Few months ago, my hubby proposed on a beautiful island beach. The warm ocean was a stunning turquoise blue, the white sand sparkling under a heavenly sunshine. One of my dreams came true in paradise!
With the most beautiful ring on my finger and the heart full of joy and excitement for our future wedding, I started shopping for the ultimate wedding dress!
For some, like me, it’s important to get it right. Afterall it's the only day in your life for you to celebrate your love story in style!
During the shopping process and after trying at least three different wedding dress stores, I set up my mind for the first one I tried! And I learnt a lot about what suits me or not during this shopping process.
Below are some tips to help you chose, like me, the dress of your dreams:
Silhouette
Again, when shopping for any garment in general it’s important to consider your body shape! When you see a model looking stunning in a dress online it doesn’t mean it will look the same on you. We are all made in different shapes and sizes and it’s very important to know what really suit us.
Hourglass – because you have the ideal balanced figure (lucky you!) you can pick any type of wedding dress, but nothing highlights more beautifully your gorgeous curves than a mermaid silhouette!
Pear – for this body shape (smaller bust but wider hips and thighs), A-line, Empire and ballgown silhouettes are a very good choice. Both emphasize the upper body while giving a nice flow around the larger hips and bottom, creating a more balanced look. You can also go for a mermaid cut but you will need to choose then carefully the neckline (more on this below).
Apple – this body shape carry weight on their upper-half (bust and mid-section). Empire and ballgown silhouettes are most flattering for this body type because they highlight your assets (the bust), slim down your waistline and add volume on your lower half, creating a nice balance overall look. Besides an Empire wedding dress doesn’t cling to curves while still giving you a soft, feminine look. So, if you are particularly self-conscious about some parts of your body this is a very good option for you.
Rectangle – with this body shape, shoulders, waist, and hips are pretty much in line so we need to create curves in the right places. Empire, A-Line and ballgown will suit you perfectly because they will cinch your waist and add volume at the bottom, giving you a more balanced look. Avoid mermaid and sheath cuts as these will accentuate the straightness of your figure.
Inverted Triangle – with broad shoulders and smaller waist and hips, your objective will be to create more volume at the bottom. Think of Kate Middleton in her A-line wedding dress, she looked gorgeous. Ballgown and Empire silhouettes will suit you as well.
Necklines
When shopping for your wedding dress it’s important to consider the right neckline for your specific shoulders and bust type.
Broad shoulders – go for v-neckline or halter neckline if you want to show more of your shoulders. Both draw the eye closer to the body.
Narrow shoulders – choose straight-across neckline or off-the-shoulder neckline. It will broaden your upper half.
Sloppy shoulders – because of it’s vertical and horizontal lines, a square neckline is perfect to create more structure around the shoulders. Boat necklines are also a good option because it draws the eye towards the neck which make the shoulders appear wider.
Large bust – if you have a large bust, you can’t go wrong with a deep V-neckline. Because of its vertical lines, it will slim down and lift your bust, and will lengthen your upper half.
Small bust – sweetheart neckline, feminine and romantic, will make your bust look fuller. Other options include a narrow v-neckline (avoid straps please), halter-neck, boat neck, straight-across neckline.
Colour
There is a trend for colourful dresses lately, from bright red to blush and baby blue. But which type of white to choose when you are going for a traditional look? Usually, diamond white work best for Winter/Summer people and Ivory or Cream for Autumn/Spring ones. I do agree with this… except when shopping for a wedding dress! Let me explain. We know that sparkling white gives a light blue tint on camera so if you want to look good on your wedding day as well as on pictures, go for Ivory. Keep in mind that there is different types of Ivory with different levels of yellow undertones. Besides Ivory doesn’t look awful on a “Cool” person. Think of Victoria Beckham, a winter, in her beautiful Champagne satin wedding dress.
Style
Should your match your wedding dress to the venue? Absolutely! Many shopping assistants would tell you it doesn’t really matter but I personally think it does. A minimalist and elegant satin ballgown would be better for a chapel or ballroom wedding. For a beach, a garden or vintage theme wedding, a beautiful dress in lace and tulle is a better choice.
I hope this article was helpful in guiding you through wedding dress shopping. Please leave a comment below and let me know what’s your best tip for wedding dress shopping.
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