side. Have your helper use the bend at each side of your torso to position the band at your natural waist.
- Stand upright, relax your stomach and breathe normally. Check that the band stays in place without digging in.
- Leave the band in the same position for every waist-based measurement. Check that it has not shifted before each reading.
Your natural waist is not necessarily at your belly button or where your trousers sit. If you are unsure, ask BM for help.
Place the waist band
Bend to locate your waist
Stand & check the band
Basic Measurements
For every bride
Bust
Wrap the tape around the fullest part of your bust, across both bust points and around your back. Lower your arms and check that the tape stays level.
Keep the tape against your body without compressing your bust.Underbust
Wrap the tape around your body directly under your bust, where the band of a well-fitting bra sits. Keep the tape flat and level.
Breathe normally. Let the tape sit against your body without pressing into your skin.Natural Waist
Measure around your natural waist at the waist band. Stand relaxed and breathe normally.
Do not hold your breath or pull your stomach in.Full Hip
Stand with your feet together. Wrap the tape around the fullest part of your hips and bottom, keeping it level.
Check the position from the side so the tape includes the fullest part of your bottom.Height — Barefoot
Stand barefoot on a level floor, looking straight ahead. Hold the zero end of the tape at the highest point of your head. Ask your helper to stand beside you and extend the tape straight down to the floor along your side.
Keep the tape vertical, away from your body’s curves. Keep both feet flat and your head level.Hollow to Floor — Barefoot
Start at the hollow between your collarbones, at the base of your neck. Measure straight down to the floor in front of your body.
Keep the tape vertical; do not follow the curves of your bust. Look ahead rather than down.Natural Waist to Floor — Barefoot
From the waist band at your side, measure vertically down to the floor.
Keep the tape vertical and stand upright.Wedding Shoes
Tell us your planned heel height and any platform height separately.
Do not add shoe height to your barefoot measurements.Bust Point to Bust Point
Wearing your bra, measure straight across the front between your bust points—the most projecting point of each breast, usually at nipple level.
Keep the tape straight between the two points. Do not press it into the space between your breasts.Shoulder–Neck Point to Bust Point
Start where the side of your neck meets your shoulder. Measure down the front to the fullest point of the breast on the same side.
Use the shoulder–neck junction, not the middle or outer tip of your shoulder.Front Shoulder to Waist
Start where your neck meets your shoulder. Measure down over the bust point on the same side, then continue to the band marking your natural waist.
Keep the tape against your body, passing over the bust point rather than beside the breast.Back Neck to Waist
Lower your chin slightly so your helper can find the small bony bump where the back of your neck meets your upper back. Then look straight ahead again.
Have your helper measure from this point down the centre of your back to the band marking your natural waist. Keep your shoulders relaxed.Bra Cup Size Reference
Check the label of a bra that fits you well. Tell us your cup size and the full size shown, such as 34C (UK) or 75C (EU).
Please include the number as well as the cup letter, so we can interpret the size correctly.Shoulder Width
Ask your helper to find the bony point at the outer end of each shoulder, where the shoulder meets the upper arm. Measure across your back between these two points, keeping your shoulders relaxed.
Stop at the shoulder points, even if your upper arms extend further out. Upper arm size is measured separately in the sleeve sections. Not required for strapless gowns.Across Back
With your arms relaxed, measure across your upper back between the back arm creases, where each arm meets the torso.
This is below the shoulder tips and is different from shoulder width. Not required for strapless gowns.Natural Waist to Knee
Stand straight with your knees relaxed. Ask your helper to measure down your side from the band marking your natural waist to the level of the centre of your kneecap.
Keep the tape vertical. Do not bend your knee. Only for mermaid gowns and gowns with a slit. We’ll discuss how high you’d like the slit and use this measurement to position it for your gown.
A · Mermaid Gowns
Take the measurement below, plus Natural Waist to Knee (17) in Basic Measurements.
Around Both Upper Thighs
Stand naturally with your feet together. Ask your helper to wrap the tape around both thighs together at the fullest part just below your bottom.
Keep the tape level and gently against your body, without squeezing. Measure around both legs together, not one thigh.
B · Drop & Basque Waist Gowns
Measure both levels from the band marking your natural waist.
Around the Body — 8 cm Below Waist
Keep the band marking your natural waist in place. Ask your helper to measure straight down 8 cm at your side, then wrap the tape around your body at that height.
Keep the tape level all the way around and gently against your body, without squeezing.Around the Body — 13 cm Below Waist
Ask your helper to measure straight down 13 cm from your natural-waist band at your side, then wrap the tape around your body at that height.
Keep the tape level all the way around and gently against your body, without squeezing.
C · With Sleeves
Start with the two measurements under “For All Sleeves”, then complete the section for your sleeve style.
For All Sleeves
Armhole Circumference
Ask your helper to loop the tape from the bony point at the outer end of your shoulder, down under your armpit and back to the starting point.
Lower your arm naturally before reading. Keep the tape against your body without pulling it tightly into your armpit.Upper Arm Circumference
With your arm relaxed by your side, ask your helper to measure around the fullest part of your upper arm.
Keep the tape level and gently against your skin, without squeezing.Short Sleeves
Shoulder to Elbow
Bend your elbow slightly. Ask your helper to measure from the bony point at the outer end of your shoulder, down the outside of your arm to the tip of your elbow.
This gives us a body reference. We’ll determine your sleeve length from your gown design.Long Sleeves
Shoulder to Wrist
Bend your elbow slightly. Ask your helper to measure from the bony point at the outer end of your shoulder, down the outside of your arm, over your elbow and on to your wrist bone.
Stop at the wrist, even if your sleeve design covers part of your hand.Wrist Circumference
Measure around your wrist at the wrist bones.
Keep the tape gently against your skin, without squeezing or adding extra space.
D · Off-the-Shoulder Gowns
Take both measurements below.
Around Upper Chest & Arms
With your arms resting naturally by your sides, ask your helper to wrap the tape around your upper chest, back and both upper arms at armpit level.
Keep the tape above the fullest part of your bust and level all the way around, without squeezing. Include both arms inside the loop.Upper Arm Circumference
Let your arm rest naturally by your side. Ask your helper to wrap the tape around the fullest part of your upper arm, usually just below your armpit.
Keep the tape level and gently against your skin, without squeezing.
E · High-Neck & Halter Gowns
Take the measurement below.
Neck Base Circumference
Look straight ahead and relax your shoulders. Ask your helper to wrap the tape around the base of your neck, where your neck meets your shoulders, passing through the small hollow between your collarbones at the front.
Keep the tape gently against your skin, without tightening it or adding extra space.Send Us Your Measurements
Send your designer the requested measurements with your name and wedding date. Please include each measurement’s number and the unit, cm.
Unsure where to place the tape? Send us a photo showing how you measured, and we will guide you.
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