Rhiannon Hendricks
Finding your dream wedding dress can be a magical experience, but with so many options available, it can also be overwhelming. To determine your bridal style, start by compiling a visual file of your favourite wedding dresses. Tear pages out of magazines, save Instagram posts, create a Pinterest board, browse online bridal boutiques, and make note of celebrity looks you love. Then, look for an overarching theme – are the gowns embellished, lacy, or voluminous? Do they have open backs or strapless necklines? Keep an open mind, and remember that your dress should reflect your personal style and make you feel comfortable and beautiful on your special day. If you're unsure, take a bridal style quiz to discover the bride you really are and get recommendations for your perfect wedding dress style.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Determining bridal style | Compile a visual file of favourite wedding dresses by tearing pages out of magazines, saving Instagram posts, creating a Pinterest board, browsing online bridal boutiques, and making note of celebrity looks you love. |
| Identify an overarching theme—are the gowns embellished, lacy, or voluminous? Do they have open backs or strapless necklines? | |
| Keeping an open mind | Narrowing your focus may cause you to miss out on other beautiful options. |
| Wedding dress size | Get measured by a bridal stylist. Wedding dress sizes are usually two to four sizes larger than everyday clothing. |
| Timing | Shopping for gowns may not work for your timeline if you have a long engagement. If you find an outfit early on, by the time the wedding comes around, the design might not suit your style. |
| Budget | Discuss budget details to prevent heartache later on. Figure out who is paying for the gown and how much you're going to spend. |
| Wedding design | Know what your wedding design will look like—whether it's a laid-back, garden-themed, or formal affair. |
| Personality | Be true to yourself and you’ll discover the wedding style that perfectly matches your personality. |
| Body type | Consider a style that will flatter your body type. |
| A-line | Universally flattering and versatile, an A-line silhouette creates the illusion of curves and balances a larger chest. |
| Mermaid | The tightest-fitting style, mermaid dresses are fitted from the bodice to the knee, where they flare out to resemble a mermaid’s tail. |
| Sheath | Sleek and sultry, sheath dresses accentuate a lean, slender frame and are elongating. |
| Ball Gown | Features a fitted bodice and a very full skirt, flaring out dramatically from the natural waist. |
| Trains | Sweep or brush trains just skim the floor. Chapel trains are a popular option for brides who want a train without too much fabric. Cathedral trains are dramatic and several feet long, and royal trains are the ultimate formal choice. |
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What You'll Learn
Keep an open mind and try on different styles
Wedding dress shopping can be a fun and exciting experience, but it can also be overwhelming and stressful. Many brides arrive at a bridal salon with a set idea of their dream gown, but end up falling for a completely different style that they had never considered before. Keeping an open mind while shopping is important—by narrowing your focus, you'll miss out on many beautiful options, one of which might be your dream dress.
Before you start shopping, it's a good idea to determine your bridal style. Compile a visual file of your favourite wedding dresses by tearing pages out of magazines, saving Instagram posts, creating a Pinterest board, browsing online bridal boutiques, and making note of celebrity looks you love. Then, identify an overarching theme—are the gowns you've chosen embellished, lacy, or voluminous? Do they have open backs or strapless necklines? Find a couple of commonalities in the styles you like and bring your ideas to your first appointment.
When you try on dresses, don't be afraid to experiment with different silhouettes, even those you don't typically gravitate towards. The trick is to draw attention to your most flattering features. Fit-and-flare gowns, for example, are a beautiful style that accentuates a bride's curves without restricting movement. Slip wedding dresses, on the other hand, are defined by their loose, airy fit that skims the wearer's curves. If you're having a long engagement, keep in mind that your style might evolve over time, and a dress you love early on might not suit your taste closer to the wedding date.
While it's important to keep an open mind, it's also possible to try on too many wedding dresses. Decision fatigue is real, and you don't want to end up feeling more confused than when you started. Stay true to yourself and your style, and remember that understanding what you want out of your wedding day will ensure that your personality and style shine through.
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Compile a visual file of your favourite dresses
When it comes to finding your wedding dress style, it can be a magical experience, but it can also be overwhelming and stressful. To determine your bridal style, it is a good idea to compile a visual file of your favourite dresses. This can be done in several ways:
- Tear pages out of magazines
- Save Instagram posts
- Create a Pinterest board
- Browse online bridal boutiques
- Make note of celebrity looks you love
Once you have a collection of styles, identify commonalities in the dresses you have chosen. Are they embellished, lacy, or voluminous? Do they have open backs or strapless necklines? Finding these commonalities will help you communicate your preferences to a bridal consultant, who can then better assist you in finding your dream dress.
You can also use AI Wedding Dress Generators to create and save designs. These generators allow you to select styles, silhouettes, and other design elements to guide the output. You can generate multiple designs and save your favourites.
Additionally, there are online tools such as Mumu Weddings' Wedding Showroom, which allows brides to dress their wedding party online and visualise their attire. You can favourite styles, drag and drop dresses to visualise your bridal party, and invite your bridesmaids to join and purchase their assigned dresses.
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Consider the venue and theme of your wedding
The venue and theme of your wedding are significant factors in determining the style of your wedding dress. For instance, if you're having a formal, black-tie affair, classic and elegant styles such as ball gowns or mermaid dresses are a good choice. On the other hand, if you're having a beach or destination wedding, lightweight and breezy silhouettes like sheath, A-line, or high-low dresses are more practical and comfortable.
If your wedding is rustic or garden-themed, you may want to opt for a more relaxed and romantic style, like a tea-length or knee-length dress. The A-line silhouette is a versatile and universally flattering style that suits a wide range of wedding themes and venues. It is elegant and understated, flaring out gradually from the waist to resemble the shape of an "A". This design can be crafted from various fabrics, including chiffon, lace, and satin, allowing for endless customisation to match any bride's personal style.
The empire waist silhouette is another graceful and simple option, featuring a high waistline just below the bust, with the rest of the dress flowing down in a loose, A-line shape. This style is known for its elegance and simplicity, making it a popular choice for brides seeking comfort. It is particularly flattering for those with a smaller bust or those who wish to draw attention away from their midsection. The drop waist silhouette, on the other hand, features a bodice that extends to the hips before flaring out, creating a long and elegant line. This style is ideal for brides who want to elongate their torso and subtly highlight their curves.
Ultimately, the venue and theme of your wedding should complement your bridal style and personality. It is important to stay true to yourself and your style preferences throughout the process.
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Take a bridal style quiz
Taking a bridal style quiz is a fun and exciting way to narrow down your wedding dress options and find your dream gown. These quizzes can help you discover a dress that reflects your personal style and makes you feel comfortable and beautiful.
The Stylish Bride quiz, for example, takes into account your personal style preferences, body type, budget, and what you want to accentuate or minimise. It then provides you with a beautiful PDF of your answers and over 40 possible dress matches. The quiz offers recommendations based on dress styles such as traditional, boho, romantic, sexy, and minimalistic.
Similarly, Savvy Bridal's quiz helps you determine your bridal style and provides recommendations to ensure your big day is a success. They emphasise that the dress should reflect your personal style and make you feel comfortable and beautiful.
Other quizzes, like the one from Houston Wedsociety, can help you discover specific gown styles that suit your preferences. For instance, they suggest a simple gown with a modern touch, like a sheath wedding dress, or a chic ball gown with a square neckline and pockets.
By taking these bridal style quizzes, you can gain valuable insights into your ideal wedding dress style and silhouette, making the process of finding your perfect gown a smoother and more enjoyable experience.
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Think about your body type and what styles flatter it
Wedding dress shopping can be an exciting and overwhelming experience. To find a dress that makes you feel confident and beautiful, it's essential to consider your body type and choose a style that accentuates your unique figure and personality.
If you have an hourglass figure with balanced proportions between the bust and hips and a smaller waist, you can showcase your curves with a fitted bodice or a mermaid-style skirt that hugs your curves and emphasizes your waist. A-line dresses are also a universally flattering choice for hourglass figures, as they emphasize curves while offering a balanced silhouette.
For pear-shaped bodies with a smaller upper body and broader hips, look for dresses with a fitted bodice and a skirt that flows away from the body, creating a balanced and elegant look. Empire waistlines are a great choice as they highlight the smallest part of your body, just below the bust, and then gently flow over the hips, elongating your torso and creating a flattering silhouette.
If you have an apple or oval-shaped body, characterized by a larger waist and bust and hips of similar size, consider styles that elongate your body and create a longer torso. Draped or ruched details around the neckline can add interest and draw attention upwards, highlighting your upper body. Avoid halter or high-neck gowns, as these can overwhelm your bustline.
For rectangle-shaped bodies with a straight silhouette and similar widths at the shoulders, waist, and hips, opt for styles that add volume and definition by creating the illusion of a more defined waistline. Look for dresses with a fitted bodice and a flared skirt to add volume and accentuate your best features.
Remember, while understanding your body type is important, the key is to choose a dress that makes you feel comfortable, confident, and true to yourself on your special day.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several ways to find your wedding dress style. You could take a quiz to determine your bridal style, or you could compile a visual file of your favourite wedding dresses from magazines, Instagram posts, Pinterest boards, online bridal boutiques, and celebrity looks. You could also keep an open mind and try on different styles at a bridal salon.
Some popular wedding dress styles include A-line, mermaid, sheath, and ball gown. A-line silhouettes are universally flattering and can create the illusion of curves or hide midsection curves. Mermaid dresses are fitted from the bodice to the knee and flare out to resemble a mermaid's tail. Sheath dresses are sleek and form-fitting, accentuating a lean, slender frame. Ball gowns feature a fitted bodice and a full skirt, perfect for brides who want to feel like royalty.
In addition to the style of the dress, you should also consider the venue and theme of your wedding. For example, if you're having a beach wedding, you might want a more effortless and relaxed style, such as a wedding sundress. You should also keep in mind your budget and timeline. If you have a long engagement, the style you choose early on may not suit your taste closer to the wedding date.
