Choosing the Right Wedding Gown

There are three things that people remember when they attend a wedding:

• How great the wedding ceremony was,
• How tasty the food was and
• How the bridal gown looked like.

Most excited brides like me search endlessly online for the a wedding gown that we think suits us or look good on us. But, what we tend to forget is how the gown will "actually" look on each of our body types.

I've compiled a wedding dress guide that will hopefully help future brides, like me, in choosing the right wedding gown.
Wedding Gown Types

1. Ball Gown / Full Skirt = Ball gown type dresses are recommended for full-figured, pear shaped and thin thin body types.
   This style may also be considered for girls who are petite or have an hour glass figure
2. Empire Waist Gown = Empire waist gowns are recommended for women who are petite or women who do not have a defined waistline. This may also be considered for women with an inverted pear shaped body.
   I have this type of body!!! That's why Concha suggested I have this type of wedding gown. Good thing the wedding gown design that I showed her can be converted to an empire waist gown type.
3. A-Line / Princess = A-line gowns are recommended for the most body types except for women who do not have a defined waistline.
   While neither the A-line nor Princess has a defined waistline, the Princess style does have noticeable vertical panels.
4. Sheath = Sheath style gown are recommended for thin figured or petite framed women. This gown type may also be considered for some women with a hour glass figure shaped body.
   This style is not recommended for women who are thick or short-waisted, full figured, or have a pear shaped body type.
5. Mermaid = Mermaid style gowns are recommended for woman with a figure that they want to show off.
   This style is not recommended for women who are petite, thick or short waisted, or have an inverted pear shaped body type.

Types of Necklines

1. Jewel = Suggested for women with a smaller chest.
2. Scoop / Square / Queen Anne = Works with most figures.
3. V-Neck = Suggested for women with a medium sized chest.
4. Bateau / Sabrina = Suggested for women with a smaller chest.
5. Spagetti Straps = Suggested for women with small to average sized chest.
6. Off-Shoulder = Suggested for women with a hourglass figure or a pear shaped figure.
7. Portrait = Suggested for women who are short-waisted or women with fuller arms.
8. Sweetheart = Suggested for women with a hourglass figure or women with larger chests.
9. Strapless = Suggested for women who are full figured, petite, or have a hourglass figure.
10. High = Suggested for women who are petite or want a dress that has a lengthening effect.
11. Halter = Suggested for short-waisted women or women with broad shoulders. This neckline type is what I choose for my wedding gown.

Types of Waistlines

1. Natural = This waistline works with most body types and is suggested for women who are petite.
2. Drop = Suggested for women with a hourglass figure, larger breasts, or have a slim figure. Should be avoided by women with a boxy figure.
3. Basque = Suggested for women who want a bodice that has a slenderizing effect; however. Should be avoided by women who are petite or have an undefined waist.
4. Empire = Suggested for women with an undefined waist, have larger hips, or are shorter. Should be avoided by women with a hourglass figure. As always, empire has been my cut and my neckline. So for my gown, this is the waistline Concha will use.
   

Taken from: http://www.arcamax.com/weddings/gowns