Wedding dress styles  

The style of dress you choose for your wedding will be influenced by your personality and the type of ceremony you choose for your wedding. You may want to have a fairy tale wedding or you may want to just be yourself and have a more informal styled wedding gown. Remember the most important thing is for you to be comfortable with your choice.

It is vital that your wedding dress should fit you perfectly; whether you buy a new, used or pre-loved gown it is highly likely that you will need to engage a profession dressmaker to alter the gown. You will need more that one fitting and it is important that you feel comfortable with your choice of dressmaker or seamstress.

Other factors to take into consideration are colour, fabric, size and shape. 

To help you with this Your Wedding Wardrobe has compiled a list of some flattering choices for different body shapes and suggested colour choices.

A Line

A simple shape with vertical seams running from the shoulders down to a flared skirt. 

This traditional wedding gown looks good on all sizes and shapes but it looks particularly good on petite brides as the upper part of the dress softly blending into the flared skirt give the impression of length providing a sleek, long and lean silhouette.

Princess-line

The Princess-line is characterised by two vertical side seams that run from bust and flares out gently to hem.

With no bust line or waistline breaks, the Princess-line brings attention to the shoulders and bust. It has a sleek fitting bodice and a full paneled bottom. It is extremely elegant and provides a very slimming silhouette. 

Empire

The Empire Line has a fitted bodice and shoulders, has a very high raised waistline which begins directly below the bust and a straight slim skirt that runs from the high waist to the ground.

Is very flattering for petite brides. Can be made in a range of fabrics embellishments such as lace and beading can enhance this design.

Sheath

A modern slim fitting shape, with no waistline and which usually flares at the bottom.

This style suits brides who are tall and slim it is a classical, but simple design that provides a glamorous but elegant silhouette.

Mermaid

The mermaid style is also a very slim fitting shape, which becomes even more fitted around the legs and ends with a flare like a fishtail skirt and train.

Perfect for a bride with an “hourglass” shape, this style is extremely flattering

Ball gown 
Traditionally ball gown dresses have a full bodice, which flatters most figures, and which is fitted through the waist and leads to a very full bell shaped skirt held up by petticoats and hoops and reaching at least to the ankles. 

The fairy tale wedding gown.