If you’re shopping for a wedding dress, you’ve probably already seen words like A-line, ball gown, sheath, mermaid and trumpet. But what do all of those wedding dress silhouettes actually mean? A wedding dress silhouette simply describes the overall shape of the dress on your body. Knowing the basic wedding dress shapes can be helpful when you’re saving inspiration, researching bridal shops and talking to your bridal stylist. As The Garter Girl, I’ve been around the wedding world for more than 20 years making wedding garters and bridal heirlooms, so I have A LOT to say about weddings & bridal fashion, and I’m always sharing wedding planning tips, bridal fashion advice, and all the wedding garter things I think brides should know. Shop the 'Just Say Yes' wedding garter collection But before we get into the different silhouettes, here’s the most important thing I want you to know after working with brides and hand making wedding garters and bridal accessories for more than 20 years here at The Garter Girl: you do not need to figure out your perfect wedding dress silhouette before you start shopping. In fact, please don’t. Use this guide to learn the terminology, save the wedding dresses you love and then keep an open mind when you get into the bridal shop. You might be VERY surprised by what you end up loving. What Are the Different Wedding Dress Silhouettes? Some of the most common wedding dress silhouettes include: A-line Ball gown Mermaid Trumpet Sheath or column Empire waist Tea length You may also hear bridal designers and shops use slightly different terminology, and plenty of wedding dresses fall somewhere between two traditional silhouettes. That’s OK. You’re shopping for a wedding dress, not studying for a test! Here’s what the most common wedding dress shapes generally mean... A-Line Wedding Dress An A-line wedding dress is fitted through the bodice and gradually widens toward the hem, creating the shape of a capital letter “A.” It’s one of the most recognizable wedding dress silhouettes and can range from relatively slim and simple to much fuller through the skirt. If you love the idea of some shape through the top without the volume of a traditional ball gown, you’ll probably see plenty of A-line wedding dresses while you’re shopping. Shop this Satin A-Line Wedding Dress made by Velyon Bridal → Ball Gown Wedding Dress A ball gown wedding dress typically has a fitted bodice and a dramatically fuller skirt. This is the silhouette many people picture when they think of a classic princess wedding dress. Depending on the fabric and construction, a ball gown can feel romantic, traditional, modern, dramatic or completely over-the-top in the very best way. And if you think you could NEVER wear a ball gown? Try one anyway. Seriously. Trying on one wedding dress outside of your comfort zone costs you nothing, and sometimes it’s the dress you never would have pulled from the rack that changes everything. Shop this Ball Gown Wedding Dress made by Opaline Couture Bridal → Mermaid Wedding Dress A mermaid wedding dress is fitted through the bodice, waist and hips and stays fitted farther down the leg before dramatically flaring out. The exact point where the skirt begins to flare varies by design, which is also why the line between mermaid and trumpet wedding dresses can sometimes get a little blurry. If you’re saving fitted wedding dresses with dramatic skirts, “mermaid wedding dress” is a helpful search term to know. Shop this Modern Mermaid Wedding Dress made by Unona Shop → Trumpet Wedding Dress A trumpet wedding dress is also fitted through the bodice and hips but generally begins to flare higher than a mermaid silhouette. Think fitted and with flare, but usually with a slightly softer transition into the skirt. And don't worry if you're looking at pictures thinking, “Wait, isn't that a mermaid?” Different designers and bridal shops may use these terms a little differently. What matters more is showing your stylist what you like. Shop this Trumpet Wedding Dress made by Mirenlace Wedding → Sheath or Column Wedding Dress A sheath or column wedding dress follows a straighter line down the body rather than dramatically flaring into a full skirt. These wedding dresses can be sleek and minimal or covered in lace, beading and detail. The silhouette refers to the overall shape, not the style of the dress. That distinction is important. A silhouette doesn't tell you whether a wedding dress is romantic, modern, glamorous, classic or anything else. It just gives you a way to describe its shape. Shop this Sheath Wedding Dress made by House of Aura Dress → Empire Waist Wedding Dress An empire waist wedding dress has a raised waistline that sits higher on the torso, usually just below the bust, with the skirt falling from there. This creates a very different proportion than wedding dresses with natural, dropped or basque waists. If you're drawn to this look, knowing the term “empire waist” will make it much easier to search for inspiration and explain what you're seeing to your bridal stylist. Shop this Empire Waist Wedding Dress made by Soft Sway Studio → Tea-Length Wedding Dress Unlike most of the terms on this list, tea length describes the length of the wedding dress rather than how fitted or full it is. A tea-length wedding dress falls above the floor, generally somewhere around the lower calf or ankle depending on the design. It can be a fun option if you love the idea of a shorter wedding dress or really want to show off your shoes. Shop this Tea Length Wedding Dress made by Mirevessa Dress → What Wedding Dress Silhouette Is Best for My Body Type? I'm going to save you from one of my least favorite wedding dress shopping rabbit holes. You do not need the internet to tell you which wedding dress silhouette you’re “allowed” to wear because of your body type. Your body does not automatically assign you an A-line, mermaid or ball gown. There are so many things that affect how a wedding dress actually looks and feels once it’s on your body, including the fabric, construction, proportions, neckline, waistline, alterations and the specific design. The only way to really know? TRY. IT. ON. Use wedding dress silhouette guides for vocabulary and inspiration, not rules. Do I Need to Know My Wedding Dress Silhouette Before Shopping? No. you don't need to know what style or silhouette wedding dress you want to try on before you go shopping! Save pictures of wedding dresses you love and bring them to your bridal appointment. Your stylist can look for patterns in what you’re choosing and help translate those pictures into dresses to try. And then let them surprise you. You can scroll Pinterest until there are literally no wedding dresses left to see, but a picture on your phone cannot tell you how you're going to FEEL once you're standing in front of a mirror wearing the dress. That's the fun part. I'll give you a little tip... Try at least one or two wedding dresses you don't expect to like. After more than 20 years working with brides, I can tell you that what you think you want and what you fall in love with are not always the same thing. Ready to Start Wedding Dress Shopping? Knowing your wedding dress silhouettes is helpful. But finding THE dress is just one piece of your bridal fashion plan. The Bridal Fashion Fix helps you plan your wedding dress, alterations, accessories, beauty, other wedding looks, budget & spending all in one place. Because bridal fashion is a lot more fun when you have a plan. GET THE BRIDAL FASHION FIX → One More Thing for Your Wedding-Day Look... Your wedding dress may be the star, but it’s the meaningful little details that make your wedding look feel like YOU. Shop The Garter Girl’s handmade wedding garters, something blue garters & bridal heirlooms, or let me create a completely custom wedding garter using your mother’s or grandmother’s wedding dress, veil or other family materials. SHOP WEDDING GARTERS → P.S. Some of the above product links are affiliate-connected and purchasing through these links helps to support the blog.
