Short wedding dress

Depending on the location and season of your wedding day or your personal preference for a short dress, you might find yourself looking for a wedding dress that is not a traditional floor length wedding dress. If you are interested in a short wedding dress you may consider the following lengths:

• mini length: just below the hip area. This length may be appropriate if you have killer legs and you are getting hitched in Las Vegas or on a beach in the flow of the moment.
• Above the knee or just covering the knee: this is a more elegant length to consider for a summer wedding. 
• Below the knee/tea length: If you are interested in this length you must be a fan of the 1950's fashion. This length is elegant and sexy offering you the much needed ease and flexibility in movement on your big day. 

Long wedding dress

The floor length long skirt is a famous feature of a traditional wedding dress. Next to respecting traditions, if you are not exposed to many formal and gala events in your daily life, you might be the bride who is looking forward to wearing a long wedding dress and make your wedding day a memorable one with this choice.

Long skirt wedding dresses is also recommended for brides who want to  emphasize their bust area and hide the lower part of their bodies.  

With your body shape in mind you may choose from the following type of long length skirts for your perfect wedding dress:

• Ball gown skirt
• Straight / column /sheath skirt
• A-line skirt 
• Flared skirt
• Trumpet skirt
• Mermaid skirt

Long wedding dress with a trail

A wedding dress with a trail, short or long, is grand and dreamy. Just like the fairytale wedding dresses we've watched in Walt Disney animations or seen royalty marry in to their princes and kings in their royal wedding dresses.

Tip. Even if you choose for a short length wedding dress no one can stop you from adding a tasteful elegant trail to the back to walk down the aisle in.

Long wedding dress without a trail

1-piece short and long wedding dress

2-piece short and long wedding dress

Ball gown / princess skirt

The ball gown wedding dress style is perfect for those brides looking for a fairytale wedding dress. This silhouette pairs a fitted bodice with a full skirt in this dreamy feathered Marchesa wedding dress. The ball gown dress is most appropriate for large and traditional weddings where the grand dress style will be consistent with the formality of the event.

While this style can accommodate most body types, the ball gown is ideal for slender or pear-shaped figures as the full skirt helps to accentuate the waist and hide the lower body. If you have a large bust, this style will help to create the hourglass look since it emphasizes the waistline due to the fitted bodice and natural or dropped waist.

If your height is on the shorter side, the volume of the ball gown can create false and unwanted illusions. You may not have the height to balance the size of the skirt. Also, for the figure of a full-breasted bride, the skirt could actually cause her to look larger.

Tip.  Unlike the ball gown skirt, body hugging designs such as the column/sheath dress can constrict your movement, including the ability to sit and dance as comfortably as you would wish on your big day. If you want a highly-constructed column dress, you may consider one that has enough stretch in the fabric or a slit in the back that will allow you to move more freely.

Straight skirt

The straight or column dress has a narrow shape that flows straight down from the neckline to the hem. This straight or column silhouette demonstrated in the Oscar de la Renta wedding dress, also referred to as a sheath, tends to hug the body and show any and all of your curves. The straight dress is appropriate for all types of weddings, especially causal occasions on the beach, or intimate evening events at a banquet hall.

The straight dress is best worn by lean figures, both short and tall. The elongating nature of this design will help petite brides appear taller. However, this dress type does not allow much room for hiding problem areas, such as a larger lower body. It can conceal minor flaws if you opt for a constructed column form that will stay in place.

Also, straight/boxy shaped figures that do not have natural curves may consider accenting the waistline with a separate bodice or sash to create the illusion of a defined waist.

Trumpet skirt

The trumpet silhouette features a gradually-flared skirt and a close-fitting bodice that skims the lines of the body, through the hips. Most trumpet wedding gowns begin to flare at about mid-thigh, and can be thought of as a sort of hybrid between the mermaid silhouette and the modified A-line silhouette. 

Just as the name suggests, the gradual flare of a trumpet dress' skirt resembles the shape of the musical instrument trumpet's bell. 

A trumpet dress, while similar to mermaid gowns, is a more understated silhouette, as the flare of the skirt of trumpet wedding gowns is much more gradual than that of the dramatically-flared mermaid's skirt.

Mermaid skirt

The mermaid silhouette contours to the body from the chest to the knee, then flares out to the hem.

This is a very sexy look that highlights the curves of a woman’s body. For this reason, you must be confident and comfortable in your skin to pull off this dramatic style.

A-line skirt

The A-line dress features a shape that is fitted around the bodice, illustrated clearly in the Reem Acra fall 2013 A-line wedding dress, and flows out to the ground, resembling the outline of an uppercase A. The dress flows fluidly from the bust to the hem with an unbroken line. Due to its classic and simple style, the A-line dress is appropriate for any occasion, from a quiet backyard gathering, to a traditional church ceremony.

The A-line dress is flattering on almost all body types. The long lines of the princess cut dress can create the illusion of height on a shorter body, as well as slim down a rounded figure. The full skirt of the A-line can also hide a larger lower body, or create the illusion of curves on a narrow frame.

Since the A-line dress is so versatile, simple modifications to the neckline, waistline, or fabric can accentuate your best features and hide those your not so fond of.

Flared skirt

While the Trumpet skirt starts to flare gradually, at about mid-thigh and the Mermaid flares dramatically, at or below the knee, the Flare skirt flares right below the hips usually with a flowing fabric.

Tip 1.  Unlike the A-line wedding dress style, the mermaid and flare style skirts are not for everyone!

These daring designs are best worn by slender figures, both short and tall. Since the mermaid and the fit and flare dress are made to hug the body and show every curve, it is not well suited for those plus size brides with full figures.

Backless wedding dress

Its no brain teaser, if you have a beautiful back with feminine shoulders and getting married during the warm seasons of spring and summer, opt for a backless wedding dress to show off these assets and consider the following necklines:

• halter neckline
• cross-back neckline
• sweetheart neckline
• strapless neckline
• thin strapped neckline
• key-holed back with a supporting neckline to create this key-hole open back design

Wedding dress with a back

If you are in favor of a closed back, this doesn't mean that you don't have a beautiful back and won't be able to show off what you have. But in fact, with the right selected design you will be highlighting your back gracefully and bringing attention to where you want it.

Remember your back does get a lot of exposure during your wedding as you walk down the aisle and dance with your husband to be on your first dance after the ceremony and dinner.

If you are interested in the playful and very sexy covered back option consider the following:

• choose for a laced fabric with a great design
• illusion back nude fabrics can also be very flattering you can add your own personality and choice of design by carefully sewing on beads, pearls, crystals or ready-made flower applique
• button-down back from neck to the  top of the hip line: very sexy touch

Long sleeves

In this Monique Lhuillier bridal gown, the beautiful lace long sleeve is a seamless extension of the illusion neck covered in lace. This design element not only checks the traditional box off but also checks the super sexy and elegant boxes too.  

There are a number of long sleeve designs for you to be aware of next to this tight fitting sheath style such as the bishop and peasant sleeves which are looser and end at the wrist with a tight fitting cuff. 

You can also consider 3/4 length sleeves ending below the elbow:

• tight fitted: sheath or raglan 
• loose fitted: kimono or bell sleeve

Without sleeves

A strapless or open neck-line looks flattering on many women because it has the ability to present the shoulder, neckline and the bust area in a very feminine and sexy way. 

While a strapless neckline may do the much desired magic for the small busted ladies, for the big and heavy busted ladies it does not offer much support to hold the bust area up no matter how couture and well fitted a gown might be.

Tip: Also for those brides who choose to go for this option please practice your posture. A good posture to support this neckline is when your shoulder blades are together and eased down your back. So shoulders back slightly but softly with your bust perked up. Avoid sticking your chest out in a soldier-like stance.   

Cap sleeves

Cap sleeve is a very short sleeve covering only the shoulder, not extending below the armpit level.

In this dazzling Monique Lhuillier number,  the cap sleeve is an extension of the sparkly illusion neck creating a very sexy neckline but covered. 

Juliette sleeves

Juliette sleeve is a longer sleeve than the cap sleeve, with a puff at the top and tight to the wrist line. Please note that in the given Monique Lhuillier wedding dress example above, Monique has modernized this ancient sleeve design to a short sleeve without a puff.

Off the shoulder / Boat neck sleeve

One-shoulder sleeve

With defined waistline

Without waistline: boxy shape

Empire / raised waistline 

An empire dress style is defined by the raised waistline that sits just below the bust, illustrated clearly in this Jenny Packham wedding dress with the lowest silver band, from which the rest of the dress flows down to the hem. 

Natural waistline

The natural waistline is the line that joins the bodice and the skirt of this Vera Wang wedding dress with a black ribbon belt. This line falls above the hip bones and navel of the female body. 

Lowered waistline

Lowered waisline cut with a belt at the natural waistline

As you know, there are many different types or styles of wedding dresses. It helps to know your female body shape and which wedding dress style would look the best to flatter your body shape.

Besides your body shape, please also take into account other factors like your age, weight, your personal style as well as the season you are getting married in and the venue of your wedding!  

Designer Wedding Dresses

Royal Wedding Dresses

Unique Wedding Dresses

Wedding Dress Fabrics