So you are engaged and are ready to look for that perfect wedding gown. You may have the perfect dress in mind although it may not be the best fit for your body type. When looking for a wedding dress that fits your expectations, budget, and most importantly – your body type; it is crucial to know the different types of silhouettes and the body types they are best suited for.

Mermaid Style

A mermaid style wedding dress works extremely well for taller brides. It draws attention to curves and accentuates an hourglass shape that the bride may not realize she has. It is also the perfect silhouette for brides who want to show off their curves and cleavage. If you are a short bride and want to wear the mermaid style silhouette try going for one that is tailored as a ¾ length dress, which will rest right above your ankles. It creates a fitted, tight look and shows every curve you have. It literally hugs your body down to the knee and flairs out at the bottom to resemble a mermaid’s tail.

A-Line Silhouette

A-line wedding dresses are great for a bride who wants to show off her body subtly, but without wearing a skin tight gown. This is the most popular silhouette amongst brides and is a great starting point as it suits all body types. This silhouette creates a beautiful shape that makes the bride’s body look proportioned. The design of the dress fits at the bust line and has a skirt that flows away from your body. It also helps cover-up larger parts of your body and is meant to be worn with embellishments such as beading along the top or small sleeves to balance out the bottom half of the dress.

Empire Waist

The empire waist silhouette is perfect for a bride who is heavier in the stomach area and who wishes to emphasize her bust. It creates an illusion of your body being beautifully proportioned, by making your bust look larger and concealing the lower half of your body. This dress has a false waistline right underneath the bust giving the appearance of a smaller waist creating a proportioned body shape.

Fit to Flare

Fit to flare silhouettes are most commonly used for beach weddings or weddings that have more of a romantic theme to them. They fit almost every body type and are easily customized using several different colors and patterns depending on the time of year you are getting married. This silhouette has a fitted top and a flared skirt. During spring and summer weddings you have the option of off the shoulder, sleeveless or spaghetti strap styles. One of the unique things about this silhouette is that you will usually see some of the higher end gowns with embellishments on one shoulder or at the hip giving it a little bit of glamor and bling.

Sheath

The sheath silhouette is quite similar to the mermaid style, as it creates a sexy, slim silhouette. The difference between the two is that the mermaid style dress goes one step further as it is tighter and really makes the curves of an hourglass figure stand out. Sheath wedding dresses are extremely form-fitting with the main difference being that your guests will see your feet and shoes in this style. It clings from the shoulders or your bust (if you are going strapless) to the hem of the gown without  flaring. It looks similar to an evening gown in the way that it hugs the curves of your body.

Ball Gown

The ball gown is one of those styles that accommodates all silhouettes. For thinner brides it accentuates the natural waist line then flares out into the puffed-out full princess skirt. For taller brides wearing a ball gown with a dropped waistline will keep your torso looking long. For brides with an hourglass shape you can keep your proportions and your gorgeous shape with the cinching around the waist.

When searching for that perfect wedding dress, keep an open mind. Whilst you may already have the perfect wedding gown in your mind’s eye, keeping an open mind to other styles of gowns and silhouettes will prevent you from being disappointed when your dream gown doesn’t look quite as you imagined. Talk with your bridal consultant to find out which silhouettes best flatter your figure , and don’t be afraid to try on silhouettes that aren’t your “go-to” choices.