George Boyle
Choosing a wedding dress is an important and exciting part of the wedding planning process. However, with so many styles, shapes, and trends to choose from, it can also be overwhelming. To find the perfect dress, it's essential to consider your body shape and personal style. While style guides offer recommendations based on body type, such as A-line, princess, or mermaid dresses, it's also important to feel comfortable and confident. Getting measured by a professional and trying on different styles can help you find a dress that flatters your figure and reflects your unique personality.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Body shape | Pear-shaped, hourglass, slim rectangle, ballerina, athletic, petite, fuller bust, small bust |
| Dress style | A-line, fishtail, princess, mermaid, ballgown, sheath, empire line |
| Dress features | Strapless, sweetheart, V-neck, halter, open back, fitted, full skirt, embroidery, beading, high neckline |
| Dress material | Chiffon, satin, tulle, lace, crepe |
| Other | Try on different shapes, consider your personality, bring photos of your venue to the appointment, get measured by a stylist, buy your gown nine months ahead |
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What You'll Learn
Dressing for your body type
Hourglass Figures
If you have an hourglass figure, you typically have well-balanced proportions between your bust and hips, with a defined waist. To accentuate your curves, opt for a dress that cinchs at the waist. A fit-and-flare silhouette is a timeless choice that suits various body types, including hourglass figures. It provides both elegance and comfort, with a fitted bodice and a flared skirt.
Pear-Shaped Figures
For pear-shaped figures, the hips tend to be wider than the bust, with a defined waist. Sleeved dresses can help balance out the upper and lower body. A-line or ballgown styles can help create a more balanced silhouette by drawing attention upwards and gracefully skimming over the hips. However, if you want to show off your curves, a mermaid or fishtail style may be a bold and sexy choice.
Athletic Body Types
For brides with athletic body types, off-the-shoulder or strapless dresses can highlight your toned arms. To enhance your shoulders, consider a gown with a halter neckline. Avoid light and flowy fabrics like chiffon, and opt for heavier materials like satin.
Oval or Apple-Shaped Bodies
Oval or apple-shaped bodies often have a larger bust, waist, and torso, with narrower hips. To create a flattering and balanced look, consider styles that elongate your body and draw attention upwards. Draped or ruched details around the neckline add interest and create a focal point. Avoid halter or high-neck gowns, as they may overwhelm your bustline.
Triangle-Shaped Bodies
If your shoulders and upper body are proportionally larger than your lower body, you may have a triangle-shaped or inverted triangle body type. Opt for symmetrical or V-neck styles to balance out your silhouette. Fuller straps and sleeves can also help flatter your figure and make your shoulders appear more subtle. Avoid strapless, off-the-shoulder, or halter neck styles, as they can highlight your wider shoulders.
Remember, while choosing a dress that complements your body type is important, it's also crucial to prioritize comfort and ease of movement. Select a dress that makes you feel confident, beautiful, and ready to fully enjoy your special day.
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Choosing a style that suits your personality
Your wedding dress is one of the most important pieces of clothing you will ever wear. It should reflect your personality and style and make you feel like the most confident version of yourself.
If you're a traditional bride, you might opt for a ball gown or A-line silhouette, which are timeless and universally flattering. Ballgowns are particularly stunning on pear and hourglass figures, as they accentuate the waist and provide lovely proportions. A-line gowns, on the other hand, are a great choice for any body type, as they create a slimmer waistline while flattering the bust and adding height.
For those who want something more dramatic and glamorous, a mermaid or trumpet silhouette might be the perfect choice. Mermaid gowns are fitted through the bodice, waist, and hips, with a skirt that flares out at the knee, highlighting curves in a bold way. Trumpet gowns are similar, hugging the body from the chest to the mid-thigh, where the skirt then flares out, and are a popular choice for those with slender or hourglass frames.
If you dream of a simple and understated wedding, a sheath dress might be more your style. Sheath dresses flow straight down from the neckline to the hem, skimming the body's curves rather than clinging to them, and are an excellent choice for tall, slim brides.
Ultimately, the most important thing is to choose a dress that makes you feel confident and beautiful. Don't be afraid to try on different styles and step out of your comfort zone—you might be surprised by what you fall in love with!
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Getting the right fit
The first step is to figure out your body shape. Designers create gowns to flatter different body shapes, so the plan is to match your shape with the dress made for it. There are guides online to help you find your shape. For instance, if you have an hourglass figure, you should pick a dress that accentuates your waist. For brides with athletic body types, an off-the-shoulder or strapless dress will play up your gorgeous arms. To enhance your shoulders, consider a gown with a halter neckline. If you have a petite body type, an open back will elongate your shape. For brides with fuller chests, wider straps or sleeves will make a soft look and add support to your figure. A sweetheart or V-neckline will beautifully flatter your bust.
However, it's also important to remember that you know yourself better than anyone. Beauty comes from within, so be true to yourself and find a wedding style that perfectly matches your personality. If you never wear strapless clothes and don't feel comfortable or confident in them, don't feel that you have to choose a strapless wedding dress, even if it's supposed to suit your body shape.
To ensure your dress fits perfectly, get measured by a bridal stylist or a seamstress. You can also ask a friend or family member to help you take your measurements. Having precise measurements will guarantee a better result. To make sure the dress suits your style, most bridal stylists recommend buying your gown nine months ahead of your wedding, to accommodate alterations, customizations, and accessorizing. To make sure your dress fits perfectly, test the garment while in motion. If you're planning a church wedding that includes kneeling, practice that position in your gown. To evaluate whether the design is suitable for dancing, bend down and twirl around while wearing the piece. Most gowns can be altered by one or two sizes, and it's usually better to order a larger size and take it in than be stuck with a zipper that won't close.
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Finding a dress that suits your venue
When selecting a wedding dress, it is important to consider the venue and season of your wedding. If you're getting married outdoors, a lightweight and flowy dress will suit the setting perfectly. For a formal indoor wedding, a structured and elaborate gown may be more appropriate. The dress should complement the overall aesthetic of the venue and wedding theme.
If you're having a summer wedding, lightweight fabrics like chiffon or organza are ideal for a flowing and airy look. For a winter wedding, opt for heavier fabrics like velvet or satin to add warmth and elegance. The fabric and style of your dress should also reflect the formality of your wedding venue. A garden wedding calls for a different dress than a traditional church wedding.
It is also important to consider your comfort and personal style. If you're not a fan of traditional wedding gowns, you can opt for alternative options like jumpsuits or separates. Choose a dress that makes you feel confident and beautiful.
When trying on dresses, keep an open mind and try different styles. Listen to the advice of bridal consultants, as they have experience in finding dresses that flatter different body types and can guide you towards styles that complement your chosen venue.
Lastly, don't forget to bring your own shoes to your dress appointments so you can see how the dress will look with the correct heel height.
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Picking a dress you'll feel confident in
The first step to feeling confident in your wedding dress is to know your body type and choose a dress that flatters your figure. You can get measured by a friend or family member or a bridal stylist to help you understand your body shape. There are guides online to help you determine your body shape and the styles that will suit you. For example, if you have a petite frame, consider a dress with an open back to elongate your shape. If you have a fuller chest, opt for wider straps or sleeves to create a soft look and add support. Athletic body types can rock an off-the-shoulder or strapless dress to show off those gorgeous arms.
It's also important to choose a dress that reflects your personality and makes you feel like yourself. If you never wear strapless dresses and don't feel comfortable or confident in them, don't feel like you have to choose a strapless wedding dress just because it's supposed to suit your body shape. You want to feel like the best version of yourself on your wedding day, so pick a dress that aligns with your personal style and makes you feel amazing.
Start shopping for your wedding dress as soon as you've selected your venue, to allow plenty of time for alterations and customisations. Most bridal stylists recommend buying your gown nine months before the wedding. Take photos of your venue and your ceremony site to your appointment so your consultant can pick styles that suit the location. Remember, hangers can be deceiving, so don't judge a dress by how it looks on the hanger. You won't know what a dress looks like until you try it on, so be open-minded and try on a variety of shapes and styles.
Finally, to ensure your dress fits perfectly, test it in motion. Practice kneeling, bending down and twirling to make sure the dress suits your movements and feels comfortable. It's better to order a larger size and have it taken in than be stuck with a dress that's too tight, but shopping true to size is always best.
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Frequently asked questions
The first step is to know your body type. You can do this by getting measured by a friend or family member or a bridal stylist. Once you know your body type, you can select a silhouette that will flatter your figure. For example, if you have an athletic body type, you might want to try an off-the-shoulder or strapless dress. If you have a fuller chest, consider wider straps or sleeves to add support.
Be true to yourself and you’ll discover the wedding style that perfectly matches your personality. You can also take quizzes to get personalized recommendations.
Bring photos of your ceremony and reception site to your appointment so your consultant can pick styles that are suitable for the location.
