A guide to wedding dress styles and wedding dress shapes from a wedding dress stylist

Mermaid? Ballgown? A-line? Where do you even start? Getting engaged, planning a wedding and choosing a wedding dress can open up a whole new vocabulary for some of our brides-to-be. Feeling daunted? A little overwhelmed? You’re not alone. But let us help you out a little with our ultimate guide to wedding dress styles and wedding dress shapes so that you feel knowledgeable and relieved with this supportive guidance to get you not only prepared for your wedding dress shopping appointment (or your nightly curled-up-in-bed Pinterest scroll) but excited to find the wedding dress of your dreams.

Our team of stylists at Inverurie’s luxury (and we’re award-winning too!) bridal boutique are experts in asking the right questions, putting you at ease, and curating a selection of perfect-for-you dresses to try that showcase your wedding theme, your venue, and you.

And so knowing your mermaid fish tail from your Disney princess style isn’t necessary. Because we’re here to help with all that you need to know.

But it doesn’t help to be prepared. In fact, getting “in the wedding dress zone” ahead of your appointment might help turn some of your nervous butterflies in to excited energy.

So here’s our bridal boutique owner Kathy’s “what you need to know” read to get you ready.

Different wedding dress styles or wedding dress shapes

Choosing your dream dress isn’t just about the fabric or the fit. It’s about finding a dress that says “this is me”. It’s matching your personality to your style, be it vintage, contemporary, boho or daring.

But it can be about the fit:

• Some shapes will feel more natural or supportive or comfortable on you than others.
• Some shapes will be better suited to the comfort factor you’re looking for (or your ability to “yooo-eeuch” in your Ceilidh dances).
• Some shapes will help accentuate your features in different ways, showcasing your favourite parts.
• Some shapes will help ‘soften’ or balance out any body features you’d like it to.

And so wedding dress styles can also:

• create a more modern vibe.
• be more suited to an outdoor or rustic setting.
• lend themselves to a simple but elegant look.
• make a bold, dramatic statement.
• offer a playful, fun feel.
• evoke a vintage or nostalgic atmosphere.

It’s all about figuring out what you need and want from your look and feel for the day itself, and the memories you’ll have.

What are the different types  or styles of wedding dresses?

We’ve kept this simple and selected four of the most common wedding shapes that you’ll find represented by the variety of designers we showcase at Midnight Elegance. Here’s the terms you’ll hear to describe different wedding dress shapes or styles.

A-line wedding dress shape

So called because it looks like the shape of  the letter A! This type of dress is fitted in the body and then becomes fuller from the waist down. The skirt widens gradually so its less “princess vibes” than the ballgown shape (see below).

 

 

Ballgown wedding dress shape

Think Cinderella (with or without the puffy sleeves), this style / shape is a fitted bodice and a big, full skirt. Great for those with a bigger bust or broader shoulders (but see Kathy’s top tip below!)

Mermaid or Trumpet wedding dress shape

The ultimate “va-va-voom” or red carpet style dress! This type of dress is fitted through the bodice, waist, and hips, then flares out at or just below the knee (mermaid) or mid-thigh (trumpet). It’s perfect for showing off curves and making a dramatic entrance.

 

Sheath or Column wedding dress shape

This style is all about the sleek look! A sheath (or column) dress follows the body’s natural shape, as it skims over the hips and falls straight to the floor. It’s perfect for a modern, minimalist look and works well for tall, slender frames.

 

 

Our head bridal stylist Kathy’s advice about wedding dress shapes and wedding dress styles

With over a decade’s experience in dressing brides, Kathy gives this particular piece of advice about understanding wedding dress shapes and what might suit you when you come in for your wedding dress appointment:

“You’ll find that dresses have variations on a theme – so while it might be that a particular dress is an A-line dress, the dress itself, including the designer’s fabric choices, the use of sleeves, different necklines etc will make one A-line dress quite different to another. It is for this reason that we don’t think it wise for you as a bride-to-be to be too fixed on trying on only ballgowns or only sheath style dresses. What ‘typically’ suits a particular body shape doesn’t always ring true by the time you take fabric and individual dress style in to account.”

With this in mind, we advise attending your bridal boutique wedding dress appointment armed with the knowledge you need (and reading this is a great start!) to feel confident and comfortable about all the terminology you’ll hear but to come with an open mind. Being clear on your wedding theme (and having already booked your venue) means that these factors will play a huge part in the dress you finally say “yes” to.

Ready to find your dream wedding dress?

At Midnight Elegance, our team of bridal stylists is here to make your wedding dress journey effortless, exciting, and completely you. Whether you’re drawn to a dramatic mermaid silhouette, a fairytale ballgown, or a sleek sheath style, we’ll help you find a dress that fits your personality, wedding theme, and vision.

Book your bridal appointment today