Choosing the Right Wedding Gown for your Body Shape

Everyone is different and very few of us have the stick figures that advertise wedding gowns in magazines. It’s important to recognize this when choosing the perfect wedding dress style suited to your unique body shape. This is the dress that will wow the crowds and have the wedding photographer capturing you at your very best for all time. Here are some tips to help you choose the right gown shape for your body.

The Apple Shape

The apple figured woman has a slightly rounded figure with hips, waist and shoulder widths of similar width, but set off by slimmer arms and legs. The woman with this shape wants to choose a dress that defines the waist, so a bodice gown is great for this figure. While all apples will look good in a bodice, those of super slim stature should make a beeline for the bias cut. Superb figure-huggers, the bias cut clings to the hips and midriff. The bias cut is beautiful for creating the illusion of shape and optimizing wedding photographer options.

That said; do avoid dresses with fishtail skirts, as these will not bring out the best in the apple figure. While bias cuts are good for the apple, a longer-length dress like the ultra-straight column dress is an apple no-no. The wedding photographer will have to go to great lengths to make these styles work on the apple shaped bride.

The Hourglass

The hourglass figure is the closest thing to the classically defined perfect figure. Characterized by hips and shoulders of the same width and a well-defined waist, this body shape is synonymous with the classic perfect body. Those lucky enough to be blessed with an hourglass shape will naturally be able to pull off anything. This shape can choose to highlight curves wearing a fishtail skirt that will show off a womanly shape to perfection.

Alternatively, the hourglass can emphasize the bust area by wearing an empire-line top. These brides could also focus on the small waist region by wearing a well-fitted bodice. Whichever cut she chooses the hourglass figure will make the wedding photographers job that much easier.

The Pear

The pear is the most common body shape in a woman. This shape is dominated by a large, voluptuous lower body with large hips and shapely on the bottom with a noticeably smaller top half with small shoulders and a small bust. With a little design expertise, the imbalanced pear can achieve a proportioned look and great wedding photos. Because the pear has a small bust, choosing a dress or corset with a lot of detail is ideal. The pear shape should also show off her back. A plunging back on a simple halter or ball gown dress will ensure the attention goes where it should and wedding photographers love to contrast body curves with the softness of a gown.

While choosing couture that accentuates their slender top half is ideal for pears, it is important for pear-shaped women who are not comfortable with their shape to deemphasize their lower body. Empire line skirts have an unstructured waist so that it falls in a straight line past the hips and into the skirt. This is good if you are trying to avoid clinging around the bottom area. Overall though, the perfect dress for this body shape overall is an A-line deep halter dress with a low back.

Wolfgang Freithof, A Day of Bliss Wedding Photography . wolfgang@wfx.net, 212.724.1790. Internationally renowned fashion photographer brings his unique talent to wedding photographers and the world. Professional photography to make every bride a supermodel on her Day of Bliss.