This is one of the most common questions we get… over the past year, that conversation has become even more common. More people than ever are embarking on significant weight-loss journeys, whether through lifestyle changes, weight-loss medication, surgery or other health decisions.

But weight loss isn't the only reason our bodies change; stress, illness, hormones, pregnancy, menopause, strength training and simply the passing of time can all affect our shape. Most of us won't have exactly the same body twelve months apart, and that's completely normal.

The question isn't whether your body is allowed to change, it absolutely is! The question is how those changes affect a handcrafted wedding dress that is made specifically for you.

Every so often, someone visits the studio and asks a question that makes us pause. We are known for weaving symbols into our designs; the pentagram lacing of Zorya and the hexagram of Melinoe are the most obvious, but sometimes it's because a dress is named after an unfamiliar goddess or we choose a certain song on a reel or TikTok. It makes me realise we don’t talk about why we choose the stories we choose, which naturally makes people wonder whether we follow a particular religion, ask whether we're pagan and occasionally assume something altogether more sinister.

The question usually comes with gentle curiosity, sometimes, if we're honest, it begins with uncertainty. Those conversations have made us realise that perhaps we've never explained why we choose the stories we do.

One of the most common questions we hear during an appointment is:

"And what size is this sample?"

Our answer surprises most people.

"It’s a Moth."

Don't get me wrong, every Legend gown is still made using a carefully developed size chart. As dressmakers we need a consistent system for creating beautifully fitting garments. But we've deliberately moved away from traditional clothing sizes because we don't believe a number on a label tells you anything meaningful about your body.

Sustainability is a question we grapple with surprisingly often. Every time we develop a new design it’s one of the questions we wrestle with. Many times when working with someone to create their perfect gown, we bring it into the conversation, and every email we get after the wedding asking ‘what do we do now?’ brings the discussion to the fore.

The holy grail would be to be able to say one fabric is sustainable and another isn't. That choosing natural fibres is always better than synthetic fibres. Or that there is a perfect solution waiting to be discovered. Unfortunately, sustainability is rarely that simple.

The more we've learned about fabric production, the more we've realised that every choice involves trade-offs.

When people hear the words "gothic wedding", they often picture black wedding dresses, candlelit tables, ravens and velvet suits. And whilst those things can certainly be part of a gothic wedding, they aren't what makes a wedding gothic. After all, simply wearing a black dress doesn't automatically make a wedding gothic any more than wearing a flower crown automatically makes a wedding bohemian. The aesthetics are part of the story, but they aren't the whole story. In fact, one of the biggest misconceptions about gothic weddings is that they're defined by how they look rather than why they exist.

To understand what a gothic wedding really is, we need to look beyond the colour palette and into the ideas, emotions and culture that inspire it.

Every now and then, we’ll receive an email and the relief we read in having found us will take us aback… the relief isn’t necessarily about finding a dress - it’s about not feeling judged, about there not being any pressure to be someone they’re not, that they can bring their whole self to the appointment and simply be accepted. And every time it catches me off guard.

Not because I don't understand why they are saying it. But because I've spent most of my life in the goth community, and somewhere along the way I forgot that not everyone takes that acceptance for granted.

Today, a gothic wedding hardly raises an eyebrow.

Black wedding dresses grace magazine covers. Alternative wedding fairs attract hundreds of visitors. Gothic florists, celebrants, photographers, cake artists and stationers can be found with a quick search online. Entire communities like Dark Wedding Collective have formed around helping alternative couples create weddings that reflect who they are.

For couples planning their wedding now, it can feel as though this world has always existed… but it hasn't.

In fact, the history of gothic weddings is not the story most people think it is.

Wedding dress shopping can feel magical … and it can also feel completely overwhelming and anxiety inducing. If you’re neurodivergent (ADHD, autistic, sensory sensitive, or simply have a beautifully busy brain), the thought of appointments, mirrors, and lots of decision-making can feel like a LOT.

You’re not alone – we KNOW first-hand what you’re feeling and the emotions you’re going through, and you deserve to feel celebrated, comfortable, and empowered when finding your dress.

Here’s our guide to making dress shopping work for you.

Legend Bridal is back! Discover our gothic-inspired bridal world with real wedding stories, bespoke dress design inspiration, and advice for nearly-weds planning an unforgettable alternative wedding.