If your dress is being made to your measurements, those numbers are the foundation of the whole gown. The good news is that taking them accurately at home is genuinely straightforward — it just needs a soft tape, ten minutes and, ideally, a second pair of hands.
What you need
- A soft dressmaker's tape measure (not a rigid builder's tape)
- Someone to help, if possible — self-measuring the back and the length is the main source of error
- The underwear you plan to wear on the day, or something similarly unpadded
- The shoes you plan to wear, for the length measurement only
- A mirror
Measure over bare skin or close-fitting underwear, never over clothing. Stand naturally — upright but relaxed, not braced or holding your breath.
The four core measurements
1. Bust
Run the tape around the fullest part of the bust and straight across the back, keeping it level all the way round. Do not pull it tight — it should sit snugly against the body without compressing anything. Check in the mirror that the tape has not ridden up at the back, which is the most common error.
2. Waist
This is the narrowest part of your torso, which sits higher than most people expect — usually a little above the navel, not at the hipbones. An easy way to find it: bend sideways, and the crease that forms is your natural waist. Measure there.
3. Hips
Measure around the fullest part, which is usually about 20 cm below the natural waist. Keep the tape level and parallel to the floor all the way around, and make sure it is not caught on anything.
4. Hollow to hem
This one determines the length of the dress, and it is worth doing carefully. Find the hollow at the base of your throat — the small dip between your collarbones. Measure from there, straight down the front of the body, to the floor. Do this in the shoes you will wear, standing straight with your weight even on both feet.
Useful extra measurements
For structured or fitted gowns, these help a great deal:
- Underbust — around the ribcage directly beneath the bust. Important for any corseted bodice.
- Shoulder to shoulder — across the back, from the point of one shoulder to the other. Matters for sleeves and off-shoulder styles.
- Arm circumference — around the fullest part of the upper arm, for fitted or lace sleeves.
- Nape to waist — from the bone at the base of the neck down to the natural waist. This sets where the waistline of the dress will actually sit on you.
That last one matters more than its obscurity suggests. It is what makes a basque waist sit at exactly the right point rather than a few centimetres off.
Six mistakes to avoid
- Pulling the tape tight. Snug, not compressed. A dress built from compressed measurements will not be comfortable to sit down in.
- Letting the tape slope. Check the back in a mirror — it should be level all the way round.
- Guessing the waist. Use the bend-sideways trick rather than assuming.
- Measuring length barefoot. Shoe height changes the hem by several centimetres.
- Rounding the numbers. Give the measurement you actually read, to the nearest half centimetre.
When should you measure?
Take your measurements close to the point of ordering, not months beforehand. If there is a long gap between ordering and the wedding, a corset-back gown gives you built-in adjustment either way.
How this works at Dioma
We are an online atelier, so your measurements are how we build your dress. Send them with your order and we will come back to you if anything looks unusual — a set of numbers that do not sit together sensibly is easy for us to spot, and we would far rather ask than guess.
Frequently asked questions
What measurements do I need for a wedding dress?
At minimum: bust, waist, hips and hollow-to-hem measured in your wedding shoes. For corseted or sleeved styles, underbust, shoulder-to-shoulder, arm circumference and nape-to-waist are also useful.
Should I measure myself in a bra?
Yes, you should measure yourself in a bra.
What is hollow to hem?
The distance from the hollow at the base of your throat, straight down the front of the body, to the floor — measured in your wedding shoes. It sets the length of the dress.
How accurate do the measurements need to be?
To the nearest half centimetre. Small errors compound across a fitted bodice, so it is worth measuring twice and having someone help.
What if my measurements change before the wedding?
Tell us as early as you can. A corset-back gown has several centimetres of built-in adjustment, and we tailor the fit before the dress ships.
Keep reading
- Wedding dress sizes explained
- Made to measure vs made to order
- What alterations cost, and how to need fewer
- Buying a wedding dress online: the complete guide
Ready to order to your own measurements? Start with the bridal collection.