What Type of Wedding Dress Suits Your Body Type Best

You are engaged! Congratulations. Now comes the exciting, and sometimes daunting, task of choosing the perfect wedding gown. With so many styles and options available, this valuable information can definitely save you time in your quest for the perfect gown.

We are all beautiful in our own right. Women are many different shapes and sizes, so the first important step is determining YOUR body shape. Are you slender through the upper body with narrow shoulders and waist, but carry your weight in your lower half. Then you are “Pear Shaped”. Do you have a tiny waist in comparison to your upper and lower body, you are considered to have an “Hour Glass” figure. Take a good assessment of your body and if you are unsure, ask a friend.

Once you have established your body type, the next step is to determine what styles work best with your shape. The below style guide can assist you. Narrowing down your bridal gown options before you hit the stores and boutiques will ease the stress of the overwhelming selection and make for a much more pleasurable wedding dress shopping experience.

Triangle Body Shape

A-line and ball gown silhouettes flatter triangle-shaped brides. It is best to select a gown with some sort of detail at the waist to draw the eye to the smallest part of the body. Being slim on top has its advantages. Any neckline will flatter a bride with a triangle figure, a strapless sweetheart neckline brings attention to the décolletage. Beading on the bodice and neckline draws the focus to your face while detailing along the waist shows off your svelte midsection.

Apple Body Shape

Choose a gown that will give definition to your waist. A style that cinches in your waist will create a more balanced proportion. A wide ribbon at the waist or a slightly dropped waisted style is a great option. Try a style with asymmetrical pleating or ruching, it does wonders for creating a defined waist.

Pear Body Shape

To flatter this shape, an A-line gown will draw your attention upward towards the bodice and face. Also opting with a lace wedding dress, bedazzled and detailed bodices give more detail to the upper body which creates the illusion of a more proportioned figure. Flowing gowns are great with this body type as well. With wider hips, the fabric isn’t as gathered as it can be on smaller frames and allows the tulle or silk to drape better and gives the fabric more room to move to create that wafting effect while walking.

Slim Figures

For slim, straight figures create the illusion of curves by picking out voluminous dresses such as a ball gown which typically has a fitted bodice and a full skirt or a sheath dress. Dresses with contouring or strategic embroidery will also flatter.

Petite Figures

Anything with a simple, structured lining will enhance and flatter your frame, without overwhelming it. An empire waistline would be perfect, by bringing the eye to rest just below your bust, making your legs appear longer.

Tall Figures

A tall bride can wear most of the wedding dress designs out there, from a statement dress to a wedding gown with a lot of details, to a simple silhouette. If you have an hourglass figure, then you should go for a mermaid style wedding gown. That way, you will show all the curves and your perfect body while remaining elegant, classy, and sophisticated at the same time.

A trumpet wedding gown for an hourglass figure

Hourglass Figures

Mermaid and trumpet wedding dresses hug the bust, waist, and hips and are a sexy choice to show off the feminine figure of the hourglass body shape. While a trumpet shape flares out from the mid-thigh to the ground, the mermaid style fits the knee, providing even more definition.

Choosing The Best Wedding Dress Style For Your Body Type