If the wedding dress shapes for your dream gown have volume, but not for quite the whole skirt, then a mermaid or fishtail gown would work perfectly for you. Out of all the wedding dress styles that work for hourglass figures, mermaid is one of the best. As a mermaid gown will hug all of your curves from bust to waist to hips, and then flare out dramatically half-way down the skirt, it continues the hourglass effect your shape already has and emphasises it even more.

Having volume around your lower body will also help to balance out stunning, curvy hips and give a killer end result. While hunting for wedding dress styles for body shapes of all kinds, bear in mind what you want to highlight on your figure and what you’d rather not have to think about on your big day. If you love your curves and want to show them off, a more clingy gown that hugs your silhouette, like a Mermaid, would be perfect for you.

When thinking about how to choose a wedding dress style, ask yourself what you want to emphasise. What parts of your body do you want to highlight? Show off?

If you’re looking to emphasise height, a column or sheath gown is the best wedding dress style for body types that are elongated and, contrastingly, on the shorted side too! A column gown is one of the most beautiful wedding dress styles for short brides, as the straight lines of these dresses will help to elongate you and give you the illusion of being taller. At the same time, it’s one of the best wedding dress styles for tall brides too, if you want to showcase your height.

Sheath gowns are straight up and down, and continuous, so there’s no break for the eye in the flowing, streamlined material. This will create height where there is none and display it beautifully where there is.

Reminiscent of 1920s flapper dresses, but made contemporary in simple, slip fashion, these dresses are effortless and stunning.

If you have an athletic build and your looking for a wedding dress style that shows off toned arms and shoulders, halter necklines are a breathtaking way to do that. Most of the time, this style gives coverage in the bust area, which looks gorgeous on smaller-chested brides, and has a high neckline that elongates the body. 

Toned arms and shoulders look stunning in a halter gown, and the angular cut of a neckline like this emphasises the beauty of your powerful silhouette. Sometimes, halters will have a low or open back, so if that’s one of your best features that you want to accentuate this would be a gorgeous style for you.

If you’re still wondering how to know what type of wedding dress suits you, one of our best recommendations is: when you start your search and go try on gowns, be open-minded! There are generalities you can research that work for most people, but everybody and every shape is truly different and unique.

Once you find the wedding dress shapes and silhouettes that work best for you by trying them on, you can really start your search for your perfect, dream gown. If you’re ready to begin your search, make an appointment with us today. Excited for that next step? Don’t forget to take a peek at our tips and tricks to make gown shopping the best experience possible.