What Are the Wedding Dress Styles?

Choosing a wedding gown is a major milestone in a bride's life. This will be one of the couple's first major decisions together.

There is a huge selection available in terms of style, colour, size, and construction. In a way, buying the dress is like investing in your own happiness, as you can reuse it in the future.

One of the first questions a bridal stylist is likely to ask you when you go to pick out your wedding dress is what silhouette, or shape, you have in mind.

Even if you have a general notion of the type of dress you want (easy and flowy, figure-hugging, etc.), being able to describe it in detail to your stylist will make their job much easier.

In this piece, we'll go through the many different types of wedding dress silhouettes and explain which ones are appropriate for which body types and why.

When you've narrowed your choices down with one or two dresses, it's a good idea to try on one that's the complete opposite of the style you've settled on.

Check out our list of Wedding Dress Shops to help you choose your perfect gown.

Ceremonial Attire: Ball Gown

This is the outline for you if you've always wished for your moment to feel like something out of a fairytale. One of the most traditional wedding dress silhouettes, a ball gown will have everyone gazing at you like you're Cinderella.

The bodice of a ball gown is usually quite fitted, while the skirt is very full and wide, achieved by using crinolines or multiple layers of tulle. This style is ideal for brides who wish to highlight their narrow waist, have their bust well supported, or give the impression of having larger hips, as the full skirt will skim over these problem areas.

Royal brides including Kate Middleton, Grace Kelly, Jackie Onassis, and Diana donned ball gowns because of their timeless elegance.

Mermaid Dress

Since mermaid wedding dresses are so form-fitting in the bust, waist, and hips, they are often considered one of the most provocative shapes.

Look no farther if you want Beyoncé-level curves for the wedding day. If you have a curvy body type or are naturally slender, a mermaid dress will show off your assets.

This figure-flattering cut flares out at the knee and is frequently worn with ruched, tulle, or ruffled skirts.

You won't have as much freedom of movement in this wedding dress style, but you will appear like a movie star on the red carpet.

Trumpet Bridal Gown

The trumpet wedding dress shape is sometimes mistaken for the mermaid silhouette because of its superficial similarities.

First and foremost, focus on the skirt's flared hem.

In comparison to the mermaid profile, which flares out at the knees or slightly above, the trumpet shape is less fitting across the hips and progressively develops wider at the lower thigh.

Therefore, if you want a dramatic look without restricting your mobility, consider a trumpet wedding dress.

Another silhouette that works well for all body types in terms of adding or emphasising curves.

Sheath Bridal Gown

A sheath wedding dress has a defined waist and a sleek, straight skirt that ends just below the hips.

Because it requires fewer material and fewer layers than classic ball gowns, this silhouette is preferable for the carefree bride. Not all, but some, sheath wedding dresses have long trains.

A lack of volume is more than made up for by the sheath silhouette's adaptability; it can be made from a wide variety of fabrics, from beaded to lace to satin to stretch crepe, among others.

If you have an hourglass figure or are a slim or petite bride who doesn't want to look swallowed up by her dress, a sheath silhouette is a great choice.

A-Line Bridal Gown

The A-line is a transitional style between the sheath and the ball gown.

An A-line skirt, so called because it makes the figure look like a "A," flares out from the waist more than the skirt of a sheath dress but less so than the skirt of a ball gown.

No matter if your wedding aesthetic is more bohemian, traditional, beachy, or something else entirely, this silhouette will flatter your figure beautifully.

The A-line silhouette of wedding gowns is available in a wide range of fabrics, from the airy chiffon and tulle to the more rigid Mikado silk.

Tea-Length Bridal Gown

Gowns that fall between the knee and the floor are quite flattering, thus midi and tea-length dresses are frequently worn for wedding rehearsal dinners and receptions.

The skirt of this wedding dress style falls to around six inches over the ankles, making it longer than both cocktail dresses and minidresses.

Shorter-hemmed dresses have long been the go-to for elopements, civil marriages, and minimalistic weddings, as well as for brides who prefer a more low-key look.

Tea-length wedding gowns have a fun, nostalgic vibe and are a good option for brides of all sizes. As a bonus, no one will be able to miss your great wedding shoes if you don't wear a lengthy dress.

Bridal Dress with a Flared Skirt

The fit & flare silhouette is perfect for the bride who wants to show off her figure on her wedding day but doesn't want to go all out with a mermaid or trumpet dress.

This slimmed-down version still clings to your breast and waist, but it's more forgiving in the buttocks and thighs.

The skirt's generous slit at the knee allows for unrestricted movement while standing, sitting, or dancing.

The reason the fit-and-flare style has endured is that it flatters the vast majority of brides. The best necklines for this body type are sweetheart and low V.

Column Bridal Gown

This elegant wedding dress style is quite similar to the sheath, but its bottom opening is more smaller and more structured.

Column wedding dresses, which can be either form-fitting or loose around the waist, then flare out to the floor, get their name from the vertical line they create.

Because of the lack of extra fabric, these wedding gowns are perfect for women with shorter statures.

Silk charmeuse, crepe, and beaded satin are some examples of the heavier fabrics used to create these garments.

How to Choose the Right Wedding Gown for Your Figure

Having Faith in Your Bridal Planner Is Essential

They may bring out a wedding dress style that you aren't used to trying on throughout your visit.

We have compiled a list of Melbourne Wedding Dress Shops to make the search as easy as possible for your perfect gown.

Keep an open mind: bridal stylists are experts at guiding their clients towards the perfect dress.

Get Ready for Your Bridal Appointment by Doing Your Hair and Makeup

A little zhoosh will increase your confidence and let you visualise a complete bridal appearance for your big day, so there's no need to go overboard with the contour.

Only Go Shopping With Your Bridesmaid Squad

If someone doesn't love, support, and cheer you on as you shop for the wedding dress, then you have every right to keep them out of the room.

Find the best wedding dress for your body type with the help of a few easy references and fashion suggestions.

Dresses for Women With an Hourglass Figure

• Modern wedding dresses, with their mermaid cuts and corset details, are made to show off your figure.
• Brides with an hourglass figure can also find a dress that flatters their figure by opting for a fit and flare silhouette.
• Ball gowns wedding dress with a fitted bodice and a flared skirt will draw attention to your most flattering features.
• When combined with a fit-and-flare silhouette, a sweetheart or portrait neckline emphasises your femininity.
• Don't wear baggy sheaths because they will make you look even bigger.

Small-Breasted Brides: Your Wedding Dress Options

• You can choose a wedding gown that flatters your figure by incorporating structure and form in key areas. You can emphasise your bust and neckline by using techniques like ruching, wrapping, and decoration.
• Why not rock the deep plunging V-neck and low back that only a small-busted bride can rock instead of trying to make your breasts look larger?

Stylish Wedding Gowns for the Short and Petite Bride

• Pick monochrome, fluid fabrics and emphasise vertical elements. Extra bulk is added to your figure by embellishments that are too heavy.
• A ball dress wedding gown may look overly thick on a petite bride, but instead an A-line gown will show off her contours while also making her appear taller.
• Some fit-and-flare silhouettes are flattering on shorter brides, especially those with a looser construction and understated ornamentation.
• Wide or realistic waistlines can assist you in avoiding looking "squished up" or bottom heavy. As the eye is drawn down the body, a dropped waist makes one appear shorter since the emphasis moves from the shoulders to the hips.

Wedding Gowns for Women with a Pear Shape

• We agree that a pear-shaped bride looks especially stunning in an A-line or ball gown wedding dress.
• Consider the bodice when looking for the ideal wedding dress to highlight your form.
• Feel free to show off your derriere in a stylish and comfortable fit & flare wedding gown if you so choose.

Dresses for Tall and Thin Brides

• Pay attention to the finer elements and the silhouette when searching for the ideal wedding dress for your figure. Although extravagant wedding gowns are stunning, they may be too much for your slim and elegant body.
• Wear a sheath wedding dress to draw attention to your height. The Romans would have mistaken you for a divine goddess!
• If you want to hide your curves, a fit and flare or a ball gown with a low waist is your best bet, while an empire waist will just draw attention to them.

Wedding Gowns That Flatter Athletic Figures

• Make your figure pop in a figure-flattering A-line or fit and flare wedding gown.
• Angles, such as a curving neckline, a swirl of beads and ornaments, or a tiered skirt, can be used to draw the eye and create the illusion of movement.
• Strapless or halter top dresses will highlight your toned upper body.

Stunning Wedding Gowns for the Bustier Bodied Bride

• Support your bust and keep your undergarments hidden by opting for styles with broader straps or sleeves.
• Choose your neckline with consideration. Dresses with a darling, portrait, or bateau cleavage, or an off-the-shoulder cut, are great options for hiding a strapless bra even while flaunting your curves.
• Wear a bodice or a gown with a wider back. These styles are wonderful for hiding your bra while yet providing the support you require. You may still play dress up if you wear nothing but a nude bra and briefs.

Choosing the Perfect Wedding Gown

Find Out What Interests You and Learn More About It

You can create a visual archive of your favourite gowns by tearing pages from magazines, perusing online bridal boutiques, exploring on Pinterest, and looking at what famous brides are wearing.

Then, see if you can identify a pattern: all of the objects really delicate and lacy or bulky and voluminous? Do they all come without backs?

Identify some shared characteristics between the designs you like and bring them with you to the consultation.

Be Open

Consultants in the bridal industry will tell you that many brides come in thinking they know exactly which dress they want, only to be surprised when they try it on and realise it's not what they envisioned.

If you want to choose the perfect wedding dress, have an open mind. It's possible to locate the one outfit you've always imagined wearing.

Prepare for the Bridal Sizing

The size of your wedding dress will typically be one to two sizes larger than the one you typically wear.

When considering whether or not to go public with a problem, keep in mind that the only people who will know your phone number are you and your consultant.

Be Accurate With Your Sizing

Shop for gowns in your current size instead of going smaller in the hopes that you can lose weight before the big day.

Dresses that are too large can be taken in more easily than those that are too small.

Shop Early

It can take anywhere from four to eight months to make a wedding dress, and that doesn't even include the time needed for fittings and modifications.

And Yet Not Too Soon

You may find a nicer dress closer to the wedding day, or the one you bought may be out of style if you start shopping for it early because of a long engagement.

Set a Spending Plan in Motion

Money talks are awkward, but they could end up saving your relationship.

Determine who will be footing the bill for the dress before your first appointment (parents, significant other, yourself).

Don’t Freak Out if You Don’t Like It; You Might Be Able to Save It

In the event that the dress arrives and you are not completely satisfied with it, there is no obligation to return it. Have a group of your closest friends and fashion experts try it on with various belts and boleros.

A tailor can alter the look by shortening the garment, altering the neckline, removing or adding sleeves, or any combination of these.

Save Your Money if You Have to Begin Again

Suppose you've tried everything to fall back in love with the dress, but you just can't. However, you also don't have the funds to throw it away and buy a new one.

You can resell the garment online, stressing that it has never been worn. This will allow you to reclaim 60% to 80% of the original retail price, significantly more than the typical 50%.

You Might Want to Consider a Bustle

To determine whether or not to have a bustle added to your dream dress if it has a lengthy train or hem.

However, this will change the appearance of the back of your dress and may not be something you want to show off at the reception when picking up your train.

Before having your dress fitted or altered, you should investigate the many bustle options to find one that works with your desired look.

Make a Decision About Dress Previews in Advance

It goes without saying that you wouldn't want your significant other to view your selection, but what about your pals?

Set a limit on who will see the photos of the dress before you begin sending them around; will it be only the folks at the fitting? Only the bridesmaids and groomsmen?

If you don't establish the rule in advance, you can feel pressured to share with everyone, ruining the surprise on the big day.

The Dress Must Not Remain in Your Residence

You don't want your significant other to spoil the surprise by finding your dress at home, especially if you plan on surprising them with a wedding.

Inquire as to if you can store the dress at the home of a trusted relative or friend (possibly someone you'd want to bring with you when you take the shift for fitting appointments).

You won't feel obligated to wear it every day leading up to the wedding if it's not hanging in your closet.

Please Take a Break and Stop Sorting

The search for the perfect dress is over; any further dress-related browsing will drive you insane.

What you have is fantastic. We can't wait to unveil it to everyone on the big day.

Even More Inquiries to Make About Finding the Ideal Wedding Gown for Your Figure

On your wedding day, what will make you feel most at ease? How can you get into the mood for such a romantic evening?

You want to look and feel your best on your wedding day, but you also don't want to take any fashion risks.

Consider the types of clothing and the overall aesthetic that help you feel most like yourself, whether that's elegant and sophisticated or casual and comfortable.

Consider your favourite self-esteem-boosting beauty rituals. Do you feel more put together when your hair is pulled into an updo, or do you find that having waves frees you up to go with the flow? What effect do your accessories have on your overall ensemble?

Do you want to dance the night away or run for the hills at the mere thought of putting on a pair of high heels? These hints will lead you to a wedding dress that is a perfect match for your figure, sense of style, and wedding day vision.

And are you able to let go of your doubts and take the advice of those closest to you seriously?

Like any bride-to-be, you probably have some mixed feelings regarding your physical appearance. The search for a dress that satisfies these criteria is critical, but you must not let your critical mind rule your shopping.

We're betting that your loved ones, and especially your beloved, think considerably more highly of your physical attractiveness than you do.

Conclusion

Shapes of bridal gowns come in a wide variety. We examine the different varieties and why some are more suited to certain physiques than others. Sometimes, the trumpet silhouette of a wedding dress is misunderstood for the mermaid one. The skirt of this dress is long and straight, falling to the hips, and the waist is cinched in for a trim look. Between the sheath and the ball gown is where you'll find the A-line.

Dresses that fall between the knee and the floor are common at wedding rehearsal dinners and festivities. Wedding dresses that are just above the knee, or "tea length," exude a lighthearted, retro air and are flattering on brides of all heights and shapes. The reason the fit-and-flare silhouette has lasted so long is that it looks beautiful on the great majority of brides. Helpful references and style advice can aid you in locating the perfect wedding dress for your figure. Your best features will be highlighted by a ball gown wedding dress with a fitted bodice and a full, flouncy skirt.

Dresses with a fit and flare silhouette will most flatter an hourglass form, making them a popular choice among brides. Extra weight from your accessories will make you look plump. A bridal gown can take as long as eight months to create. A tailor can make alterations to a garment like shortening it, changing the neckline, or adding sleeves to give it a new style. If your dress has a really long train or hemline, you should probably get a bustle.

It's a good idea to ask a reliable cousin or friend if you can keep your dress at their place for a while. How can I put you at ease the most? How can you prepare yourself for such a passionate evening? Follow these pointers to get an outfit that flatters your form and complements your taste.