WEDDING DRESS SILHOUETTE GUIDE
july 2021
river by made with love — emily noelle photography
what is a wedding dress silhouette?
new to the wedding dress search and wondering where to start? figuring out your fit is a great starting point! a wedding dress silhouette refers to the way the dress fits; is it a flowy wedding dress, fitted wedding dress, or poofy wedding dress? there are so many different types of wedding dress silhouettes, so we wanted to create this wedding dress silhouette guide to help you in choosing a wedding dress!
natalie by alyssa kristin — april mae creative
india by madi lane — lilli productions
zoe by vagabond — stori h photography
wedding dress silhouettes
the main wedding dress silhouettes are fit-to-flare & mermaid wedding dresses, a-line & flowy wedding dresses, ballgown wedding dresses, and sheath wedding dresses. we hope this guide will help you learn the difference between the various fits and determine which is best for you!
FIT-TO-FLARE & mermaid wedding dresses
what is a fit-to-flare, or fit and flare wedding dress? fit and flare is an umbrella term that describes dresses that are fitted through the hips and thighs, then flare out at the knees. there are degrees to how much the dress flares out depending on the style. a classic fit and flare will have a more subtle flare at the bottom.
what is a mermaid wedding dress? a mermaid wedding dress silhouette will have more of a dramatic transition from fit-to-flare, this style will highlight and define all curves. mermaid wedding dresses are known for being dramatic and sexy, and are perfect for showing off your shape!
TENNYSON by The Label — celina nicole photos
andie by madi lane — casi yost photography
a-line & FLOWY wedding dressES
what is an a-line wedding dress? a-line wedding gowns are one of the most classic and romantic shapes. an a-line wedding dress is most typically fitted at the natural waist, and then gradually flares out from the waist. think of the letter “a” and how it is smaller at the top and larger at the bottom!
what is a flowy wedding dress? flowy wedding dresses are going to be similar to an a-line style but with a little more movement. they will still hug the hips and show off any natural curves, without compromising a flowy skirt. perfect for the bride who wants to show off their figure a little but without giving up comfort!
lunella by willowby — claudia noelle photography
wilde by vagabond — ariele chapman photography
joelle (left) by wtoo — inde photography
ballgown wedding dress
what is a ballgown wedding dress? if you are looking for your grand, fairy-tale(esqe) dress, then a ballgown style is the silhouette for you! a ballgown wedding dress can be both a romantic style or a more modern take! this statement dress is bound to flatter all shapes by highlighting the smallest part of your waist! if you are looking for a glamorous, statement dress, this is your silhouette!
phillips by rose + williams by tara latour — samantha rose creative
montgomery by wtoo — emma studley photography
sheath wedding dress
what is a sheath wedding dress? a sheath, or column, style wedding dress is an effortless and elegant fit. this style tends to be fitted around the hip and fall straight down. some sheath dresses can be slightly more fitted through the hip, but won’t be fitted past the upper thigh. this silhouette will elongate and emphasize your natural curves without hugging them!
avril by rue de seine — danielle riley photography
TRINITY by The Label — madison kaitlin photography
andy by made with love — stinkin' sweet productions
what wedding dress is right for my body type?
do you want to know how to find the best wedding dress for your body type? we believe that no one body is the same, and you own the right to your own style. here at a&bé, we want you to feel your most confident in whatever dress is yours! we are more than happy to guide you in the direction of the style that will bring out your most confident and comfortable self.
if you are looking to highlight the smallest part of your waist, we would recommend looking at more a-line and ballgown style gowns. if you are looking to elongate your shape, and highlight your curves, we would suggest looking at gowns that are fitted to the body. all that to say there is no right or wrong fit for any body type, the best wedding dress silhouette for your body is the one that makes you feel your best!
where to buy my wedding dress
how do you find the perfect wedding dress silhouette for you? you can find the perfect wedding dress silhouette with the help of one of our expert bridal stylists at any of our locations! you can call us with any questions about wedding dress shopping and to book an appointment over the phone, or you can book your appointment online. be sure to check out our real bride and our styled wedding shoot posts for some #aandbabe inspiration!
marley by madi lane — nicole christine photography
viola by wtoo — august muse