What Wedding Dress Should You Wear? 6 Bonus Tips on Selecting the Perfect Wedding Dress

Choosing your wedding dress can be one of the most important decisions you make for your wedding, but with all of the choices, finding the ideal one can be overwhelming! Whether you’ve been dreaming about your perfect dress since you were a little girl, or have never thought about it until now, we’re here to give you some pointers on what wedding dress you should wear.

 A Variety of Silhouettes:
While you should absolutely try on a variety of gowns before committing to just one, you should familiarize yourself with the different silhouettes, and have some idea of what you’re looking for before you get to the bridal shop. Your ideal gown's silhouette should be based on your personal style, the overall style & mood of your wedding, and what best flatters your body. Here’s a quick guide to the various silhouettes.

• Empire Line: This dress features a fitted bodice and raised waistline that sits right below the bust line. The skirt is long, loose-fitting and flows from the waistline down to the hem.
  ***Tip: Empire line dresses will lengthen short legs and are especially flattering to pear shapes.
   
• A-Line: This dress features a fitted bodice through the waist and flares out to the ground with an unbroken line (resembling an uppercase ‘A’). The style is classic and simple.
  ***Tip: This dress is ideal for all body types. The A-Line can create the illusion of curves on a smaller frame and can also camouflage a larger lower body.
   
• Ballgown: Think of the fairytale dresses you see in movies like Cinderella. This dress has a fitted bodice and flairs at the waist with a dramatic, full skirt.
  ***Tip: This dress is ideal for most body types, especially pear-shaped figures. However, the full skirt can be overwhelming on a small frame. If you are petite and have your heart set on a ballgown, make sure to have it altered properly to fit your proportions.
   
• Mermaid: This dress is fitted through the body and flares out below the knee, creating a mermaid-like “tail.” This dress can also feature a train of any length.
  ***Tip: This silhouette works best for brides looking to show off their curvy figures because it hugs so closely to the waist and hips. One possible drawback is that a Mermaid dress can make it a little difficult to move around – especially on the dance floor.
   
• Trumpet: Like the Mermaid dress, the Trumpet dress hugs the body, gradually flaring outward. The Trumpet silhouette is fitted through the body and flairs mid-thigh.
  ***Tip: The trumpet silhouette works best for those with hourglass frames, small waists, and petites!
   
• Sheath Gown: This gown features a long, narrow, form-fitting silhouette that falls straight to the floor. It's light and airy, and thought of as ‘romantic.’
  ***Tip: This style is simple and sophisticated. The Sheath looks great on petite or slender brides who benefit from its body-skimming shape and slim silhouette which lengthens the body!

Some other tips for finding your perfect wedding dress:

1. Try not to focus on what is “trendy.” Focus on your personal style and what flatters your body type.
2. Pay special attention to the top of your dress since many of your guests’ pictures will be from the waist up. You’ll want the top of your gown to shine!
3. Think about your wedding style. Look at dresses that complement the style of your ceremony and reception. If you’re having a formal wedding, look for timeless gown styles such as an A-line or Ballgown. For an outdoor ceremony, consider a dress made of light weight material. If you’re having a beach wedding, avoid a long train. 
4. Keep an open mind and try on different styles of gowns. Listen to your consultant and try on a few dresses they pick out. You’ll never really know what your perfect dress is until you try it on.  
5. If your bridal salon permits, bring a camera so you know how your dress photographs from all angles.
6. Think about who you want to bring along to your appointment. Don’t feel like you need to bring a whole entourage. You’ll get to focus on what YOU truly want rather than focusing on a ton of conflicting opinions.

Shopping for your wedding dress should be exciting. Find a dress that you’ll love on your wedding day and twenty years from now when looking back on your pictures. Your dream dress should be what YOU feel beautiful in! 

Wedding-Dress-Styles-Infographic.pdf 

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