7 Different Wedding Dress Styles You Should Know
When you’re shopping for a wedding dress, you’ll want to find a style that suits you well. Wedding dresses are unique, so they will end up suiting certain brides better than others. Knowing about the different styles of dresses and necklines is the key to finding the ideal dress for your wedding day. In this blog, we’ll explore seven of the most popular wedding dress styles and identify which brides they best suit.
Why is it important to know the different wedding dress styles?
Understanding the various wedding dress styles helps you make the best choice for your special day. Brides come in all shapes and sizes, and no wedding dress is universally flattering. For instance, a particular dress style might look stunning on a shorter bride with wider hips but may not be as flattering on a taller bride with a slimmer build. By embracing your unique body shape and personal style, you can find a dress that perfectly complements both your figure and your aesthetic preferences.
What are the different wedding dress styles?
Wedding dresses come in a range of different styles to suit the personal preferences of different brides. They can vary based on shape, length, components, and even materials. The most popular types of wedding dresses are ball gowns, mermaid gowns, sheath dresses, a-line dresses, tea-length dresses, column dresses, and trumpet dresses.
Ball gown
Ball gown wedding dresses feature a fitted bodice and a full skirt. They are suitable for most body types, but suit brides with broader hips most ideally. Brides that are especially petite may find it a bit overwhelming to wear a ball gown.
Ball gowns are especially renowned for creating what many consider a flattering silhouette. They are considered the princess-cut among wedding dresses and are often referred to as fairy tale dresses.
Mermaid gown
Mermaid gowns are a wedding dress style that contours the body from the chest to the knee before flaring out in the knee area. This flaring out takes the appearance of a mermaid tail, hence their name. A mermaid gown is good at accentuating a bride’s waistline and pairs well with an open-back design that has long sleeves.
Sheath wedding dress
Sheath wedding dresses feature a snug fit that conforms to the body from head to hemline. They are a very versatile choice, as they are capable of working with a range of different body types including shorts brides, plus-size brides, and brides with hourglass figures.
For short brides, sheath wedding dresses work well by visually elongating them. Whereas for plus-size brides, they work best alongside some embellishments that help accentuate their waistlines. A sheath gown is also a perfectly fine choice for brides with hourglass figures, especially if they’re aiming to have a traditional wedding.
A-line wedding dress
A-line wedding dresses are a timeless choice, capable of complementing all body shapes, but particularly brides with pear-shaped figures. Much like ball gowns, they feature a fitted bodice through the waist and cascade out towards the ground with a flowy skirt. The wedding dress silhouettes they create resembles an uppercase letter “A”, which is why they have that name. A-line wedding dresses are a very popular option for boho weddings.
Tea-length wedding dress
Tea-length wedding dresses feature a short skirt with a hemline that ends below the knees, and a defined waist. This style of wedding dress is perfect for adding decorations such as beading without making the dress look cluttered. Tea-length wedding gowns are great for brides with either petite or pear-shaped body types, and are frequently used for outdoor wedding ceremonies.
Column wedding dress
Column wedding dresses are made to appear seamless, and tend to be made with lighter materials such as chiffon, organza and tulle. Because of this, they are often considered the perfect wedding dress style for brides with slender figures. However, a column gown will also work well for a bride with an hourglass figure.
Due to their similarities, column dresses are often confused with sheath dresses. However, they are both distinct cuts and each have their own place.
Trumpet wedding dress
Trumpet wedding dresses are the middle ground between A-line dresses and mermaid gowns. They feature a straight bodice and mid-high flare, accentuating the slender waist and broader hips of an hourglass figure. Trumpet wedding dresses are a fantastic choice for extravagant weddings and receptions.
What are the different types of wedding dress necklines?
There are a range of different wedding dress necklines to suit all preferences. Some may be more bold or modest, depending on the preferences of the bride. You should aim to choose a neckline that suits your aesthetic preferences but still compliments your figure. Much like dress styles, certain necklines are better suited to certain body types than others.
Square
Square necklines are often the go-to choice for A-line dresses. They’re also well-suited to empire waist gowns. However it’s worth noting that square necklines may display quite a bit of cleavage depending how deep the neckline is. Because of this, they are generally best suited to brides with larger busts.
V-Neck
V-necklines are great at accentuating the neck and collarbone. The depth of the V-cut is determined by the size of the bust. Smaller busts are generally more suited to either less dramatic or extremely deep V-neck cuts paired with halters. Meanwhile, those with larger busts should opt for v-neck wedding dresses that sit somewhere between these two options.
Strapless neckline
Strapless necklines are employed when a dress’ corset fits tightly around the upper body. As their name suggests, strapless necklines tend to go with strapless gowns. They’re one of the most popular neckline designs in recent years and look stunning when paired with ball gowns.
Sweetheart
Sweetheart necklines are a variation of the strapless design that produces a heart shape around the bust line. They’re the prime choice for brides with fuller chests. Brides can opt for a small plunge, called a semi-sweetheart, or a deep plunge that reveals a bit of décolletage.
Bateau neckline
A bateau neckline is a rounded neckline with a very shallow plunge that almost entirely conceals cleavage. Also known as a boat neckline, it tends to leave the arms exposed. Modern brides typically match it with an open-back design for a more dramatic vintage appearance.
Off-the-shoulder neckline
Off-the-shoulder necklines pair well with any wedding dress style, but work especially well with ball gowns, sheath dresses, and column dresses. They’re a timeless classic and generally a perfect choice for petite brides.
How to find the perfect wedding dress
To find the perfect wedding dress, you need to make sure you put a lot of thought into your decision. Think about how the dress will suit you individually and make sure it fits with your vision. Be as thorough as you can and get input from those close to you. Remember, it’s your wedding day and you deserve to have the dress of your dreams.
Understand your body type
Every bride has a different figure, which is part of what makes them unique and beautiful. But it’s good to be aware that certain wedding dress styles will appear more flattering on specific body types. Luckily, there is a wide world of wedding dress types out there. Once you figure out which silhouettes complement your body type, you’ll be on track to finding the perfect dress for your big day.
Try on several dress styles
It’s important to experiment and try on an array of different dress styles from different designers. Finding the perfect gown won’t likely happen on your first trip to the store. You should take your time and make sure that you’re getting a dress that you’re truly happy with.
Ask for feedback
Having some extra sets of eyes can be invaluable when you’re going wedding dress shopping. Bring your bridesmaids or family with you so they can provide feedback about different wedding gowns.
It’s also important to get feedback from your bridal stylist. Bridal stylists have a lot of experience helping brides find the perfect dress. They can help you avoid some of the pitfalls of looking for a dress and ensure you make a choice you’re happy with.
Start your search early
It’s good to get an early start on finding your perfect wedding gown. This will give your seamstress more time to make the necessary alterations and give you more time to go through fittings.
Take your time
While you should start your wedding dress search early, you also shouldn’t rush the process. Take your time when shopping for your wedding dress. Visit a variety of boutiques and carefully consider each option before making a decision on your dream gown.
Summary
Every modern bride wants to find the perfect wedding dress for their special day. If you’re looking for a fashionable wedding dress, you can’t go wrong with Sposa Group. Visit our Melbourne store, our Adelaide store, or our Canberra location to browse our extensive selection of gowns.