How to Look Fantastic on Your Wedding Day -- Finding the Perfect Wedding Dress

You want to look the best you can be on your wedding day so here are some quick tips to help you choose the perfect wedding dress for your big day.

Short and Slim Brides
A shirtwaist or natural waist wedding dress with a bouffant skirt will create the illusion of a taller, rounder figure.  You may want to consider a slight A-line look with princess seams to create the illusion of height.  The best shape is a slight A-line with a not-too-full skirt.  A full skirt can make you look lost in the dress.   An exception would be a Cinderella-type gown, but this style will not match every petite bride.  Off-the-shoulder wedding dresses, scooped necklines and spaghetti straps also look well on you.  Small collars and cuffs, short sleeves or sleeveless with long gloves, or a dress with trim at the neckline and shoulders to draw eye upward also work well for the petite bride.  Consider fabrics such as chiffon, velvet, lace and Schiffli net for your wedding dress.  Stay away from gowns with too much fabric, frills and excessive detailing.  Do not choose full or puffed sleeves, they will make you look wider and shorter.  Avoid gathered skirts or tiered skirts as they make you look shorter.

Short and Heavy Brides
Wear styles to give the image of a longer and leaner look such as A-line, princess, or straight wedding dress styles.  Do not choose a wedding dress made out of knit or that is clingy or too tight.  Your wedding dress should skim the body and flow down without hugging your curves.  Chiffon would probably be the best fabric choice as it produces a floating effect and hides weight.  Avoid large prints, heavy and shiny fabrics for your wedding dress.  Do not choose bouffant or tiered wedding dress styles, or a very full veil, as they give the illusion of bulk.

Tall and Slim Brides
Consider styles such  sheath, mermaid, A-line or ballgown for your wedding dress.  A shirtwaist or natural waist style with a full skirt also works well.  V-neck, sweetheart, scoop, jewel, and halter necklines all work well for you.  Consider choosing tiered skirts, French bustles, ruffles and beaded laces, as these all add some illusion of fullness.  Puffed sleeves and flowing fabrics that don't hug your figure make you look fuller and shorter.  Satin and lace are your best fabrics.

Tall and Heavy Brides
A princess or A-line wedding dress style creates the image of  a slimmer figure.  An empire waist style will hide your waistline.  Avoid anything that adds bulk such as full skirts and veils, puffled sleeves or gathered waists.  Very heavy and heavily beaded fabrics make you look large, shiny fabrics will draw attention to unwanted areas.  Satin, chiffon and lace are good choices for your wedding dress.

Pear-Shaped
A full ballgown style with accented waist, to minimize hips and bring focus to your upper body, and a simple skirt to emphasize your waist is a good look for your wedding dress.  You may want to consider strapless, off-the-shoulder, scooped or V-neckline styles with an A-line skirt to help balance your figure.  A two-piece wedding dress is also a good choice.  Draping or ruching with an A-line skirt silhouette can also be attractive as long as the draping option is diagonal draping.  Go for detailing in the bodice to serve as a focus for your wedding dress.  Do not choose straight, bias-cut, sheath, mermaid, or empire styles.   Avoid halter-neck gowns and full gathered or pleated skirts that add bulk to your hips.

Broad Shoulders
Consider spaghetti straps or scoop neckline for your wedding dress to shorten the width of your shoulder.  Low V-necklines or high, covered necks also work well for your body type.  Do not choose oversized sleeves or off-the-shoulder sleeves with accents as they add the illusion of width to your shoulders.

Plus-Size Bride
Look for simple designs that hide bulk.  Avoid overly frilly, shiny or heavily beaded wedding dresses.   Choose designs with minimal detailing, the less fuss the better.  Princess seams and A-line styles help to hide curves.  An empire waist wedding dress that flows from under the bust instead of the waist can hide a lot.  A scooped, off-the-shoulder neckline, fitted to the hips with a slight A-line skirt with or without a train is another good choice for a the plus-size bride.  A V-neckline style and small cap sleeves is also a nice look.  If you prefer a two-piece wedding dress, beware of style.  The best option would be one that has a fitted bodice with some detailing, light beading or light all over lace, and an A-line skirt.  Avoid tight fitting wedding dresses or clingy fabrics.  Gathered skirts or full skirts will make you look larger.  Avoid strapless styles as it will make you look top heavy.  Avoid textured or printed fabrics as they add more weight. Choose plain matte satin or luster-free fabric for your wedding dress.