I was too busty to be a bride

Shirlie couldn’t find a wedding dress to fit he massive F-cups

I gasped with pleasure when I spotted the beautiful ivory gown hanging on the rail. That's it,' I sighed, gliding towards it, my hand outstretched. It was exactly how I'd dreamed my wedding dress
would look — a strapless ivory gown, with a fitted bodice to show off my curves.

'Hello, can I help you?' asked the shop assistant. 'Hi,' I mumbled, not wanting to take my eyes off the gorgeous wedding dress. 'I'd like to try this one on, please,' I said, pointing to it. She looked me up and down. 'I'm not sure we have that in your size,' she said snootily. I felt my cheeks flush red as I avoided her sneering gaze.

I knew what she w as thinking. 'What size are you, exactly?' she asked.

Mismatched body

'My bottom half is a 14, but my top...' I hesitated, embarrassed. Well, it's more like an 18 to 20; I said. 'Well, we can try,' the assistant smirked, unhooking the size-16 dress and leading me to the changing room. As I stepped into the sequinned gown and pulled the folds of soft material over my body, my heart fluttered. It was so perfect.

'Come out so I can zip you up,' the assistant called to me.

I opened the curtain and turned so my back was facing her. The zip did up easily over my hips and waist, but when it got to the bodice, it jammed to a halt. Yanking the dress tighter, the shop assistant tugged at the zip, but it wouldn't budge.

Ouch; I spluttered. Struggling to breathe as the dress dug deep into my ribs. Meanwhile, my enormous 36F boobs were spilling out over the front of the dress. Like two chubby puppies scrambling to get out, they just wouldn't stay put. 'It's no good,' the assistant said eventually, in a strop. 'It won't fit. Your breasts are just too big,' she sighed.

Distraught, I stared at my reflection. I looked ridiculous - top-heavy and frumpy. My huge boobs were squashed and bursting out, while the material bagged around my waist where it should have fitted snugly. 'I look awful,' I wailed. It was supposed to be the happiest time of my life, but instead, it seemed as if it would lie one of the worst. I quickly got dressed and fled the store in tears.

Ever since my boyfriend, lan, had proposed to me, I knew finding a dress wouldn't be easy.

I'd always had problems with my boobs. At 19, they'd swelled into D-cups. And since then, they'd just got saggier and saggier. I hated them. I couldn't wear strapless or halter- neck outfits. I couldn't even wear strappy tops without my thick granny bra straps showing. Instead, I made sure I kept my big bust hidden under baggy T-shirts.

Back home, lan noticed my puffy eyes. "What's up?' lie asked, concerned.’I can't find a wedding dress that will fit my horrible boobs, 'I cried. '

At this rate we'll have to cancel the wedding because of them. 'lan gave me a hug. 'Don't be daft, love," he soothed. 'We'll get you that dream dress. I promise.

'We'd been together for four years, and lie knew how much I hated my breasts. But my despair was starting to overshadow the happiness and excitement of our approaching wedding.

Fed up, I went to see my mum the next day 'It's no good, Mum. I'm never going to find my perfect dress while I'm saddled with these', I sighed, pointing to my chest.

Losing hope I flicked through the pile of wedding magazines spread across the carpet. I’ve always wanted a strapless wedding dress. But I'll need a harness to keep these upright,' I moaned. I desperately wanted to look like a princess on my special day. Instead, I was going to be one of the ugly sisters. Mum hugged me close. 'Poor thing,' she soothed. We'll find you another dress, don't worry.'

But I didn't want another dress - I wanted a different pair of boobs!

I'd always joked to my mates that if I won the lottery I'd get a breast reduction. But I needed something to sort my chest out. And surgery was probably my only option...

My mind was firmly made up– my massive 36F boobs were not going to ruin my wedding day. I would have surgery to make them smaller. 'How much will it cost?' Mum asked. I sighed. 'I need £4,800. But I'll use my savings and bung the rest on my credit cards,' I said. I was determined nothing was going to stop me getting into my dream dress on my special day. 'I want to look like a beautiful bride, not a frumpy mess,' I said.
Making the breast of it

I was getting married in less than eight months and was never going to find a dress that looked good with my massive mammaries.

I knew breast reduction surgery was my only option. A friend recommended a clinic in Manchester. I had a consultation and assessment there, and finally, the date was set for my operation.

In what seemed like no time, I was dozing off under the anaesthetic's spell, dreaming of tiny, pert boobs.

A couple of days after the operation, I was back at home flicking through my pile of wedding magazines again. Of course, I had some pain and discomfort from the operation, but it was worth it. I couldn't believe the gorgeous 36Cs in front of me were mine. I called Mum. When shall we go shopping?' I asked.

With the clock ticking, I was anxious to find my perfect wedding dress. 'You have to wait a few more weeks for your scars and swelling to heal,' she said.

Six weeks later, the swelling had gone down and I could go shopping. Mum and I returned to the store where I'd seen my dream dress. 'There it is,' I beamed, as I spotted the gown I'd tried on.

Nervously, I stepped into it again, and once more turned so a different assistant could zip me up. Hips, waist... and this time, the bodice perfectly encased my torso. The zip effortlessly slid up my back. 'They're in,' I thought, ecstatic. I couldn't believe my breasts fit into a size-14 dress.

But in the end, I decided I deserved to have a tailor-made dress.

Ever since I was a teenager, I'd dreamed of wearing a slinky strapless floor-length wedding gown. So I visited a local seamstress with a few different designs. Then I treated myself to some new lingerie, including a strapless bra I couldn't have worn before, when my boobs virtually touched my knees.
Happy mammaries

A few months later, lan and I tied the knot. As Dad escorted me down the aisle, I felt more beautiful than I ever had in my entire life. My gorgeous wedding outfit was a two-piece, with a long, flowing skirt and beautiful fitted bodice.

As I floated towards lan, I knew the top-heavy frump was gone. My breasts were pert and perfect. 'You look amazing,' lan whispered, as he took my hand and we said our vows in front of family and friends. Finally, I felt like the princess I'd always longed to be.

Shirlie McDonald, 39, Stockport

For more information on breast reduction surgery and a free consultation, call SurgiCare on 0800 622 222, or visit www.surgicare.co.uk.