Finding the Wedding Gown that Works Best with Your Body

Your wedding day is just that: yours. And because it's your day to shine, you’ll want to find a wedding dress that fits your body perfectly. Believe it or not there’s a science behind analyzing your body type and finding the dress that was designed specifically for your size and shape.

Use the following tips to help you pick out a wedding dress that complements your gorgeous figure.

Bell-Shaped Figure
This is the most common figure among women; it's also known as “pear-shaped.” You can find out if you have this body shape if you have the following attributes:

• Upper body is smaller than your lower body
  
• Full thighs and calves
  
• Weight gain goes to your thighs and hips
  
• Shapely hips and butt
  
• Small- to medium-sized chest
  
• Long, thin neck
  
• Narrow shoulders
  

The wedding dress styles that will accentuate your figure will likely have these qualities:

• Full skirt
  
• Empire waist
  
• Puffy sleeves
  
• Tight around the shoulders
  
• Low, wide neckline
  

Curvy Figure
Thanks to Marilyn Monroe and Betty Page, this figure is considered very sexy. You have this “hour-glass” figure if you have the following qualities:

• Weight gain goes to your curves, not waist
• Voluptuous butt
  
• Broad hips
  
• Petite waist
  
• Full chest
  
• Thick thighs
  

The wedding dress styles that will highlight your most favorable qualities should feature one or several of the following:

• Tight skirt
  
• Empire waist
  
• Halter style or strapless gown
  
• Scooped or V-shaped neckline
  
• Vertical detailing on top
  
• Corset top
  

Rectangular Figure
Models like Elle Macpherson have this body type. And so do you if you have the following attributes:

• Balanced figure
  
• Don’t gain weight in any particular area
  
• Thin, slender
  
• Long arms
  
• Small- to medium-sized chest
  
• Full neck
  

Find a wedding dress with one of the following qualities:

• Strapless
• Spaghetti straps
  
• Scooped or deep V-shaped neckline
  
• Draping skirt
  
• Pleats in the skirt
  
• Dropped-waist skirt
  

Athletic Figure
Jessica Biel and Jennifer Garner have this “apple shaped” figure and the following attributes:

• Lower body is proportionally smaller than upper body
  
• Undefined waist
  
• Weight gain goes to waist
  
• Slim thighs
  
• Petite butt
  
• Full chest
  
• Broad shoulders
  
• Full face and neck
  

Look for these qualities in a wedding dress:

• Plunging or V-shaped neckline
• Train
  
• A-line skirt
  
• Empire waist
  
• Fitted waist
  
• Sleeveless to show off your toned arms
  

As you try on wedding dresses, have your mom or maid of honor take a video of you in each one. This will give you an objective view. You may love the way it looks as you stand there in front of the mirror, but does it move with your body when you walk? Make sure to get footage of the back of the dress as well, especially since your guests will have rear-view of you during the the ceremony.

Whether your goal is to accentuate your curves or emphasize your waist-line, you’ll have no problem finding the dress that fits both your personality and your body type because there are so many options. Start by narrowing down your choices to specific styles according to your body type and you'll take some wedding weight off of those beautiful shoulders!

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