It’s your big day and you want to look your best for it.
Choosing the right wedding dress can be a nerve wrecking event for many because it can be really difficult to decide which is the perfect gown for you when you walk into a bridal boutique filled with so many pretty dresses. It’s not like we wear and choose gowns everyday and have gained enough experience to pick a suitable gown for ourselves. So it will be great to know your own body type before you select a gown that flatters your body type. Highlight your assets and hide your flaws, that’s what we’ll seek to do.
Here are some guidelines on how you can choose the correct dress for your body type. However, do not be afraid to try on different types of wedding dresses to see which cuts are the ones that you prefer. If you aren’t very confident, you can always ask your bestie to go along to the fitting with you so that you have another opinion.
So here goes.
The Petite:
That would be me. Standing at 1.53m only and weighing 37kg. But no need to worry that a gown will overwhelm you! You just need to pick the right type. Moreover, heels can help a lot to elongate you, or us.
The general rule for a petite girl is to not choose a gown that can overwhelm you and stick to A-line dresses.
Credit: Recent Bridal
Another option to consider is the empire line wedding dress. The waistline is higher and it gives an illusion of longer legs. The flowy silhouette wouldn’t be too overwhelming for a petite bride.
Credit: LightWeddings.co.uk
Another general rule of the thumb for petite brides is to totally avoid drop waist dress because it will make your already short legs look non-existent. But petite as I am, I picked a drop-waisted wedding dress!
My wedding dress
Why? Remember I mentioned that it is important to try on different dresses? Be open-minded about it. I was worried about the drop-waisted design of the dress initially. But because I love the design a lot, I decided to give a try. I do look very short in it, but the day was saved by my heels. If you really want to pick a drop-waisted dress, remember to wear very high heels to give the correct illusion of having long legs to counter the drop-waist design!
The Plus Size:
The main thing here for plus size brides is to accentuate the curves. Again, the Empire Cut wedding dress is highly recommended. However, one has to take note that the empire cut waistline MUST start under the bust so to play up the curves. Do not choose one with the line starting on the bust itself. It will look like you have no waist and resembles pyjamas or even maternity wear. Not wise.
Credit: projectbridal.com
Another way to accentuate your figure is to pick a wedding dress that has a sash design at the waist to define your waist more. A dark coloured sash would be my choice, but as long as the colour isn’t too light, it works well too.
Credit: IGIGI
Referring to the photo above, plus size brides who want to cover up their arms may also opt for dresses that are off-shoulder like the above. A prettier choice may be the see through lace sleeves for a romantic look. But really, you have the curves, show them! :)
The Pear Shaped:
Ladies with the pear-shaped body have narrow shoulders and wider hips. Pear-shaped ladies are generally advised to select a wedding dress that reduced the emphasis on their heavier bottom to create a more balanced silhouette.
Credit: Shop345.com
A tube wedding dress plays up the shoulders and yet the puffy dress will hide the heavier bottom. Choose lighter fabric for a more romantic look!
The Lean and Straight:
I think the lean and straight body type can wear almost anything! Just choose what you would like to emphasise on. A short wedding dress to play up your slim legs. And if in any case you would prefer to add some curves, add volume to the bottom of the dress (read puffy skirt) and cinch your waist to create the illusion of curves. Even a mermaid cut gown would do fine!
Credit: Wedding Journal
Credit: BestBride101