What Are the Wedding Dress Styles?

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Every soon-to-be bride’s biggest dilemma is saying yes to the (perfect) dress. With so many options and styles flooding the internet, finding one can feel overwhelming. This article will help you find just the perfect dress for yourself. So whether you’re looking for dreamy layers, sculpted bodices, or intricate designs, there’s something magical waiting just for you.

What Are the Wedding Dress Styles? All About Silhouettes

This list contains some of the most fashion-forward and stunning wedding dress styles that will make you shine on your special day; you can find them all in Sherri Hill’s bridal collection.

Mermaid and Trumpet Dresses

A glamorous bride wearing a mermaid wedding dress with a fitted bodice that flares below the knees.

These dresses capture grace, elegance, and beauty so effortlessly that it’s impossible for them to go out of style. Their specialty is that they flatter all sizes and body shapes. Mermaid dresses have a fitted bodice that flares outwards below the knees, creating a stunning hourglass appeal, whereas trumpet dresses flare out mid-thigh, still stunning but less dramatic. If you want to prioritise your comfort, then go for trumpet dresses, as it’s way easier to move in them.

Ball Gowns

A princess-style wedding ball gown with a voluminous floor-length skirt and a fitted bodice.

If you want to feel like a real-life princess on your big day, then you should definitely get a ball gown. These work well for most body types, particularly pear shapes, apple shapes, and hourglass bodies. The long floor-length skirts and fitted bodices will keep the spotlight on you at all times. Ball gowns are perfect for traditional church and fairytale-themed weddings.

Off-the-Shoulder Necklines

A stylish bride wearing an elegant off-the-shoulder wedding dress that highlights collarbones.

Off-the-shoulder necklines have been popular in the bridal fashion world for a long time. This romantic and elegant bridal dress style accentuates the beauty of collarbones and elongates the neck, giving an alluring and sultry appeal.

Many designers are now incorporating this design into silhouettes like mermaid dresses, ball gowns, and A-line dresses. They pair well with almost any kind of sleeve design, including bell-shaped and delicate straps.

Corset Backs

A back view of a bride tightening the corset laces of her bridal gown, delicate lace details visible.

Wedding dresses become more beautiful when they are rooted in tradition. Recently, corset back wedding dresses have taken modern bridal fashion to new depths. This new style exudes vintage romance and unparalleled sophistication.

The biggest pro of this style is that it flatters almost every single body type. They’re easy to adjust and will fit your upper body like a glove. It’s really easy to achieve that heaven-sent bridal look with this one.

Drop Waist Dresses

A chic drop waist wedding dress with a beaded bodice slightly below the natural waistline, paired with a flowing skirt.

Drop waist dresses are another vintage-inspired bridal style that’s becoming popular in modern bridal wear, and we’re not surprised. These dresses are very versatile and work well with a lot of body shapes and sizes. Their distinctive feature is the basque bodice that lies just a little below the natural waistline, slimming the waist and elongating the torso. Designers are going all out and creating the most stunning designs with beads, shimmer sequins, and different silhouettes of skirts. So if you’re a fashion-forward bride, you should definitely explore bridal wear in this style.

Sheath Dresses

A minimalist sheath wedding dress hugging the natural curves of a bride.

If you’re a minimalistic and modern bride, then a sheath dress will be perfect for you. It has a narrow silhouette that follows the natural curvature of the body, with a slightly trimmed waist. It clings to the hips and then falls straight without any flair. Since they sculpt the body so well, they look especially jaw-dropping on people with hourglass bodies. They are romantic, refined, and sultry without extra poofiness and drama.

High-Low Dresses

A modern bride in a high-low wedding dress with a short front hem and dramatic long train at the back.

The high-low dress is inspired by the Victorian era and beloved by today’s many fashion-forward brides. Although it’s not the mainstream wedding dress you see in movies or on social media, it has unmatched charm and allure. As the name suggests, it has a shorter hemline at the front, which slowly grows into a tail at the back. If you want to stand out from the traditional and modern brides, then this is the perfect bridal style for you.

Empire Waist Dresses

A bride in a Regency-inspired empire waist wedding dress, soft flowing fabric beginning below the bust.

If you’re a Pride and Prejudice or a Bridgerton fan, you’ll love this bridal style. This style quickly became a staple for maternity brides and boho brides as well. The waistline of this dress begins right below the bust, and then the fabric falls downwards very gracefully. It can be paired with gloves or accessories like feathers to add to its regal aesthetic.

What Are the Wedding Dress Styles? Finding Your Perfect Gown

At this point, you’re probably drawn to more than one bridal style, and that’s completely okay. Here’s a little tip: this is your big day. So wear whatever makes you feel like the bride. In the end, what truly matters is a happy bride on her big day.

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