Ultimate Guide to Wedding Dress Styles & Silhouettes

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Choosing a wedding dress is an exciting but sometimes overwhelming experience. With so many styles, shapes, and details to consider, it’s easy to feel lost in the options.

To help simplify the process, the Rock My Wedding Editors have created this comprehensive guide to wedding dress styles and silhouettes. From classic ballgowns to sleek modern designs, we’ll walk you through the most popular options, breaking down the silhouettes, necklines, fabrics, and trains to help you find your dream dress.

For some, a wedding dress that makes you comfortable and confident might be rooted in how it fits your body. While you might fall in love with a dress based on style alone, shopping with your body type in mind can be an empowering way to narrow down options. This isn’t to say that you should feel restricted to specific styles, but rather that certain silhouettes may enhance your natural shape and help you feel amazing. Our guide breaks down the best wedding dress styles for every body type to give you even more guidance when shopping for only the most important dress you’ll ever wear. 

Whether you already know what kind of styles you love or are starting from stage one of the dress shopping process, finding the wedding dress of your dreams is just around the corner. 

The 5 Best Wedding Dress Silhouette Styles to Shop

1. Empire Waist: Known for its high waistline, just below the bust, and flowing skirt, this silhouette elongates the body, making it perfect for petite brides or anyone wanting a soft, romantic look.
2. A-Line: Universally flattering, fitted at the waist with a gently flared skirt for a timeless look.
3. Mermaid: A body-hugging silhouette, flaring at the knees for a sleek, glamorous look.
4. Ballgown: The ultimate in bridal drama, with a full skirt that brings fairytale vibes.
5. Sheath: Minimalist and modern, this style skims the body for an effortlessly elegant fit.

We’ve chosen our 5 favourite wedding dresses for each of these top silhouettes to help you get closer to finding your dream dress. From John Lewis to Debenhams, Coast, Whistles and more - the high street has so much to offer when it comes to stunning wedding dress silhouettes. 

The 6 Best Wedding Dresses to Shop by Neckline

When choosing a wedding dress, paying attention to the neckline is essential. While the length and fit are important, the neckline plays a key role in shaping your overall bridal style and how you accessorise. Strapless or sweetheart necklines might call for statement jewellery, while high neck or illusion styles may shine on their own, especially if embellished. Additionally, the neckline affects which bridal lingerie works best, so plan accordingly. For more tips, check out our guide on the best jewellery for your wedding dress neckline.

In the meantime, shop our six favourite wedding dresses featuring popular neckline styles like sweetheart, Bardot, V-neck, cowl, asymmetric, and halter necklines.

The 2 Best Wedding Dresses with Trains to Shop

A sweeping train can make an unforgettable bridal statement. In our guide, we’ve highlighted the different train lengths you can choose from - perfect if you’re working with a designer or boutique. But what if you’re going for a more budget-friendly, high-street wedding dress? You might not get the same range of train options, but beautiful gowns are still out there! When choosing your train, don’t forget to ask your seamstress for practical adjustments like a wrist loop or bustle. And if you can’t decide, why not opt for a second, shorter dress for the evening? We’re all for a wardrobe change!

The Ultimate Guide to Finding the Best Wedding Dress for You

If you’ve considered all our tips and options, you’re well on your way to discovering your dream wedding dress. Whether your focus is on style, silhouette, budget, or flattering your body type, Rock My Wedding has you covered.

While the wedding dress undeniably takes the spotlight in wedding fashion (we won’t spill the beans to the grooms if you don’t), we’ve also created a guide on various wedding suit styles. From tuxedos to morning suits, we’ve outlined each style and handpicked our top options for you to explore.