Wedding Dress Styles Guide

It is important that you keep these styling tips in mind as you visit your local boutiques and bridal shops in search of your wedding day attire.

Every woman is as beautiful and unique as the dress she decides to wear on her wedding day. Unfortunately, the wedding dress styles that you love in the bridal magazines and on the mannequins won’t always be the style that is the most flattering for your body type.

While the strapless wedding gown is an elegant and appropriate selection for both formal and casual ceremonies, it is sometimes less flattering on certain body types.

This style of dress is perfect for the woman with an hourglass figure who is looking to show off her feminine curves.

The strapless dress accentuates the shoulders and busts, so if you have broader shoulders, an inverted triangle body shape or a large bust that you are looking to minimize, this is definitely not one of the wedding dress styles that is most flattering to you.

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Corset dresses are another gown style that is both eye-catching and elegant. Most brides, regardless of their body type, can wear this style gown that is appropriate for both casual and formal affairs,. Corset wedding dress styles are flattering on most women and they possess a few special qualities that include:

• Tummy Minimizing - This type of gown has ties that cinch the fabric around the waist tightly, minimizing the tummy area and creating a more flattering silhouette for the plus sized bride.
• Shaping - Smaller brides who have a long straight torso or a boxy torso with minimum curves and possibly a smaller bust benefit from having a corset built into their gowns as it creates the illusion of an hour glass figure and helps enhance the bust line.
• Height - No matter whether you are tall or short, corset wedding dress styles can help you achieve the visual ‘length’ for which you are looking. Taller, more slender brides may choose a shorter corset to give the appearance of a shorter torso while petite brides benefit from a longer corset to help them appear longer and more proportioned.

Typically geared for the more ‘Cinderella’ formal wedding scenario, ball gown wedding dress styles do look lovely on a variety of body types; however, certain women should avoid them.

This style of dress is considered formal and is perfect for the bride who is considered on the top than on the bottom.

The wide, rounded skirt does wonders for minimizing a larger behind and the often cinched or corset waistline is excellent for accentuating the hourglass shaped curves of your midsection.

Short brides tend to look like they are being swallowed by a gown of this variety and may want to try a more streamlined dress with a corset or a higher slit to create the illusion of longer legs.

A popular dress selection for formal ceremonies, mermaid wedding dress styles are very restrictive when it comes to which body types they flatter.

This type of dress is typically strapless and is very form fitting through the bust line down to the mid thigh or even knee area where it then flutes out to create the mermaid fin illusion.

Perfect for hourglass shaped brides this style exaggerates the waist and creates a stunning silhouette. You can also benefit from this style if you have a straight or boxy figure as it will create the curves that you might lack.

Due to the restrictive design of both the midsection and leg area, mermaid inspired gowns should be avoided by most plus sized and pear shaped brides as well as those looking to minimize a larger bottom, tummy or thigh area because these features will only be enhanced by the structure of the dress.

While typically more ornate and geared towards the formal ceremony, halter wedding dress styles can also be found for casual setting as well.

This type of dress is also flattering on an array of body types but is certainly not for everyone.

The halter dress is a perfect option for women with a larger bust that are looking for coverage and support.

Dresses that are attached behind the back in this fashion help to minimize the bust line while creating a more proportionate silhouette as it can help balance a larger skirt and hips.

While some halter wedding dress styles are geared towards women with smaller breasts, they typically are not recommended for brides with this body type unless you can find a halter that is enclosed through the cleavage area, which will enhance your shoulders and draw the attention away from your bust.

The casual or the formal bride can wear the Empire waist dress. This specific dress style is geared towards the shorter bride and possesses numerous benefits for you if you fall into this body shape category.

Empire wedding dress styles are especially fitted in the shoulder and bust area and flute out, flowing away from the body just under the breast.

This waistline is flattering for both plus sized and slender brides and can help minimize problem areas while also creating the illusion of a longer torso.

You might select an Empire dress if you are looking to minimize the breast area.

If you have a smaller bust, accentuate the area by choosing a dress that has more design and detailing through that area.

The A-line wedding dress is perfect for both casual and formal events and still stands as one of the most popular wedding dress styles among brides because of its ability to hide problem areas and create a flattering silhouette.

This dress style is one that is fitted through the bodice, typically to the lower abdomen and hip area where it then flares out into a fuller skirt.

Favored by plus sized and slender brides alike, this dress can camouflage a larger backside and thighs while on the other side of the spectrum, help create curves if you lack them.

One of the most popular wedding dress styles to date, the A-line dress can be made to reflect a number of necklines, and sleeve styles including:

• one shoulder
• short sleeve
• long sleeve
• cap sleeve
• off the shoulder

Most wedding dress styles come in various lengths so that you can easily find one that is appropriate for your specific wedding setting.

Certain lengths and hemlines are more appropriate for certain types of weddings, so keep that in mind as you shop.

The two most popular lengths include:

• Floor Length - Among highly formal wedding ceremonies, floor length dress styles are deemed most appropriate especially for evening and church weddings, although this can vary depending on the preferences of the bride.
• Tea Length - A more appropriate selection for both afternoon and outdoor garden weddings, the tea length dress typically has a hem that ends at the shin. Tea dresses can be made for ceremonies that are more formal but are typically geared towards casual weddings. Just remember that whichever length you decide on for your gown, your bridesmaid’s dresses should also reflect that length.

The majority of weddings use three main types of trains, all in varying lengths and which one you choose will depend on the setting and formality of your ceremony.

Longer trains, also called cathedral trains range from 7-10 feet and require the help of a bridesmaid to keep it from becoming damaged during the walk down the isle.

These trains are highly formal and not appropriate for casual weddings.

Mid-sized trains, or chapel trains are typically no more than five feet and do not usually require a handler as the bride moves down the isle.

This train style comes on a variety of wedding dress styles and is appropriate for elegant, semi-formal wedding celebrations.

The brush train usually consists of a large round sweep behind the dress and can typically found on many dress types and styles. This particular train is neither considered formal, nor casual and is appropriate for either type of wedding.

Exceptions to these rules do exist, however and it is most important to remember that the wedding gown you choose should ultimately reflect your preferences and the bridal style that makes you feel most beautiful.

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