How to Choose the Right Wedding Dress Style for Your Body Type
Everyone thinks they know how to choose a wedding gown. What most women don’t realize is fabrics, style and measurements can influence the style of wedding dress that best complements a particular body type.
This article will help you choose the right wedding dress style for your own body shape.
The Full-Figured Bride
If you’re a full-figured woman, the best silhouette is the A-line style. A-line style lengthens the whole body without drawing attention to your waistline. The empire waist is another good choice. The empire is narrowest just below the bust, which conceals your waist and hips.
Many plus-sized girls tend to purchase wedding gowns that cover a lot of skin. If religion isn’t an issue, don’t be afraid to show some skin. Skin is sexy, and showing your arms and neckline can often make you appear slimmer.
Deep V-necks and scoop necks flatter curvy figures, and always look best on full-figured women.
The Petite Bride
A-line wedding dresses are also flattering on petite women. As we stated earlier, this style lengthens the body. Sheaths seem to shorten a small body even more, so petite women should avoid sheath-style wedding dresses. Also steer clear of very full skirts, which will make you look ‘bottom heavy.’ You want to keep your wedding dress proportionate to your body.
Be careful with strapless gowns — a petite woman may have to lift her arms to reach up to her new husband (can you say ‘wardrobe malfunction’?). A cap sleeve gives the feeling of a strapless gown, and also serves the practical purpose of holding the gown in place.
The Large-Busted Bride
Off-the-shoulder gowns look wonderful on a full bust. It draws our attention upward, emphasizes the shoulders and minimizes the chest. Keep your skirt narrow. Wearing a full skirt will make you look large both on top and bottom.
The Bottom-Heavy Bride
Women who are larger through their hips and buttocks should look for a wedding dress that focuses on their upper body — preferably with a full skirt.
Show off your arms, back and bustline.
A corset-style bodice with lacing will highlight your upper body. We want to draw attention away from your hips. Avoid pleats or gathered fabric around the waist. An A-line skirted wedding dress always works the best for this body type.
How do you know what is large busted. I’m a D, is that large? The wedding is at a very excusive place, it will be over the top and there are only 3 bridesmaids are 2 are B’s and I’m a D. One of the B’s is has large hips. What kind of dress will look best on all and not look plain.
Helen,
D is large busted. It depends on their body measurements but the univerally flattering cut is an aline. For large bust look for sweetheart, vneck, scoop necklines. Avoid empire and ruching or embellished bodices. Vneck is especially flattering. For a B cup it depends if they are on the smaller or larger B cup, this size can look to empire,strapless, scoop,bateau but should avoid sweetheart. Scoop will be most flattering for all bust sizes.
Thank you for all your suggestions. I was wondering if a hi-lo wedding dress would look right on my 4’9″ body. Can you also send me some photos of your suggestions? I want a short dress but I have always wanted a train
Wanda,
A hi-lo dress is gorgeous but not the best cut for petite brides. Its line will not lengthen a petite bride which is what should be chosen. Avoid anything calf length it will make your legs appear shorter. Your best dress options are: empire ( if you are not large busted) and a slim fitting aline. It will lengthen which is best for petite. If you wish for a train then i would choose a simple empire/aline. Then at reception change into a knee length dress. The sweetheart neckline worked well for you. If it is a train you wish for then the long dress would be the best option. Now this is an option
The short dress with detachable train( scroll down) works because it has a train more to back then in a hi-lo or calf length. It will not interrupt the lean line. Example
Good Morning.
I appreciate all of your suggestions. Just still trying to decide what type of dress I should wear. I definitely decided on the tea length dress or knee length dress. I have two dresses I have in mind. Also what type of shoes should I wear on my special day. I would love to wear a beautiful pair of blue shoes. Do you have any suggestions. I have attached the sample of dress I am looking into as well as these ivory shoes. Thanks again for your help.
Wanda,
LOVE your choices! You can try on the first dress but for your body type I would go for nummber two, it will compliment you well. Blue shoes will be perfect with that dress! I would look for a pair of aqua heels. You can google image aqua heels to see if you like that. You are going in the right direction with the style shoe, pumps work well and adds to the retro vibe of the dress.
Hi,
I *think* I’m an hourglass (5ft 6, 39-27-40) but I’m not sure if I can pull off this style I love (Maggie Sottero Elya).. My h2b likes my curves & I want to make the most of them, but in a classy way that doesn’t make me look bigger than I am.. Any advice would be appreciated! :)
Hannah, Gorgeous dress, actually it should be fine. Can you post a pic of you so I can see if it will work? Thanks!!
This is me
Hannah, Its a thumbs up on the dress! It will work well for your body type!!
Hello, its me again. The dresses you showed me were absolutley beautiful. Can you look at these and tell me if they are appropriate for me. Thanks for all your help
Wanda,
Both stunning dresses. I think the second dress would work best, if you look at it, it is very similar to the long dress in your posted pic and the style of the long dress compliments your shape. So if you stay with that particular style, long or short, you have a perfect dress for your day!!
Wanda,
How beautiful! it really looks nice!
Im getting married in April of next year. I tried on this dress and liked it. I feel like its a bit too poofy for my height. I dont want to look fat. I decided to look at it again in 6 months. Hopefully, by tjat time I.should have lost 20 pounds
Thanks. It has to be altered at the bottom. Just wanted to make sure it’s not too much dress for my height, which is 4 feet 10 inches. Do you have any other recommendations for me as another option. I’m getting married next year in April and this is the first of many I tried on that I liked. It was kinda a THIS IS THE DRESS moment but I had too many, ” I like this dress but” moments and I’m thinking that maybe I should keep looking. I’ll come back to that one, if I don’t see anything. I have some time to lose about 20 pounds. Then I will look again. Do you have any suggestions about any dresses I could wear for my body type.
Wanda,
If you want you can post bust, waist, hip, and shoulder measurements but after seeing this dress on you I can get a pretty good idea of what will work. With petites it is recommended that less fabric and embellishments. However, I think this dress is beautiful on you. Aline is usually the best. I would stick with that exact style neckline( sweetheart style) in strapless, it compliments your neckline, shoulders, while providing great coverage. So a good start now could be find an aline dress like this one, fitted like this dress but without the ruffles, so you can compare the two. Here are some that will work very well….
Beautiful dress…
very nice…
Hope these help in your search.
Hello again. I have been going over and over it but I think I am looking for a pretty tea length dress for my wedding. I was also looking into a high low wedding dress. My fiance was looking online with me and like the high lo idea to show off my legs. Could you perhaps have any suggestions.
I have already sent a photo in the wedding dress I had originally choose last month. Please help me. Its starting to become frustrating now.
Wanda, The hi lo dress is a beautiful dress as long as it balances and does not throw the body type out of proportion. Another idea is to look at white bridesmaids dress. But depending on your height, a tea length can cut your height.
This is nice…
This
This might be worth a try….
And this….
This would work very well, it is kinda fit and flare, and would be a flattering style for a number of body shapes…
If you have some styles you’d like me to look at, I would be happy too. In pic or link.
Stacey, I can’t decide what dress to get. Can you help me? I’m torn between these two very different dresses. I’m going to have it corset back either one
I’ve included a picture of my body. I have no butt what so ever.
Thank you
oh and my measurements:
Bust 48
Waist 44
Hips/ around stomach 51
Around butt:47
I also found these that I like.
Jarea,
You are an apple shape. Here are some tips in choosing a gown…
More tips…
Jarea,
Sticking with a higher waist is best. Look at this site. First page
Style: 7440
Style: 1111
Second page…
Bonny Style: 1819, 1816, 1812( with an open front dress, make sure to try this one on. Sometimes it won’t define and flatter a waist),1808,1806( these 2 styles are best for an apple because of the aline. It lengthens and defines an apple body shape in the waist. Aline is best because it fits and slightly flares giving balance). Page 2 of results look at styles: 1119 and 1113. Page 3 style:1109( this dress has a great wrap and is an aline which will lengthen and define)
Mori Lee has excellent dresses…
Look at styles: 3106,3103,3101,3098,3095,and 3094( gorgeous dress)
Liam, You are a pear shape. Here are some styles…
Some tips…
Draw attention to your upper half shoulder, strapless, v-neck, bateau or scoop necklines. You will want to avid heavy fabric, embellishment, etc. on your lower half to create balance. Think aline silouettes. Skip: Sheaths (because they are too clingy for your shape), Mermaids & Trumpets ( they put attention on the wrong half of your body), Halters & High Necklines (because they can create a disproportionate look).
More tips…
Out of the three, the second one would be the better choice.
i was considering the following, please advise.
tanx
Hi Stacey,
what dress will be good for my body type? my bust is 33″
waist is 28″
Hipsis 46″
please help me. Tanx
hi,a-line dress will be fit for you