How to choose the right wedding dress for your body type

Pick the perfect bridal gown

Congratulations, you are getting married! In all the excitement and stress of planning your wedding over the next few months, one of the most important things you will purchase is your wedding gown. The first thing you should do before actually heading to the bridal shop is get an idea about which style of wedding gown you prefer. You will need to get familiar with wedding gown terminology and styles. Here are some general guidelines to help you get started on the road to wedding day bliss.

Pick the perfect
bridal gown

Congratulations, you are getting married! In all the excitement and stress of planning your wedding over the next few months, one of the most important things you will purchase is your wedding gown. The first thing you should do before actually heading to the bridal shop is get an idea about which style of wedding gown you prefer. You will need to get familiar with wedding gown terminology and styles. Here are some general guidelines to help you get started on the road to wedding day bliss.

Silhouette

A-line

The A-line or princess dress has no marked waist and the vertical seams flow from the shoulders down to a flared skirt, creating an "A" shape. If you carry your weight in the middle, this silhouette is a nice choice.

Ball gown

These gowns are normally quite formal, reminding you of Cinderella. The bodice is fitted with a very full skirt. Ball gowns can be long-sleeved, sleeveless or anywhere in between. The full skirt of a ball gown can hide large hips and thighs.

Empire

Empire gowns have a raised waistline that starts right under the bust, flowing to a skirt that skims over the hips then flairs slightly to the floor. This romantic silhouette is flattering to most body types and is particularly flattering to small-breasted women.

Mermaid

As the name indicates, the mermaid dress is contoured against the body then the gown flows out beginning around the knees. This is the sexiest of the styles. If you're confident in your body, a mermaid dress can show off your curves.

Sheath

The sheath or column dress has a slim shape that follows close to the line of the body. The straight design doesn't allow for many body flaws. The long lines of a sheath gown can elongate the look of your body. Therefore this type of dress can work well for short brides.

Neckline

• Bateau — Close to straight across from the tip of the shoulder. Gives plenty of coverage.

• Halter — Wraps around the back of the neck to create deep armholes. Often also a backless style, which is very sexy.

• High — Covers most of the neck. Creates a formal, somewhat stiff look.

• Jewel — Similar to that of a t-shirt. Creates a bustier look.

• Off-the-shoulder — As the name indicates, the top of the shoulders are bare. Showcases your collarbone and shoulders.

• Portrait — A very wide scoop from the tip of one shoulder to the tip of the other.

• Scoop — Classic U-shaped neckline. Can be cut low for a sexier look.

• Square — Squared neckline, often associated with empire gowns.

• Strapless — Normally straight across. Not recommended for women with small busts.

• Sweetheart — Shaped like the top half of a heart. Emphasizes the cleavage.

• V-Neck — Dips in the front into a V-shape. Can be very deep.

Length

• Street length — Hem falls just past the knee.

• Intermission (or tea) length — Hem falls between the knees and ankle.

• Ballet length — Hem falls just to the ankles.

• Floor length — Hem barely touches the floor on all sides.

Sleeves

• 3/4 sleeves — End between the elbow and wrist.

• Bell — Long sleeves that flare out toward the wrist creating a bell shape.

• Cap — Rounded sleeves, just covering shoulders.

• Fitted point — Long, fitted sleeves that come to a point over the hand.

• Juliet — Long, fitted sleeves with puffy shoulders.

• Long sleeves — Extend to the wrist and are normally form-fitting.

• Off-the-shoulder sleeves — Cover the upper part of the arm but leave the tops of shoulders exposed.

• Poet — Long sleeves, fitted to the elbow then flared.

• Pouf — Short sleeves, gathered to create a puffy look.

• Short sleeves — About the length of t-shirt sleeves.

• Sleeveless — Strapless with no sleeves.

• Spaghetti — Thin spaghetti straps with no sleeves.

Bodice

The bodice refers to the portion of the dress between the neckline and skirt.

• Corset — A form-fitting bodice with boning and lace-up closures.

• Halter — Sleeveless bodice that wraps around your neck, normally backless.

• Midriff — Fits very closely around the mid-section, accentuating your waist.

• Surplice — Sections of fabric cross-wrap in the front or back.

• Tank — Sleeveless with wide armholes like tank top.

Train

• Sweep — 8 to 12 inches in length, just a few inches longer than the gown.

• Court — Extends about 3 feet from the waist.

• Chapel — Extends about 4 feet from the waist.

• Cathedral — Extends about 6 to 9 feet from the waist.

• Royal — Extends more than 9 feet from the waist.

Veil

• Birdcage — Falls right below the chin, usually attached to a headpiece.

• Flyaway — Falls to the shoulder.

• Blusher — Worn over your face, about 28 inches long.

• Elbow — Falls to the elbow or waist.

• Fingertip — Falls to the finger tips or just below the waist.

• Ballet — Falls to the ankles.

• Chapel — Falls slightly longer than floor length.

• Cathedral — 9 feet or longer.

Up next: Selecting a wedding gown for your body type

 

Pick the perfect bridal gown

Congratulations, you are getting married! In all the excitement and stress of planning your wedding over the next few months, one of the most important things you will purchase is your wedding gown. The first thing you should do before actually heading to the bridal shop is get an idea about which style of wedding gown you prefer. You will need to get familiar with wedding gown terminology and styles. Here are some general guidelines to help you get started on the road to wedding day bliss.

Selecting your wedding gown

Spend some time researching on wedding websites and looking through bridal magazines to get an idea of what type of gowns you like before making an appointment at the bridal shop.
Choose two or three salons in your area in order to find the best one for you. If you find the gowns are out of your price range, the customer service is poor or you just don't get a good vibe from the salon, it's time to move on.

Your bridal gown may be one of your biggest wedding purchases. Therefore, you should take your time and make sure you are completely satisfied before making your final choice.
Bring your sister, mother or girlfriends with you while shopping for your wedding dress. They'll be able to help you get in and out of the gowns (some gowns are very heavy!) and, of course, give their opinion on your selections.

WEDDING gowns for your body type

Every wedding gown isn't for every bride. The key is to find a gown that flatters your figure, while downplaying the areas that aren't so perfect. Whether you are short, tall, thin or curvy, you can still be a beautiful bride. We went to Alfred Angelo head-designer Michael Shettel for tips on how to find the perfect wedding gown for your body type.
Alfred Angelo believes the bride is a variety of people, and we consider the all encompassing "American" woman when designing for different body shapes, heights, backgrounds and sizes. We design a variety of styles, but ultimately want to highlight and accentuate a woman's body so she feels her best on her big day. We want to make all childhood dress-up fantasies a reality, no matter what size and shape the bride has grown into.
Since finding a gown is so emotionally charged, brides are advised to keep an open mind when shopping for their gowns. When a woman begins her search for her gown, most have their "dream dress" in mind, and they've thought of this for some time. Alfred advises he works with to try on the "dream dress," but also try on several other silhouettes — step outside the box. He advises this because trying on several varying styles will really help the bride see what style is most flattering on her. This is your big day, when all eyes will be on you. Instead of hiding what you have, show it off! It's your time to shine. Embrace the beauty that you are!

Here's what Alfred Angelo says about body shape:

Pear or hourglass shapes: I created and introduced new mermaid and trumpet-shaped gowns to really flatter the figure, in addition to the classic strapless, A-line shapes we are known for. These give women with curves (pear or hourglass) another option to celebrate their bodies.
Apple shapes: For brides who carry a little extra weight in the middle, empire or A-line is always a good choice. It helps bring the attention upward, and smooth out the middle. Wrap styles are also good to help trim the mid-section if the bride happens to not want to go with an empire, flowing style.
Athletic figures: Brides with a boyish shape do well with gowns that really accentuate the waist and give them shape. Brides with broad shoulders can benefit from off the shoulder v-neck and cap-sleeve styles. The v-neck helps create the decollatage as the new focal point, and the cap sleeve softens the shoulders. Halter styles can also be a good choice, but they should compliment the collar bone.