Bridal Gowns
Choosing the Perfect Dress for your Figure

Bridal gowns set the theme and colour of your wedding, so your choice of wedding dress is the foremost decision you'll make for your wedding day. The colour and style you choose will be echoed or complimented in the colours of your bridal floral arrangements, bridal accessories, decorations etc.

As on the red carpet at the Oscars, all eyes are on the bride as she makes her entrance. Your bridesmaids, the groomsmen, flower girl and page boy are your supporting cast but the spotlight follows YOU and only you as you walk down the aisle. Your friends and family will marvel and say, "She looks like a princess!". It will be the most memorable day of your life – this is why every decision you make will revolve around your style of wedding dress – and the style that best suits your shape.

3 traditional bridal gowns

Your Figure Verse's Your Wedding Dress

You picture in your mind the perfect bridal gown as you glean through bridal magazines, for the latest fashion in bridal wear and that special bit of magic that takes your fancy. You may find a style you absolutely love, however, a wedding gown may look wonderful in a magazine, but it may not suit your figure.

When is comes to choosing a wedding gown, it's only through personal experience we've come to know that the length and shape of our bodies and our legs determine the gown we inevitably buy. This is why it's important to choose the right gown and why there are so many different styles available to buy. There really is the perfect wedding gown for EVERY bride.

Fairy godmother tip; Choose a gown that is perfect for your height, accentuates all your best features and compliments your body type.

The Different Body Types

Hour-glass Figure

Choose;

Choose a gown with a halter style neck-line, it will accentuate your best features and give the illusion of an extended shoulder line. A two piece ball gown, with strap or strapless, is also well suited to the hour-glass figure, especially if your hips are shapely.

Examples: Halter Style Wedding Dresses
Examples: Strapless Wedding Dresses

Avoid;

Avoid straight or bias-cut gowns, as these styles over accentuate your hour-glass figure and may give the appearance that your hips and bottom are larger than they really are.

Slim, Petite Figure with a Small Bust

Choose;

Choose either a high neck-line or an empire-line bridal gown. The high neck-line accentuates the length of the entire body, perfect for petite and slim figures. The empire-line dress focuses on the bust, it has a seam that runs across and just below the bust-line and it reaches to the floor with un-interupted patterns or seams, so the focus is on the bust and the elongated body. Giving the illusion of being taller.

Examples: Empire Wedding Gowns

Avoid;

Avoid wearing full ball gown style dresses - your petite body will look even more petite.

Curvy and Busty Figure

Choose;

Choose a V-shaped neckline, it is very flattering and gives the illusion that your bust is just the perfect size, with a little envy on the side. Your curves will be in all the right places. Also, a strapless gown will give your figure the perfect symmetry, remember a good choice in lingerie will give extra help and support to your bust.

Avoid;

Avoid high necklines as this style can make you look out of proportion and too busty, while over plunging necklines gets you unwanted attention and is not appropriate for a wedding situation.

Pear Shape Figure – Narrow Shoulders
or Full Hips & Tummy

Choose;

Choose an A-line style gown. Most dresses in this style have their seams running vertically, these seams create a slim line to your figure and flatten the tummy area - and as the bridal gown flares out from the waist-line it shows perfect proportions and symmetry.

Avoid;

Avoid dresses with seams or patterns running across the mid section of your dress and avoid accessories like scarves and ribbons around the tummy area, the less emphasis there the better.

Full or Flaccid Arms

Choose;

A long sleeved bridal gown if you are self-conscious of your arms and don't want to show them off - it's perfect for an autumn or winter wedding. For a warmer climate, the other option is to choose a sleeveless dress and cover your arms with a decorative shrug, wrap or pretty laced jacket. You'll look like a celebrity, all the emphasis will be on you and your lovely dress.

Avoid;

Avoid sleeveless gowns without a shrug, wrap or decorative jacket.

Modern Brides

Many modern brides are now going haute couture and favouring more colourful, figure-hugging bridal gowns over the more traditional white and ivory wedding dress.

Medieval Times

In the medieval times the nobles wore rich vibrant colours with expensive garments of furs, velvet and silks, no expense was spared. Here's an article of the 'History of the Wedding Gown', and the transitions to the white and ivory gowns so popular nowadays.

Wedding Stores

The staff at bridal stores are there to help and steer you in the right direction, but remember you are in charge. When you find that perfect wedding dress, it will be an instant YES! You will know.