“What style of wedding dress will suit me?”
It's one of the questions I'm asked most often by brides coming to Bridal Gossip.
You may have read advice telling you that if you're pear-shaped you should wear one type of dress, if you're petite you should avoid another, or that certain silhouettes are only for particular body shapes.
I don't think wedding dress shopping needs to work like that.
Your height, proportions and body shape can influence how a dress looks and feels, but they don't decide which styles you're allowed to wear.
The best way to discover what suits you is to try different dresses and pay attention to how you feel in them.
So rather than putting your body into a category, let's look at some of the wedding dress silhouettes you might encounter and what makes each one different.
A-line wedding dresses
An A-line dress is fitted through the bodice before gradually widening towards the hem, creating the 'A' shape that gives the silhouette its name.
It's an incredibly versatile style and can look completely different depending on the fabric and construction.
A soft, flowing A-line gown can feel relaxed and romantic, while a more structured fabric can create a stronger, more defined shape.
If you're not sure where to start, an A-line can be a useful silhouette to try — not because it supposedly suits a particular body type, but because it gives you a good reference point when comparing other shapes.
Millie May Bridal available in the Wadebridge Boutique
Princess, ball gown and fuller skirt wedding dresses
If you enjoy a little more volume, try a ball gown or fuller-skirted wedding dress.
These styles usually have a more fitted bodice with a fuller skirt, but the amount of volume can vary enormously.
Some feel light and floaty, while others use layers or more structured fabrics to create a stronger silhouette.
Don't automatically rule out a fuller skirt because you're petite, curvy, tall or anything else.
Try one.
How the proportions work on you will depend on the individual dress, where the waist sits, the fabric, the construction and, most importantly, how you feel wearing it.
Venus Bridal UK available in the Wadebridge Boutique.
Fit-and-flare, fishtail and mermaid wedding dresses
These terms are often used for dresses that follow the body more closely before widening further down the skirt.
Exactly where that flare begins varies between designs, which is why two dresses described as 'mermaid' can look and feel surprisingly different.
Some create a very defined silhouette, while others are softer and easier to move in.
If you like the idea of a dress that follows your shape, try a few variations rather than assuming this silhouette is only intended for a particular body type.
And move around in them. Sit down, walk and notice how comfortable you feel as well as how the dress looks.
White Rose Bridal available in the Wadebridge Boutique
Empire line wedding dresses
An empire line has a higher waistline, usually sitting beneath the bust, with the fabric falling from there.
Depending on the design and fabric, the result can feel soft and flowing or more structured.
It's a very different proportion from a dress that defines the natural waist, so trying the two alongside each other can help you understand which feeling you prefer.
Again, there's no body-shape rule that says you should or shouldn't wear one.
Column and sheath wedding dresses
Column and sheath dresses generally follow a straighter line down the body rather than creating lots of volume through the skirt.
They can be wonderfully simple, but simple doesn't necessarily mean plain.
Fabric, seams, necklines, sleeves and detailing can completely change the character of a straighter wedding dress.
If you're drawn to clean lines or a less voluminous silhouette, they're well worth trying.
The silhouette isn't the whole story
This is something that's easily forgotten when you're looking at wedding dresses online. Two A-line dresses can feel completely different. So can two fit-and-flare gowns. The fabric, internal construction, neckline, straps or sleeves, waist position, seams and detailing all affect the overall look and feel.
That's why I wouldn't get too attached to a silhouette name before you've started trying dresses. You may discover that it isn't 'A-line' or 'fishtail' that you love. It might actually be a particular neckline, fabric or amount of structure that makes you feel good.
What if there's an area of my body I'm self-conscious about?
Tell me. You never need to apologise for your body or describe any part of it as a problem, but it's absolutely fine to tell me that there's something you feel less confident about. Equally, tell me about the parts of yourself you love and would like to celebrate. Both are useful when I'm choosing dresses for you to try.
My role isn't to tell you that we need to hide your stomach, make you look slimmer or create an 'ideal' body shape.
It's to listen to you and help you find dresses in which you feel comfortable and confident.
Sometimes that means finding a particular kind of support or structure. Sometimes it's about a neckline or sleeve. Sometimes it's simply discovering that the style you thought you couldn't wear actually feels fantastic.
What if the sample dress doesn't fit perfectly?
That's completely normal. A bridal boutique sample is there for different brides to try, so it isn't expected to fit your individual measurements perfectly.
At Bridal Gossip, I have sample wedding dresses physically available in sizes 10–32, with new gowns available to order in sizes 6–32, depending on the designer and style.
During your appointment, I can clip and adjust samples where appropriate to help you understand the shape and get a better idea of how the dress could look. Don't judge your body by how a sample happens to fit. The sample hasn't been made for you.
Keep an open mind
You absolutely can arrive at your appointment with ideas. Bring photographs. Tell me what you've been looking at. Show me the dresses you've saved. But leave a little room for something unexpected too.
I've seen plenty of brides arrive convinced they don't want a particular silhouette and then discover that they feel fantastic in it. Trying something doesn't commit you to buying it. Sometimes a dress you dislike teaches us just as much as one you love, because it helps us understand what to try next.
So, which wedding dress style will suit you?
The one you feel good wearing. Not the one a body-shape chart tells you to choose. Not the one you're told will make you look slimmer. And not necessarily the style you thought you'd choose before you started shopping.
At Bridal Gossip in Wadebridge, we'll explore different silhouettes, fabrics and details together. I'll give you honest advice, listen to how you feel and help you understand what is and isn't working for you.
If you'd like some inspiration before your appointment, explore our wedding dresses.
You might also find my wedding dress sizing guide helpful if you're wondering how bridal sizing works.
And when you're ready to start trying different styles, you can book your bridal appointment.
Caroline Griffiths, Bridal Gossip
