A Bride's Guide to Popular Wedding Dress Styles

Before you buy your dream wedding dress, you have to know the basic and most popular wedding dress styles around. Wedding dresses come in different shapes, colors, styles and designs. Without knowledge of the basic wedding dress styles, looking through each and every single wedding dress in a bridal boutique can prove to be a completely dizzying and overwhelming experience.To prevent wedding dress-related headaches, we've come up with a list of the basic wedding dress styles available.Some of the wedding dress elements you need to consider include the wedding dress neckline, sleeve style, bodice, and the wedding dress shape or silhouette.

The Wedding Dress Neckline

Your gown's neckline is easily one of the most noticeable parts of your wedding dress [out]. During the wedding photo ops, close-up shots will showcase your wedding dress neckline. The following are some of the most popular wedding dress necklines available.

* Asymmetrical: The asymmetrical neckline has a diagonal neckline designed to show off a woman's beautiful shoulders.

* Off-the-Shoulder or Off-Shoulder: This neckline sits below your shoulders. It's the perfect neckline if you plan to show off your shoulders and your collarbones. This is a universally flattering design that can draw attention to the bride's neck and shoulders.

* The bateau is a relatively straight neckline that sweeps gently across the curve of the collarbone to the shoulders. Bateau or Sabrina necklines are perfect for brides with small bosoms, as they enhance the chest area.

* Portrait: A lot like the off-the-shoulder style with a wide scoop neckline, the portrait neckline has fabric that covers the bride's shoulders. It's the perfect neckline to show off the neck and the collarbones while masking the bride's upper arms.

* Jewel or T-Shirt: The jewel neckline resembles the cut of the T-shirt, in that the neckline is high and round, sitting at the base of the bride's throat. Jewel necklines are perfect for brides looking to enhance the bust area.

* Sweetheart: The sweetheart neckline, as you can already tell from its name, is shaped like the top of the heart at the bust line. It is typically strapless, accentuating the bride's cleavage.

* V-Neck: The V-neck wedding dress has a neckline that dips at the front of the gown, creating a "V" shape.

* Scoop: The scoop neckline is a classic, with its U-shaped neckline continuing at the back of the wedding dress

* Halter: The halter neckline has straps that wrap or tie behind the bride's neck. Most halter wedding dresses feature backless styles, creating a subtle but incredibly sexy look.

* Strapless: Mostly cut straight across or with a slight curve, this sleeve-style is sleeveless and strap-less. This is probably the most popular wedding neckline preferred by millions of brides in the world.

Wedding Dress Sleeves:

Your wedding dress sleeves can directly affect your gown's overall look. The following are some of the most popular wedding dress sleeve styles available.

* Spaghetti Straps: Skinny straps are designed to show off the bride's arms and her shoulders. Its modern and subtly sexy style makes it an easy favorite of most modern brides.

* Capped Sleeves: Shorter than your average T-shirt, capped sleeves are gently rounded to delicately cling to the bride's shoulders. Capped sleeves are the perfect choice for brides with toned or slender arms.

* Three-Fourths Sleeves: A classic, this sleeve style refers more to sleeve length than to the actual design of the sleeves. Consider the three-fourths sleeves the perfect option for brides who want a ladylike and classic look for their gown. It's also an excellent option for women who wish to keep their arms covered. These sleeves end midway between your elbows and your wrists.

* Sleeveless: This style is sans sleeves. Choosing the right neckline for this sleeve style is essential for finding the right wedding dress style.

* T-Shirt Sleeves: With sleeves like your regular T-shirt, you're bound to feel absolutely comfortable in this simple but elegant number. Its short sleeves also offer excellent upper arm coverage, making it the perfect choice for brides who are a bit reluctant to show off their arms.

Wedding Dress Bodice:

Your gown's bodice pertains to the whole upper body of your gown, including the sleeves, neckline and your gown's skirt.

* Empire: Empire wedding dresses are perfect for petite brides. The bodice style typically ends right under the bride's bust, with the skirt flows softly underneath.

* Halter: More than just a neckline, the halter bodice is a sleeveless bodice that has straps that tie or wraps around the bride's neck.

* Corset: The days of everyday corset-wearing women may be long gone, but corset-clad brides will tell you that this form-fitting bodice is the perfect choice if you're looking to enhance and emphasize your body's curves. The tight fit can help push up your breasts, adding size to your bust, while tightly containing the waist area to create the illusion of a smaller waistline.

* Drop Waist: Looking to lengthen your torso? The drop waist bodice enhances a small waist and lengthens the appearance of the torso by having the bodice end just above the hip region.

* Surplice: The surplice bodice has fabric that cross-wraps either in front or at the back of the wedding dress

* Tank: Sleeveless and short, this bodice style is perfect for any body type.

* Midriff: Tight fitting around the middle part of the ribcage, this bodice style accentuates a slim and small waist.

* Princess-Line: This bodice style is creates the princess silhouette. The sleek bodice has two parallel and vertical seams that go from the bust of the bodice to the hem. The seams create a slimming and lengthening effect.

Wedding Dress Shape:

The wedding dress shape, also known as the wedding dress silhouette refers to the basic shape or form of the dress.

* Princess or A-Line: The A-Line skirt of the princess dress creates the illusion of a perfect hourglass figure. The bodice is shaped like a "V" with a princess bodice and an A-Line skirt that flares gently from waist down.

* Ball Gown: Another dress shape fit for royalty, the ball gown has a fitted bodice with a poufy skirt usually made from layers and layers of tulle supported by a hoop under the skirt.

* Sheath: A slimming dress shape, the sheath lightly skims the bride's figure, creating a lovely, fitted look.

* Mermaid: The mermaid dress shape has a form-fitting bodice with a sheath-like skirt that clings up to the knees, where the skirt then flares gently to create a mermaid silhouette.

* Empire: The empire-style wedding dress has a high waistline, usually directly under the bust, with a flowing but not necessarily form-fitting skirt that falls gracefully from the bodice.

* Bias Cut: The bias cut wedding dress style has a fabric with a diagonal cut that's perfect for tall brides. It has a slimming effect that is perfect for brides with slim to medium-sized frames. It's not recommended for pear-shaped brides and full-figured brides due to its form-fitting nature.