Finding that drop dead gorgeous dress can be a challenging and daunting experience. There are so many factors to consider; fitted or not fitted, strapless or cap sleeves, long train or short train, and many others. We’ve tried to cut your search time in half with some tips to remember when on the hunt.
Dress Shapes
Ball Gown
This is the true fairytale dress. Commonly associated
with Cinderella, this “princess” dress is filled with crinoline underneath to
give it give it that poofy look. The top of the dress is fitted like a corset.
Apart from having uncovered shoulders, this dress does not show off your body
at all. Everything is more or less hidden underneath all that crinoline. If
you’re looking for a serious eye-catcher and something more traditional, this
is for you.
A-Line
Similar to the Ball Gown, the A-Line style flows out
from the waist but is a straighter cut than the “poof” of the Ball Gown.
This style allows for the attention to be drawn more to the upper part of the
dress and the face rather than the bottom. Many A-line dress styles have
patterns on the bottom half of the dress such as lace or a floral design.
Mermaid
Picture a mermaid, a fitted top half with a tail that
flares out at the bottom. This dress is exactly that style. If you have a body
that you like to show off, this could be a great look for you. A corset-like
torso to extenuate the figure with a flared out bottom will definitely turn
some heads. 
Sheath/Column
As it states in its name, this dress is very straight
cut like a column. It does show off your figure but less than the Mermaid or
Trumpet and more than the Empire. The column dress sits well in between.
Trumpet
The tight-fitting torso of the Mermaid style may be a
little extreme for some brides and the Trumpet can be a great compromise.
Similar to the Ball Gown, this dress is fitted at the top but flares out around
the mid thigh area as opposed to below the knees which allows for a little more
movement than the Mermaid.
Empire
Most waistlines on dresses start at the waist (hence
the word). However, on this dress it starts just below the bust, which
has an elegant flow to it and, if you are shorter and want to feel just a bit
taller, the Empire waist can help create the illusion of a longer and taller
body shape.
Necklines
Simply put, the neckline of your dress depends solely on the amount of
coverage you feel comfortable with. Necklines can always be adjusted to
compliment the style of the dress.
The Train
Sometimes this is a detail that can be overlooked and become a problem
on the big day. The style of the train can depend on several factors; where the
ceremony is taking place, the kind of dress, and how likely you and others are
to step all over it throughout the day.
Even after considering all these different aspects of wedding dresses,
it boils down to only one thing, how you feel in it. It’s your day and you
deserve to look and feel your best. Although all these tips may help, make sure
to go with your gut.
Stay tuned for our next post!