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Wedding Dress Silhouettes

Choosing the right wedding dress silhouette for your body type, wedding theme and wedding budget can be a fun process.  Our best advice is to try every type of wedding dress silhouette on to see what suits you best - you might just be surprised!  Here are the main wedding dress silhouettes to choose from:

• A-line (or princess line): Looks like a letter A, as it is flared from either the shoulders or under the bust, often with a fitted waist.  This style is flattering for most brides, but best on those with a ‘pear’ shape.
• Basque waist:  This style is characterised by a low waistline that is generally V or U-shaped, beginning several inches below the waist. This shape is great for taller brides who are looking to create an hourglass silhouette. 
• Ball gown: The classic fairy-tale wedding gown silhouette, a ball gown consists of a fitted corset with full skirt that touches the floor.  Ballgowns can be dripping in pearls, diamonds and embellishments.  This style looks lovely on women with small waists or less buxom brides.
• Dropped waist: This style dips below the natural waistline and sits on the hips.  This style works well on brides with hourglass figures.
• Empire: Think Jane Austen – Empire line dresses are cropped and the waist seam ends just below the bust line to create an elongated silhouette.  You can choose short sleeves or go sleeveless; this style works well on women with large breasts or fuller figures.
• Mermaid (or trumpet skirt): This narrow, body-hugging gown flares dramatically at or below the knew to kick out like a mermaids tail.  A good choice for tall or curvy brides.
• Sheath: A sheath dress is a mermaid style without the flared trumpet tail at the bottom.  Sheath dresses are narrow and close-fitting, and fall to the floor in an unbroken line.  This silhouette looks good on slender brides, and is particularly sexy when cut on the bias (diagonally to the grain of the fabric).
• Slip: The slip dress is like a long tank top.  It may be backless or cut on the bias, and usually doesn’t have much in the way of ornamentation.  This is an elegant choice for someone tall and slender.

Once you know the style of wedding gown you're in love with, then you have the choice of:

For ideas and inspiration, Brides.com has an amazing image gallery of the latest bridal gown designs to inspire you. Go on, have a look and start dreaming!  Main image by Samm Blake Photography .  Mosaic images by Izaro Haute Couture .

More Wedding Fashion & Wedding Dresses Ideas >> 

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