WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH WEDDING DRESS SILHOUETTES AND HOW DOES THIS REALLY APPLY TO YOU?!
Let's be real: wedding dress silhouettes and shape terminology can be a little confusing. Godet, trumpet, appliqué, Chantilly lace, illusion — on and on the terminology goes. So here's a modern-day guide to the most popular wedding dress silhouettes, written for the modern bride (sorry, we're suckers for a cheesy rhyme). We're covering everything you need to know: how each wedding dress style feels, how it works with different body types and body proportions, and how to find the most flattering wedding dress silhouette for you — whether you're planning an intimate elopement, a destination wedding, or a big ballroom celebration.
Silhouette selection should always come down to your style preference and your comfort. Every wedding gown silhouette interacts a little differently with different body shapes, so understanding wedding dress silhouettes ahead of time helps you walk into your bridal salon appointment with confidence — and walk out with a gown that makes you feel like the best version of yourself on your wedding day.
Whatever you do, we always recommend getting into a fitting room and staying open-minded by trying a variety of silhouettes and fabrics like chiffon, satin, and delicate lace to understand what best suits your style and your body shape. You might be pleasantly surprised to fall in love with a dress silhouette you never pictured for your wedding day. That's the magic of wedding dress shopping — and exactly why appointments with expert stylists exist.
Here are the main types of wedding dress silhouettes — A-line, ball gown, mermaid, trumpet, fit-and-flare, sheath, and empire waist — broken down so you can find the perfect dress for your body type and your wedding setting.
THE MERMAID
To start off with one of our personal favorite wedding dress silhouettes, let's talk about the mermaid gown. This gorgeous, classic mermaid silhouette is all about highlighting your natural curves. It's figure-hugging through the torso and hips, then flares out (generally) just above the knee. If you want to get technical, the "flared" portion of the skirt is usually a separate piece of material sewn onto the circumference of the gown at the knee — as opposed to a trumpet or sheath wedding dress, which uses one continuous piece of fabric from waist to hemline. The flared portion of the mermaid gown is often layered with tulle or corded lace for a dramatic shape.
Mermaid gowns hug the body and flare out at the knee, making this silhouette best suited for hourglass and straight body types who want to show off their waist and hips. It's also a favorite for glamorous or luxury wedding settings.
Why you'll love this style:
- Form-fitting — it really highlights natural curves and your body shape
- The godet at the knee allows for more leg movement than a trumpet gown
- Looks amazing on many body types, from hourglass to straight figures
Why this might not be the fit for you:
- Mermaid gowns highlight the curves and waist and hips (or lack thereof) — avoid this fit if that's something you'd rather conceal
- If comfort and dance floor movement are your top priority, this figure-hugging silhouette might not give you the room to move freely
One of our favorite in-house designer for mermaid wedding dresses is Galia Lahav. Explore our Galia Lahav gowns here.
THE BALL GOWN / PRINCESS
We believe the terms “ball gown” and “princess” are mostly interchangeable. The classic ball gown usually hugs the bust and waist, and then dramatically flares out at the natural waist. Some designs feature a drop waist, which will mean the flare occurs lower than your natural waistline.
Ball gowns usually feature several layers of tulle or similar materials for a dramatic volume.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS STYLE:
- It gives the appearance of a slim and delicate waistline
- There are very few occasions where a full on ball gown is appropriate to wear. Your wedding is definitely the day that you get to be whatever level of “extra” that you want!
- Amazing for brides who have a love-hate relationship with their curves (or lack thereof)
If you’ll be enduring cold weather during your festivities, the layers will help keep you warm
WHY THIS MIGHT NOT BE THE FIT FOR YOU:
- While ball gowns aren’t difficult to walk in, it can be difficult to navigate considering the layers. Think about the activities of your day, and assign a bridesmaid to help out if need be.
- Ball gowns take up more room when packed. If you’re doing a destination wedding, look into how you will transport it.
- If you’re enduring a warm-weathered wedding, wearing a ball gown after awhile may get quite warm
One of our favorite in-house designer of the classic ball gown is Dany Tabet. Check out some of our Dany Tabet gowns here.
THE TRUMPET
One of our absolute favorite wedding dress silhouettes is the trumpet. Picture the shape of the instrument: a slender tube that gradually flares out into a bell shape. Unlike the mermaid silhouette, a trumpet wedding dress doesn't have a separate piece of fabric sewn in at the knee — instead, it hugs the figure a bit longer before flaring into the train, allowing for slightly easier movement than a mermaid silhouette.
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Why you'll love this style:
- Elongates the body into a beautiful column shape before it flares
- Highlights and accentuates natural curves
- Takes up very little room when packed — great for destination weddings
- Lightweight and ideal for outdoor or beach wedding settings, or for brides who don't want any extra "poof"
Why this might not be the fit for you:
- Can feel slightly more restricting than a mermaid gown through the thigh and knee — look for a bit of stretch in the fabric if this concerns you
- Like the mermaid silhouette, the trumpet highlights all curves, including ones you may want to downplay
THE A-LINE
If there's a "one size fits all" among wedding dress silhouettes, this is it. The beloved A-line wedding dress is a toned-down version of the ball gown — fitted through the bust and natural waist, with a slighter, more gradual transition into the skirt and generally fewer layers of tulle for a beautiful, medium-full skirt shape.
A-line dresses are universally flattering for all body types, which is exactly why they remain one of the most popular wedding dress silhouettes among modern brides, petite brides, and taller brides alike.
Why you'll love this style:
- Looks amazing on all body types and body shapes
- Slimming through the waist and hips
- Often more lightweight than a full ball gown
- One of the easiest wedding gown silhouettes to move and dance in
Why this might not be the fit for you:
- Not as dramatic a shape as a traditional ball gown
- Doesn't slim the waist quite as much as a ball gown
THE SHEATH / COLUMN
While some like to separate these two terms, for simplicity's sake, we treat the sheath silhouette and column wedding dress as one and the same. The sheath silhouette is a sleek sheath that follows the body's natural line closely from top to hem, without the flare of a trumpet, fit-and-flare, or mermaid gown. It's a straight, elegant column shape — effortless chic, and perfect for a red-carpet feel.
The sheath silhouette is best suited for modern or minimalist weddings, and it's a favorite among brides who love timeless elegance without extra volume.
Why you'll love this style:
- Lightweight and packs like a dream — perfect for destination weddings
- Elongates the body into a beautiful column shape
- Generally very easy to move in
- Perfect for summer weddings, outdoor wedding settings, or elopements
Why this might not be the fit for you:
- Not as dramatic a shape as a trumpet or mermaid gown
- Can sometimes conceal curves without drawing specific attention to the waist and hips — great for straight body types, but brides with more pronounced curves may want a silhouette that highlights the waist more