2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type

Have a wish list for your wedding gown but don’t know how to choose? This 2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type will help.

You’re probably so excited, you just can’t wait to try on every dress you can get your hands on. But choosing the perfect gown for you is really important. Wedding dresses aren’t like regular clothes, but your body shape and silhouette still count.

The good news is, it’s easy if you’re one of the Classic Fabulous Fruits—Apple Shape, Pear, Hourglass. Rectangle, sometimes called Banana, has gained popularity thanks to stars like Meryl Davis, the ice dancer.

You’ll also find wedding gowns that flatter a combination shape.

Whether wedding dress shopping is at the top of your priority list, or put it off until 2 weeks before your wedding day, choosing a wedding gown is never an easy task. Some girls know what they’re looking for and can purchase a gown in a snap. Others struggle to find a dress that brings out their personal style, and that best flatters their figure.

Not to worry, though. We’ve made it easier for you to choose the perfect wedding dress for your body type. Read on!

 

2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: Best Silhouette for Your Shape

Brides come in all different shapes, sizes, and preferences. Some are fairly certain that they know what’s best for them.

Others make multiple wedding dress appointments, try on dress after dress, but still never find The One. Whatever type of bride you are, though, we want you to look good, but most of all, feel good on your big day.  

One simple way to limit your dress options is to find the best silhouette to fit your shape. Specifically, you want to complement your assets and downplay whatever you’re not thrilled with. So to start, let’s figure out what body type you are:

Pear, Apple, Hourglass?

Tall, Slender, Petite, Busty?

Not to worry if you don’t know the answers. Here’s our premiere guide to help you find your perfect silhouette.

 

2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: Petite 

  • Modified A-Line

Most petite brides aim for a dress silhouette to give the illusion of being a few inches taller. If this is you, opt for a modified A-line gown with a waistline slightly above your natural waist. This makes the skirt of the dress longer than the bodice.

2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: DaVinci Bridal Style #50883

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DaVinci Bridal Style #50760

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  • Gentle Fit & Flare

A gentle fit and flare gown is another go-to option for your body type. This is especially true if you can wear a shoe with a bit of a heel.

2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: DaVinci Bridal Style #50880

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2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: DaVinci Bridal Style #50846DaVinci Bridal Style #50846

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  • Floaty Chiffon Goddess Style

Some bridal stylists recommend floaty, chiffon goddess-style wedding gowns with unbroken lines to elongate your frame. For some flair, try adding some beading or floral details to your dress!

2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: Informal by DaVinci Style #F163

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Informal by DaVinci Bridal Style #F7071

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Petite Brides: What to avoid

  • A noticeably dropped waist can shorten your legs
  • A classic Cinderella ball gown can also have a shortening effect unless you’re comfortable in very tall heels.

 

Another stunning Petite option: A short dress worn with pumps or sling backs.

The short hem will show off your slim legs. The low vamp shoes will lengthen.

2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: Informal by DaVinci Style #F7065

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This same dress has a fluffy, removable skirt so you get the best of both worlds!Informal by DaVinci Style #F7065

 

Tips for Petite brides:

  • If you crave a sweeping train, order a “cathedral length” veil. Keep the bulk of the veil sheer but add beautiful lace embellishments if you wish.
  • The veil can be swept out in front of you for formal pictures and then be removed so you can move more freely at your reception.

Find inspiration for this in Witney Carson’s wedding video on YouTube. She’s only 5-foot-3 but look at that veil!

Witney Carson Wedding Video

 

2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: Pear Shape

If you’re a luscious Pear body type, you have wonderfully generous hips. Depending on your preference, you can either flaunt your curves in a mermaid, trumpet or fit and flare gown. Then choose any neckline, fabric, and hemline that you please.

  • Classic Mermaid

2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: DaVinci Bridal Style #50765

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  • Modern Mermaid

DaVinci Bridal Style #50802

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  • Dramatic Trumpet

2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: Informal by DaVinci Style #F160

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  • Demure Trumpet/Fit & Flare

Informal by DaVinci Style #F166

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To downplay your hips: 

  • Take a cue from petite brides & look for an A-line gown with a slightly higher waistline.
  • The flared skirt narrows your waist, flowing away from the hips and lower body.

 

2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: Informal by DaVinci Style #F130

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DaVinci Bridal Style #50720

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If an A-Line feels too formal:

  • Dress it down with a chiffon overlay
  • Choose a style in a casual lace

 

Necklines for Pear body types:

  • Classic strapless
  • To slenderize your upper body, go with a spaghetti strap or V-neckline.

 

Go for detail & texture

All that taken into consideration, a beautiful Pear such as yourself can glow in a dress with as much generous detail and texture as you want. Your dress will still slenderize your silhouette.

 

 

2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: Generous Bust

  • Generous Bosom

Most women, no matter their shape, tend to dress a bit more conservatively for their wedding. Some even go for styles that either minimize their bust or hide it completely. It’s all up to personal choice.

This body shape is sometimes called an Inverted Triangle. Therefore, if you want a little more coverage, a dress with a scoop neck may be perfect choice. A scoop shows less cleavage but is still elegant.

Scoop & Round Neck Styles

2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: DaVinci Bridal Style #50851
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Informal by DaVinci Style #F155Informal by DaVinci Style #F155

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2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: DaVinci Bridal Style #50669

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Yes, you can wear off-the-shoulder!

Informal by DaVinci Style #F7082

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2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: DaVinci Bridal Style #50762DaVinci Bridal Style #50762

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DaVinci Bridal Style #50819

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Fabric suggestions:

  • You might also prefer a gown in silk, satin or organza that are more constructed fabrics.
  • Consider straps or sleeves for added support and to help highlight your shape in all the right places.

 

Yes, you can wear a deep, deep V-neckline!

2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: DaVinci Bridal Style #50832

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DaVinci Bridal Style #50457

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2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: Informal by DaVinci Style #F7078

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DaVinci Bridal Style #50561

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More Tips:

  • Consider opting for a sweetheart neckline or a wide V-neckline, as straight necklines sometimes aren’t quite as flattering.
  • Also, keep in mind that you’ll want a fitted bodice with good interior structure for a beautifully polished look.

 

2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: Plus Size

Plus sized brides sometimes find their sample choices limited due to most bridal boutiques’ limited selection. However, you should still be able to find some basic silhouettes. Here are a few slimming silhouette possibilities:

  • Empire waist

  • A-Line

  • Wrap dress

  • Hi-Low hemline

  • Pleats vs gathers

  • Flowing chiffon

  • Ruching

Empire styles

2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: DaVinci Bridal Style #50726

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DaVinci Bridal Style #50706

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Wrap Styles

2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: DaVinci Bridal Style #50697

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Informal by DaVinci Style #F7004

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Hi-Low Hemline

2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: DaVinci Bridal Style #50856DaVinci Bridal Style #50856

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Ruching:

  • Too much ruching can add bulk.
  • Well-placed diagonal ruching can be stunning.

 

2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: DaVinci Bridal Style #50715

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DaVinci Bridal Style #50833

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Pleats vs Gathers

DaVinci Bridal Style #50690DaVinci Bridal Style #50690

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2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: DaVinci Bridal Style #50699DaVinci Bridal Style #50699

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2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: DaVinci Bridal Style #50636DaVinci Bridal Style #50636

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Pleated Chiffon

2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: Informal by DaVinci Style #F168

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Careful with these details:

  • Under the bust vertical pleats
  • Gathered fabric lines
  • Too casual a fit – look for fabrics & styles with more construction

 

One more beautiful look:

  • To any wedding gown with an empire waistline & an A-line skirt of any style – fluffy or sleek
  • Add a bolero, sleeved jacket, or shrug.

 

Click HERE or on the image below to see our collection that can be customized for brides and bridesmaids:

 

Remember, though, it’s entirely up to you whether you want a dress that’s loose and flowing or a more formal gown that’s sleek and constructed.

 

2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: Tall 

If you’re a beautiful bride on the tall side, keep the dress silhouette simple to emphasize your shape.

Dropped Waist

2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: DaVinci Bridal Style #50889

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Long Train

Note: If you want long sleeves, make sure they’re hemmed past your wrists

DaVinci Bridal Style #50894

DaVinci Bridal Style #50894DaVinci Bridal Style #50894

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Click HERE or on the image below to check out our amazing collection of Wedding Dresses with Sheer Trains:

Wedding Dresses with Sheer Trains

 

 

Dramatic Details

2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: DaVinci Bridal Style #50806

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DaVinci Bridal Style #50875

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2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: DaVinci Bridal Style #50834

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2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: Hourglass

Just about any silhouette looks beautiful on an Hourglass bride.

  • A sheath will show off your figure’s assets & streamline you from head to toe making you look tall and sleek.
  • You can go all out & be a fairytale princess.
  • Choose an elegant, classy queen vibe in a full ball gown complete with a bell skirt and an embellished bodice:
  • Rock your curves in a mermaid or trumpet gown.

Sheath

2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: Informal by DaVinci Style #F153

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2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: DaVinci Bridal Style #50776

DaVinci Bridal Style #50776

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Fairytale Princess

2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: DaVinci Bridal Style #50862

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Queen Vibe

DaVinci Bridal Style #50713

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Mermaid & Trumpet

2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: DaVinci Bridal Style #50816

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DaVinci Bridal Style #50653

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One caution for hourglass brides: avoid an empire waist

  • It won’t show off your beautifully slim waist to best advantage.
  • Also, if you prefer to draw less attention to your bust line, choose something other than a sweetheart neckline.

 

2024 Guide to Choosing Your Wedding Dress by Body Type: In the End, Your Heart Wins!

Whatever your body style, remember that your preference rules. Don’t let family, friends, or even your fiancé override your heart. Not all brides believe they know what looks best for them, so start by trying on dresses of your personal choice.

If you begin to feel your choices aren’t working, then do solicit opinions from professionals like your bridal retail consultant.

The most important factor when it comes to your wedding gown is your heart. Wear the dress that feels fabulous on your body and that makes you feel beautiful when you look in the mirror.

 

REMEMBER: Our guidelines are just guidelines not rules

We’re only relating what has worked well for others with particular body types. But don’t take just our word for it. Get out there, do your own research, dive into the chase. Try on as many different dresses as you want.

You never know—maybe you’ll find that The Perfect Wedding Dress for You wasn’t anything at all like you expected!

 

To see our custom DaVinci Style guide, Click HERE or on the image below: 

 

 

For a detailed study guide on combination body shapes, Click  HERE or on the image below to read the article by Shop Your Shape:

 

 

For more inspiration on styles, planning & all things wedding, Click  HERE or on the image below for our premiere DaVinci Bridal Blog: 

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