What wedding dress style / shape will suit me?

Finding the right wedding dress is one of the most important parts of the wedding planning journey for any bride-to-be. The search for "the one" is often tricky, frustrating and tiring, mainly because brides just don’t know what they're looking for. Pinterest, Google and Instagram are all full of images, ideas, trends to follow, what’s in, what’s out etc. It’s a total minefield!

It doesn’t have to be that way.

To get a dress with the perfect fit, it’s important to choose one which suits your body shape and flatters your figure.

The first thing you should do is figure out your body shape. Designers create gowns to flatter the different shapes us girls come in, so to get the most out of a dress, and most importantly, your body, the plan is to match your shape with the dress made for it.

There are oodles of guides online to find your shape, but here is a quick guide to get your started…

APPLE SHAPES

More voluptuous than most (lucky!), apple shapes have full breasts, and carry weight around the stomach.

Look for:

• An empire-line dress will de-emphasise your waist, giving you a leaner look
• A ball gown will flatter the body areas you’re not so keen on (like this one below from Find a Dress Bridalwear
• An A-line dress with a dropped waist looks great on the apple shape

PEAR SHAPES

Just like the fruit, you’re smaller on top than the bottom, with hips wider than your shoulders.

Look for:

• Strapless dresses suit pear shaped bodies (like this one below from Trousseaux)
• Princess style wedding dresses disguise fuller hips and put the focus on your better half, balancing your torso and bust
• Strapless ball gowns work like princess dresses, emphasising all your best bits. Empire line dresses are also a great choice, as they highlight the smallest part of your body

*Dress Credit: Trousseux

RECTANGLE

Short or tall, you have a ballerina’s figure, with an undefined waist.

Look for:

• A sheath will flatter your slender shape.
• Slim is one of the few shapes can get away with a high neckline(check out this one from Maria Christina Bridal Boutique)
• A ball gown with a fitted bodice and full skirt will create the illusion of curves
• Delicate embroidery and beading in the right places can also create a more curvy silhouette
• Narrow A-line dresses suit petite brides

*Dress credit: Maria Christina Bridal Boutique

HOURGLASS

An hourglass figure is one where your top and bottom halves are perfectly balanced, with a very defined waist.

Often seen as a body shape which can wear anything, it’s still best to pick a dress that accentuates your waist, as this will show off your best asset. Two-piece gowns will enhance an hourglass figure.

• Hourglass figures also look great in corset dresses
• Sweetheart necklines and bodices emphasise a fuller bust.(check out this from Willoughby & Wolf)
• If you’re a bit more curvaceous, try a trumpet style dress
• A-line dresses with a dropped waist show off an hourglass bride’s balanced figure

Here are some important things to remember:

In the world of weddings, there are no hard and fast rules. A lot of decisions will be coming from your heart and what you want rather than what you need. Let’s not forget all you actually need to get married is £130 and a registry office!

Listen to your stylist in your bridal appointment. They truly are experts in their field and see hundreds of brides of all different shapes and sizes. What might look great on one hourglass figure might not flatter another. The biggest thing that will make a difference in how you look in a dress is how you feel. There is no point having a stunning strapless dress on because it’s supposed to suit your pear shaped figure, if you never wear strapless clothes and don’t feel comfortable or confident in it. The old saying beauty comes from within really is true!

We’ve seen hourglass figures totally rocking a fishtail dress, just as we’ve seen a slim rectangle shape rock a ballgown. These style guides are a guide. Rules are there to be broken, so go try on all different shapes and see for yourself. Listen to your stylist, they won’t want you buying a dress that doesn’t look right, you are after all an advertisement for their brand, so trust them!

Your stylist will encourage you to try dresses on you may not normally pick, go for it! They won’t know what works until they see a dress on your body. Wedding dresses are very different to normal clothes, so turning up in skinny jeans and cami and expecting them to pick a dress that’s perfect for you is asking a lot. Don’t be disheartened if something doesn’t look right on you, that’s good! It means you’re narrowing down what does work!

Enjoy the experience, listen to the experts and don’t pay too much attention to the rules…

Happy planning

Love Whitewed x