Best Wedding Dress Style For Your Body Type

The most popular wedding dress style is the ball gown. While this silhouette emphasizes curves and can even create them from nothing, it still isn’t for everyone.

Petite brides may seem like drowning in ten layers of chiffon.

Another bride’s wedding dress silhouette, beloved by many, is fit-and-flare. However, it only looks as intended on curvy figures.

So no matter how you adore mermaid and trumped silhouettes, if you have a rectangular body type, an A-line may be a better choice.

Not only does the silhouette matter. Embellishments play a role too, adding volume or concealing problematic places. Decoration in strategic places can also shift the attention from areas you wish to mask.

In the end, it’s all about you being happy. You’re free to choose any dress style you prefer, but if you came here, you likely want to look your best.

A correctly chosen dress style guarantees you look flattering in pictures and showcase your best sides.

Hourglass

Natural curves define an hourglass figure with about the same width of shoulders and hips. Brides with this body type are lucky to choose any wedding dress silhouette, provided their height is standard.

Some silhouettes will look incredibly flattering on an hourglass-shaped figure, though.

The goal is to accentuate the curved and perfect proportions, so a mermaid wedding dress is a brilliant choice. It’s equally tight on top and bottom, emphasizing the waist.

A wedding dress with a corset is another excellent option that will shift the focus to the waist and upper part of the body.

Such dresses typically have a wide skirt. Paired with a sweetheart or portrait neckline, corset A-line or ball dresses create an extremely feminine look.

Loose-fit dresses drown out the body and therefore are not the best choice for an hourglass figure. However, relaxed silhouettes are great for brides who are self-aware, regardless of the body type.

Pear

Brides with a pear-shaped figure have wide hips and narrow chest with emphasized waist.

If the goal is to balance the proportions, an A-line wedding dress or ball gown is your go-to. Such a dress masks the hips, shifting focus on the chest and shoulders.

Look for a richly embellished or otherwise detailed bodice and a corset to accentuate the décolleté and waistline.

Wide sleeves are another way to even out the proportions. Long balloon sleeves with appliques or embellishments are ideal for colder months.

Some pear-shaped brides, on the opposite, are proud of their body type and wish to highlight their best parts. I can’t argue with that – after all, wide hips are so feminine.

In this case, flaunt your hips with a mermaid silhouette. If a mermaid style is too restrictive, opt for a trumpet silhouette.

Inverted Triangle

Broad shoulders and noticeably narrower hips characterize an inverted triangle figure. The objective here is to balance the proportions and, possibly, add curves.

The best way to make the hips seem wider is with an A-line or ball gown wedding dress. Leave the dress top as simple as possible, though a corset will help to underline the waist.

Avoid horizontal lines near shoulders. This means a strapless or off-shoulder dress style will make the shoulders seem even wider.

Instead, a V-shaped or sweetheart décolleté helps elongate and narrow the upper body, shifting focus on the chest.

Brides with inverted triangle figures and athletic build can opt for a halter neckline. Diagonal lines won’t narrow the shoulders, but this style showcases the beautiful lines of toned arms.

Apple

Apple-shaped figures tend to have long slim legs with about equal width of hips and chest but no noticeable waist.

Skinny apple-shaped brides typically want to create curves, whereas plus-sized brides with this body type may wish to also mask the belly.

A traditional A-line or ball gown style dress works the best at creating curves where there are none.

Combined with wide sleeves, a corset, and a décolleté, such a dress can make any bride look ultra-feminine. Tiered skirt, embellishments on the chest and shoulders are a definite “yes.”

If the goal is to hide your stomach without tying yourself up in a corset, relaxed-fit dresses are a brilliant option. A wedding dress with a high waistline can also hide the belly and, as a bonus, create an antique look.

As apple-shaped brides often have beautiful legs, a short or high-low skirt is a great, unusual choice. It will help to avoid concealing the body entirely. Slits are another way to showcase your best sides.

Rectangle

Rectangle and apple are very similar body types in a slim state. The main difference here is how women with these figures gain weight.

If you gain weight mainly in the stomach but not in the legs, you’re an apple. If you tend to gain weight evenly, you’re a triangle.

Thus, most of the advice for apple body type applies to a rectangle figure. An A-line or ball gown skirts help to make the hips wider.

Off-shoulder, wide-sleeve, or sweetheart neckline dresses are lady-like styles that accentuate the chest.

Brides with rectangle body types should avoid tight dresses emphasizing the waist, such as mermaid and trumpet. The column silhouette also doesn’t help to create curves.

Petite

A-line and ball gown wedding dresses look astonishing on nearly any body type. I say nearly because petite brides are an exception.

If you’re relatively short, such a dress may make you seem like drowning in it. Wide skirts create horizontal lines that make the silhouette bulkier.

The goal is to find a dress that will elongate the figure. To achieve it, you should look for dresses featuring vertical lines. For example, column and empire silhouettes with V-shaped décolleté are meant for petite brides.

Petite refers only to the build, though. Petite brides also differ in figure types – they can be curvy, slim, plus-size, or have any other body characteristics.

Therefore, when choosing a dress, such brides must consider both their height and other figure attributes. For instance, mermaid and trumpet silhouettes will look astonishing on petite brides with curves.

Heavy embellishments tend to make the figure heavier. Instead, opt for monochromatic, flowy fabrics and minimalism.

A natural or high waistline will make the legs seem longer. Avoid dropped waistlines, as they shorten the silhouette.

Tall

Tall brides can feel a bit freer when choosing a wedding dress than petite brides. However, specific nuances apply. Firstly, like petite, tall brides must take into account their body shape.

Secondly, some tall brides love their height whereas other don’t.

If you don’t care about looking taller than the groom (and I support that, no need to be ashamed of long legs), choose a column or empire dress. The vertical lines will emphasize your height.

On the contrary, if you wish to look slightly shorter, opt for dresses with horizontal lines, such as ball gowns. A dropped waistline will visually shorten the figure, too.

Thirdly, some dresses may simply not be long enough for a tall bride, especially with heels. You can ask to add extra length, but it isn’t always possible.

If searching for a log enough dress gives you headaches, go for a shorter one. High-low wedding dresses are a contemporary, extravagant choice that beautifully showcases long legs.

If you’re tall and skinny, you can go full crazy with decorations. On the flip side, rich embellishments may make a tall plus-sized bride look bulky, so opt for minimalistic styles.

Small-Chested

A small chest isn’t necessarily a drawback. But if you want to make it seem larger, you should add volume in strategic places. Rich embellishment, appliques, layers of chiffon, and, of course, a push-up corset are your saviors.

Instead of trying to showcase something you don’t have, you can rock wedding dress silhouettes that other brides can’t.

For instance, go for an extra-deep V-shaped décolleté, which doesn’t look over the top only on small chests. A strapless dress will constantly fall and feel uncomfortable, no matter which tricks you use to keep it in place.

Skinny

Skinny brides don’t necessarily have small chests, but the advice from the previous section applies if you do. Either way, you likely want to either conceal your excess boniness or emphasize it.

In the former case, look for wedding dresses with voluminous sleeves and tired or extra-wide skirts.

A décolleté will only highlight a skinny chest, so choose a closed neckline, such as boat or jewel. Again, you can select rich embellishments without worrying about looking bulky.

In the latter case, showcase your slender figure in a tight dress. A halter neckline will help to show your elegant arms, while a slit – slim legs.

Full-Chested

Full-chested brides often have a problem finding a dress that will look flattering and feel comfortable. Strapless dresses may create a wow effect, but they won’t hold your breast throughout all night.

Look for wedding dresses with sleeves or straps. They will support your breast and conceal bra straps. A sweetheart, queen Anne, or scoop neckline will accentuate your curves.

Don’t go overboard with decorations not to make your chest the main star of the day. Leave embellishments and appliques for the skirt.