6 Different Wedding Dress Styles & How to Choose the Right Style for You

By: Karen Williams| Wedding Dress Styles| Images: Internal

Choosing The Right Wedding Gown and Style for Your Event

Choosing your wedding dress is arguably one of the biggest decisions you need to make when it comes to your wedding, so you need to make sure you put enough time and effort into the process.

If you currently have no idea what style of wedding dress you want, the below style guide is just what you need.

What are the most popular wedding dress styles?

1.   The classic ballgown

The classic ballgown wedding dress is made popular in the 50s and consists of a form-fitting bodice with a very large skirt. Designed to accentuate your waistline and make it look as small as possible, this style is best suited to brides who want to show off their waist while simultaneously skimming the stomach and hips.

2.   The A-line wedding dress

An A-line wedding dress is subtle and understated, making it a great choice for brides who favor simplicity. This style of wedding dress gets its name from the skirt style that resembles a capital A and provides a softer and more modern look than a traditional ballgown.

3.   The mermaid/fishtail wedding dress

Mermaid and fishtail wedding dresses have always been a firm favorite with brides-to-be, offering some volume but not too much. Best for women with hourglass figures, this style of wedding dress promises to hug you in all the right places and showcase your curves for all to see.

4.   The fit and flare wedding dress

The fit and flare wedding dress is well suited to brides who are having a modern or contemporary wedding but want their dress to be timeless in its design.

This style of wedding dress suits most body types including pear shapes, apple shapes, and hourglass figures.

5.   The sheath wedding dress

A sheath wedding dress is a good choice for those who want to make themselves appear taller. Perfectly suited to both elongated body types and brides who are more petite, this style of wedding dress is straight up and down in its design with no flowing fabrics in sight.

6.   The sweetheart/strapless wedding dress

If you want a wedding dress that is designed to show off your decolletage, then a sweetheart neckline is the obvious choice. Dipping down slightly at the bustline, this style of wedding dress gives off a heart-like shape effect.

For larger-busted women, a strapless gown with built-in support is a popular choice, providing structure and visual appeal.

How to choose the perfect wedding dress

When choosing the perfect wedding dress, there are several factors that you need to consider. Firstly, as you can see from the above, there are lots of different styles of stunning wedding dresses, so you need to think carefully about which one you like best and which one suits your body type.  

Secondly, you need to consider your budget. Although you may have dreamed of walking down the aisle in a couture wedding dress, this is sadly not affordable for most brides-to-be. Therefore, before you start shopping and trying on dresses, it is crucial that you know how much you have to spend. If you have your heart set on a designer dress but cannot afford to buy it outright, you may want to think about renting your wedding dress instead.

Lastly, you need to consider comfort and what you want to be able to do on your wedding day and evening. For example, if you intend to dance the night away, and you want to stay wearing your wedding dress, you need to choose a style that you can comfortably do this in.